Complete Tools Upgrade Guide
Tools are the backbone of your farming life in Stardew Valley. From tilling soil to chopping trees, your efficiency depends entirely on the quality of your tools. This comprehensive guide covers every tool upgrade in the game, including costs, requirements, benefits, and the optimal upgrade order to maximize your productivity.
Understanding Tool Upgrades
All tool upgrades are performed by Clint at the Blacksmith, located in the eastern part of Pelican Town. The Blacksmith is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Each upgrade takes exactly 2 days to complete, during which time you cannot use that tool.
Basic Upgrade Costs
Every tool follows the same upgrade pattern in terms of materials and gold costs:
| Upgrade Level | Material Required | Gold Cost | Total Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 5 Copper Bars | 2,000g | 2,000g + 25 Copper Ore |
| Steel | 5 Iron Bars | 5,000g | 5,000g + 25 Iron Ore |
| Gold | 5 Gold Bars | 10,000g | 10,000g + 25 Gold Ore |
| Iridium | 5 Iridium Bars | 25,000g | 25,000g + 25 Iridium Ore |
Note: To create bars, you need a Furnace (obtained from Clint after collecting 1 Copper Ore). Each bar requires 5 ore and 1 coal, taking 30 in-game minutes to smelt.
Mining Requirements for Materials
| Material | Found On Mine Level | Additional Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Ore | Levels 1-39 | Geodes, Quarry, Fishing Treasure |
| Iron Ore | Levels 40-79 | Geodes, Quarry, Fishing Treasure |
| Gold Ore | Levels 80-120 | Magma Geodes, Quarry, Panning |
| Iridium Ore | Skull Cavern (rare) | Omni Geodes, Meteorites, Statue of Perfection |
The Hoe
The hoe is used primarily for tilling soil to plant crops and digging for artifacts. While important for farming, it is generally the lowest priority for upgrades since you till soil less frequently than other activities.
Hoe Upgrade Benefits
| Level | Tiles Tilled | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1 tile | Standard tilling |
| Copper | 3 tiles (line) | Tills 3 tiles in a line |
| Steel | 5 tiles (line) | Tills 5 tiles in a line |
| Gold | 3x3 area | Tills a 3x3 square at once |
| Iridium | 6x3 area | Tills a 6x3 rectangle at once |
Hoe Energy Costs
| Level | Energy per Use | Efficiency Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 6 energy | Baseline |
| Copper | 6 energy | Good for rows |
| Steel | 6 energy | Excellent for rows |
| Gold | 6 energy | Excellent for plots |
| Iridium | 6 energy | Maximum coverage |
Best Use Cases:
- Preparing large farming plots quickly
- Digging in the mines for artifacts
- Tilling soil in the Ginger Island farm
- Preparing areas for large-scale crop planting
The Pickaxe
The pickaxe is essential for mining, breaking rocks on your farm, and clearing debris. Upgrading your pickaxe allows you to break harder rocks in fewer hits and access deeper mine levels more efficiently.
Pickaxe Upgrade Benefits
| Level | Rock Breaking | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 4 hits for gray rocks | Cannot break large rocks or meteors |
| Copper | 3 hits for gray rocks | Can break large rocks on farm (6 hits) |
| Steel | 2 hits for gray rocks | Can break large rocks (3 hits) and boulders |
| Gold | 1 hit for gray rocks | Can break meteors (6 hits) and large boulders |
| Iridium | 1 hit for all rocks | Can break anything in 1 hit except meteors (2 hits) |
Pickaxe Area of Effect
| Level | Mining Area | Farm Clearing Area |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1 tile | 1 tile |
| Copper | 1 tile | 1 tile |
| Steel | 1 tile | 1 tile |
| Gold | 1 tile | 1 tile |
| Iridium | 1 tile | 1 tile |
Note: Unlike the hoe and watering can, the pickaxe does not gain area-of-effect upgrades. However, the reduced hits per rock significantly speed up mining.
Pickaxe Energy Costs
| Rock Type | Basic | Copper | Steel | Gold | Iridium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Gray Rock | 8 energy (4 hits) | 6 energy (3 hits) | 4 energy (2 hits) | 2 energy (1 hit) | 2 energy (1 hit) |
| Large Gray Rock | Cannot break | 12 energy (6 hits) | 6 energy (3 hits) | 4 energy (2 hits) | 2 energy (1 hit) |
| Red Rocks (Mines 80+) | Cannot break | Cannot break | 10 energy (5 hits) | 6 energy (3 hits) | 2 energy (1 hit) |
| Purple Rocks (Skull Cavern) | Cannot break | Cannot break | Cannot break | 10 energy (5 hits) | 4 energy (2 hits) |
The Axe
The axe is used for chopping trees, clearing stumps, and harvesting giant crops. Axe upgrades are crucial for wood production and farm clearing.
