Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley

Introduction & Benchmarks

Start your Stardew Valley farm right. This guide provides early-game benchmarks and strategies for your first few weeks, setting you up for farming success in .

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Introduction & Benchmarks

Welcome, aspiring farmer! Stardew Valley is a sprawling, charming simulation RPG where you inherit your grandfather's old farm plot in Pelican Town. This guide aims to provide a structured approach to your first few weeks, setting you up for long-term success. While the game encourages a relaxed pace, understanding key early-game strategies can significantly boost your progress and enjoyment.

Our primary goal for the initial days is to establish a stable income stream, upgrade essential tools, and begin forging relationships within the community. We'll focus on efficient resource gathering, smart crop choices, and unlocking crucial areas.

Player Expectations: What to Aim For

Stardew Valley offers immense freedom, but having some benchmarks can guide your early decisions. Don't feel pressured to hit every single one, but use them as a roadmap for efficient progression.

  • Financial Stability: Aim to earn enough gold to consistently buy seeds and upgrade tools.
  • Tool Upgrades: Prioritize upgrading your Watering Can and Pickaxe for increased efficiency.
  • Community Engagement: Start building relationships with townsfolk; gifts and conversations are key.
  • Resource Gathering: Establish a routine for collecting wood, stone, and foraging items.
  • Unlocking Areas: Work towards repairing the bridge to the beach and gaining access to the Mines.

TL;DR: Milestones for Your First Spring

For those who prefer a quick overview, here are the critical milestones to strive for by the end of your first Spring:

  • Spring 5: Purchase at least 10-15 additional Parsnip Seeds from Pierre's General Store.
  • Spring 13 (Egg Festival): Have at least 2,000g saved to purchase Strawberry Seeds. These are highly profitable!
  • Week 2: Have your Watering Can upgraded to Copper. This significantly reduces watering time.
  • Week 3: Access the Mines and reach at least Floor 5 to start collecting Copper Ore.
  • End of Spring: Have your Pickaxe upgraded to Copper and ideally have crafted a Furnace.
  • End of Spring: Have at least 5 hearts with one villager, or 2 hearts with several.

Legend for Guide Terminology

Throughout this guide, you'll encounter specific terms and abbreviations. Here's a quick reference:

  • g: Gold (the in-game currency).
  • Energy: Your green bar, depleted by actions like farming and mining.
  • Health: Your red bar, primarily relevant in the Mines.
  • Foraging: Collecting wild plants, fruits, and vegetables found around the valley.
  • Scrubbing: Clearing your farm of debris (trees, rocks, weeds) to make space.
  • Pierre's: Pierre's General Store, located in the center of Pelican Town, where you buy seeds.
  • Clint's: Clint's Blacksmith, located east of the river, for tool upgrades and geodes.
  • Mines: The entrance is north of Pelican Town, past the Adventurer's Guild.

Your First Week: Spring 1 - Spring 7

The first week is crucial for setting up your farm and understanding the daily rhythm of Stardew Valley. Focus on clearing your farm, planting initial crops, and exploring the immediate area.

Spring 1 (Monday)

  1. Farm Introduction: Wake up, watch the introductory cutscene. You'll receive 15 Parsnip Seeds.
  2. Clear a Plot: Use your Axe to chop down small trees and your Pickaxe to break rocks. Clear a 5x3 area for your Parsnip Seeds. Prioritize clearing enough space for your initial seeds.
  3. Plant Seeds: Use your Hoe to till the soil, then plant the 15 Parsnip Seeds.
  4. Water Crops: Use your Watering Can to water all planted seeds.
  5. Forage: Explore your farm and the immediate area (south to the Bus Stop, east towards Pelican Town) for any wild Spring Onions or other forageables. These are excellent for early energy and selling.
  6. Meet Villagers: Head into Pelican Town. Introduce yourself to as many villagers as possible. This builds friendship points.
  7. Sell Forageables: Place any collected forageables into your Shipping Bin on the farm. They will be sold overnight.
  8. Sleep: Return to your farm and go to bed.

