Stardew Valley Mining Guide

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Callum Marshall

Callum is the gaming managing editor and a certified Stardew Valley aficionado, pouring hundreds if not thousands of hours into this relaxing indie title. While overseeing the day-to-day running of the site, you'll commonly see Callum carve out some time to produce some content on one of his favorite games of all time, and lead from the front. Callum has been around the block within the gaming industry, working as an Editor-in-chief for a number of well-respected gaming outlets, he has worked as a games tester, he has gaming podcast experience, has worked in gaming PR. Basically, you name it, and Callum was probably there or somewhere on the periphery.

Latest posts by Callum Marshall (see all)

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When we compare Stardew Valley to other wholesome and relaxing titles within the gaming industry, you’ll find many similarities. When compared to Harvest Moon, you’ll find that farming and making in-roads with the local town residents play a vital role in both games.

When compared to Animal Crossing, you’ll find that a sense of community, togetherness, and a collective push to better the local area are present within both games. Plus, when compared to a title like Earthbound, for example, you’ll find that these games both reward the player for exploration.

However, when you think of a relaxing farming sim, it’s almost unthinkable that you could marry that format with a dungeon crawler and come out smelling like roses, but that’s exactly what Eric Barone and his magnum opus, Stardew Valley, manages to do.

This game offers a blend of farming, fishing, crafting, exploring, romancing, and combat that is unlike anything within the world of gaming. However, if you’ve been playing Stardew Valley for a while now and this is the first you have heard about dungeon crawling and mining, well, you have a lot to learn.

In this article, we will be looking at the art of mining in Stardew Valley and giving an all-encompassing guide on how to succeed. Whether you are just aiming to get your first proper sword or aiming to meet Mr. QI at the bottom of the Calico Desert dungeon, we have you covered. Here is our comprehensive Stardew Valley Miner guide.

How to Access The Mines In Pelican Town

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to take to mining like a duck to water, we should probably explain how you even begin mining. The game doesn’t do an amazing job of pointing out that the mine is available to players, so if you are someone that gets super focused on tending crops and giving gifts, you may not realize that the mine is even there at all. This goes to show that Stardew is as much about exploring as it is about good, honest farming.

For those unaware, the player gains access to the Pelican Town mine on the fifth day of Spring on your first year. You’ll get a letter stating that Joja, the superstore and evil corporation burdening the townsfolk, has blasted the rock blocking the entrance to the mine.

From here on out, you’ll be able to descend the mine, discover the secrets hidden below, and get all the sweet items and resources within. Also, just for those unaware, The Pelican Town Mine is located in the northeast corner of the map, between the Adventurer’s Guild and Linus’ tent.

Starting Out – Some Helpful Tips

Before you start your descent down to the bottom of the mines (level 100), you’ll want to prepare as best as you can and ensure that you give yourself the best chance of not only success but also survival. With that in mind, here are some helpful beginner tips to help you race down the mines in rapid time:

Watch Your TV

This may sound like the highest form of procrastination, but watching your TV as soon as you wake up will determine if it’s a good day to head to the mines.

The fortune-teller channel gives you a reading which indicates how lucky you will be on that particular day. So, for example, if the spirits are in good humor, you will find more ladders in the mine, get more critical hits, and get more item drops than when the spirits are displeased.

Let The Weather Be Your Guide

Mining in Stardew Valley, especially in the early game where energy is at a premium, is something that will take up all your energy for the day. So if you have to water your crops too, you simply won’t have enough juice left to have a good day at the mines. So, depending on if you want to prioritize catching, whether specific fish or not, you might want to dedicate rainy days to mining.

Food, Glorious Food

When you enter the mines, descending into the depths without a stash of food in your backpack is a recipe for trouble. You see, if you get ambushed by enemies and your health is low, you run the risk of being rushed to the hospital and losing some of your items.

Then on the flip side, if you run out of energy and you are one level away from your next elevator, it means that you’ll have to leave with your pickaxe between your legs and come back next time to repeat those levels all over again. So bring a snack or two to keep your health and energy up.

Watch The Clock

Mining can be a really fun and cathartic experience in Stardew Valley. You chip away at boulders, slay enemies, gather up precious loot, and before you know it, you are burning the midnight oil. However, what no one warns you about, is that when the clock turns midnight, things start to get intense.

When the clock strikes midnight, you automatically begin the next day with less than maximum energy, then when it turns 1 am, you lose a little more energy. However, this is nothing compared to when it hits 2 am.

When that happens, your character will collapse where they stand, and you’ll be rescued and brought home to your cozy bed. Sounds pleasant enough, but the hard pill to swallow is that you’ll be charged 1000g for the privilege and lose a selection of your items in your inventory. So keep one eye on the time while you mine.

