Where Does Tar Spawn in Valheim? A Comprehensive Guide to Finding This Essential Resource
The dark, sticky substance known as tar is a vital crafting material in Valheim, required for creating some of the game’s more advanced structures and items. This guide will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of where to find tar, how to efficiently gather it, and everything else you need to know about this crucial resource.
The Plains Biome: Your Go-To Location for Tar
The simple answer to the question of where tar spawns is: exclusively in the Plains biome. Unlike other resources scattered across multiple biomes, tar is uniquely tied to this more challenging area. Within the Plains, tar is found in the form of tar pits, readily identifiable by their pools of dark, viscous liquid. These pits are typically easy to spot during the day, making them hard to miss as you explore.
How to Find Tar in Valheim
Visual Identification
When venturing into the Plains biome, keep an eye out for the telltale signs of tar pits. They appear as dark, often circular or irregularly shaped, pools of a substance that resembles black oil. These are usually not very deep, but they can be wide. The contrasting dark color of the tar against the surrounding landscape makes them easily distinguishable. If you encounter the aggressive Growths, be aware a tar pit is near by.
Environmental Clues
Another sign you’re nearing a tar pit is the presence of Growths. These blob-like creatures are the primary guardians of these tar deposits. If you spot Growths roaming the Plains, it’s a strong indicator that a tar pit is nearby. Often there are bones and other skeletal debris scattered around tar pits as well.
Exploring the Plains
Simply exploring the Plains biome is often the most effective way to find tar. Be cautious, however, as the Plains are home to some of Valheim’s toughest creatures. As you traverse the area, scan your surroundings carefully. Remember that tar pits are usually easy to spot, especially during the daytime due to the stark contrast between the dark tar and the surrounding environment.
Maximizing Your Tar Harvest
Using Your Pickaxe
While you can directly collect tar from the resource nodes around the edges of the tar pit, this will not maximize your harvest. To get the most tar, use your pickaxe to dig a trench from the pit to a lower-lying area. This will drain the pit into the lower level and you can then walk around in the empty pit and collect all the tar.
Beware of the Tarred Debuff
Be aware that stepping into a tar pit will inflict the Tarred debuff, which reduces your movement speed by 50% for 10 seconds. It’s essential to plan your movements carefully to avoid prolonged exposure.
Eliminating Growths
Growths guard the tar pits, and you’ll want to eliminate them. Typically, a fresh tar pit will have 4 to 7 Growths. However, even after eliminating all Growths from the initial encounter, they will respawn in pairs in the area, even if you have completely drained the tar pit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tar in Valheim
1. What exactly is tar used for in Valheim?
Tar is a base crafting material used in crafting various items, particularly in the late-game stages. Examples of these are the Blackmetal weapons and Blackmetal shields, as well as other crafted items. As you progress in Valheim, you’ll discover more uses for tar.
2. Can I find tar anywhere other than the Plains biome?
No, tar is exclusively found in the Plains biome in Valheim. It is not found in any other biome and you will not find it in chests or other containers, or from any enemy or creature other than growths.
3. Are tar pits unlimited sources of tar?
While the initial yield from a tar pit can be quite substantial, the tar itself doesn’t respawn. However, you can continue to harvest tar from any growths that spawn after the initial growths are killed. After the initial growths are killed, they will respawn in pairs over time, as well.
4. What are Growths, and why are they near tar pits?
Growths are the hostile blob-like creatures that guard tar pits. They are a major source of the tar resource itself, and are always found in close proximity to tar pits. They emit poisonous black gasses, which can pose a threat to unwary players.
5. Can I burn the tar in the pits?
No, tar pits cannot be set on fire. Any attempts to ignite them using a torch or other methods will be unsuccessful. Tar has unique properties in Valheim and cannot be burned.
6. Will items dropped in a tar pit disappear?
No, items dropped in a tar pit will not despawn. However, you cannot retrieve them until the pit is drained of the tar. They can then be retrieved after draining the tar pit.
7. Does building campfires around tar pits prevent Growths from spawning?
Yes, placing a campfire at the border of the tar pit will prevent the Growths from spawning. This is an effective method to keep your farming location safe.
8. How do I deal with the Tarred debuff?
The Tarred debuff slows you down when swimming in a tar pit. It lasts for 10 seconds and reduces your movement speed by 50%. There is no other way to deal with the debuff, as it is removed naturally after 10 seconds.
9. Can I build structures within a tar pit?
While you can place certain items near the edge of the tar pits, building directly in the pit is usually not possible due to the liquid tar. However, after draining the pit, you can build as normal.
10. What other resources can be found around tar pits?
Aside from tar itself, you can find bone fragments by destroying the bones and skeletons that are often scattered around tar pits. Sometimes a rare trophy can be dropped from the growth, but most of the time it will just be tar.
11. How can I effectively clear a tar pit of Growths?
Use fire damage to combat Growths most effectively. Use fire arrows and fire swords to dispatch these creatures efficiently. These enemies have a large health pool, so it may take more than a few hits.
12. Do Growths respawn if I don’t place campfires?
Yes, even if you drain the tar pit completely, Growths will respawn in pairs over time, unless you place campfires near the edges of the tar pit. However, this will also keep you from harvesting the tar from the growths as they are not in the pit.
13. Is there a best time of day to find tar pits?
The time of day does not impact the spawn of tar pits. However, they are easier to locate in daylight due to the visual contrast between the dark tar and the surrounding Plains environment.
14. Can I use tar to build defensive structures?
No, tar is not used to build defensive structures. It is primarily used for weapons, armor, and other crafting needs. However, it can be used in combination with other items to build defensive structures.
15. What are some strategies for farming tar efficiently?
The most efficient strategy is to locate a tar pit and clear the initial Growths. Then, create a trench and drain the pit. Collect all the initial tar resources. Build campfires along the edges of the pit. Return as necessary for subsequent tar farming.
Conclusion
Finding and harvesting tar is essential for progressing through the later stages of Valheim. By exploring the Plains biome, understanding the signs of tar pits, and using proper harvesting techniques, you can secure this crucial resource for your crafting endeavors. Be wary of Growths, manage the Tarred debuff and use campfires to your advantage. Happy hunting, Viking!