Stardew Valley Achievements Guide
Stardew Valley features 45+ Steam achievements (as of version 1.6) that track your progress and mastery of various game aspects. This comprehensive guide covers every achievement, how to unlock them, and strategies to complete your collection.
Achievement Overview
Achievements in Stardew Valley are earned through natural gameplay progression, though some require specific actions or planning. Many achievements unlock rewards in the form of hats that can be purchased from the abandoned house in Cindersap Forest (the “Hat Mouse”).
All Steam Achievements
Beginner Achievements (Easy to Obtain)
| Achievement | Description | How to Unlock | Hat Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhorn | Earn 15,000g | Sell crops, forage, fish, or mine | Straw Hat |
| Cowpoke | Earn 50,000g | Continue farming and selling | Cowboy Hat |
| Homesteader | Earn 250,000g | Expand your farm operations | Bowler Hat |
| Millionaire | Earn 1,000,000g | Master money-making strategies | Top Hat |
| Legend | Earn 10,000,000g | Ultimate wealth achievement | None |
| A Complete Collection | Complete the museum collection | Donate all 95 items to Gunther | None |
| A New Friend | Reach a 5-heart friend level with someone | Give gifts and talk daily | None |
| Best Friends | Reach a 10-heart friend level with someone | Max out friendship with any villager | None |
| The Beloved Farmer | Reach a 10-heart friend level with 8 people | Befriend multiple villagers | None |
| Cliques | Reach a 5-heart friend level with 4 people | Make several friends | None |
| Networking | Reach a 5-heart friend level with 10 people | Expand your social circle | None |
| Popular | Reach a 5-heart friend level with 20 people | Befriend most of the town | None |
Skill-Based Achievements
| Achievement | Description | How to Unlock | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artisan | Craft 30 different items | Unlock recipes and craft items | Check crafting menu regularly |
| Craft Master | Craft every item | Craft all 149 craftable items | Requires max skill levels |
| Cook | Cook 10 different recipes | Learn recipes and cook | Watch Queen of Sauce TV |
| Sous Chef | Cook 25 different recipes | Expand your cooking repertoire | Check all recipe sources |
| Gourmet Chef | Cook every recipe | Cook all 81 recipes | Requires Year 2 for all TV recipes |
| Moving Up | Upgrade your house | Upgrade house at Carpenter’s Shop | Costs 10,000g + 450 wood |
| Living Large | Upgrade your house to the maximum size | Final house upgrade with cellar | Costs 150,000g |
| D.I.Y. | Craft 15 different items | Early crafting milestone | Craft basic tools and items |
Farming and Ranching Achievements
| Achievement | Description | How to Unlock | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Talent | Achieve level 10 in a skill | Max out any one skill | Focus on one skill early |
| Master of the Five Ways | Achieve level 10 in every skill | Max all 5 skills | Requires dedication to all activities |
| Fisherman | Catch 10 different fish | Explore different fishing spots | Fish in all seasons and locations |
| Ol’ Mariner | Catch 24 different fish | Expand fishing variety | Check fish availability by season |
| Mother Catch | Catch 100 fish | Quantity milestone | Fish regularly or use crab pots |
| Treasure Trove | Donate 40 different items to the museum | Collect artifacts and minerals | Check all artifact spots |
| Gofer | Complete 10 ‘Help Wanted’ requests | Check the town bulletin board | New quests appear daily |
| A Big Help | Complete 40 ‘Help Wanted’ requests | Help your neighbors frequently | Prioritize easy requests |
| Polyculture | Ship 15 of each crop | Grow variety of crops | Plan crop rotations carefully |
| Monoculture | Ship 300 of one crop | Mass production | Ancient Fruit or Starfruit recommended |
| Full Shipment | Ship every item | Ship at least one of everything | Check shipping collection |
Exploration and Adventure Achievements
| Achievement | Description | How to Unlock | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventurer’s Guild | Kill 10 slimes | Complete the initiation quest | The Mines (levels 5-29) |
| Protector of the Valley | Complete all Adventure Guild monster slayer goals | Kill all required monsters | Various dungeons |
| Local Legend | Restore the Pelican Town Community Center | Complete all bundles | Community Center |
| Joja Co. Member of the Year | Become a Joja member and purchase all community development perks | Buy Joja membership and upgrades | JojaMart |
| Mystery of the Stardrops | Find every stardrop | Collect all 7 stardrops | Various locations |
| Prairie King | Beat ‘Journey of the Prairie King’ | Complete the arcade game | Saloon arcade machine |
| Fector’s Challenge | Beat ‘Journey of the Prairie King’ without taking damage | Perfect arcade run (no damage taken) | Requires practice |
| The Bottom | Reach the lowest level of the mines | Reach level 120 | The Mines |
Secret Achievements
| Achievement | Description | How to Unlock | Secret Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secret Achievement | ??? | Invite someone to the movie theater | Requires completing Community Center or Joja Warehouse |
| Secret Achievement | ??? | Reach the summit of the mountain | Requires 100% Perfection |
| Secret Achievement | ??? | Find a Strange Capsule | Random event after Year 1 |
