Tips and Tricks

Stardew Valley is a relaxing game in which you inherit a farm and pursue an idealistic life in the country. You can plant various crops and take care of barnyard animals. There is a wide range of loveable characters to meet and befriend along the way as well. Despite the game being quite laidback, running a farm can be challenging. You only have a limited amount of time and energy each day. Alongside this, there are plenty of challenges and goals to strive for. Fortunately, there are plenty of hidden tips and tricks to help make farming life all that more enjoyable.

Maintaining Friendships Isn't For Forever

Typically, your level of friendship with each person will deteriorate if you do not speak to them every day. Fortunately, the game's friendship mechanic does make things easier for you. Once you reach ten hearts – or eight hearts for a marriage candidate NPC, their friendship points will never go down. So, as soon as you max out a friendship, you no longer need to worry about checking in all the time. You've got some permanent friendships for years, even if you hardly speak to them again. With this in mind, focusing on just one or two neighbors at a time can be a valuable strategy. You can focus on maxing out their hearts before moving on to someone new.

You Can Decorate Almost Anywhere

As you progress through Stardew Valley, you eventually unlock more areas you can make the most of, from the Spa to Ginger Island. It is possible to put down objects in these different parts of town. For example, you can add artisan machines along your frequent routes out of your farm or perhaps give the quarry an additional purpose beyond a source of rocks and geodes. You can also decorate areas with paths and other trinkets to make the town fit your desired style. Getting creative with decorating the town can be a fun way to spend the winter when you don't have to worry about your crops as much. The only thing you have to be wary of is the walk paths of NPCs. If you avoid blocking their routes, you can build almost anywhere without it being destroyed.

Be Prepared For The Skull Cavern

The Skull Cavern is a difficult challenge, so you don't want to rush in. Ensure you are prepared for it by taking note of a few Stardew Valley tricks that'll help. For example, the day before you visit the cavern, you'll want the right equipment, including a decent weapon and your trusty pickaxe already in your inventory. You'll also want many bombs, food, and ladders to navigate the different levels. On the day, you'll want to maximize your limited time there. A Warp Totem: Desert will ensure you can start mining first thing in the morning. Don’t worry about passing out after 2 am, as you’ll quickly earn back the money you lose. You’ll also want to check your fortune on the television, as it's far more beneficial to go to the cavern on lucky days to gain the best loot.

The Mountain Lake Is One Of The Best Spots For Fishing

There are multiple places to go for relaxing fishing sessions in Stardew Valley, such as the river or the ocean. Each location has its benefits and will have a preferred season for you to go fishing there. Of all the options, it is best to go to the mountain lake, no matter the season. Most of the fish here can be caught between 6 am and 7 pm, giving you a pretty big timeframe to work with. Although you won't be able to get every single type of fish at the mountain lake, you will get a nice variety throughout the seasons, with a few consistent fish to catch all year round, such as Carp and the Largemouth Bass. The main benefit of the mountain lake is that you are far less likely to pick up random trash items; this means that you are wasting less energy during your fishing trip.

Study The Map And Make Use Of Shortcuts

This next Stardew Valley hint is all about efficiency. You only have a set amount of time each day to complete all of your chores and complete any objectives you might have. Because of this, you'll want to save as much time as possible whenever you can. When you start a new day, have a plan of action and try and focus on just those tasks. It's a good idea to study the map and get to grips with all the key locations. This will ensure you aren't heading in the wrong direction at any point and wasting those precious minutes. You can also complete tasks in specific orders to ensure you aren't going back and forth all day.

Place Tappers On The Trees Near The Bus Stop

Tappers are a great way to produce maple syrup, oak resin, pine tar, and sap. You need to reach Foraging level three, and then you can craft them with wood and copper bars. Since you can place these on any tree, it is a great idea to make use of the trees away from your farm. With the Tappers out of the way, you can do whatever you want with the trees on your actual farm. A great alternative location for your tappers is the bus stop just outside your farm. These trees are out of the way but still within easy reach for harvesting. The trees will always be there, giving you a reliable source to tap from.

Keep An Eye On The Community Center Icon

One of the most essential methods of progression in Stardew Valley is the rebuilding of the Community Center. To do so, you must complete all of the bundles to unlock new items and other valuable rewards. These bundles list things you need to track down and find to achieve them. An excellent way to ensure you don't accidentally sell or discard a required item is available in the inventory screen. There is a Community Center icon to the right of your inventory that you can select to go to the bundles. Keep an eye on this icon when you are browsing through your inventory. When you hover over an item needed for a bundle, this icon will begin to glow. It is a subtle clue, so keep checking the icon to ensure you don't miss out on completing any bundles.

You Can Get Pam To The Bus Faster

Once the bus is restored, you must wait until Pam is ready to drive. She arrives at the bus stop around 10 am, meaning you can't get to the desert by bus any earlier. However, if you wait around Pam's home before she leaves, you can stand in the way of her usual route. After a few seconds of being blocked, she becomes frustrated and runs to the bus stop. With Pam ready sooner, you will now have a little extra time to spend exploring the Skull Cavern. This is one of the simpler but still useful tips for Stardew Valley beginners.

Your Horse Can Take The Parrot Express

Once you make you way to Ginger Island, you can use Golden Walnuts to unlock the Parrot Express. This is a fast-travel system that lets you quickly visit each area of the island. If you happen to have the horse flute, you'll be able to summon your horse to be by your side on Ginger Island. When your horse has arrived, you can hop on and then enter a Parrot Express hut! Both you and your horse will be transported together, ensuring that nobody is left behind.

The Shipping Bin Can be Moved

The shipping bin is typically found directly to the right of your farmhouse, but if this doesn't suite your needs, then you can simply move it somewhere else. By speaking to Robin, you can open the building option menu; at the bottom of this, there is an icon you select to move buildings around. When pressing this, you'll see a zoomed-out map of your farm. From here, just select the shipping bin! If you need more than one, you will also be able to add extra bins to your farm wherever you want.

Paths Can Stop You From Accidentally Knocking Down Scarecrows

Scarecrows (and their equivalents, Rarecrows) are a staple in Stardew Valley. They come in various styles and are incredibly useful for protecting precious crops from crafty crows. Unfortunately, when you are tilling the ground around them, especially with upgraded hoes that can cultivate a wide area, it will remove the scarecrow from its spot. A handy workaround for this minor issue is to place pathing blocks, such as a wooden floor, down on the ground first. Then, when a scarecrow is placed on top of one of these blocks, it will no longer be knocked down when you are tilling nearby. It is a simple fix to a tedious problem.