How to Get Tar in Valheim and What It Is Used For

Tar in Valheim comes from Growth enemies and Tar Pits in the Plains biome. You can pick up smaller amounts by defeating Growths, but draining a Tar Pit exposes a much larger supply of collectible lumps. The material unlocks darkwood construction, shingle roofs and several decorative furnishings.

You don’t need to defeat a particular boss to pick up Tar, although reaching the Plains safely is another matter. The enemies around these pits are dangerous, and knowing how to dig a drainage channel is the difference between collecting a few drops and leaving with enough Tar for a building project.

Where to find Tar in Valheim

Search the Plains for dark, bubbling pools surrounded by blackened ground. These are Tar Pits, usually guarded by Growths, the black blob-like enemies that launch volleys of sticky projectiles. Check open stretches of Plains rather than looking in other biomes. Tar in Valheim is not mined from ordinary rocks or gathered from trees.

How to get Tar from Growths

The quickest small-scale source of Tar in Valheim is killing Growths. Approach a pit from dry ground and avoid fighting in the sticky pool. Growth projectiles can apply the Tarred slowing effect as well as Poison, so keep moving sideways and use cover or distance to avoid their volleys. Fire and blunt damage are useful against Growths, while relying on piercing attacks is less effective. Collect the Tar they drop once the area is clear.

How to drain a Tar Pit in Valheim

For larger quantities of Tar in Valheim, drain the pool rather than waiting for enemies to respawn. Bring a pickaxe and locate ground lower than the surface of the pit. Dig a trench from the lower ground towards the pool, then open the final connection so the Tar can flow into the channel. If the liquid does not drain, deepen the channel or find a lower exit. You cannot collect submerged lumps reliably until the liquid level drops. Stay out of the pool while digging, because the Tarred effect can leave you vulnerable to Growth attacks.

Collecting Tar after the pit drains

Once the liquid has fallen, walk onto the exposed ground and pick up the Tar lumps by hand. Smaller lumps provide four Tar and larger ones at the bottom provide fifteen. A fresh pit can contain dozens of pieces, making drainage far more rewarding than repeatedly killing its guards. The lumps do not regenerate once collected, although Growths can return to the location. Mark unexplored pits on your map if you need enough material for a large build.

What is Tar used for in Valheim?

Tar in Valheim is mainly a building resource. Discovering it unlocks darkwood beams, arches, poles and gates, along with shingle roof pieces and decorative furniture. Other uses include the Black Metal Chest and Hot Tub. For a substantial darkwood roof or detailed base, collect a reserve before beginning construction: individual pieces use modest amounts, but the total grows quickly across an entire building.

Can you take Tar through a portal?

Yes. Unlike most metal ores and bars, Tar in Valheim can travel through a normal wooden portal under default settings. That makes a temporary portal near a safe Plains staging area particularly useful. Bring the material home in several trips rather than carrying a heavy load through hostile territory. Each piece of Tar weighs two units, so inventory weight still matters.

Why can’t I collect the Tar in the pit?

If Tar in Valheim appears trapped below the surface, the pit has not drained far enough. Dig an outlet to lower ground and check whether the trench actually connects to the pool. You cannot solve this by setting the liquid on fire. Clear nearby Growths before trying again, and don’t jump into the Tar to retrieve a dropped item: the slowing effect makes escaping difficult.

Do Tar Pits respawn?

The lumps in a drained pit are finite, so the fastest way to get a large new supply of Tar in Valheim is to locate another untouched pit. Growth enemies can respawn, allowing smaller repeat collections, but they are not a substitute for draining a fresh location when you need dozens of pieces.

With a drained pit cleared and a portal nearby, you can carry enough Tar home for a substantial darkwood building project without repeated dangerous trips. For official updates, visit the Valheim website.