| Secret Achievement | ??? | Find an Owl Statue | Random decoration event |
| Secret Achievement | ??? | Find a Green Rain event | Rare weather occurrence |
Detailed Achievement Strategies
Money-Making Achievements
Path to 10,000,000g (Legend):
| Stage | Amount | Recommended Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Greenhorn | 15,000g | Sell spring crops and forage |
| Cowpoke | 50,000g | Expand to summer crops, start fishing |
| Homesteader | 250,000g | Kegs and Preserves Jars for artisan goods |
| Millionaire | 1,000,000g | Ancient Fruit wine, Starfruit with casks |
| Legend | 10,000,000g | Massive Ancient Fruit operation, truffles, fish ponds |
Best Money-Making Methods:
- Ancient Fruit Wine - Plant in Greenhouse, process in Kegs, age in Casks
- Starfruit Wine - Summer crop, high base value, excellent with casks
- Truffle Oil - Pigs in barns, process truffles in Oil Maker
- Crystalarium Diamonds - Passive income, place multiple machines
- Fish Ponds - Roe production, especially Sturgeon for Caviar
Friendship Achievements
Friendship Point System:
| Action | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daily conversation | +20 | Essential for building friendship |
| Loved gift | +80 | Best way to gain hearts quickly |
| Liked gift | +45 | Good alternative when loved items unavailable |
| Neutral gift | +20 | Better than nothing |
| Birthday loved gift | +640 | 8x normal bonus - extremely valuable |
| Quest completion | +150 | Check bulletin board daily |
Efficient Friendship Strategy:
- Focus on 8 villagers for “The Beloved Farmer”
- Give loved gifts twice weekly to each
- Never miss birthdays (mark on calendar)
- Complete quests when available
- Attend festivals and dance with partners
Skill Achievements
Experience Requirements:
| Level | Total XP Needed | Key Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | First profession choice |
| 5 | 2,400 | First specialization |
| 10 | 15,000 | Max level, second specialization |
Fastest Skill Leveling Methods:
| Skill | Fastest Method | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Farming | Harvest crops | Ancient Fruit in Greenhouse is best |
| Mining | Break rocks in Skull Cavern | Use bombs for efficiency |
| Foraging | Gather spring onions, chop trees | Spring onions respawn daily |
| Fishing | Catch fish, use crab pots | Treasure chests give bonus XP |
| Combat | Kill monsters in Skull Cavern | Dangerous but rewarding |
Cooking Achievements
Recipe Sources:
| Source | Number of Recipes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Queen of Sauce TV | 26 | Monday/Sunday, reruns Wednesday |
| Skill levels | 15 | Various skills |
| Friendship | 12 | Specific villagers |
| Shops | 8 | Gus, Krobus, etc. |
| Festivals | 5 | Winning competitions |
| Other | 8 | Museum, mines, etc. |
Must-Have Recipes for Completion:
| Recipe | Source | Date/Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Strange Bun | Queen of Sauce | Fall 14, Year 1 |
| Seafoam Pudding | Fishing level 9 | Level up reward |
| Lobster Bisque | Willy (7+ hearts) | Mail reward |
| Squid Ink Ravioli | Combat level 9 | Level up reward |
| Tom Kha Soup | Queen of Sauce | Spring 7, Year 2 |
| Plumber’s Secret | Queen of Sauce | Summer 14, Year 2 |
Museum Achievement (Treasure Trove)
Donation Categories:
| Category | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minerals | 53 | Found in geodes, mines |
| Artifacts | 42 | Found in artifact spots, fishing, monsters |
| Total | 95 | Complete collection |
Rare Items to Watch For:
| Item | Type | Best Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dinosaur Egg | Artifact/Item | Artifact spots, fishing chests, Pepper Rex |
| Prismatic Shard | Mineral | Iridium nodes, Omni Geodes, monsters |
| Ancient Seed | Artifact | Artifact spots, fishing chests, bugs |
| Dwarf Scrolls | Artifact | Mines levels 1-120, monsters |
| Strange Dolls | Artifact | Artifact spots, fishing chests |
Monster Slayer Achievements
Adventurer’s Guild Monster List:
| Monster | Count Required | Best Location | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slimes | 1,000 | Mines 5-29, Skull Cavern | Farm early levels repeatedly |
| Void Spirits | 150 | Skull Cavern (level 100+) | Dangerous, come prepared |
| Bats | 200 | Mines, Skull Cavern | Common enemy, passive progress |
| Skeletons | 50 | Mines 70-79 | Farm these levels |
| Cave Insects | 125 | Mines 10-29 | Early game farming |
| Duggies | 30 | Mines 10-29 | Wait for them to surface |
| Dust Sprites | 500 | Mines 40-79 | Excellent for coal farming |
| Rock Crabs | 60 | Mines, Skull Cavern | Look for moving rocks |
| Mummies | 100 | Skull Cavern | Use bombs to kill |
| Pepper Rex | 50 | Skull Cavern | Rare spawn, be patient |
| Serpents | 250 | Skull Cavern | Very common, will complete naturally |
| Magma Sprites | 150 | Volcano Dungeon | Post-1.5 content |
Journey of the Prairie King Achievements
Basic Tips:
- Collect power-ups (coffee for speed, shotgun for spread)
- Save coins for the shop (life upgrades most important)
- Memorize enemy patterns
- Stay moving constantly
No-Death Run Strategy (Fector’s Challenge):
- Practice extensively in normal mode first
- Prioritize life upgrades from shop
- Never take unnecessary risks
- Use spread shot power-up whenever possible
- Consider using the save exploit (exit to title if hit)
Achievement Rewards - Hat Collection
Complete achievements unlock hats sold by the Hat Mouse in the abandoned house in Cindersap Forest.
