Getting Started in Valheim

Follow the biome order — Meadows, Black Forest, Swamp, Mountains, Plains, Mistlands, Ashlands — since each metal tier requires tools made from the previous one (a Bronze pickaxe is needed to mine Iron in Swamp crypts, for example).
Swap your Forsaken Power to match the task: Eikthyr for grinding/running, Moder for sailing, and Yagluth or Bonemass for tough fights.
Food matters more than gear in the later biomes — three high-tier foods for max HP and stamina carry you further through Plains, Mistlands, and Ashlands than a marginal weapon upgrade.
Don't skip biome-appropriate resistances — Ashlands specifically requires Fire Resistance before you set foot on its lava terrain.