Valheim players know mining can be slow and repetitive, but there are thoughtful ways to speed things up. This guide explains how to automate gathering wood, stone, resin, dandelions, and other resources so they accumulate with less manual effort.
Agricultural and household guides in Valheim
- Fishing in Valheim – where to find a fishing rod and how to catch fish
- Seeds in Valheim – where to find and plant carrots, turnips, beech, spruce, pine, barley and flax
- How to fell birch, pine, oak and other trees in Valheim
- Where to find honey and how to build a beehive in Valheim. How to keep bees happy
- How to access food and drink recipes in Valheim. Where to find ingredients for meals
- How to make a fermentation vessel in Valheim
- How to make linen thread (where to find it) in Valheim and why it is useful
- How to build a windmill in Valheim and where to find barley for flour
- Guide to plants and trees in Valheim. Where to find and why you need carrots, flax, barley, birch, raspberries, turnips and more
- How to tame a boar in Valheim
- How to tame a wolf in Valheim
- How to grow wood and stone in Valheim – an automatic resource mining guide
How to edit wood and stone in automatic mode
Earlier guides covered ways to obtain wood and stone. Yet these resources, along with a few others, can be produced automatically with a bit of planning.
First, several in-game days are needed to construct a special structure. Its purpose is to reliably extract essential survival resources.
The main objective involves a gradeworm nest. Occasionally it spawns different enemies. Some pose a higher risk for newcomers. Still, the key point is that after defeating them, players can harvest wood, stone, resin, dandelions, trophies, ancient seeds, eyes, and even explosive remnants.
The nest resides only in the black forest. Veteran players know this biome hosts trolls, skeletons, and other threats.
To prevent constant monster spawns, it is wise to team up. One player handles enemy elimination while another builds a shelter. The idea is to create a semi-protected enclosure around the nest so spawning is limited.
The gradeworm nest will programmatically spawn creatures only in open space near its spawn point. It cannot spawn inside a building, so players can exploit this by constructing a simple shelter around the nest using basic materials.
For this approach, the following were used:
- wooden beams (supports)
- straw roofing
- wooden floor
If spawns persist, extending the roof and floor a few more squares around the nest often helps. Before doing so, clear fallen branches and level the ground with a hoe to create a stable base.
Next, clear trees and large stones from the area. It is best if the nest sits on elevated ground. With a pickaxe, dig a wide trench around the perimeter of the shelter, digging down as far as possible without compromising the structure.
Remark: a fire and a bed for rest can be placed nearby to avoid frequent trips back to camp.
Once the moat around the gradeworm nest is prepared, construction of an automatic resource harvester can begin.
How to build an automatic wood and stone miner in Valheim
The first step is laying wooden beams from multiple sides so they connect the ground with the improvised building. If the structure collapses, rebuild promptly and continue defending against waves of gradeworms. The goal is a sturdy, functional setup as shown in the reference images.
Next, descend to level the site and ensure the nest remains inactive during work. The walls and floor should be built of stone, with the earth around the nest left intact on the highest point of the site.
The next phase adds a fire source. Position multiple fires underneath or beside the nest, leaving some space for ground movement. The earth can be raised with a hoe and leveled to the hearth level.
Be careful to keep soil away from the hearth itself; if soil blocks the fire, the furnace will go out and the project may need rework. It is smart to light fires around the trap edges so enemies are burned quickly when gathered at one place.
Note that this approach is not flawless. Aggressive gradeworfs may try to destroy fireplaces and fires after spawning, so periodic maintenance is necessary.
A more advanced alternative uses braziers. They require exploration of ice caves and fighting for fenris claws, but braziers are more resilient to ground shifts and can spawn monsters directly above the fire source. The setup resembles the referenced visuals and is less sensitive to soil coverage.
Remark: braziers should not be buried. Monsters spawn beside them and burn up in close quarters.
Greydvorf are quick and agile, so a stone fence around the trap is recommended for added security.
Afterward, the wooden structure can be removed, leaving a durable stone enclosure. The key is ensuring the pit and the nest are fully enclosed so a stray troll cannot reach the shelter. This also protects camps from unexpected monster attacks.
Weather considerations matter too. Rain can extinguish braziers or hearths, so they must be shielded. However, covering the nest with a roof would stop monster spawns; instead, several stone arches can be placed above the nest to balance safety and spawning dynamics.
Getting in is straightforward. A portal can be placed on the outside of the trap and another on the inside. This area can house loot chests, a portal to the base, a bed for comfort, and decorative items. If braziers are used, a separate fire should be maintained.
Regular visits are needed to collect resources waiting inside the trap. Firewood should be added to hearths and coal to braziers, providing fuel for several in-game days.
The beauty of this method is that resources dropped by monsters can be teleported. A note worth remembering: the larger the cleared earth area under the nest, the more frequent the spawns tend to be.
Other guides
- Valheim boss walkthrough – how to defeat Eiktur, Elder, Bone Mass, Mouder, Yagluth and the Queen
- Weapons in Valheim – recipes for bows, arrows, spears, harpoons, bombs, halberds, axes, maces, hammers, swords, knives and shields
- How to upgrade the workbench in Valheim to level 5. How to unlock the chopping block, tanner, drawbar and tool shelf
- Armor in Valheim – recipes for helmets, armor, pants and cloaks
- How to find a merchant in Valheim and what goods you can buy from him
- Seeds in Valheim – where to find and plant carrots, turnips, beech, spruce, pine, barley and flax
- How to create and set up a dedicated server in Valheim – how to install SteamCMD, save the game world and connect directly to the server
- How to locate saves in Valheim. Where the saves are stored
- Raw materials in Velheim: how to obtain copper, tin, iron, coal, flint, chitin, leather, wood, stone and food
- Biomes in Valheim – how to find mountains, black forest, plains, swamps and other regions
Attributed to VG Times [citation]