How do you craft a portal and what materials are required?

Crafting a portal in Valheim is an essential step for efficient travel across the game''s vast world. Portals allow you to instantly teleport between two linked locations, saving time and resources. To craft a portal, you must first unlock the recipe by obtaining Fine Wood and Greydwarf Eyes, which are common resources found in the Black Forest biome. Once unlocked, you can build a portal using the Hammer tool and the required materials.\n\nTo craft a portal, you will need the following materials: 20 Fine Wood, 2 Surtling Cores, and 10 Greydwarf Eyes. Fine Wood is obtained by chopping down Birch or Oak trees, which are found in the Meadows and Black Forest biomes. Surtling Cores are primarily found in Burial Chambers within the Black Forest or by defeating Surtlings in the Ashlands biome. Greydwarf Eyes are dropped by Greydwarfs, common enemies in the Black Forest.\n\nOnce you have gathered the materials, equip your Hammer and open the crafting menu. Navigate to the ''Misc'' tab and select the Portal structure. Place the portal in your desired location, ensuring it has enough space to function. Portals require a flat surface and cannot be placed too close to other structures or obstacles. After placing the portal, you will need to assign it a tag, which is a unique name used to link it to another portal.\n\nTo link two portals, both must have the same tag. For example, if you name one portal ''Home'' and another ''Base,'' they will not connect. Instead, ensure both portals share the same name, such as ''Home.'' This mechanic allows you to create a network of portals for quick travel between key locations, such as your main base, mining outposts, or boss arenas.\n\nOne common challenge players face is running out of Surtling Cores, as they are required for both portals and other crafting recipes like the Charcoal Kiln and Smelter. To address this, focus on exploring Burial Chambers thoroughly, as they often contain multiple Surtling Cores. Additionally, consider farming Surtlings in the Ashlands biome, though this is more dangerous and requires better gear.\n\nAnother tip is to always carry portal materials with you when exploring. This allows you to set up a temporary portal to return home quickly, especially when venturing into dangerous biomes like the Swamp or Mountains. However, note that certain items, such as metals (e.g., Copper, Iron), cannot be transported through portals. For these, you will need to use a Longship or Cart to transport them manually.\n\nIn summary, crafting a portal in Valheim requires Fine Wood, Surtling Cores, and Greydwarf Eyes. Unlock the recipe by gathering these materials, then use the Hammer to build and link portals with matching tags. Portals are invaluable for efficient travel and resource management, but remember their limitations when transporting metals. With careful planning and resource gathering, you can create a robust portal network to enhance your Viking survival experience.