Embark on a journey to master horse training in Black Desert Online with the essential guide to Lightstones. This comprehensive article will illuminate the path to optimizing your horse’s potential, ensuring your digital steeds are not just mounts, but formidable partners in your adventures.
Understanding Lightstones in BDO Horse Training
In the vast world of Black Desert Online, horses are more than just a means of transportation; they are companions that can be trained, bred, and equipped to enhance your gameplay. Among the various customization options, Lightstones play a pivotal role in augmenting your horse’s abilities and training efficiency. These ethereal gems, when socketed into your horse’s gear, offer a spectrum of buffs that can significantly impact your training endeavors.
What are Lightstones and How Do They Work?
Lightstones are consumable items that can be embedded into specific horse gear, such as the Horse Gear Set. Each Lightstone possesses unique properties, offering buffs ranging from increased training experience to improved horse stats like speed and acceleration. The synergy between different Lightstones and their strategic placement on your horse’s gear can lead to remarkable improvements in training outcomes and overall performance.
The Importance of Lightstones for Trainers
For dedicated horse trainers in BDO, Lightstones are indispensable. They offer a tangible advantage in the often time-consuming process of leveling up horses. By equipping Lightstones that boost training experience gain, trainers can accelerate the progression of their horses, allowing them to reach higher tiers and unlock more advanced skills faster. This not only saves valuable time but also increases the potential profitability of horse training activities.
Types of Lightstones and Their Effects
Black Desert Online features a variety of Lightstones, each designed to cater to different aspects of gameplay, including horse training. Understanding the specific effects of each type is crucial for maximizing their benefit.
Lightstones for Training Experience
The most sought-after Lightstones for trainers are those that directly enhance training experience gain. These are often found in sets or as individual gems that provide a percentage increase to the experience your horse earns while training.
- Teardrops of the Sea: This popular set often includes Lightstones that boost training EXP.
- Other EXP Boosters: Various other Lightstones or combinations might offer direct buffs to training EXP, making them a priority for any aspiring horse trainer.
Lightstones for Performance Enhancement
Beyond just experience gain, certain Lightstones can improve your horse’s core stats, which indirectly aids in training by making activities more efficient or allowing access to areas requiring higher horse capabilities.
- Speed and Acceleration: Lightstones that increase movement speed can help you cover more ground faster during training routes.
- Stamina and Health: While less direct, improvements to stamina can reduce downtime, and those that bolster health might be useful for horses undertaking challenging training regimens.
- Skill Cooldown Reduction: Faster cooldowns for skills like Drift, Sprint, and Instant Accel can significantly speed up training loops.
Set Bonuses and Synergies
Many Lightstones are designed to work in tandem, offering amplified effects when specific combinations are socketed. Understanding these set bonuses is key to optimizing your gear. For instance, equipping two of the same type of Lightstone, or specific named sets, can unlock powerful synergistic buffs that far outweigh the effects of individual stones.
BDO horse training gear with Lightstones socketed, showing glowing gems enhancing horse stats
Acquiring Lightstones for Your Horses
Lightstones can be obtained through various means within Black Desert Online, each with its own challenges and rewards.
Crafting and Gathering
Some basic Lightstones can be crafted through the in-game crafting system, often requiring materials gathered from various nodes or monsters throughout the world. This method offers a more hands-on approach for players who enjoy gathering and crafting.
In-Game Shops and Vendors
Certain Lightstones or the materials needed to craft them can be purchased from specific NPCs or through the in-game marketplace. The availability and price will fluctuate based on player demand and server economy.
World Bosses and Event Rewards
Rare and powerful Lightstones are often dropped by world bosses or awarded through special in-game events. Participating in these activities can yield some of the most potent Lightstones available, making them highly valuable.
Loyalty and Pearl Shop
Occasionally, specific Lightstones or bundles might be available through the Loyalty shop or the Pearl Shop. While sometimes requiring real-world currency, these can offer direct access to sought-after items.
Strategic Application of Lightstones in Training
Simply equipping Lightstones is not enough; strategic application based on your training goals is paramount.
Prioritizing Training EXP Boosts
For players focused on rapidly leveling horses, the primary objective should be acquiring and equipping Lightstones that maximize training EXP gain. This often means seeking out specific sets like “Teardrops of the Sea” or other known EXP-boosting combinations.
Optimizing for Speed and Efficiency
If your goal is to complete training loops faster, focus on Lightstones that enhance your horse’s speed, acceleration, and skill cooldowns. This allows for quicker movement between training locations and more efficient use of skills like Sprint and Instant Accel.
Balancing Stats for Versatility
A balanced approach might involve a mix of EXP-boosting Lightstones and those that improve performance. This is ideal for players who want to train their horses efficiently while also preparing them for more demanding activities like racing or high-level PvE content.
Understanding Lightstone Removal and Durability
It’s important to note that Lightstones, once socketed, typically require a special item or NPC interaction to be removed. Some Lightstones may also have a durability component, meaning they can be consumed over time. Always check the item descriptions for details on removal costs and durability.
Advanced Horse Training Techniques with Lightstones
As you progress in BDO horse training, Lightstones become an integral part of your strategy.
The Role of Lightstones in Horse Breeding and Tiering
While Lightstones don’t directly influence breeding mechanics or tier progression, the accelerated training they provide means horses reach their maximum potential levels faster. This allows breeders to more quickly assess a horse’s stats, skills, and potential for further breeding or selling.
Leveraging Lightstones for Horse Races and Challenges
For players participating in horse races or specific in-game challenges, specialized Lightstone builds can provide a competitive edge. Optimizing for speed, stamina, and skill resets is critical for achieving top rankings and rewards.
Seasonal Servers and Lightstone Availability
Seasonal servers in BDO often have unique mechanics and item availability. While direct Lightstone acquisition might differ, the principles of using EXP-boosting and performance-enhancing gems remain valuable for progressing your seasonal horse.
Player strategizing Lightstone builds for optimal BDO horse training
Conclusion: Elevate Your Equine Training
Mastering horse training in Black Desert Online is a rewarding endeavor, and Lightstones are your key allies in this pursuit. By understanding their types, acquisition methods, and strategic application, you can significantly enhance your training efficiency, unlock your horses’ full potential, and ultimately, elevate your entire BDO experience. Equip wisely, train diligently, and watch your equine companions flourish.
