How to make bronze in Valheim: copper, tin, smelter and forge
Bronze takes 2 copper and 1 tin at a forge. Where to mine the ores, smelter times and coal, and the 5-bar batch recipe.
Bronze is 2 Copper plus 1 Tin at a Forge. Most of the time goes into mining the ore in the Black Forest and running it through a Smelter.
The quick answer
| Recipe | Inputs | Output | Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 2 Copper, 1 Tin | 1 Bronze | Forge, level 1 |
| Bronze (batch) | 10 Copper, 5 Tin | 5 Bronze | Forge, level 1 |
The batch recipe has the same ratio. It saves clicks when a full smelter run is waiting.
Step 1: mine copper and tin in the Black Forest
Both ores come from the Black Forest.
Copper ore comes from copper deposits. A deposit breaks into chunks, and each chunk rolls 2 to 4 times: one roll in three is Copper Ore, the rest are stone. Deposits have no minimum tool tier, so the Antler Pickaxe you make from Eikthyr’s drop is enough to start. The Bronze Pickaxe, Iron Pickaxe and Black Metal Pickaxe work too. Deposits run deep into the ground, so expect to dig out the soil around one to get all of it.
Tin ore comes from tin deposits in the Black Forest: 3 to 4 Tin Ore per deposit, no pickaxe tier needed. Barrels in some Black Forest ruins can also drop 2 to 3 tin ore.
Ore is heavy. Copper ore weighs 10 and tin ore 8, and neither can go through a portal. Build the smelter near the deposits, or bring a cart.
Step 2: smelt the ore
| Input | Output | Fuel | Time | Max loaded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper ore | 1 Copper | 2 Coal per ore | 30 s | 10 ore |
| Tin ore | 1 Tin | 2 Coal per ore | 30 s | 10 ore |
A full load of 10 copper ore burns 20 coal. A Charcoal Kiln turns wood into coal.
Step 3: forge the bronze
Take the bars to the forge. With 10 copper and 5 tin, the batch recipe gives you 5 bronze in one craft. A bar weighs 12 and stacks to 30.
Other ways to get bronze
- Scrap bronze. The smelter turns Scrap Bronze into bronze for the same 2 coal and 30 seconds.
- Braziers in the Frost Caves. Breaking a brazier in the Frost Caves or Howling Cavern has a 1 in 5 chance per roll of dropping a bronze bar.
- Late-game loot. Ashlands pots and the Ancient Chests in Mörkhalla can roll bronze, but it’s rare and far past the point where you need it.
What to make first
| Item | Bronze | Other materials |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze Pickaxe | 10 | 3 Corewood |
| Bronze Axe | 8 | 4 Wood, 2 Leather scraps |
| Bronze helmet, chest and legs | 5 each | 2 Deer hide each |
| Cultivator | 5 | 5 Corewood |
| Bronze Nails | 1 | makes 20 |
The bronze pickaxe replaces the antler pickaxe, so it’s the usual first craft. The cultivator is next if you want to start farming.
Further reading
FAQ
What do you need to make bronze in Valheim?
2 copper and 1 tin, crafted at a forge. The forge also has a batch recipe: 10 copper and 5 tin make 5 bronze.
Can you teleport bronze in Valheim?
No. Bronze, copper, tin and both ores are flagged as not teleportable, so you have to sail or walk them home.
How much coal does it take to smelt copper and tin?
The smelter uses 2 coal per ore and takes 30 seconds per bar. It holds up to 10 ore at a time.
What pickaxe do I need for copper?
Copper deposits have no minimum tool tier, so the antler pickaxe from Eikthyr works. Any later pickaxe does too.
