Black Desert Online: A Guide for New Players on Nodes

Black Desert Online is an expansive game, truly vast in scope. In earlier articles, I highlighted several essential concepts for newcomers, including strategies for swiftly attaining level 56. However, the game truly begins to unfold at that level. While progressing through the main questline, known as the Black Spirit quests, provides a solid foundation, a deeper understanding is required for some of the more intricate features. One of these features is the functioning of Nodes in Black Desert Online.

Nodes are a fundamental aspect of Black Desert Online (BDO). They serve as central points within the game, enabling players to allocate contribution points to gain bonuses and the opportunity to gather resources. This system facilitates the creation of farming and trading empires. Players can assign workers to specific Nodes, and certain Nodes can enhance item drop rates. However, understanding how to maximize the benefits of Nodes can be quite challenging, as the game does not always clearly explain the best ways to leverage this system. This guide will explore the mechanics of Nodes, the various types available, and strategies to optimize their use. Welcome to your beginner’s guide to Nodes in Black Desert Online.

Nodes provide the capability to establish and utilize workers, enhance item drop rates, and create trade routes.

What are Nodes?

To begin with, let’s clarify what Nodes are in Black Desert Online. In essence, Nodes are specific locations on the world map where players can allocate contribution points (CP). When you allocate CP to two neighboring Nodes, they become interconnected, creating a trade route. By investing CP and energy points in Nodes, you can gain various advantages, including in-game currency, items, buffs, access to trade routes, and assistance with amity. The game features a vast number of Nodes, making it impractical to invest in all of them. Therefore, it’s essential to strategically select the routes for your Node network (more on this later).

In BDO, there are two distinct categories of Nodes. The first category consists of Adventure or Location Nodes, which are tied to various spots on the game map. Players can interact with the Node Manager NPC in the area to explore investment opportunities for these Nodes. The second category is Resource Nodes, which are linked to Location Nodes. By unlocking a Location Node, players can then invest in the associated resources. After investing in both Node types, players can assign workers to gather materials. Below, we will delve deeper into each Node type.

In Black Desert, the Node Network enables players to link different regions for the purposes of trading and crafting.

Ways to Link Nodes

Establishing a network of interconnected Nodes is quite simple once you understand the process. Begin with a city or town node, as these activate automatically without the need for any Contribution Points (CP). From this starting point, you can expand outward to uncover additional Nodes. As previously noted, you need to engage with the Node Manager NPC to activate a Node. I’ve previously expressed my admiration for the Black Desert Online map, and it remains incredibly helpful in this context. Nodes that can be linked will display a white line indicating the connection, which changes to yellow once you allocate CP to the node.

To invest in a Node and maximize its capabilities, consult the Node Manager and choose Node Management. This action will display a map featuring Node and trade details. You will see the various Nodes linked to your current location. Additionally, information about the region will be shown, including the relevant Trade Manager, territory, country, the guild in control, and the amount of Contribution Points (CP) needed for investment. To activate or connect the Node, simply click the Invest button. It’s important to mention that if you have the Value Pack buff active, you can invest your CP directly from the world map. Each investment requires 10 energy points, and you must have previously visited the Node location.

Node Managers enable players to explore and invest in regions through the Node Management feature.

What are the Benefits of Activating and Connecting Nodes?

Activating and linking Nodes in Black Desert Online offers numerous advantages within the game. These Nodes play a crucial role in establishing trade routes, crafting trade crates, hiring workers, and gathering resources. Additionally, by investing energy into a node, you can enhance the item drop rate in that region. You can upgrade a specific area to a maximum level of 10, which provides a 50% increase in item drop rate, with a 5% boost for each level gained. It’s important to remember that while you can recover contribution points after investing them, energy points are non-recoverable.

To collect your contribution points from a Node, first, access the map and choose the specific node. Each area features a Contribution Withdraw option. Keep in mind that you cannot withdraw CP from a Node that is part of a chain. Additionally, you must first uninvest from the related sub Nodes in order to withdraw your CP. Once you withdraw your contribution, you will forfeit all node levels and energy that you have previously invested.

