Valheim does not let you craft a pickaxe immediately after creating a new character. Your first mining tool is tied to the game's first boss, Eikthyr. Once you defeat him, you receive the material required for the Antler Pickaxe and can begin mining Copper and Tin in the Black Forest.The original version of this guide was written during Valheim's early-access period and described the Antler Pickaxe as the game's only pickaxe. That is no longer true. In Valheim 1.0, the full progression includes the Antler Pickaxe, Bronze Pickaxe, Iron Pickaxe, and Black Metal Pickaxe.
How to Make Your First Pickaxe in Valheim
To craft an Antler Pickaxe, you first need to defeat Eikthyr, the first Forsaken.The recipe is:
10 Wood.
1 Hard Antler.
Craft it at a Workbench.Eikthyr drops 3 Hard Antlers every time you defeat him, so a single boss kill gives you enough material to craft three Antler Pickaxes if you want backups for a long mining trip.
How to Find and Summon Eikthyr
Eikthyr's altar is located somewhere in the Meadows.Near the Sacrificial Stones where you begin a new world, interact with Eikthyr's Vegvisir. This marks one of his summoning altars on your map.Eikthyr's Location in ValheimEikthyr's Location in ValheimTo summon Eikthyr, you need:
2 Deer Trophies.
Hunt deer in the Meadows until two trophies drop, then place both trophies on Eikthyr's altar.
How to Prepare for the Eikthyr Fight
Eikthyr is designed as the first major combat test, so you do not need metal equipment.A comfortable early setup includes:
A Crude Bow with a reasonable supply of arrows.
A Flint Spear, Club, or another upgraded early weapon if you prefer melee combat.
A Wood Shield if you intend to block his close-range attacks.
Leather or upgraded Rag armor.
Three active food effects.
The Rested buff.
For food, combine early Health and Stamina options rather than entering the fight with an empty food bar. Cooked meat, Grilled Neck Tail, berries, and mushrooms are all sufficient for a normal first attempt.
How to Defeat Eikthyr
Eikthyr has three main attacks:
Antler attack — a close-range strike with his antlers.
Lightning beam — a ranged electrical attack projected forward.
Lightning stomp — an area attack around the boss.
His attacks are clearly telegraphed. Keep enough Stamina available for dodging instead of spending the entire bar on attacks.A bow is a safe option for beginners: keep your distance, shoot between Eikthyr's attacks, and reposition when he gets too close.Melee is also effective. Block or dodge the antler strike, move away from the area attack, then punish the boss during the recovery window.Eikthyr has no major damage-type weakness that you need to build around, so use whichever early weapon you handle best.
What Does Eikthyr Drop?
After defeating Eikthyr, collect:
3 Hard Antlers.
Eikthyr Trophy.
The Hard Antlers unlock your first pickaxe.Return the Eikthyr Trophy to the Sacrificial Stones and mount it on the corresponding hook to unlock Eikthyr's Forsaken Power, which reduces Stamina consumption while running, jumping, and swimming.
How to Craft the Antler Pickaxe
Return to your base and use a Workbench.Antler PickaxeAntler PickaxeAntler Pickaxe recipe:
10 Wood.
1 Hard Antler.
Unlike later pickaxes, the Antler Pickaxe cannot be upgraded.However, it has one major practical advantage: it can be repaired at an ordinary Workbench. This makes it convenient during long early-game mining trips because you can build a tiny sheltered Workbench near a Copper deposit and repair the pickaxe without returning to your main base.
What Can the Antler Pickaxe Mine?
The Antler Pickaxe can mine:
Stone.
Copper deposits.
Tin deposits.
Muddy Scrap Piles in Sunken Crypts.
Abyssal Barnacles on Leviathans.
This means the Antler Pickaxe is technically capable of helping you obtain your first Iron as well. You do not need a Bronze Pickaxe to enter the Swamp progression.
How to Make a Bronze Pickaxe
Once you begin smelting Copper and Tin, you can create Bronze and craft the second pickaxe.Bronze Pickaxe recipe:
3 Core Wood.
10 Bronze.
Craft it at a Forge.The Bronze Pickaxe mines the same basic materials as the Antler Pickaxe but deals more mining damage and has higher durability. It can also be upgraded at the Forge.However, it must be repaired at a Forge rather than a Workbench, so some players continue carrying an Antler Pickaxe for convenient field repairs.
How to Make an Iron Pickaxe
After defeating The Elder, use the Swamp Key to enter Sunken Crypts and mine Muddy Scrap Piles for Scrap Iron.Smelt the Scrap Iron, then craft an Iron Pickaxe.Iron Pickaxe recipe:
3 Core Wood.
20 Iron.
You need a level 2 Forge.The Iron Pickaxe is an important progression upgrade because it can mine:
Obsidian.
Silver.
Everything that earlier pickaxes can mine.
You will need it for proper Mountain progression.
How to Make a Black Metal Pickaxe
The Black Metal Pickaxe is the strongest standard pickaxe in the current game.Black Metal Pickaxe recipe:
3 Yggdrasil Wood.
25 Black Metal.
Craft it at a level 2 Forge.It can mine higher-tier materials that weaker pickaxes cannot efficiently access, including:
Black Marble.
Soft Tissue deposits.
Ancient armor and Ancient swords in the Mistlands.
Flametal ore deposits in the Ashlands.
All resources available to earlier pickaxes.
It can also be upgraded further at higher Forge levels.
Which Pickaxe Should You Use?
For normal progression:You do not need to rush every upgrade. The Antler Pickaxe remains useful longer than its low stats suggest because it can be repaired almost anywhere with a simple Workbench.The key early-game step is therefore simple: find Eikthyr, sacrifice two Deer Trophies, defeat the boss, collect his Hard Antlers, and craft the Antler Pickaxe. From that point onward, Valheim's metal progression opens up properly.
