Complete Guide to All 8 Rarecrows in Stardew Valley
Rarecrows are special scarecrow variants in Stardew Valley that serve both practical and collectible purposes. There are 8 Rarecrows to find, each with a unique design and acquisition method. Collecting all 8 unlocks a special achievement and rewards you with the Deluxe Scarecrow recipe. This guide covers every Rarecrow location, how to obtain each one, and strategies for completing the collection.
What Are Rarecrows?
Overview
Rarecrows are decorative scarecrows that function identically to regular scarecrows but with unique appearances. They protect your crops from crows just like the standard scarecrow, with the same protection radius.
Scarecrow Effectiveness
| Scarecrow Type | Protection Radius | Crows Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Scarecrow | 8 tiles (circle) | Up to 17 tiles |
| Rarecrow | 8 tiles (circle) | Up to 17 tiles |
| Deluxe Scarecrow | 16 tiles (circle) | Up to 51 tiles |
All Rarecrows have the same effectiveness as the standard scarecrow. The main reason to collect them is for the achievement and to unlock the Deluxe Scarecrow recipe.
All 8 Rarecrows
Rarecrow #1: The Guard (Spring Egg Festival)
Location: Spring Egg Festival (Spring 13)
How to Obtain: Purchase from the vendor stall at the Spring Egg Festival for 2,000g.
Details:
- The Spring Egg Festival takes place in the town square from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- Look for the vendor selling special items near the egg hunt area.
- The Rarecrow is available every year, so you can buy it in any year.
- This is typically the first Rarecrow most players obtain.
Appearance: A scarecrow with a simple design featuring a round head and basic body.
Rarecrow #2: The Ninja (Traveling Cart)
Location: Traveling Cart (Cindersap Forest, Fridays and Sundays)
How to Obtain: Purchase from the Traveling Cart for 5,000g (price may vary).
Details:
- The Traveling Cart appears in the Cindersap Forest south of your farm on Fridays and Sundays.
- The Ninja Rarecrow appears randomly in the cartโs inventory.
- The price is typically around 5,000g but can vary between visits.
- You may need to check multiple times before it appears.
Appearance: A scarecrow dressed as a ninja with a black mask and headband.
Rarecrow #3: The Alien (Traveling Cart)
Location: Traveling Cart (Cindersap Forest, Fridays and Sundays)
How to Obtain: Purchase from the Traveling Cart for 5,000g (price may vary).
Details:
- Like the Ninja Rarecrow, this one appears randomly in the Traveling Cart.
- It may take several weeks or even months for it to appear.
- The price can vary, so check regularly.
Appearance: A scarecrow designed to look like an alien with large eyes and antennae.
Rarecrow #4: The Witch (Secret Note #16)
Location: Secret Note #16
How to Obtain: Follow the instructions in Secret Note #16.
Details:
- Secret Notes can be found by digging up artifact spots, chopping weeds, killing monsters, or fishing.
- Secret Note #16 contains a riddle that leads you to a specific location.
- Follow the noteโs instructions to find the Witch Rarecrow hidden in the game world.
- The note directs you to a specific spot where the Rarecrow can be collected.
Appearance: A scarecrow with a witch hat and mystical design.
Rarecrow #5: The Scarecrow (Rarecrow from Museum Donation)
Location: Museum (Archaeology Office)
How to Obtain: Donate 40 unique items to the Museum.
Details:
- Gunther gives you this Rarecrow as a reward for donating 40 unique items to the Museum.
- The 40 items must be different artifacts or minerals.
- Check your Museum progress to see how many items you have donated.
- This is a natural milestone for players who actively donate to the Museum.
Appearance: A scarecrow that looks similar to the standard scarecrow but with slight variations.
Rarecrow #6: The Snowman (Winter Star Festival)
Location: Feast of the Winter Star (Winter 25)
How to Obtain: Receive as a gift from your Secret Santa.
Details:
- The Feast of the Winter Star is the final festival of the year.
- During the Secret Santa exchange, you may receive the Snowman Rarecrow as a gift.
- The gift you receive is random, so this Rarecrow is not guaranteed.
- You may need to participate in multiple Winter Star festivals to receive it.
Appearance: A scarecrow designed to look like a snowman with a carrot nose and top hat.
Rarecrow #7: The Scarecrow (Krobus Shop)
Location: Krobusโs Shop in the Sewers
How to Obtain: Purchase from Krobus for 2,000g.
Details:
- You need access to the Sewers (complete Community Center or Joja projects).
- Krobus sells this Rarecrow as part of his regular inventory.
