Based loosely on Norse mythology and lore, Valheim has delighted players with its depictions of life in a Norse settlement. In Valheim, players will need to build a base that includes different crafting stations and amenities and find or craft resources that allow them to take care of their basic needs, improve defenses, and explore more distant lands. During exploration and fights against enemies and bosses, players will need to replenish health and stamina. In addition, as they explore new environments, players may need to find new ways to resist the effects of exposure and the elements on their Viking character. One way to take care of this is to craft a Fermenter and begin making Mead.
Meads are the equivalent of potions in Valheim, and players are likely going to want a stock of them as they progress into later stages of the game. The station can be built fairly early on, as long as players have the ability to forge Bronze. Players can use the Fermenter to craft any of the seven available Mead bases and allow them to ferment into consumable Meads. All Mead will require honey, so players will also need to know where to find Beehives and how to create their own honey farms to get the most out of their Fermenter. Here's how to build a Fermenter in Valheim.
How to Craft a Fermenter in Valheim
To craft a Fermenter in Valheim, players will need to have the ability to craft Bronze from Copper and Tin. They will need to use the Antler Pickaxe to get Copper and Tin Ore, and they will need to have built a Charcoal Kiln, Smelter, and Forge as well. The goal is to get enough Bronze to build the Fermenter, but also to get one of the required materials for the Fermenter, Fine Wood.
Fine Wood comes from chopping down Birch and Oak trees. These trees are too strong to break down without a Bronze Axe or better. There is a way to get Fine Wood early, but it involves a lot of risk, and players will still need Bronze to build the Fermenter anyway.
The ingredients needed to craft the Fermenter are:
- 30 Fine Wood
- 5 Bronze
- 10 Resin
Players can get Resin from defeating Greydwarfs. All these ingredients can be found in the Black Forest and Meadows Biome.
Players will also need to craft a Cauldron for the Fermenter. The ingredients for this are 10 Tin. Players will use the Cauldron to craft their Mead Base, then allow it to sit in the Fermenter for 2 in-game day and night cycles, or about 30 minutes to an hour in real time. Each batch brewed will yield 6 Meads.
Mead is a honey-based brew, so all Mead Bases will require Honey to craft. To get Honey, players will need to search for Beehives inside abandoned houses and around swamps. Breaking a Beehive will yield Honey, but it will also give players a Queen Bee. These can be used to start new beehives at the player's base and build a Honey Farm for a nearly endless supply of Meads.
Valheim is in Steam Early Access and is available for PC.