Skills & Professions

Game wiki

Stardew Valley Skills and Professions Guide

Skills guide for Farming, Mining, Foraging, Fishing, Combat, profession choices, books, Statue of Uncertainty, and Mastery planning.

Quick facts

Stardew Valley has five main skills: Farming, Mining, Foraging, Fishing, and Combat.
Each skill has level 5 and level 10 profession choices, and level 10 choices depend on the level 5 branch.
The Statue Of Uncertainty in the Sewers can change a chosen profession for 10,000g.

Profession planning

Profession choices are not only passive bonuses; they decide which level 10 branch appears. The strongest choice depends on whether the save is selling, collecting, processing, fighting, or routing completion.

  • Farming often favors Tiller into Artisan for general economy.
  • Fishing, Mining, and Foraging choices depend more on whether active or passive routes are central.
  • Combat can stay simple with Fighter or become build-focused with Scout.

Books and Mastery

Version 1.6 made skill planning more connected. Skill books can push XP or mastery points, and reaching level 10 in all five skills opens Mastery Cave.

  • Each skill has a matching skill book, plus Book Of Stars for broad experience.
  • Masteries unlock major late-game tools such as Iridium Scythe, Advanced Iridium Rod, Heavy Furnace, and trinket access.
  • Farming experience contributes differently to mastery points than the other skills in current 1.6 rules.