- It is always available (not limited stock), so you can buy it anytime.
- This is one of the easiest Rarecrows to obtain if you have Sewer access.
Appearance: A scarecrow with a unique shadow-themed design.
Rarecrow #8: The Scarecrow (Qiโs Walnut Room)
Location: Mr. Qiโs Walnut Room on Ginger Island
How to Obtain: Purchase from Mr. Qiโs shop for 10 Qi Gems.
Details:
- You need access to Ginger Island (complete Community Center, repair boat at Willyโs shop).
- Qi Gems are earned by completing Qi Challenges on the challenge board.
- The Rarecrow costs 10 Qi Gems, which requires completing several challenges.
- This is typically one of the last Rarecrows players obtain.
Appearance: A scarecrow with a golden, luxurious design.
The Rarecrow Achievement
Achievement Requirements
Collecting all 8 Rarecrows unlocks the โRarecrow Collectionโ achievement. This achievement is tracked in the gameโs achievement system and is visible on your profile.
Achievement Reward
When you collect all 8 Rarecrows, you receive the Deluxe Scarecrow recipe as a reward. This recipe allows you to craft the Deluxe Scarecrow, which has double the protection radius of a standard scarecrow.
The Deluxe Scarecrow
Crafting Recipe
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Rarecrow | 1 (any of the 8) |
| Fiber | 10 |
| Battery Pack | 1 |
Deluxe Scarecrow Benefits
| Feature | Standard Scarecrow | Deluxe Scarecrow |
|---|---|---|
| Protection Radius | 8 tiles | 16 tiles |
| Crows Protected | Up to 17 | Up to 51 |
| Crafting Cost | 50 wood, 1 coal, 20 fiber | 1 Rarecrow, 10 fiber, 1 Battery Pack |
| Purchase Cost | 500g | Not purchasable |
Strategy for Deluxe Scarecrow
- Use a Duplicate: If you have a spare Rarecrow (unlikely, since each is unique), use it for crafting. Otherwise, you will need to sacrifice one of your 8 Rarecrows.
- Farm Layout: Place Deluxe Scarecrows strategically to cover the maximum number of crop tiles.
- Multiple Deluxe Scarecrows: You can craft multiple Deluxe Scarecrows if you have multiple Rarecrows, but since each Rarecrow is unique, you can only craft one Deluxe Scarecrow per playthrough.
Acquisition Strategy
Optimal Order for Collecting Rarecrows
| Priority | Rarecrow | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spring Egg Festival | Available early, guaranteed |
| 2 | Museum Donation | Natural progression |
| 3 | Krobus Shop | Easy if Sewers unlocked |
| 4 | Traveling Cart (Ninja) | Check weekly |
| 5 | Traveling Cart (Alien) | Check weekly |
| 6 | Secret Note #16 | Requires luck finding the note |
| 7 | Winter Star Festival | Random gift, may take years |
| 8 | Qiโs Walnut Room | Requires Ginger Island access |
Time Investment
| Rarecrow | Estimated Time to Obtain |
|---|---|
| Spring Egg Festival | 1 day (Spring 13) |
| Museum Donation | Several weeks of donating |
| Krobus Shop | 1 day (after Sewer access) |
| Traveling Cart (Ninja) | 2-8 weeks (random) |
| Traveling Cart (Alien) | 2-8 weeks (random) |
| Secret Note #16 | Variable (RNG-based) |
| Winter Star Festival | 1-3 years (random gift) |
| Qiโs Walnut Room | Several weeks of Qi Challenges |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rarecrow Display Strategies
Farm Decoration
Since Rarecrows are both functional and decorative, consider these display strategies:
- Themed Areas: Place each Rarecrow in a different area of your farm to create themed zones.
- Centerpiece: Use the Deluxe Scarecrow as a centerpiece in your main crop area.
- Collection Display: If you have spare Rarecrows (after crafting the Deluxe Scarecrow), display them near your farmhouse.
- Seasonal Rotation: Rotate Rarecrow positions with the seasons for visual variety.
Rarecrow Appearances
Each Rarecrow has a unique and memorable design:
| Rarecrow | Design Description | Color Scheme |
|---|---|---|
| #1 (Egg Festival) | Simple round head with basic body | Brown and tan |
| #2 (Ninja) | Ninja mask and headband | Black and red |
| #3 (Alien) | Large eyes and antennae | Green and purple |
| #4 (Witch) | Witch hat and mystical aura | Purple and black |
| #5 (Museum) | Classic scarecrow with museum tag | Brown and gold |
| #6 (Snowman) | Snowman shape with carrot nose | White and orange |
| #7 (Krobus) | Shadow-themed with dark aura | Dark purple and black |
| #8 (Qi) | Golden and luxurious design | Gold and silver |
Advanced Collection Strategies
Speed Running the Collection
For players who want to collect all 8 Rarecrows as quickly as possible:
Year 1 Plan:
- Spring 13: Buy Rarecrow #1 at the Egg Festival (2,000g).