Regarding Adventure Nodes

Adventure Nodes, often referred to as Location or Main Nodes, serve as the key interactive points within the game. There are several distinct types, and we will examine each one individually. Typically, to uncover these nodes, you must first locate the Node Manager. Finding them can be somewhat challenging, but their locations are generally marked on the map. After you have identified a Node Manager, you can easily return to them by utilizing the NPC Finder feature located in the upper left corner of the user interface.

Each type of node—Connection, Town, City, Gateway, Trade, and Danger—features a distinct symbol.

Below is a compilation of the various types of Nodes available for exploration in Black Desert Online:

Town

Represented by a house icon, Town serves as a key center within the network, alongside cities. To invest in a connected region and gather its resources, you must first uncover the town or city it is linked to. Generally, you won’t need to spend CP to access the advantages of a town or city, and there are various benefits that come from investing energy. For instance, you can reduce the initial interest and favor of the town’s NPCs. Towns and cities provide a place to accommodate workers who will cultivate the land of the connected Nodes.

Gateway

As indicated by their name, these regions (identified by a gateway symbol) enable connections between various parts of the game. While the investment required for these Nodes is typically higher than for others, they play a crucial role in establishing intricate trade routes.

Connection

These locations on the map not only enable the expansion of your empire but also provide opportunities for goods production and item drop enhancements. They are indicated by a symbol of a diverging arrow.

Danger

The name itself serves as a significant hint about what lies ahead, complemented by a prominent warning symbol. These locations are situated within a conflict zone or a region teeming with monsters. However, it’s beneficial to seek them out, as allocating CP grants you access to valuable resources, while spending energy enhances the quality of item drops.

City

In the Town Nodes section, we have primarily discussed the characteristics of a city, but there are additional advantages to consider. One of the key benefits is the increased accommodation options available for your workforce. This becomes crucial as you begin to expand your trade empire.

Marketplace for Trading

The last category of locations you can discover consists of trading posts. Their functionality closely resembles that of Connection Nodes, and even the emblem appears quite alike.

Regarding Production Nodes

In Black Desert Online, Production or Resource Nodes play a crucial role in generating significant income. As their names suggest, these are locations where you can gather resources or generate profit. We’ll delve into the interaction between workers and Nodes later, but for now, let’s explore the various types of production Nodes you can invest in.

Production Nodes enable players to gather, extract, and allocate different resources through the investment of CP.

Farming

Farming Nodes enable the collection of starches, grains, and various other food items. Starches and grains are especially crucial, as they provide the essential ingredients for brewing beer. But why is beer so vital? Your workforce can sustain themselves solely on beer. Additionally, brewing beer is an excellent method for enhancing your cooking skills in the early stages.

Mining

Mining areas offer a diverse range of ores along with valuable by-products. Ores consistently attract demand in the market since crafters utilize them to forge armor and weapons. Numerous Nodes in the beginner zones provide a favorable return on CP investment.

Forestry

The wooded regions in the game provide an opportunity to gather timber. This resource holds significant value, even in its unrefined form. It serves as an excellent component for creating trade packs and is crucial for constructing boats. Additionally, working with timber is an effective method to enhance your processing skills.

Investment

These should not be mistaken for CP investments; they are primarily banking Nodes. You have the opportunity to invest your gold bars in this system for a possibility of earning interest. Nevertheless, generating significant profits through this approach can be challenging unless you are a well-established player.

A few additional Nodes deserve a brief mention. Excavation sites enable players to discover ‘Traces’ items that can be utilized in crafting. Additionally, Fish Drying Yard locations are beneficial for players who enjoy cooking.

Investment and Advancement

We have previously discussed the fundamentals of investing in Nodes, but let’s delve deeper into the topic. As previously mentioned, Contribution Points (CP) are essential for investing in Nodes. The amount of CP needed increases with the level of the area, which indicates that your investment capacity is directly tied to the number of Contribution Points you possess. Consequently, it’s important to select your Nodes with care. There are valuable resources available that outline the CP requirements and potential yields for each Node in the game.

You can utilize Energy to enhance the likelihood of item drops in the vicinity of Nodes.