Crafting Can Do Wonders

This won’t apply to those who attend the mines on the first available day. However, after a few visits, you’ll find that you have access to some mining-specific items in your crafting menu. These items are tailor-made to assist you in surviving and thriving in the mines. Here are some items you should become familiar with as soon as you can:

• Bug Steak: Gather up ten bug meat, and you’ll be able to craft a steak to help you keep health and energy high.
• Cherry Bombs: The first available bomb you can craft. With some copper and coal, you can create a bomb that will clear rocks and harm enemies without the need to waste energy.
• Staircases: If you have an abundance of stone in your inventory and you are desperate to make it down just one more level, you can use 100 stones to craft a staircase. Then place it anywhere in the mine to create a ladder down to the next level.

Pelican Town Mines Level Guide

Now that you know how to prepare for the task ahead, it’s time to get down to business and break down exactly what to expect at every point in the mine. We will break this up into bite-sized chunks to make things a little more manageable. Check it out below:

Levels 0-30

Enemies

• Green Slime: The most common slime enemy in the game. Bobs around and lunges to attack the player
• Duggy: This enemy is found in muddy soil within the mines. When you stand on the dirt, the Duggy will pop up and attack. This enemy Commonly drops cherry Bombs.
• Bug: Common bug enemy which flys in a vertical line up and down the mine floor. If blocked by a rock, it will turn and go the other way. This enemy Commonly drops Bug meat.
• Rock Crab: This enemy will present as a normal rock but, when hit, will pop out of its shell and attack. If you use a bomb, you can blow off this enemy’s shell and leave them vulnerable to attack. This enemy can also drop Crab.
• Grub: This enemy is a very docile one. It presents as a maggot initially and can be killed easily. However, if you don’t act fast, this enemy will form a cocoon and transform into a Cave Fly. Drops Bug meat.
• Cave Fly: The Cave Fly is a flying version of the Grub which will fly around the mine and seek you out, dealing with attacks every time it comes at you. Drops Bug meat.

Common Items

• Copper Ore: A vital resource within the early game. Can be found by breaking rocks and copper stones
• Stone: The mine is hands-down the best source of stone within the game. You’ll find lots of stone right from the first level of the mines. Simply use your pickaxe on rocks to gather it.
• Coal: Another great resource needed for bombs and smelting ore. You’ll find this by breaking rocks, and you’ll also find them in mine carts.
• Geodes: The most common geode in the game. These can be broken down at the Blacksmith in town to reveal rare, precious gems and minerals.
• Earth Crystal: A crystal commonly found on the ground on these levels. An earth Crystal is needed to create mayonnaise machines.
• Quartz: A gemstone that is found on these floors can be picked up without mining
• Amythest: A gemstone that is found by mining rocks with purple accents
• Topaz: A gemstone found on these levels

Potential Rewards

Level 10

• Leather Boots
• Work Boots
• Wooden Blade
• Iron Dirk
• Wind Spire
• Femur

Level 20

• Steel Broadsword
• Wood club
• Elf Blade
• Glow Ring
• Magnet Ring

Levels 30-40

Enemies

• Bats: Rather similar to the Cave Fly but more resilient. Bats will appear from outside the map and fly toward the player. This enemy can drop Bat wings.
• Stone Golem: These are slow-moving but hardy creatures. They are also hard to spot since these levels are extremely dark. Commonly drops coal or stone.

Common Items

• See items for Levels 0-20*

Levels 40-80

Enemies

• Frost Jellies: This is the frozen area of the mines version of the common slime. It’s a little stronger than the common slime and commonly drops slime.
• Frost Bats: The frozen variant of the common bat. The combat pattern is the same, and it also drops bat wings.
• Dust Sprites: These are bouncy little creatures that are based on the soot sprites from Studio Ghibli movies. They are generally quite easy to take on and commonly drop coal.
• Ghost: A spooky enemy that moves slowly but packs a punch if they do catch you. When hit, a ghost will disappear and reappear before attacking again. Commonly drops Solar Essence and occasionally, a Ghostfish. They can be encountered from level 50 onwards.
• Skeleton: Skeletons are creatures that not only attack through closing the distance on the player. They also have a ranged attack where they throw bone fragments at the player. This attack can also pass through rocks. These enemies are encountered from level seventy-one onwards.

