Ella is SdewHQ's resident virtual farming expert, and whether she is farming, fishing, mining, or decorating her farmhouse, you can rest assured that she is loving every second. Outside of the Stardew universe Ella is a keen gamer and particularly loves titles like Horizon Zero Dawn, The Outer Worlds, and her childhood favorite, Monster's Inc Scare Island. Ella is also a gaming UX researcher, has a keen interest in acccessibity within games and strives to fill up her PS trophy cabinet upon every gaming session.
As you start to learn about the beautiful world of Stardew Valley, there are a lot of core aspects that you need to know! While learning about Wood can be instant and easy, Hardwood is a little more tricky. It is essential to learn about Hardwood as it is a crucial resource for a variety of items.
In order to interact with Hardwood, you will also need to know how to upgrade your Tools which is an integral part of the game as you progress further and further.
Bottom Line Up Front
Hardwood is a valuable resource, but in order to obtain it, you need to upgrade your Axe to either Copper or Steel in order for it to be strong enough to break through Logs and Stumps. Hardwood can be obtained daily in the Secret Woods and can be used to create a variety of farmyard machines.
How to obtain Hardwood
From Trees
Hardwood can be obtained in a very similar way in which you would get regular Wood. You can get Hardwood by chopping down Mahogany trees (These should be easily identifiable as they are deeper in color than most other trees on your farm)
To get Wood from the tree, you need to use your Axe until it breaks down, and then collect the Wood, which will appear where the tree fell. You can also obtain Hardwood by breaking down large stumps, which can be found both on your farm and in the Secret Woods.
The Secret Woods can provide a steady supply of Hardwood as there are six large stumps of Hardwood here on a daily basis; even if you were to collect all of these in one day, they would all respawn the next! Breaking down the large stumps will provide twelve pieces of Hardwood a day. You can also break down large Logs, which you will find scattered throughout your farm.
The Mines
Hardwood can also be obtained through the Treasure Rooms in the Mines!
It is important to note that breaking down large stumps requires a Copper Axe or stronger while breaking down large Logs requires a Steel Axe as they are too hard to break. However, in the mines, you can gather Hardwood without the need to enhance your tools. That being said, though, it tends to be in rather short supply, so we wouldn’t rely on this method.
From Woodskip
You can catch Woodskip Fish in the Secret Woods and later placed in the Pond on your Farm. Once you place Woodskip in the Pond, they can reproduce every two days and can provide Hardwood as well as Roe and regular Wood. You will also need to give these fish Hardwood to help them grow and multiply.Â
How to upgrade your Axe
Your tools can be upgraded through Copper, Steel, Gold, and Iridium levels. Each upgrade requires more resources and coins; the maximum promotion is Iridium.
Copper Axe
The Copper Axe upgrade is a step up from your ordinary Axe. To complete this upgrade, you will require five Copper Bars and 2000g. This makes your Axe capable of chopping Large Stumps, which the regular Axe can not. It also reduces the number of hits required to chop a tree from ten to eight and the number of hits to chop a Small Stump from five to four.
Steel Axe
The Steel Axe upgrade is a step up from the Copper Axe. To complete this upgrade, you will require five Iron Bars and 5,000g. This makes your Axe capable of chopping Large Logs, which the Copper Axe can not. It also reduces the number of hits required to chop a tree from eight to six and the number of hits to chop a Small Stump from four to three.
Gold Axe
The Gold Axe upgrade is a step up from the Steel Axe. To complete this upgrade, you will require five Gold Bars and 10,000g. This reduces the number of hits needed to chop a tree from six to four and the number of hits to chop a Small Stump from three to two.
Iridium Axe
The Iridium Axe upgrade is a step up from the Gold Axe. To complete this upgrade, you will require five Iridium Bars and 25,000g. This reduces the number of hits needed to chop a tree from four to two and the number of hits to chop a Small Stump from two to one.
Uses for Hardwood
There are a lot of objects and buildings that you can create which require Hardwood.
Buildings with Hardwood
Stable
The Stable requires 100x Hardwood, 5x Iron Bars, and 10,000g. You are building the Stable means that you will be able to keep Horses on your farm and will also give you a Horse.
