Create tools by gathering basic materials and using the crafting menu within your inventory. Build a crafting bench and ensure it is sheltered to unlock advanced recipes and repairs, making survival in Valheim easier.
Creating Your First Tools
Begin crafting essential survival tools by using the inventory-based crafting menu.
steps
- Gather small branches and loose stones from the ground.
- Open the crafting menu by pressing the tab key.
- Craft a stone axe first to efficiently gather more wood. Follow this by crafting a hammer to unlock the ability to build structures and a club for self-defense.
Building and Using a Crafting Bench
The crafting bench is a key structure for advanced crafting recipes and repairs. Build it early to expand your crafting options.
steps
- Use the hammer you crafted to access its build menu. Select the crafting bench from the "Crafting" tab and place it in the desired location.

The crafting menu displays the crafting bench option with required resources listed. — Razi the Insane
The crafting menu displays the crafting bench option with required resources listed.
- Build a shelter around the crafting bench. Use walls and a roof from the hammer's building tab to ensure the bench is covered.

A wooden wall is being placed near the crafting bench, as indicated by the crafting interface. — Razi the Insane
A wooden wall is being placed near the crafting bench, as indicated by the crafting interface.
- Interact with the crafting bench to explore its functionality. Use the repair hammer option to fix tools and access advanced crafting recipes.

A player interacts with the workbench crafting interface, displaying the repair hammer option. — Razi the Insane
A player interacts with the workbench crafting interface, displaying the repair hammer option.
Upgrading and Maintaining Tools
To ensure your tools remain effective and durable:
Optimizing Tool Materials
Select and gather the right resources to craft effective tools and weapons:
Choosing Tool Materials
Basic Materials: Collect wood and stone scattered across the ground to create foundational tools.
Intermediate Steps: Hunt boars for leather scraps and collect flint near streams or water bodies.

The character collects flint from the edge of a stream surrounded by reeds. — Razi the Insane
The character collects flint from the edge of a stream surrounded by reeds.
Advanced Resources: Explore new biomes and interact with unfamiliar resources to unlock top-tier blueprints for weapons and armor.
FAQ
How to use the crafting bench effectively in Valheim
Build the crafting bench and ensure it is sheltered with walls and a roof. Once fully operational, use it to repair tools and access crafting options for advanced items.
Craft beginner tools in Valheim
Gather wood and stone to craft your first tools through the inventory's crafting menu. Start with a stone axe, then follow with a hammer and club for survival essentials.
Sources
Screenshots on this page are frames from the videos below, used to illustrate the steps they describe. All rights remain with their creators.
- Valheim for Complete Beginners – A Step-by-Step Introduction in 2025 — Razi the Insane, March 25, 2025
Checked against:
- Valheim Has A Release Date! — IronMontilyet, 2026-06-07
- Patch 0.221.13 (Public Test) — IronMontilyet, 2026-05-06