Common Items

• Iron Ore: A step up from iron ore and a key crafting component. This can be found mainly through mining rocks and occasionally as enemy drops.
• Frozen Geodes: A new type of geode that offers exclusive minerals and gems. They can be found by mining rocks on these levels.
• Jade: A gemstone found my mining rocks on these floors.
• Aquamarine: A gemstone found my mining rocks on these floors

Potential Rewards

Level 40

• Slingshot (Level 40)

Level 50

• Tundra Boots
• Thermal Boots
• Combat Boots
• Silver Saber
• Pirate’s Sword

Level 60

• Crystal Dagger
• Cutlass
• Iron Edge
• Burglar’s Shank
• Wood Mallet

Level 70

• Master Slingshot

Level 80

• Firewalker Boots
• Dark Boots
• Claymore
• Kudgel
• Shadow dagger
• Templar’s Blade

Levels 100-120

Enemies

• Red Sludge: The strongest slime variant in the Pelican Town mine. Commonly drops slime.
• Lava Bat: The toughest bat variant in this mine. maintains the same attack pattern as the others and drops bat wings
• Lava Crab: Lava Crabs are tougher versions of Cave Crabs. These crabs are essentially the same, except their outer shell is impenetrable and cannot be destroyed by bombs. Commonly drops bombs and crabs.
• Shadow Brute: These are somewhat like Stone Golems, with no special attacks but can take several hits. Commonly drops Void Essence and Coal
• Shadow Shaman: Shadow Shamans act as the enemy healer in the mines. Not only can they cast spells that will heal the enemies in the immediate vicinity by 60 points. They also can drop your defense stat by eight. Then they also deal damage upon collision. Commonly these enemies drop Void Essence.
• Metalhead: A short and stout enemy with no special attacks but plenty of health, strong attacks, and these enemies are resistant to knockbacks. It commonly drops Solar Essence.
• Squid Kid: This is a hovering orb enemy that can shoot fireballs and move around regardless of the rocks and items on the ground. Commonly drops Solar Essence and Squid Ink.

Common Items

• Gold Ore: A valuable crafting resource that also fetches a pretty penny. It can be acquired through enemy drops or mining on these floors.
• Magma Geodes: Another unique geode that offers unique gems and minerals when cracked open. They can be found through mining on these levels.
• Omni geode: The rarest form of a geode that has the chance of offering any gem, artifact, or mineral from the standard Geode, Frozen Geode, or Magma Geode set.
• Emeralds: A gem that can be found by mining specific rocks with green specs on these floors
• Rubies: A gem that can be found by mining specific rocks with red specs on these floors.
• Fire Quartz: A rarer form of quartz only found on these floors.

Potential Rewards

Level 90

• Obsidian edge
• Tempered Broadsword
• Wicked Kris
• Bone Sword
• Ossfield Blade

Level 100

• Stardrop

Level 110

• Space Boots
• Crystal Shoes
• Steel Falchion
• The Slammer

Level 120

• Skull Key

The Calico Desert Mine

So you reached the bottom of the mines, you’ve received a strange-looking key, and you may be asking yourself, ‘What now?’ Well, the answer lies beyond Pelican Town. Outside of town, there is an area called the Calico desert, which is the area where you will find the mine tailor-made for veteran Stardew Valley dungeon crawlers.

This mine has infinite levels, holds a wealth of secrets, new items, and a host of enemies that are a much tougher challenge to take down than those in the mines back in Pelican Town.

How To Reach The Skull Cavern

Before we even discuss the dangers and the discoveries that you will make in the Skull Cavern, we need to talk about how to get there. In principle, when you have the Skull Key in your possession, you can enter the Skull Cavern.

However, you won’t be able to get to the Calico Desert without the help of the local bus service. The problem is that due to the state of affairs the town was in when you arrived, the town doesn’t have the funds to repair the bus. So this becomes your responsibility, and you will be able to do this through two methods:

The Joja Method

While it’s not the popular choice, you can use the Joja alternative to the community center, and you can pay for the bus repair outright. This will cost you a total of 45,000g. 5,000g of this is a down payment for the Joja Membership, and then 40,000g is for the community development project to unlock the bus.

The Community Center Method

The other method to unlock the bus is to complete bundles within the Community Centre. This involves players cultivating a variety of specific items, granting players rewards along the way, and repairing the community in the long run. However, with this particular bundle, the ‘Vault’ room.

You will be investing bundles of money. This will be in increments of 2,500g, 5,000g, 10,000g, and 25,000g. Once you pay the 42,500g total, the bus will be available the next day. It is also worth noting that you will also have to complete at least four bundles from other rooms in the Community Center to unlock this. So be sure to check these and keep these items for when you need them.

After you complete one of these methods, you will be free to travel to the Calcio desert any time you like. The bus is available from 10 am to 5 pm and costs 500g for a return trip. When you reach the desert, you will notice a cave in the top left corner of the desert. Enter this cave, and you’ll see a door with a skull on it. Use the key, and just like that, you’ll be in the Skull Cavern.