Spring 2 (Tuesday)

  1. Water Crops: Water your Parsnips.
  2. Explore & Forage: Continue exploring. Head north towards the Mines entrance (you won't be able to enter yet, but it's good to know its location) and west towards the Forest. Collect any Spring Onions, Daffodils, or Leeks you find.
  3. Meet More Villagers: Focus on meeting any remaining villagers in town.
  4. Fishing Rod: Willy will send you a letter inviting you to the beach. Head to the beach (south of Pelican Town) and speak to Willy in his shack. He will give you a Fishing Rod.
  5. Practice Fishing: Spend some time practicing fishing. Even catching trash can be useful for crafting later. Fish near Willy's shack or the river.
  6. Sell & Sleep: Sell any fish or forageables. Sleep.

Spring 3 (Wednesday)

  1. Water Crops: Water your Parsnips.
  2. Mine Exploration Prep: Focus on gathering Wood (chop down trees on your farm or in the Cindersap Forest) and Stone (break rocks on your farm). You'll need these for crafting and repairing.
  3. Craft a Chest: Once you have 50 Wood, craft a Chest (from your crafting menu, 'E' key on PC). Place it near your Shipping Bin for easy storage.
  4. Visit Pierre's: Check your gold. If you have enough (around 120g for 15 more Parsnip Seeds), head to Pierre's General Store. Purchase more Parsnip Seeds.
  5. Clear & Plant: Clear more land on your farm, plant and water the new Parsnip Seeds.
  6. Continue Fishing/Foraging: Supplement your income and energy by fishing or foraging.
  7. Sell & Sleep: Sell excess items. Sleep.

Spring 4 (Thursday)

  1. Water Crops: Water all your crops.
  2. First Harvest: Your first Parsnips will be ready to harvest! Pick them.
  3. Sell Parsnips: Place your harvested Parsnips into the Shipping Bin. This will be your first significant income.
  4. Buy More Seeds: With the gold from your Parsnips, immediately head to Pierre's and buy as many new Parsnip Seeds as you can afford. Consider a few Potato Seeds if you have extra gold, as they are more profitable but take longer.
  5. Replant & Water: Till the soil where you harvested, replant, and water your new seeds.
  6. Repair Bridge: If you have 300 Wood, head to the beach and repair the broken bridge (to the right of Willy's shack). This unlocks a new foraging area with Coral and Sea Urchins.
  7. Explore Beach: Collect any forageables on the newly accessible beach area.
  8. Sell & Sleep: Sell your goods. Sleep.

Spring 5 (Friday)

  1. Water Crops: Water your crops.
  2. Clint's Introduction: Clint, the Blacksmith, will visit your farm and give you a Copper Ore. This signals that the Mines are now open!
  3. Head to the Mines: Immediately go to the Mines (north of town).
  4. Mine for Copper: Spend your energy breaking rocks to find Copper Ore. Prioritize reaching at least Floor 5.
  5. Collect Geodes: Break any Geodes you find. Save them to open at Clint's.
  6. Craft a Furnace: Once you have 20 Copper Ore and 25 Stone, craft a Furnace (from your crafting menu). Place it on your farm.
  7. Smelt Copper Bars: Use your Furnace to smelt Copper Ore into Copper Bars (5 ore + 1 coal per bar).
  8. Sell & Sleep: Sell any extra ore or monster drops. Sleep.

Spring 6 (Saturday)

  1. Water Crops: Water your crops.
  2. Tool Upgrade Prep: Continue mining for Copper Ore. You'll need 5 Copper Bars and 2,000g to upgrade your Watering Can.
  3. Visit Clint: Head to Clint's Blacksmith. If you have 5 Copper Bars and 2,000g, give him your Watering Can for upgrade. It will take two days (he'll return it on Monday).
  4. Open Geodes: While at Clint's, open any Geodes you collected. These can contain valuable minerals and artifacts.
  5. Forage/Fish: Since you won't have your Watering Can, spend the rest of the day foraging, fishing, or continuing to clear your farm.
  6. Sell & Sleep: Sell your items. Sleep.

Spring 7 (Sunday)

  1. No Watering: Your crops will not be watered today since your Watering Can is at Clint's. Don't worry, they won't die, just won't grow.
  2. Focus on Skills: Use this day to focus on other skills.
    • Fishing: Good for income and collecting fish for bundles.
    • Foraging: Collect wild items for selling or energy.
    • Woodcutting: Chop trees for more Wood, which is always useful.
    • Mining: If you didn't upgrade your Pickaxe, continue mining for more Copper Ore and Stone.
  3. Explore the Forest: Head to Cindersap Forest (west of your farm) to find more forageables and potentially meet new characters.
  4. Sell & Sleep: Sell your items. Sleep.