Do You Need a Bronze Pickaxe to Mine Iron in Valheim?

Valheim, the wildly popular survival game, is all about progression. You start with the basics: wood, stone, and a humble axe. But as you push deeper into its world, each new resource becomes a stepping stone to better gear and more challenging bosses. Iron, found in the Swamps biome, is one of those milestones. But there’s a bit of a trick to getting it.

The short answer to whether you need a bronze pickaxe to mine iron is no. Iron is actually found in Muddy Scrap Piles hidden within the crypts of the Swamps. To break through these mud piles, you need just a Pickaxe, but not necessarily a bronze one. In fact, you can use the Antler Pickaxe, which you can craft earlier in the game after defeating the first boss, Eikthyr.

Why the Confusion?

There’s often confusion about needing a bronze pickaxe because of the natural progression of materials in Valheim. In most survival games, the stronger the material, the better the gear you need to harvest it. And Valheim does follow this logic—just not when it comes to iron. The Antler Pickaxe, despite being the game’s first pickaxe, is perfectly capable of breaking through the Muddy Scrap Piles that hold iron.

But why stop at the Antler Pickaxe?

The Antler Pickaxe has 100 durability and a Pickaxe power of 18, which means it can wear down fairly quickly when mining large amounts of iron. If you’ve upgraded to a Bronze Pickaxe, you’ll notice that it’s more durable and faster, boasting 200 durability and a Pickaxe power of 25. This means you’ll spend less time repairing your pickaxe and more time gathering that sweet, sweet iron.

Crafting Your First Pickaxe

Before we dive further into the pros and cons of pickaxe choice, let's touch on how to craft the Antler Pickaxe. After defeating Eikthyr, you’ll receive Hard Antlers. With just 10 pieces of wood and 1 Hard Antler, you can craft this valuable tool at a Workbench. That’s your first step toward mining, whether you're aiming for tin, copper, or iron.

Why a Bronze Pickaxe Is Still Useful

Even though the Antler Pickaxe can break iron scrap, many players prefer to craft a bronze pickaxe before heading into the swamps. Here’s why:

1. Durability: With a bronze pickaxe, you can spend more time mining and less time running back to repair your gear.
2. Efficiency: A stronger pickaxe means you’ll break through Muddy Scrap Piles faster, reducing the time spent in the dangerous swamp biome.
3. Progression: If you’re already mining tin and copper to create bronze, it’s natural to upgrade your tools as part of your overall progression.

However, crafting a bronze pickaxe isn’t simple. You’ll need tin and copper, and mining these resources can be a time-consuming process in its own right. Plus, you need a Forge to craft the bronze pickaxe, and that requires building a Smelter and Charcoal Kiln. All of this takes time and resources, which might delay your first expedition into the swamps.

Muddy Scrap Piles: Your Gateway to Iron

Muddy Scrap Piles are where the real fun begins. These piles contain Iron Scrap, and once smelted, this scrap becomes Iron, one of the game’s most versatile and important resources. Iron weapons, armor, and tools are significant upgrades over your bronze gear. But getting to the scrap is the tricky part. Swamp biomes are filled with dangers, including Draugr, Skeletons, and the horrifying Blob.

Pro Tip: Bring plenty of poison resistance mead into the swamp, as the Blob’s poison attack can take you down quickly if you're not prepared.

Smelting Your Iron

After gathering Iron Scrap, the next step is to turn it into usable iron ingots. You’ll need a Smelter, which you likely already built when working with tin and copper. Using coal as fuel, you can smelt the scrap into pure iron, which can then be used to craft Iron Armor, Iron Weapons, and the Iron Pickaxe—a game-changer for your mining operations moving forward.

The Iron Pickaxe: A Must-Have Upgrade

Eventually, you’ll want to replace both your Antler and Bronze Pickaxe with the Iron Pickaxe. Here’s why:

• Durability: The Iron Pickaxe has 150 durability, giving it a significant edge over the Antler Pickaxe and even the Bronze Pickaxe.
• Power: With a Pickaxe power of 33, it makes quick work of iron mining and other future materials like Silver.

Mining Beyond Iron: What Comes Next?

Once you’ve started mining iron, you’re well on your way to unlocking even more powerful materials. After defeating the game’s third boss, Bonemass, you’ll gain access to Silver, which is found in the mountains. For that, however, you’ll need the Wishbone and a better pickaxe, most likely iron or even silver itself.

Is a Bronze Pickaxe Necessary?

At this point, you might be asking yourself, “Is it really worth crafting a bronze pickaxe if I can just use the antler pickaxe?” The answer depends on your playstyle:

• For speedrunners: The antler pickaxe gets the job done. If you’re looking to progress quickly, skip the bronze pickaxe, head into the swamps, and start gathering iron as soon as possible.
• For completionists: If you like to take your time and ensure you have the best tools at each stage, the bronze pickaxe is a natural progression. It offers better durability and efficiency, making your time in the swamps easier.

Final Thoughts: Iron or Bronze?

In conclusion, while you don’t need a bronze pickaxe to mine iron in Valheim, it can make your journey smoother. The antler pickaxe is fully capable of getting you started in iron mining, but if you prefer longer mining sessions without constant repairs, the bronze pickaxe is a worthy investment.

Ultimately, Valheim is about choice. How you progress through the game’s resources depends on how you play. Whether you rush into iron with your trusty antler pickaxe or take the time to craft a bronze pickaxe, the satisfaction of gathering that first pile of iron scrap remains the same. Just be prepared for what lies in the swamps—because mining iron is only half the battle.