Valheim is a survival game that sees players start with nothing and advance through increasingly harder biomes that yield better and better resources. After relying on Wood, Stone, Flint, Bronze, Iron, and then Silver, players can brave the Plains and find Black Metal Scraps. With the help of a Blast Furnace, these scraps can be smelted into Black Metal.
Black Metal is currently the best metal available in Valheim and is used to forge some of the best weapons and items in the game. Black Metal weapons in Valheim range from durable shields to one of the best swords in the game and even the Skoll and Hati, a rare weapon that is duel wielded.
7 Black Metal Shield
- Block: 78
- Crafting Materials: 10 Fine Wood, 8 Black Metal, 5 Chain
Out of all the shields in Valheim, the Black Metal Shield is one of the best. Like the other round shields in the game, the Black Metal Shield offers players the perfect compromise between parry power and blocking strength, two stats at which bucklers and tower shields excel, respectively.
Like many other shields in the game, players can choose from seven different designs when crafting the Black Metal Shield, each featuring different colors and patterns.
6 Blackmetal Knife
- Damage Type: 34 Pierce and 34 Slash
- Crafting Materials: 4 Fine Wood, 10 Black Metal, 5 Linen Thread
For players who prefer to get up close and personal with enemies or utilize the stealth mechanics in Valheim, the Blackmetal Knife is a great option. In terms of knives within the game, it is only beaten by the Skoll and Hati, but the Blackmetal Knife has the advantage of being unlocked in the Plains biome.
By leaping in with the knife's secondary attack, players can quickly close the distance on enemies and deal incredible damage, all of which can be followed up with more fast stabs.
5 Blackmetal Axe
- Damage Type: 100 Slash
- Crafting Materials: 6 Fine Wood, 20 Black Metal, 5 Linen Thread
As a woodcutting axe, the Blackmetal Axe has no competitor, being able to chop down all types of trees in the game with the highest Chop stat. Like other axes in Valheim though, it is far from the best weapon, but is still a solid option, especially when compared with weapons made out of inferior metal.
The main benefit of using the Blackmetal Axe as a weapon is that players don't have to waste inventory space as it is a tool and weapon combined. The downside of this is that durability can be a problem.
4 Blackmetal Sword
- Damage Type: 95 Slash
- Crafting Materials: 2 Fine Wood, 20 Black Metal, 5 Linen Thread
The Blackmetal Sword is the fourth out of the six swords in Valheim that players will unlock. As with any sword in the game, it is an extremely reliable weapon that has no extreme strengths or weaknesses.
Although it does not deal as much damage as the Blackmetal Atgeir, it requires a lot less Black Metal which can be hard to get, making it a cheaper option.
3 Black Metal Tower Shield
- Block: 104
- Crafting Materials: 15 Fine Wood, 10 Black Metal, 7 Chains
Tower shields in Valheim are by nature large shields that excel at blocking, but unlike smaller shields, they cannot parry. Chief among the tower shields is the Black Metal Tower Shield, which has the highest block stat in the game.
While it doesn't cost too much Black Metal to forge, players will need to source plenty of Chains from the Swamp biome, especially if they are looking to upgrade their Black Metal Tower Shield further. When first crafting their shield, players can choose from an array of different designs to suit their aesthetic.
2 Blackmetal Atgeir
- Damage Type: 105 Pierce
- Crafting Materials: 10 Fine Wood, 30 Black Metal, 5 Linen Thread
Out of the four polearms in Valheim, the Blackmetal Atgeir is the second best only beaten by the legendary Himmin Afl. Like the other Atgeirs, its secondary attack is a deadly 360-degree sweep, which comes in handy when surrounded by an entire Fuling army.
Although the Blackmetal Ategeir has the highest upfront damage of all the Black Metal weapons, it also comes with the downsides of every two-handed weapon in Valheim, such as lower attack speed and movement speed reduction.
1 Skoll And Hati
- Damage Type: 45 Pierce and 45 Slash
- Crafting Materials: 4 Fine Wood, 10 Iron, 10 Black Metal
The Skoll and Hati is one of the most unique weapons in Valheim as it is the only example of dual wielding. As a knife, it has incredible attack speed, a deadly secondary attack, and of course great backstab damage. Its low weight also makes it great for when inventory space is limited.
While the Skoll and Hati is made out of similar materials to those that make up the other Black Metal weapons, it can only be forged at a Black Forge which players must venture into the Mistlands to acquire.
Valheim is available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.