Quick answer
Farm a fast Beacon loop with every unfinished slot filled
Tarstones gain XP from kills while equipped; you do not need to activate their effects. Equip as many compatible, unfinished Tarstones as possible, kill the densest nearby group you can clear safely, rest at the Beacon to respawn it, and swap out every stone as soon as its bar is full. GamingBolt
For progression, normal exploration is efficient enough early. Current player reports favor Desolate Keep for an early/mid-game loop and Faithful Shelter late in the game. These route values are community measurements, not fixed official rewards.
The four XP rules that prevent wasted farming
- Equipped is enough.The effect does not need to activate; the stone must occupy an active, compatible slot while enemies die.
- Level 1 needs 10,000 XP.Temper it at the Tarforge to unlock the 20,000 XP Level 2 bar. GameSpot
- Death does not erase XP.A risky loop may still progress the stones, though repeated deaths lower real XP per minute.
- Full-bar XP is wasted.Progress does not carry into the next bar. Replace capped stones or Temper them before continuing. GamingBolt
Level multiple Tarstones in the same run
Fill every usable Shell, Ability, Combat, and Infusion slot with a stone that still needs XP. One guide describes a maximum of ten simultaneously equipped Tarstones when all applicable slots are available. GamingBolt
Do not weaken the loadout so much that each reset becomes slow or unreliable. Keep the damage and survival effects needed to clear the loop quickly, then use the remaining slots for passive leveling.
Current Tarstone XP farming routes
| Stage | Route | Reported Tarstone XP | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early game | Normal exploration and bosses | No stable route value | Progress without detouring or spoilers |
| Early / mid | Desolate Keep: opening rooms, Grisha pit, hook-hand enemy | About 1,000–1,500 per clear | Short, repeatable loop with other rewards |
| Alternative | Beacon with four Grisha hunters and a nearby tree enemy | About 970–1,000 per clear | Fast reset if the encounter remains favorable |
| Late game | Faithful Shelter Beacon | About 1,800–3,000 per run | Higher reported yield; location spoilers |
The original route discussion contains an image and multiple independent replies supporting Desolate Keep and Faithful Shelter as useful farms, but reported totals vary widely. Reddit route discussion Desolate Keep discussion
Choose the fastest route for your build, not the largest XP claim
Measure one complete cycle from leaving the Beacon to resting again. A lower-value loop wins if you clear it safely and reset twice as fast. Include deaths, loading, travel, and inventory swaps in the comparison.
At roughly 1,000 XP per reset, Level 1 takes about 10 runs and the next bar about 20. This is arithmetic based on the reported route value, not a guaranteed run count.
Should you farm in Night Mode?
Night Mode is useful when you also want Coins or Gloom, but current material does not prove that it directly multiplies Tarstone XP. If harder enemies increase clear time or deaths, it can reduce practical Tarstone XP per minute despite improving other rewards.
Why is a Tarstone gaining no XP?
- It is not in an active slot: owning or carrying the stone is not enough.
- The slot is incompatible: confirm the stone is actually equipped, not merely selected in a menu.
- The bar is already full: Temper it at the Tarforge; extra kills will not overflow.
- You expected effect usage to matter: kills while equipped are the supported trigger.
Player frustration often comes from hidden per-enemy values and slow feedback rather than a separate activation requirement. Reddit leveling discussion
Short answers
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to activate a Tarstone effect to earn XP?
No. Keep the Tarstone equipped in an active, compatible slot while killing enemies; its effect does not need to trigger.
How much XP does each Tarstone level need?
Level 1 needs 10,000 XP before Tempering to Level 2. The next bar needs 20,000 XP before the Level 3 Temper.
Is Tarstone XP lost when you die?
No. Current guides report that earned Tarstone XP remains after death.
Does Night Mode increase Tarstone XP?
Night Mode improves other combat rewards, but the reviewed sources do not establish a direct Tarstone XP multiplier. Use it for combined farming only if the extra danger does not slow your route.