How do you unlock the ability to craft a stonecutter?

To unlock the ability to craft a stonecutter in Valheim, you must first progress through the early stages of the game and gather specific resources. The stonecutter is a crucial tool for advanced building, allowing you to craft stone structures like stone walls, floors, and decorative pieces. However, it is not available at the start of the game and requires you to defeat the first boss, Eikthyr, and explore the Black Forest biome.\n\nTo begin, you must craft a workbench and gather basic resources like wood and stone. These are essential for building your first tools and shelter. Once you have a workbench, you can craft a pickaxe, which is necessary for mining tin and copper in the Black Forest. These metals are critical for crafting bronze, a key material for the stonecutter.\n\nAfter gathering enough resources, you will need to defeat Eikthyr, the first boss in Valheim. Eikthyr is found in the Meadows biome and can be summoned by placing two deer trophies on his altar. Defeating Eikthyr rewards you with his trophy and hard antlers, which are used to craft the antler pickaxe. This pickaxe is stronger than the basic stone pickaxe and allows you to mine copper and tin more efficiently.\n\nOnce you have the antler pickaxe, head to the Black Forest biome. This biome is darker and more dangerous than the Meadows, with enemies like Greydwarfs and skeletons. Look for copper deposits, which appear as large, greenish rocks, and tin deposits, which are smaller and found near water. Mine these resources using your pickaxe and smelt them in a smelter to create bronze bars.\n\nTo build a smelter, you will need to gather surtling cores, which are found in burial chambers in the Black Forest. These chambers are dungeon-like structures filled with skeletons and traps. Explore them carefully to collect surtling cores, which are used to craft both the smelter and the charcoal kiln. Once you have a smelter, place copper and tin inside to create bronze bars.\n\nWith bronze bars in hand, you can now craft a forge. The forge is required to craft the stonecutter. Place the forge near your workbench and ensure you have enough space for both. Once the forge is built, you can craft the stonecutter using 10 wood, 2 iron, and 1 stone. Note that iron is not required for the stonecutter itself, but you will need it for other advanced tools and weapons.\n\nA common challenge players face is locating enough surtling cores for the smelter and charcoal kiln. If you are struggling to find burial chambers, explore the Black Forest thoroughly and mark their locations on your map. Another tip is to bring a bow and arrows to deal with skeletons from a distance, as they can be tough to handle in close combat.\n\nOnce you have the stonecutter, you can start building stone structures. These are more durable than wood and provide better protection against raids and enemies. Place the stonecutter near your workbench and forge to streamline your crafting process. Remember to gather plenty of stone, as it is the primary material for stone structures.\n\nIn summary, unlocking the stonecutter requires defeating Eikthyr, mining copper and tin in the Black Forest, and crafting a smelter and forge. This process can be challenging but is essential for advancing your base-building capabilities. Take your time to gather resources and prepare for the dangers of the Black Forest. With the stonecutter, you can create sturdy and impressive structures to enhance your Valheim experience.