Quick answer
Equip, unlock, then Temper
Keep a Tarstone slotted in an active, compatible slot while defeating enemies. Find the Etching Needles in the Glutted Mire and give them to Franz at the Tarforge in Marrow Keep to unlock Temper Tarstones.
Level 1 requires 10,000 XP and 100 Coins. The final upgrade requires another 20,000 XP, 150 Coins, and six Tarcores, with three Tarcores returned afterward. GameSpot GamingBolt
Costs at a glance
Tarstone upgrade requirements
| Upgrade | XP required | Tarforge cost | Tarcore result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 → 2 | 10,000 XP | 100 Coins | +1 Tarcore |
| Level 2 → 3 | 20,000 XP | 150 Coins + 6 Tarcores | 3 returned |
You need six Tarcores to start the upgrade, but three are returned afterward, so the net Tarcore cost is three.
In the current retail version, Tarstones have three levels. Older or beta-derived references may still describe a four-level system. GameSpot GamingBolt
The common blocker
Why can't I upgrade my Tarstone?
If your Tarstone is stuck at 10,000/10,000 XP, the XP bar is probably not the problem. You most likely have not unlocked Tarstone Tempering yet.
Find the Etching Needles, give them to Franz, then interact with the Tarforge itself and select Temper Tarstones. Giving Franz the item unlocks the service; it does not automatically upgrade every full Tarstone.
- XP is not full: Level 1 needs 10,000 XP; Level 2 needs 20,000 XP.
- Etching Needles are missing: a full XP bar does not unlock the Temper menu.
- Wrong menu: choose Temper Tarstones at the machine instead of expecting Franz's dialogue to upgrade the stone.
- Level 3 materials are incomplete: you need 150 Coins and six Tarcores available at the same time.
- No XP is arriving: the Tarstone must be active and compatible with its current slot.
Community troubleshooting: after Tempering, check the Tarforge area for its output. Players report that a rewarded Tarcore may sometimes need to be collected manually.
Unlock the menu
Where to find the Etching Needles
The Etching Needles are in the Glutted Mire, along the route to Magdalena, the Lady of the Woods. The chest is close to Ruk, shortly before the boss arena. GameSpot
- 01Travel to the Sunken Village Beacon in the Glutted Mire.
- 02Cross the bridge into the sheep pen and defeat the Tarblighted Shepherd.
- 03Pass through the opening in the wooden boards, then cross the next bridge.
- 04Continue to Ruk and open the nearby chest before the Magdalena arena.
- 05Return to Marrow Keep and give the Etching Needles to Franz.
- 06Interact with the Tarforge and select Temper Tarstones.
The Etching Needles unlock the Tarstone service only. Enhancing weapons and sidearms requires different Tarforge components.
Progression rules
How Tarstone XP works
Equipped Tarstones gain progression from enemy kills. You do not need to activate the effect, deal the finishing blow with it, or repeatedly use an Infusion or Ability. The Tarstone only needs to remain in an active, compatible slot while you fight.
The first bar stops at 10,000 XP. Tempering the stone to Level 2 opens a new 20,000 XP bar for the final upgrade. XP is not lost on death, but excess XP does not carry over after a bar reaches its cap. GamingBolt
For general leveling, equip as many unfinished Tarstones as your loadout permits, clear an enemy-dense route near a Beacon, rest to reset the enemies, and replace any stone that reaches its cap. A separate XP farming guide will cover specific routes and run-by-run comparisons.
Night Mode improves the Coin and Gloom yield of the same run, but no reliable evidence currently proves that it directly multiplies Tarstone XP. GameRant
Resource loop
How to get and use Tarcores
Whenever you Temper a Tarstone from Level 1 to Level 2, you pay 100 Coins and receive one Tarcore. This applies even when that stone is not part of your planned final build.
Leveling otherwise-unused Tarstones can therefore fund Level 3 upgrades. Because the final Temper temporarily requires six Tarcores and returns only three, prioritize stones you expect to use. That is a practical resource strategy, not a requirement to upgrade every stone you find.
Short answers
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to activate a Tarstone ability to level it?
No. A Tarstone earns progression from enemy kills while it is equipped in an active, compatible slot. Its effect does not need to be manually triggered.
What is the maximum Tarstone level?
Current retail-version sources consistently describe Level 3 as the maximum. Older or beta-derived sources may still mention four levels.
Is Tarstone XP lost on death?
No. Tarstone XP remains after death and is separate from other progression currencies that may follow different loss rules.
Does XP carry over after the bar is full?
No. Once a Tarstone reaches its current XP cap, additional progress is wasted until you Temper it at the Tarforge.
Should I kill Franz to unlock Tempering early?
Killing Franz can reportedly unlock Tarforge functions early, but it is not the recommended route. Community reports suggest it may increase later weapon-upgrade material costs. Because that penalty has not been fully documented by authoritative sources, do not kill Franz solely to unlock Tempering unless you accept the possible consequences. Reddit player test