To enhance a specific area, it’s essential to allocate your energy points to boost the item drop rate. The table below illustrates the experience required to attain each level and the corresponding improvements in the drop rate:

To elaborate on the functionality of this mechanic, a level 10 node would enhance the item drop rate by 50% for every 10% of enemies defeated. For instance, if the standard drop rate for a particular enemy is 0.1%, a level 10 node would boost this rate to 0.15% for every 10 of those enemies. Considering this, one could debate the balance between the energy expended and the rewards obtained within the game.

Utilizing Nodes for Trading

Trade becomes a significant element in BDO as you progress to higher levels. Establishing a trade route can offer numerous advantages. So, what’s the process for creating a trade route in Black Desert Online? It’s quite straightforward. By linking two Nodes that feature Trade Managers, using Contribution Points as mentioned earlier, you can form a trade route. This allows you to buy a trade item from one Trade Manager and then transport it to another Trade Manager for sale.

You can engage in buying and selling trade goods without linking Nodes, but doing so will likely result in financial losses unless you establish those connections first. Without connected Nodes, you will only obtain 30% of the original value of the items. Additionally, you can earn a bonus based on the distance, but only if the entire network is connected. The prices of trade items can vary almost daily, making it a venture that can yield unpredictable results based on your trading expertise. Nevertheless, trading is an effective way to enhance your trading skills and boost your stamina, as you will need to carry trade packs on your back initially, which will hinder your speed.

The trading interface displays the products you can exchange along with their respective prices. Nodes that are connected offer significantly better prices.

Employees and Units

Besides establishing trade routes, Nodes mainly serve the purpose of employing workers. Similar to other aspects of the game, the mechanics of workers and farming could warrant a detailed guide. For the moment, I will outline the fundamental principles of this system. To gather the land’s resources, workers are necessary. You can recruit them from Work Supervisor NPCs located in various towns and cities. Simply approach the supervisor and select the option to Contract Workers to obtain a worker. To successfully hire a worker, you must have at least one available lodging space in the town or city linked to the node you plan to farm.

After acquiring your worker(s), head over to the Node Manager located next to your invested node. By clicking the Node Management button, a map will appear, displaying the different resources your worker can begin to collect. To access these resources, you’ll need to invest some CP, after which you can assign your worker to gather. The resources they collect will be stored at their lodging. Keep in mind that you can only assign one worker to each node, and there is a comprehensive system in place to enhance worker levels and optimize the resources obtained from a specific node.

Employed laborers are utilized to gather the different resources linked to Nodes.

Building a Node Dynasty

In Black Desert Online, the Node system allows players to establish a comprehensive network of linked regions that can yield substantial passive income. Additionally, you can customize this network to align with your objectives in the game. A separate guide could easily be dedicated to the optimal farming locations, the most beneficial Nodes to invest in, and the most efficient trading routes. This illustrates the game’s remarkable depth.

The essential step is to take the plunge. Before long, you’ll discover the best methods to use Nodes that align with your gaming approach. As you become more acquainted with the game and its various mechanics, you can gradually grow your empire. In the beginning, boosting your contribution points is crucial, as it determines the number of Nodes you can invest in. Additionally, grasping the concepts of farming, processing, and trading is vital, so make sure to explore guides related to each of these areas.

You can establish node networks to launch your trading empire. In this scenario, the route from Calpheon to Velia is highlighted in yellow.

Black Desert Online Node Overview: A Comprehensive Summary

By now, you should have a solid grasp of a crucial element in Black Desert Online. Whether you are a newcomer or have recently advanced to higher levels, comprehending this topic can offer numerous advantages. As discussed, Nodes can be classified into two main types: location and production. Each type serves its purpose, and they work best when combined. This system allows you to build a thriving network of workers and trade, leading to substantial passive income generation.

Investing in Nodes is essential, as boosting your contribution points and energy points will maximize your benefits from the system. To facilitate effective trading between two regions, it’s important to establish a network of interconnected Nodes by interacting with Node Managers and allocating your CP. You can hire workers through the Work Supervisors located in towns and cities, and these workers can be assigned to collect a variety of resources. With these key concepts in hand, you’re ready to begin your journey of exploration and investment in the world of Black Desert Online.