Axe Upgrade Benefits
| Level | Tree Chopping | Stump Removal | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 10 hits for tree | Cannot remove | Can chop small trees only |
| Copper | 8 hits for tree | Cannot remove | Slightly faster |
| Steel | 6 hits for tree | 6 hits for stump | Can remove large stumps! |
| Gold | 4 hits for tree | 3 hits for stump | Can chop large logs! |
| Iridium | 2 hits for tree | 2 hits for stump | Maximum efficiency |
Axe Energy Costs
| Action | Basic | Copper | Steel | Gold | Iridium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Tree | 20 energy (10 hits) | 16 energy (8 hits) | 12 energy (6 hits) | 8 energy (4 hits) | 4 energy (2 hits) |
| Large Stump | Cannot chop | Cannot chop | 12 energy (6 hits) | 6 energy (3 hits) | 4 energy (2 hits) |
| Large Log | Cannot chop | Cannot chop | Cannot chop | 12 energy (4 hits) | 6 energy (2 hits) |
Critical Upgrade Milestones:
- Steel Axe: Unlocks access to the Secret Woods (removes large stumps)
- Gold Axe: Unlocks new areas by removing large logs blocking paths
The Watering Can
The watering can is arguably the most important tool to upgrade early. Watering crops is a daily activity, and higher-tier watering cans save enormous amounts of time and energy.
Watering Can Upgrade Benefits
| Level | Tiles Watered | Water Capacity | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1 tile | 40 uses | Refill at any water source |
| Copper | 3 tiles (line) | 55 uses | Waters 3 tiles in a line |
| Steel | 5 tiles (line) | 70 uses | Waters 5 tiles in a line |
| Gold | 9 tiles (3x3) | 85 uses | Waters 3x3 area at once |
| Iridium | 18 tiles (6x3) | 100 uses | Waters 6x3 area at once |
Watering Can Energy Costs
| Level | Energy per Tile | 100 Tile Farm Energy Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 4 energy | 400 energy |
| Copper | 4 energy | ~133 energy (33 uses) |
| Steel | 4 energy | ~80 energy (20 uses) |
| Gold | 4 energy | ~45 energy (12 uses) |
| Iridium | 4 energy | ~22 energy (6 uses) |
Important: The watering can must be refilled at a water source (pond, river, kitchen sink, or fish pond) when empty. Higher-tier cans hold more water, requiring fewer refill trips.
Refill Locations
| Location | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farm Pond | Always | Closest for most farms |
| River (Town/Forest) | Always | Convenient when foraging |
| Ocean | Always | Near Willyโs shop |
| Kitchen Sink | After House Upgrade 1 | Most convenient option |
| Fish Ponds | After building | Multiple ponds = multiple sources |
The Scythe
The scythe is unique among tools because it cannot be upgraded at the Blacksmith. However, it has special variants and mechanics worth understanding.
Scythe Properties
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Energy Cost | 0 energy (always free to use!) |
| Primary Use | Cutting grass, weeds, and crops |
| Secondary Use | Harvesting certain crops |
| Special | Can harvest multiple tiles at once |
Scythe Variants
| Scythe Type | How to Obtain | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Scythe | Starting tool | Standard cutting |
| Golden Scythe | Quarry Mine (Golden Scythe Cave) | 33% larger cutting radius, better hay production |
| Iridium Scythe | Not available | N/A |
Golden Scythe Location: Enter the Quarry (unlocked after completing the Crafts Room bundle or purchasing from Joja). Look for a cave entrance on the western side of the quarry. Navigate through the dungeon to find the Golden Scythe at the end.
Scythe Uses
| Action | Energy Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cut Grass | 0 | Produces Hay if Silo is built |
| Cut Weeds | 0 | Best tool for weeds (no energy cost) |
| Harvest Wheat | 0 | Alternative to using hands |
| Harvest Amaranth | 0 | Alternative to using hands |
| Harvest Kale | 0 | Alternative to using hands |
The Trash Can
Often overlooked, the Trash Can is a tool that allows you to delete items from your inventory. Upgrading it provides a refund when trashing items.
