How do you craft and use a portal for fast travel between biomes?

Portals are one of the most essential tools in Valheim for fast travel between biomes, saving you time and effort when exploring or transporting resources. To craft and use a portal, you’ll need to unlock the recipe, gather the required materials, and set up a pair of linked portals. Here’s a detailed guide to help you master this mechanic.\n\nFirst, you need to unlock the portal recipe. This is done by defeating the first boss, Eikthyr, in the Meadows biome. Once defeated, you’ll gain access to Hard Antlers, which are used to craft the Antler Pickaxe. This pickaxe allows you to mine Tin and Copper in the Black Forest biome, which are essential for crafting Bronze. With Bronze, you can craft a Forge, which is required to make the Fine Wood and Surtling Cores needed for portals.\n\nTo craft a portal, you’ll 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 in the Meadows or Black Forest biomes using a Bronze Axe or better. Surtling Cores are found in Burial Chambers in 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 the materials, open your crafting menu and select the portal. Place the portal in a safe, accessible location, such as near your base or a key resource area. To link two portals, you must give them the same tag. When placing the second portal, enter the same tag as the first one. For example, if you name the first portal ‘Home,’ the second portal must also be named ‘Home.’ This creates a direct link between the two, allowing instant travel.\n\nPortals are incredibly useful for exploring distant biomes like the Swamp, Mountains, or Plains. For example, if you’re venturing into the Swamp to gather Iron, you can set up a portal near the Swamp’s edge and link it to your base. This way, you can quickly return to repair tools, restock supplies, or drop off valuable resources without a long trek.\n\nHowever, portals have limitations. You cannot transport metals like Copper, Tin, Iron, or Silver through them. This is a deliberate game mechanic to encourage exploration and resource management. To work around this, you’ll need to transport metals manually using a cart or ship. For example, if you’re mining Silver in the Mountains, you’ll need to haul it down to your base or a nearby smelting outpost.\n\nAnother common challenge is portal placement in dangerous biomes. Enemies can destroy portals if left unprotected. To prevent this, build a small shelter or wall around your portal. For example, in the Plains biome, where Fulings are a constant threat, surround your portal with stone walls or stake walls to keep it safe.\n\nFinally, here are some practical tips for using portals effectively. Always carry portal materials (Fine Wood, Surtling Cores, and Greydwarf Eyes) when exploring, so you can set up a quick escape route if needed. Use descriptive tags for your portals, such as ‘Swamp1’ or ‘MountainBase,’ to avoid confusion. And remember, while portals are convenient, they’re not a substitute for proper preparation—always bring food, weapons, and tools when venturing into new biomes.\n\nBy mastering portals, you’ll streamline your exploration and resource gathering, making your Valheim journey more efficient and enjoyable.