Farmhouse upgrade 2
This upgrade requires 150x Hardwood and 50,000g. Upgrading your Farmhouse will add two new rooms to your home; one room acts as a nursery and so unlocks the ability to have children. The other new room is empty. This also increases the size of your kitchen and bedroom. (It is important to note that you must complete the first Farmhouse upgrade in order to be able to complete the second Farmhouse upgrade)
Recipes with Hardwood
There are a lot of things that you can make with Hardwood, including Warp Totems, which are invaluable! These are outlined below;
Cheese Press
This machine allows you to use Milk in order to create Cheese. This requires 10x Hardwood, 45x Wood, 45x Stone, and 1x Copper Bar. In order to receive the blueprint for this machine, you will first need farming level six.
Hardwood Fence
This can be used decoratively around your farm to separate your crops and functionally to protect your crops from any animals that you allow to wander on your farm. A Hardwood Fence is more durable than a regular Fence and so will last longer in challenging weather.
One post of Hardwood Fence requires one piece of Hardwood and requires farming level six in order to receive the blueprint.
Oil Maker
The Oil Maker is a machine that allows you to create Truffle Oil and regular Oil. In order to develop the Oil Maker, you will need 20x Hardwood, 50x Slime, and 1x Gold Bar. You will need to reach farming level eight in order to receive this blueprint.
Cork Bobber
This is a tool that can be added to your Fishing Rod which will then increase the size of the Fishing Bar and make it less complicated for you to catch Fish. In order to create the Cork Bobber, you need 5x Hardwood, 10x Wood, and 10x Slime. You will need to reach fishing level seven to receive this blueprint.
Worm Bin
This is a fishing tool that can be used to produce Bait for your fishing rod to entice Fish. This will also save you money from regularly purchasing Bait. In order to create the Worm Bin, you need 25x Hardwood, 1x Gold Bar, 1x Iron Bar, and 50x Fibre. You will need to reach fishing level eight to receive this blueprint.
Stump Brazier
This is an item that can be placed around your farm to produce light which will assist you when maintaining your farm at night. In order to create this, you will require 5x Hardwood and 1x Coal. If you want to make this, you will need to purchase the blueprint from Robins Carpenter Shop for 800g.
Carved Brazier
This is a variation of the Stump Brazier and varies only in shape. In order to create this, you will require 10x Hardwood and 1x Coal. If you want to make this, you will need to purchase the blueprint from Robins Carpenter Shop for 2000g.
Cask
This is a machine that can be used to age existing products such as Wine and Cheese. In order to create this, you will require 1x Hardwood and 10x Wood.
Ostrich Incubator
This is a machine that can be used in order to incubate Ostrich Eggs and needs to be placed in the Barn. In order to create this, you will require 50x Hardwood, 50x Bone Fragments, and 20x Cinder Shards.
Heavy Tapper
This works similar to a regular Tapper and can be placed on trees in order to extract products from them. This can be placed on Pine, Oak, Maple, and Mushroom trees but works twice as fast as a regular Tapper. This requires 30x Hardwood and 1x Radioactive Bar.
Mini-Obelisk
These work as quick travel objects; when two are placed in proximity of each other, you can travel between them. This requires 30x Hardwood, 20x Solar Essence, and 3x Gold Bars.
The Community Centre
Hardwood can be donated to the Construction Bundle in the Community Centre, which requires 10x Hardwood as well as 99x Wood (x2) and 99x Stone.
Completing Quests
Robins Request; requires 10x Hardwood and rewards you with 500g and improves your friendship with Robin by one Heart
Robins Project; requires 80x Hardwood and rewards you with 2000g and a recipe for a Deluxe Red Double Bed
Willys Boat; requires 200x Hardwood and rewards you by repairing Willy’s Boat
Stardew Valley Hardwood Guide: FAQs
Question: Where can I find Hardwood?
Answer: Hardwood can be found by chopping Stumps and also Logs on your farm; you can also get Hardwood by chopping down Mahogany trees on your farm. You can also acquire this by visiting the Secret Woods and breaking down the large Stumps, which respawn daily and can give you 12 pieces of Hardwood a day.
Question: Can you buy Hardwood?
Answer: No, Hardwood cannot be bought. This means you will have to regularly visit the Secret Woods or upgrade your Axe in order to break down the large Logs around your farm. If you do not regularly collect Hardwood, you may become stuck and have to wait a course of days to collect a large amount of Hardwood.
Question: How do I chop Hardwood?
Answer: If you want to break down Hardwood, you will require a Copper or Steel Axe as your regular Axe is not strong enough to break this. Once you have either the Steel or Copper Axe, you can use this in the same way that you would use your regular Axe to break down normal trees.