Breaking Down The Skull Cavern

Now that you have made it, we want to let you know what to expect when you enter the Skull Cavern. This mine works a little differently when compared to the town mine, and while the rewards are much sweeter, the dangers are much more severe. Here are the things to know about the Skull Cavern:

• There is no limit to the levels you can descend in the Skull Cavern. The only limitation is the number of hours in a day
• In the Skull Cavern, there is a chance that you can find holes. You can dump down there and skip multiple levels
• As you descend further down the mines, the likelihood of rare item drops and favorable floor layouts become more common
• Time passes slower in the cavern. A standard hour is 43 seconds, but in Skull Cavern, an hour lasts 54 seconds
• There are no elevators, so every time you visit, you’ll start from the beginning

Common Enemies

• Armoured Bug: A version of the standard bug that cannot be killed unless your weapon has the bug killer enhancement
• Big Slime: A huge ball of slime that moves very slow. When killed, this will split into several smaller slime enemies. Commonly drop slime and iridium
• Purple Slime: The rarest of the slimes that you’ll find in the traditional mines. Commonly drop Iridium Ore and Iridium Bars
• Lava Bat: See Pelican Town mines (Levels 80-120)
• Mummy: This enemy is a slow-moving and hard-hitting enemy which can only be temporarily downed by normal strikes. To fully destroy, you must down the enemy and then use a bomb to eviscerate the enemy. Commonly drops Cloth and Solar Essence.
• Serpent: Perhaps one of the most annoying and deadly pests in the entire game, especially during an infestation. This enemy has an attack pattern similar to the bat and Cave Fly enemies. However, this enemy moves incredibly fast. This enemy commonly drops Void Essence, Bombs, and Spicy Eel.

Rare Enemies

• Iridium Crab: This is a rare variation of the Cave Crab and Lava Crab. This can be found from level 28 onwards in the Skull Cavern. Has a 50/50 chance of dropping 1-3 Iridium Ore.
• Iridium Bat: The toughest bat you’ll find in SV. This bat has tonnes of HP, but when you eventually take it down, it will almost always drop 1-4 Iridium Ore. Plus, it can also drop Energy Tonic and Solar Essence and Battery Packs.
• Carbon Ghost: A rare variation of the common Ghost, which commonly drops an Omni geode and Ectoplasm.
• Pepper Rex: A fearsome monster up close or from range. This monster only appears on Prehistoric floors and can breathe fire. Commonly drops Dinosaur Eggs and Prehistoric artifacts.

Mining Skill Levels Explained

Now that you have an understanding of all the places that you mine in Stardew Valley (Except for Ginger Island, which we will cover in another guide), you now need to know about mining skill levels. Much like skills like Combat, Fishing, or Foraging, you gain XP by smashing rocks and exploring the mines.

Then when you gain enough mining XP, you will gain access to new perks and new crafting recipes. However, you may be wondering just what is on offer and when you get them. Well, we have your answers right here. Check it out:

Crafting Recipes

• Mining Level One: You will learn how to craft a Cherry Bomb
• Mining Level Two: You will learn how to craft staircases
• Mining Level Three: You Learn the cooking recipe Miner’s Treat
• Mining Level Four: You learn how to craft a Glowstone Ring and how to transmute Iron
• Mining Level Six: You learn how to craft bombs
• Mining Level Seven: You learn how to transmute Gold
• Mining Level Eight: You learn how to craft Mega Bombs
• Mining Level Nine: You learn how to craft a Crystalarium

Permanent Mining Perks

Mining Level Five – You will have the choice of two perks at this level; these are as follows:

• Blacksmith: With this perk, all Bronze, Silver, Gold, Iridium, and Radioactive bars will be worth more
• Excavator: With this perk, your chances of finding geodes permanently doubles

Mining Level Ten – You will also have a choice of two perks at this level which is as follows:

• Prospector: With this perk, your chance of finding coal doubles
• Gemologist: With this perk, all gems are worth 30% more

Just for the record, our picks when it comes to the mining perks are Excavator and Gemologist, respectively.

What’s Mine, Is Yours

As you can see from the information above, Stardew Valley‘s Mining mechanics are very simple to understand but only get more complex and tricky to master as the game progresses. The game forces the player to adapt, better themselves, upgrade their weapons and tools regularly, and overcome steep obstacles in the later mines.

However, with the help of this guide, we do not doubt that you will clear these hurdles with ease and strip the mine of its treasures and resources time and time again. So what are you waiting for? Grab your trusty pickaxe and get out there!

Stardew Valley Mining Guide FAQs