Summary
The 1.6 update ofStardew Valleyintroduced Mastery, which allows players to earn rewards based on the experience points (XP) they accumulate in the game’s core skills. By increasing XP in Mining, Foraging, Farming, Fishing, and Combat after reaching Level 10, players can unlock valuable rewards thatsignificantly enhance the overall gameplay experience.
However, the quality of these rewards varies. While some provide convenience and new ways to progress, others require substantial materials to craft for minimal benefit. Finishing all masteries does not reward the player further, but it does lead to a heartwarming message from the player’s deceased Grandpa.
1Farming: Iridium Scythe
The Most Convenient Tool In The Game
TheIridium Scytheis a more powerful version of theGolden Scythe. It features an increased radius and a 100% chance ofharvesting hay from grass. Additionally, it has a base damage of 20, which is an increase of 7 points compared to the Golden Scythe. The standout feature of this tool is its ability to harvest fully grown crops with just one swipe. Whether it’s regular crops, spring onions, or wild seed crops, the Iridium Scythe enhances farming efficiency and simplicity.
2Farming: Statue Of Blessings Recipe
Improves One Stat Each Day
TheStatue Of Blessingsis expensive to craft, but the materials are relatively common and can be regenerated. Once constructed, players can interact with this statue once per day to receive a random blessing lasting the entire in-game day. The blessing is predetermined each day, so crafting multiple statues or restarting the game to obtain a different blessing will not be effective.
3Combat: Trinket Equipment Slot
Grants Players Access To Trinkets
Located in the menu, next to clothing customization, the Trinket Slot allows players to equip a single Trinket, which provides various benefits. There are many trinkets available to collect, most of which are commonly dropped from slain monsters in the Mines and Skull Cavern:
Trinkets have proven to be a fantastic addition toStardew Valley,greatly improving the mining experience and adding another layer of character customization.
4Foragint: Golden Mystery Boxes
Contain Useful Materials And Profitable Items
TheGolden Mystery Boxis an enhanced version of the regularMystery Box. It has the potential to contain aGolden Animal Crackeror anAuto-Petteronce opened. As with Geodes and regular Mystery Boxes, players must visitClintat the Blacksmith shop and pay 25g per box to open them.
The Golden Mystery Box offers a higher likelihood of containing rarer special items, such asMagic Rock CandyorPrismatic Shard. Specifically, the probability of finding Magic Rock Candy in a Golden Mystery Box rises from 0.2% in a regular Mystery Box to 0.4%, while the likelihood of obtaining a Prismatic Shard increases from 0.4% to 0.79%.
5Mining: Statue Of The Dwarf King Recipe
Improves Two Mining Stats Daily
Similar to the Statue of Blessings, theStatue Of The Dwarf Kingprovides players with a unique ability each day. With this statue, players are given the option to choose between two randomly selected options from the powers below, which can be helpful during visits to the Mines or Skull Cavern. There are a total of five available powers:
These abilities are particularly useful for completing Monster Eradication Goals (especially against Mummies, which can only be defeated with bombs), aiding in progression through the Skull Cavern, and gathering resources.
6Farming: Golden Animal Crackers
Generates Even More Profit From Animals
Players ofStardew Valleywill understand that one of the most effective ways to earn money in the game is through raising animals. AGolden Animal Cracker, when given to any farm animal (except pigs), will double their output,taking Artisan profits to the next level.
For instance, a Goat will produce double the amount ofGoat Milk, resulting in twice as muchGoat Cheese. When aged to iridium quality, goat cheese can sell for up to 1,120g, meaning 2,240g can be earned per goat every two days once aged. Additionally, when a Golden Animal Cracker is used in a Fish Pond, the quantity of roe and other special items also doubles.
7Fishing: Advanced Iridium Rod
A Great Upgrade From The Iridium Rod
TheAdvanced Iridium Rodallows players to equip two Tackles on a single fishing rod, stacking their effects. While theIridium Rodhas one slot for Bait and one for a Tackle, the Advanced Iridium Rod features one Bait slot and two Tackle slots.
One of the best ways to take advantage of this is by using twoCork Bobbers. This combination increases the fishing bar by 48 pixels instead of the usual 24, making fishing a bit easier. The variety of Tackle combinations adds excitement to fishing, a topic that has long been debated by players.
8Foraging: Treasure Totem Recipe
Helps With Completing The Museum
TheTreasure Totemis a valuable tool for players who aremissing artifacts for the museum, and it requires fairly simple materials to craft. When used, it spawns 16 Artifact Spots around the player, provided the surrounding area is suitable for tilling. These spots can yield any possible drops for the area in which the totem is used.
For example, players who are having difficulty finding area-specific artifacts, such as theChipped Amphora(which can only be found in Town Artifact Spots or anArtifact Trove), can utilize a Treasure Totem to create 16 opportunities to discover it, without having to wait for Artifact Spots to respawn randomly.
9Mining: Double Gems From Gem Rocks
A Useful And Profitable Ability
Gems are a valuable resource in Stardew Valley. They can be used for crafting,gifting, trading, and generating profit. Gaining double gems from gem rocks can greatly assist players who are struggling in the Skull Cavern. For example, Jade can be traded at the Desert Trader for Staircases, while Ruby can be exchanged for Spicy Eel — a food item that provides +1 Luck and +1 Speed, making it a popular choice for Skull Cavern runs.
Diamonds are also incredibly useful for making gold in Stardew Valley. When placed in Crystalariums, they reproduce every 5 days and sell for 750g each. By using two Crystalariums with Diamonds inside, players can earn 1,500g every 5 days from breaking just one rock.
10Mining: Heavy Furnace Recipe
More Convenient Than A Regular Furnace
TheHeavy Furnaceis a more efficient version of the regularFurnace. It requires 25 Ore and 3Coalto produce 5 to 6 bars. This tool is incredibly useful for quickly producing bars for crafting or generating profit.
If players have enoughIridium Oreto spare, they can place 25 Iridium Ore in the Heavy Furnace along with 3 coal to make 5 to 6Iridium Barevery 8 in-game hours. Each Iridium Bar sells for 1,000g. The convenience and efficiency of this item make it a great reward for achieving Mining mastery.
