Where to Find Copper Ore in Valheim
Copper is the first real metal you get in Valheim, and it's your ticket to bronze. That means better weapons, better armor, and a way easier time in the Black Forest.
So where do you find copper ore? Simple: copper deposits only spawn in the Black Forest biome. You won't find them in the Meadows, you can't buy them, and you can't skip them. If you want bronze gear, you're going mining in the Black Forest.
This guide shows you what copper deposits look like, how to mine them without dying, and what to build with your first ingots.
What Copper Deposits Look Like
A copper deposit isn't a small rock. It's a big boulder with a very specific look:
- Gray-brown stone with shiny, metallic flecks and veins running through it.
- Bigger than normal rocks, often the size of a small hill or a large boulder cluster.
- Partly buried. Most of the node is underground, so you only see the top poking out.
- Glinting in the light. Once you know that sparkle, you can spot deposits from a distance.
Copper ore isn't tin ore. Tin deposits are small, dark rocks that sit near water in the Black Forest. You need both for bronze, so keep your eyes open for both.
Where to Find Copper Ore in the Black Forest: Best Spots to Search
Copper deposits show up all over the Black Forest, but some spots are better than others:
- Hillsides and slopes. Copper nodes love high ground and uneven terrain.
- Along the edges of the biome. The border between Meadows and Black Forest is a good place to start, since it's safer and closer to home.
- Rock clusters. If you see one deposit, fan out — they often spawn near each other.
- Near Burial Chambers. Skeletons hang around these, so clear them out before you start swinging.
Here's a player-view tip: when I first started mining, I walked right past three copper deposits because I thought they were just regular rocks. The sparkle is subtle at a distance. Once you hit Black Forest, look for the boulder that looks "wet" or shiny, and you've found one.
Mark every deposit you find with a map ping (middle mouse button). Even half-mined nodes are worth coming back to.
New player warning: Don't start mining with a stone axe. It won't work. You need the Antler Pickaxe from Eikthyr first.
Before You Mine: Gear and Preparation
Step 1 — Beat Eikthyr and Craft the Antler Pickaxe
You can't mine copper with a stone axe. Only a pickaxe works. The first pickaxe in the game is the Antler Pickaxe, and you get the materials by defeating Eikthyr, the first boss.
- Kill deer in the Meadows until you have 2 Deer Trophies.
- Place the trophies on Eikthyr's Mystical Altar to summon him.
- Beat Eikthyr. He drops Hard Antlers.
- Craft the Antler Pickaxe at a level 1 Workbench using 1 Hard Antler and 10 Wood.
You can repair your pickaxe at any Workbench for free, so don't throw it away when it breaks.
Step 2 — Pack Food, Gear, and a Plan for Hauling Ore
Mining drains stamina fast, so eat well before you head out. Cooked meat, deer stew, and carrot soup are all solid early options. Bring a weapon and shield for greydwarves, a torch for night runs, and as much empty inventory space as you can manage.
Plan your haul before you dig. You can't teleport metal ore or ingots through portals, so either build a small forward base near the mining site or craft a Cart (20 Wood, 10 Bronze Nails) once you have bronze. A cart with a few hundred pounds of ore beats making six trips on foot.
New player warning: Don't tunnel straight down under yourself. Fall damage is real, and you don't want to drop into a troll.
How to Mine Copper in the Black Forest: Step by Step
- Equip your Antler Pickaxe and eat at least two stamina foods.
- Clear the area first. Greydwarves, Greydwarf Brutes, Skeletons, and Trolls all live in the Black Forest. A Troll can wreck you before you finish one node, so deal with enemies before you start mining.
- Ping the deposit on your map so you can find it later.
- Mine the exposed top. Swing at the shiny rock. Every hit drops Copper Ore.
- Dig out the dirt around the node. The pickaxe can dig terrain, and most of the deposit is buried. Excavate the sides and the ground around it so you can reach the rest.
- Keep mining until the node disappears. If you only mine the part sticking out of the ground, you're leaving ore behind. A full deposit usually gives around 8–10 Copper Ore.
- Watch your footing. Digging straight down under yourself can drop you for fall damage. Work the sides instead of tunneling under your feet.
- Haul your ore home and repair your pickaxe.
Repeat this a few times. One deposit is nowhere near enough — bronze armor and weapons eat copper fast.
Turning Copper Ore into Bronze
Smelter and Kiln Basics
Raw copper ore is useless until you smelt it.
- Build a Charcoal Kiln (20 Stone, 5 Surtling Cores) and feed it Wood to make Coal.
- Build a Smelter (20 Stone, 5 Surtling Cores) and feed it Copper Ore plus Coal to produce Copper ingots.
- Get Surtling Cores from Burial Chambers in the Black Forest. Loot every chest you find.
Your First Bronze
- Build a Forge (10 Wood, 4 Stone, 1 Copper). You need smelted copper for this, so the Smelter comes first.
- Mine Tin. Tin deposits are small dark rocks near water in the Black Forest.
- Craft Bronze at the Forge: 2 Copper + 1 Tin = 1 Bronze.
Good first crafts:
- Bronze Axe — chops birch and oak for Fine Wood, which unlocks a lot of recipes.
- Bronze Nails — needed for the Cart and the Karve boat.
- Bronze Spear, Sword, or Mace — pick based on what you fight and your skill levels.
- Bronze Armor pieces — a big survivability jump before you reach the Swamp.
- Cultivator — turns your base into a farm for carrots and turnips.
New player warning: Don't forget tin. Bronze needs copper and tin. Mining 20 copper and no tin gets you nothing.
Common Mistakes When Mining Copper
- Trying to mine with anything other than a pickaxe. It won't work. Go kill Eikthyr.
- Only mining the visible top. The rest of the node is underground. Dig it out or lose the ore.
- Forgetting tin. Bronze needs copper and tin. Mining 20 copper and no tin gets you nothing.
- Trying to portal metal home. Ores and ingots can't go through portals. Plan a forward base or a cart instead.
- Mining at night. More greydwarves spawn after dark. Mine in daylight when you can.
- Ignoring trolls. They hit hard and they're fast. Fight them in the open, or run.
- Running out of stamina mid-swing. Eat real food, not just berries.
- Never repairing the pickaxe. Repair is free at a Workbench. Do it every trip.
FAQ
How much copper ore does one deposit give?
A full copper deposit usually drops around 8–10 Copper Ore. Since bronze takes 2 copper per bar, you'll need several deposits for a full set of gear.
Can I find copper ore in the Meadows?
No. Copper deposits only spawn in the Black Forest. Tin also spawns in the Black Forest, but only near water.
Do I need to smelt copper ore before using it?
Yes. Copper Ore must be smelted in a Smelter with Coal from a Charcoal Kiln. You can't craft bronze directly from raw ore.
Can I bring copper ore through a portal?
No. Metal ores and ingots — including copper, tin, bronze, iron, and silver — can't pass through portals. Use a cart, a boat, or a forward base near the mining site.
