What’s the best way to gather stone in the Mountains biome?
Gathering stone in the Mountains biome in Valheim is a crucial task for crafting and building, but it requires careful preparation due to the biome''s harsh environment. The Mountains biome is home to dangerous enemies like Drakes, Wolves, and Stone Golems, as well as freezing temperatures that can quickly drain your health. To gather stone efficiently, you’ll need to equip yourself with the right gear, tools, and strategies.\n\nFirst, ensure you are well-prepared before venturing into the Mountains. Craft a Wolf Fur Cape or Lox Cape, as these provide frost resistance, which is essential for surviving the cold. Additionally, bring a high-tier weapon like a Draugr Fang bow or a Blackmetal sword to deal with hostile creatures. A fully upgraded Iron Pickaxe is the best tool for mining stone, as it allows you to break large boulders and rock formations quickly. Always carry healing mead, stamina mead, and frost resistance mead to sustain yourself during long mining sessions.\n\nOnce you’re equipped, head to the Mountains biome and look for large stone boulders and rock formations. These are the primary sources of stone in this biome. Use your pickaxe to mine them, which will yield a significant amount of stone per boulder. Be cautious of your surroundings, as enemies like Stone Golems can spawn near these rocks. Stone Golems are particularly dangerous, as they deal heavy damage and have high health. Use ranged weapons to take them down from a safe distance or kite them away from your mining area.\n\nAnother effective way to gather stone is by mining Silver deposits, which are abundant in the Mountains biome. While Silver is primarily used for crafting high-tier gear, mining it also yields a substantial amount of stone as a byproduct. To locate Silver deposits, you’ll need the Wishbone, which is obtained by defeating Bonemass, the third boss. Equip the Wishbone and walk around the Mountains biome until you see green particle effects, indicating a Silver vein below the surface. Dig down to expose the vein and mine it with your pickaxe.\n\nOne common challenge in the Mountains biome is the steep terrain, which can make transporting stone back to your base difficult. To solve this, consider building a temporary portal near your mining site. Portals allow you to quickly travel between locations, making it easy to transport resources without risking long treks through dangerous areas. Alternatively, you can use a Cart to haul large amounts of stone, but be cautious of Wolves and Drakes that may attack you while you’re encumbered.\n\nFor experienced players, farming Stone Golems can be a viable method of gathering stone. Stone Golems drop a significant amount of stone when defeated, making them a valuable resource. However, they are tough opponents, so ensure you have strong armor and weapons before engaging them. Use terrain to your advantage, such as luring them into narrow spaces where they can’t move freely, and focus on dodging their attacks.\n\nIn summary, the best way to gather stone in the Mountains biome involves preparation, efficient mining, and strategic resource management. Equip frost-resistant gear, bring a high-tier pickaxe, and use the Wishbone to locate Silver deposits for additional stone. Build portals or use Carts to transport resources safely, and consider farming Stone Golems for extra stone. With these strategies, you’ll be able to gather stone efficiently while minimizing risks in this challenging biome.