Task Bar Hero Farming & Market Guide
How to think about gold, EXP, chests, and Steam market value together
Last updated: July 2026
Many Task Bar Hero players eventually ask the same question: which stage should I farm right now? The answer depends on whether you need EXP, gold, chests, tradeable items, or raw character progress. This guide explains the ideas behind the TBH Wiki Profit Calculator so you can decide when to sort by EXP, when to sort by gold, and when market value should only be treated as a reference.
Gold per hour and EXP per hour are different goals
The best gold stage and the best EXP stage are not always the same. EXP can be reduced when your hero level is far above the stage level. Gold depends more on base reward and clear speed. During leveling, EXP per hour is usually the first metric. When upgrade or enhancement costs become the bottleneck, gold per hour becomes more important.
Clear speed is the easiest variable to underestimate
Higher base rewards do not automatically make a stage better. If a hard stage takes 180 seconds and a slightly lower stage takes 60 seconds, the faster stage may produce more boxes and more stable hourly returns. The Profit Calculator asks for calibration points because your actual clear speed matters more than a static reward table.
What chest expected value means
Chest EV, or expected value, multiplies drop probability by market price and sums the result. It is not guaranteed income per run. It is a long-term average. Short sessions can differ heavily from the estimate, especially when valuable tradeable items have low drop rates.
Normal boxes and boss boxes should be compared separately
Normal boxes are tied to ordinary waves, while boss boxes are tied to boss waves. Their timing, quality, and rare-item probabilities can differ. Fast stages may generate more normal boxes. Higher difficulty or boss-heavy routes may have better value per box. The useful metric is total hourly value, not the value of a single chest.
Why market prices move
Steam market prices react to supply, demand, fees, exchange rates, listing volume, and patches. When a patch changes gear strength, drop behavior, or trading rules, prices can be noisy for a while. Inventory Value and Profit Calculator estimates are best used for direction, not as guaranteed sale values.
When to farm by market value
If your character can already clear efficiently and your goal is tradeable items, sorting by market value per hour can make sense. If you are still stuck on progression or leveling, market value should not be the only metric. A practical order is: stable clears first, EXP or gold efficiency second, market optimization third.
A simple review routine
After a level or gear upgrade, reopen the Profit Calculator and refresh your calibration points. Before selling or cleaning storage, use Inventory Value for a market reference. When a gear choice is unclear, compare it in Best Gear and the Equipment Database.