The Stardew Valley Mastery System is one of the new features added in Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update and everyone is eager to see what it is.
Months after the initial 1.6 release in PC, Stardew Valley fans continue to ride the hype with the game’s newest features. With upcoming launch of 1.6 in mobile and console ports, players gear up in preparation for perfection. One of the things required for perfection is the entirely new mastery system introduced in the 1.6 update.
Introduction to the Stardew Valley Mastery System
The Mastery Cave is a new area added in 1.6 after the Stardew Valley Mastery System was implemented. It’s located in Cindersap Forest across the river from Leah’s cabin. After the player reaches level 10 in fishing, farming, foraging, mining, and combat skills, the mastery cave will be accessible.
All accumulated experience points after the 5 basic skills are maxed out will go to the mastery skills. You need 10,000 EXP for your first mastery skill reward. After this, the EXP requirement increases.
Once you gain enough EXP, you can claim a variety of rewards for each mastery skill.
What Are the Different Stardew Valley Skill Levels and Mastery?
Skills are player traits that can be leveled up by reading books or using particular tools or activities. There are ten levels for each skill.
After gaining sufficient experience points (EXP) needed to level up, a skill level raise is granted instantly and is shown on the inventory’s skills tab.
Every day when the player levels up a talent for the first time, they receive the notification, “You’ve got some new ideas to sleep on.” The newly acquired skill level instantly improves the skill’s tool(s) competency.
Since I’ve already talked about how players need to max out their skills and how much EXP they need to get their first reward for mastering a skill, let’s take a look at the rewards for each skill.
• Farming Mastery
If you think of yourself as a green thumb more than anyone else, you might want to claim the farming mastery first. The rewards for the farming mastery skill are the following:
- Iridium Scythe – can be used to harvest all crops; more efficient in gathering hay
- Statue of Blessings (crafting recipe) – a statue that gives a unique blessing or buff each day; requires 999 Sap, 999, Fiber, 999 Stone, and 333 Moss to craft
- Golden Animal Crackers – permanently doubles an animal’s produce when held; doesn’t work on pigs; found in golden mystery boxes, mining and fishing chests, monster drops, barrels and crates, trees, and artifact spots
• Foraging Mastery
The foraging mastery rewards don’t aid much on the skill itself. However, these are still worth getting since the items granted in this mastery allows you to possible complete collections fast.
- Mystic Tree Seed (crafting recipe) – grows a special tree that produces a new special syrup
- Treasure Totem (crafting recipe) – use on a diggable terrain to summon a ring of artifact spots
- Golden Mystery Boxes – contains rarer items
• Fishing Mastery
- Advanced Iridium Rod – allows you to attach one type of bait and two fishing tackles
- Challenge Bait (crafting recipe) – allows you to catch 3 fish in a “perfect” catch
- Golden Fishing Chests – contains rarer items
• Mining Mastery
- Statue of the Dwarf King (crafting recipe) – allows you to choose from two mining buffs per day
- Heavy Furnace (crafting recipe) – gives 5-6 metal bars per 25 ores and 3 coals; requires 2 furnaces, 3 iron bars, and 50 stones to craft
- Double Gems – gem-bearing rocks now grant two gems
• Combat Mastery
Last but not the least, the combat mastery. With this mastery skill, skull cavern and volcano dungeon dives will be so much easier.
- Anvil (crafting recipe) – randomizes trinket stats for 3 iridium bars
- Mini Forge (crafting recipe) – allows you to forge tools and weapons at home
- Trinkets – can equip trinkets that grant special powers to aid you in your mining adventures
After completing the challenge and claiming all mastery rewards, a candle will light above each mastery pillar. Grandpa’s letter is removed on the ground, and a hat will appear on the pedestal between the pillars. A message will appear in the game that says: “You feel Grandpa’s hand patting your shoulder…”
Several years after its first release, Stardew Valley is still one of the most enjoyed games in this generation. Being a sandbox game that’s now on mobile, players have full control over their goals and creativity. And with the addition of 1.6 and the mastery system, we’re sure to see more of this game in the future. Whether you’re a long-time PC player or a mobile/console player patiently waiting for the new update, you’ll find something new to enjoy with every patch.
Ready to Try Out the Stardew Valley Mastery System?
Go on and get Stardew Valley today, and start getting on the grind for that mastery system. It’s an absolute game-changer and it adds more fun elements to the base game. Stardew Valley is certainly doubling down on its sandbox mechanics and gamers are here to enjoy it.
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