Valheim is not an easy or forgiving game, and players will need to constantly search out better resources to produce stronger items, weapons, tools, and housing. Resources are tiered, and after players have settled into the game and harvested wood in the Meadows, they will need to start harvesting the second tier, called core wood. This will open up all manner of new recipes that can be built at the upgraded workbench.
Unfortunately, finding core wood means exploring the map, which is an intimidating prospect. Players will need to search for a biome called the Black Forest, which is a dangerous place to tread. The only way to find the biome is to search for it, although it will commonly appear to the northeast of the initial spawn. A message will appear on the screen telling players when they have entered the region. It's a good idea to summon and kill Valheim's first boss, Eikthyr, before attempting to venture too far inside. Players who try to do it before achieving this feat will receive a visit from Hugen, the helpful raven, to inform them that they should take out the boss before venturing further.
While it is not entirely necessary to kill Eikthyr before venturing into the Black Forest, it's a good benchmark of how strong players will need to be to feel comfortable there. The area is filled with Graydwarves, which are far more dangerous than the Greylings found in the Meadows. If players have spent a good bit of time in Valheim but have yet to achieve this feat, they can try sneaking into the Black Forest without being seen.
In the Black Forest, pine trees will grow, and by felling them, players can harvest core wood. Once players get close to a tree, a message will appear on the screen telling them what type of tree it is. While a regular stone ax will bring down a pine tree, a flint ax is recommended to avoid unnecessary delays. The last thing players want is to allow the Greydwarves time to find them and attack them. When the tree is felled, it will become a log, which needs to be chopped into wood. It is best to do this during the day, as the Black Forest becomes even more dangerous at night.
If players are struggling to find the Black Forest in their own game world, it might be necessary to make a raft and cross the rivers and lakes to find it. As all players have randomly generated seeds that dictate their world's layout, it may take a bit of exploration to track down core wood and the Black Forest.
Valheim is available now in Early Access on PC.