- Spring-Summer: Donate items to the Museum for Rarecrow #5.
- Summer-Fall: Check the Traveling Cart every Friday and Sunday for Rarecrows #2 and #3.
- Fall: Find Secret Note #16 for Rarecrow #4.
- Winter 25: Hope for Rarecrow #6 at the Feast of the Winter Star.
Year 2 Plan:
- Spring: Access the Sewers and buy Rarecrow #7 from Krobus (2,000g).
- Summer: Reach Ginger Island and earn 10 Qi Gems for Rarecrow #8.
Traveling Cart Tips
The Traveling Cart is the most unpredictable source of Rarecrows:
- Check Every Visit: The cartโs inventory changes every Friday and Sunday. Always check.
- Budget: Keep at least 10,000g in reserve for Rarecrow purchases.
- Price Variation: Rarecrow prices at the cart can vary from 2,000g to 8,000g. Be prepared for higher prices.
- Patience: It may take 2-3 months for both the Ninja and Alien Rarecrows to appear.
Secret Note #16 Strategy
Finding Secret Note #16 can be challenging:
- Dig Artifact Spots: Dig up every artifact spot you find, especially in the Secret Woods and Mountain area.
- Chop Weeds: Weeds have a small chance of dropping Secret Notes.
- Kill Monsters: Monsters in the mines and Skull Cavern can drop Secret Notes.
- Fish: Fishing has a chance of yielding Secret Notes.
- Daily Luck: Higher daily luck may increase the chance of finding specific notes.
The Deluxe Scarecrow in Practice
Optimal Placement
The Deluxe Scarecrowโs 16-tile radius covers a large area. Here are optimal placement strategies:
- Center of Crop Area: Place the Deluxe Scarecrow in the center of your largest crop field.
- Multiple Fields: If you have multiple crop areas, you may need multiple scarecrows (standard or Rarecrow).
- Greenhouse: The Deluxe Scarecrow is not needed in the Greenhouse (no crows spawn there).
- Ginger Island Farm: Place a scarecrow on Ginger Island to protect those crops.
Coverage Calculation
The Deluxe Scarecrow protects a circular area with a 16-tile radius:
- Total Tiles Protected: Approximately 804 tiles (pi x 16 squared).
- Actual Crop Tiles: Not all tiles within the radius are farmable, so the practical coverage is lower.
- Overlap Avoidance: When placing multiple scarecrows, avoid overlapping their coverage areas.
Rarecrow Trivia
Fun Facts
- The Rarecrow achievement was one of the original achievements in Stardew Valley.
- The Ninja Rarecrow is a reference to the classic ninja scarecrow trope.
- The Alien Rarecrowโs design is inspired by classic sci-fi depictions of extraterrestrials.
- The Snowman Rarecrow is the only one that is seasonally themed.
- The Qi Rarecrow is the most expensive to obtain, requiring 10 Qi Gems.
Community Favorites
In the Stardew Valley community, the most popular Rarecrows tend to be:
- Ninja Rarecrow: Loved for its cool design.
- Alien Rarecrow: Appreciated for its quirky appearance.
- Witch Rarecrow: Popular for its thematic connection to the gameโs lore.
- Qi Rarecrow: Valued for its golden, premium appearance.
Do Rarecrows work better than regular scarecrows? No, all Rarecrows have the same protection radius as the standard scarecrow. The only advantage is the Deluxe Scarecrow recipe you get for collecting all 8.
Can I place multiple Rarecrows on my farm? Yes, you can place all 8 Rarecrows on your farm simultaneously. Each one protects crops within its radius.
What happens if I lose a Rarecrow? Rarecrows cannot be destroyed or lost once placed. If you remove one from your farm, it goes back to your inventory.
Can I buy Rarecrows from the Traveling Cart multiple times? No, each Rarecrow can only be obtained once per save file. Once you have purchased or found a Rarecrow, it will not appear again.
Is the Deluxe Scarecrow worth sacrificing a Rarecrow? Yes, the Deluxe Scarecrowโs doubled protection radius makes it extremely valuable for large farms. The protection upgrade is worth the loss of one decorative Rarecrow.