| Achievement | Hat | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Greenhorn | Straw Hat | 1,000g |
| Cowpoke | Cowboy Hat | 5,000g |
| Homesteader | Bowler Hat | 10,000g |
| Millionaire | Top Hat | 25,000g |
| Artisan | Blue Bonnet | 5,000g |
| Cook | Chef Hat | 10,000g |
| Moving Up | Sou’wester | 5,000g |
| D.I.Y. | Daisy | 2,500g |
| Fisherman | Sailor’s Cap | 5,000g |
| Mother Catch | Cool Cap | 10,000g |
| Gofer | Butterfly Bow | 5,000g |
| A Big Help | Mouse Ears | 2,500g |
| Single Talent | Cat Ears | 5,000g |
| Adventurer’s Guild | Skeleton Mask | 20,000g |
| The Bottom | Gnome’s Cap | 10,000g |
| Protector of the Valley | Chicken Mask | 20,000g |
Secret Achievements Explained
Movie Theater Invitation
- Requirement: Complete either the Community Center or Joja Warehouse project
- How to Unlock: After completion, the movie theater is built (or repaired). Invite any villager to a movie.
- Note: This achievement was added in version 1.4
Summit of the Mountain
- Requirement: Achieve 100% Perfection
- How to Unlock: Complete all Perfection requirements, then visit the summit west of the Railroad.
- Reward: Access to the true ending cutscene
Strange Capsule
- Requirement: Witness the Strange Capsule random event
- How to Unlock: After Year 1, there’s a 1% chance each night of this event occurring (if you have an empty tile on your farm).
- Note: The capsule will crack open after a few days, leaving footprints leading to the forest.
Owl Statue
- Requirement: Witness the Owl Statue random event
- How to Unlock: Rare decoration event that places a stone owl statue on your farm.
- Note: Purely cosmetic, no gameplay effect
Green Rain
- Requirement: Experience the Green Rain weather event
- How to Unlock: Very rare weather occurrence that tints the rain green.
- Note: Extremely rare, may take many in-game years to witness
Achievement Completion Order Recommendation
Year 1 Priorities
- Greenhorn, Cowpoke (natural progression)
- D.I.Y., Artisan (craft basic items)
- A New Friend, Cliques (befriend villagers)
- The Bottom (reach mine level 120)
- Adventurer’s Guild (kill 10 slimes)
- Fisherman (catch variety of fish)
Year 2 Priorities
- Homesteader, Millionaire (expand operations)
- Best Friends, The Beloved Farmer (max friendships)
- Cook, Sous Chef (learn TV recipes)
- Treasure Trove (complete museum)
- Mystery of the Stardrops (collect all 7)
- Local Legend or Joja Co. Member (complete main quest)
End Game (Year 3+)
- Legend (earn 10,000,000g)
- Gourmet Chef (all recipes)
- Craft Master (all items)
- Master of the Five Ways (all skills)
- Protector of the Valley (all monster goals)
- Full Shipment (ship every item)
- Prairie King and Fector’s Challenge (arcade mastery)
Tips and Tricks
General Achievement Tips
-
Plan Ahead: Many achievements require long-term planning (shipping every item, cooking all recipes)
-
Check the Wiki: For specific item locations and availability
-
Use Multiple Saves: Some achievements are mutually exclusive (Community Center vs. Joja)
-
Track Progress: Use the in-game collections tab to monitor shipping and cooking progress
-
Don’t Rush: Many achievements come naturally through gameplay
Time-Saving Strategies
- Friendship: Focus on 8 villagers for “The Beloved Farmer” rather than trying to max everyone
- Cooking: Watch Queen of Sauce every Monday and Sunday without fail
- Crafting: Keep a list of uncrafted items and their requirements
- Fishing: Use tackle and bait to catch fish faster
- Mining: Use bombs and staircases to descend quickly
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing Queen of Sauce episodes (check Wednesday reruns)
- Forgetting to ship one of each item
- Not befriending the Dwarf (required for some artifacts)
- Selling unique items before donating to museum
- Not checking the Traveling Cart for rare items
Conclusion
Achieving all 40 Steam achievements in Stardew Valley is a testament to your mastery of the game. While some achievements come naturally through regular play, others require dedicated effort and planning. Use this guide to track your progress and develop strategies for the more challenging achievements. Remember, the journey is part of the fun - don’t let achievement hunting ruin your enjoyment of this wonderful game!
Good luck on your path to 100% completion!