Trash Can Upgrade Benefits
| Level | Refund Percentage | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 0% | No refund |
| Copper | 15% | Small recovery on mistakes |
| Steel | 30% | Moderate recovery |
| Gold | 45% | Good recovery for valuable items |
| Iridium | 60% | Maximum recovery |
When to Upgrade the Trash Can
The Trash Can is generally the lowest priority upgrade because:
- Most items should be sold, not trashed
- The shipping bin provides 100% value
- Accidental trashing is rare with careful play
Consider upgrading only if:
- You frequently fish up trash and want some recovery
- You want to clear inventory quickly while mining
- You have excess gold and materials with nothing else to upgrade
Optimal Upgrade Order
The order in which you upgrade your tools significantly impacts your early-game efficiency. Here is the recommended priority:
Priority 1: Watering Can (Copper)
When: As soon as possible (ideally before Spring 5)
Why: The Copper Watering Can waters 3 tiles in a line, reducing your daily watering energy by up to 66%. This is the single biggest quality-of-life improvement in the early game.
Strategy:
- Check the weather forecast on TV
- If rain is coming in 2 days, thatโs your upgrade window
- Plant crops that will be watered by rain while your can is being upgraded
- Alternatively, upgrade on Spring 27 (last day of season) since crops die when seasons change anyway
Priority 2: Pickaxe (Copper ้ซ?Steel)
When: After Watering Can, before reaching Mine Level 40
Why: Better pickaxes mean faster mining, which means more ore for future upgrades. The Steel Pickaxe can break the large rocks blocking deeper mine levels.
Priority 3: Axe (Steel)
When: As soon as you have 5 Iron Bars and 5,000g
Why: The Steel Axe unlocks the Secret Woods, which contains 6 Large Stumps that respawn daily, providing 12 Hardwood per day. Hardwood is essential for many crafting recipes and buildings.
Priority 4: Watering Can (Steel ้ซ?Gold)
When: During Winter or when you have sufficient sprinklers
Why: The Gold Watering Can waters a 3x3 area (9 tiles), making manual watering much more manageable. However, by this point, you should be transitioning to sprinklers.
Priority 5: Axe (Gold)
When: After Steel Axe, when you have the materials
Why: The Gold Axe can remove large logs, opening up new areas including:
- The Secret Woods northern entrance (Cindersap Forest)
- The path to the Railroad (if not already unlocked)
- Various shortcuts around the map
Priority 6: Pickaxe (Gold ้ซ?Iridium)
When: Before serious Skull Cavern expeditions
Why: Iridium nodes in the Skull Cavern require many hits with lower-tier pickaxes. The Iridium Pickaxe mines them efficiently, maximizing your Iridium Ore collection.
Priority 7: Hoe (Gold ้ซ?Iridium)
When: When setting up large Ginger Island farms or extensive crop plots
Why: The Iridium Hoe tills a massive 6x3 area, perfect for preparing large-scale farming operations.
Priority 8: Everything Else to Iridium
When: Late game, when materials are abundant
Why: Complete the set for maximum efficiency and bragging rights.
Tool Enchantments (Late Game)
After reaching the bottom of the Volcano Dungeon on Ginger Island, you can access the Forge. Here, you can enchant tools with special abilities using Prismatic Shards and Cinder Shards.
Available Enchantments
| Enchantment | Effect | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Powerful | +1 power (equivalent to one upgrade level) | Any tool you use frequently |
| Reaching | +1 tile range to area of effect | Watering Can, Hoe |
| Efficient | 0 energy cost for tool use | Watering Can, Pickaxe, Axe |
| Swift | Faster swing/charge speed | Pickaxe, Axe |
| Bottomless | Unlimited water capacity | Watering Can |
| Shaving | Chance for extra product | Axe (extra wood), Pickaxe (extra ore) |
| Archaeologist | Double chance of finding artifacts | Hoe |
| Generous | Chance for double forage | Hoe |
| Master | +2 fishing level when held | Rod (not a tool upgrade, but available) |
| Auto-Hook | Automatic fish hooking | Rod (not a tool upgrade, but available) |
| Preserving | 50% chance to not consume bait/tackle | Rod (not a tool upgrade, but available) |
Recommended Enchantment Combinations
| Tool | Primary Enchantment | Secondary Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Watering Can | Efficient (no energy cost) | Bottomless (unlimited water) |
| Pickaxe | Powerful or Efficient | Swift (faster mining) |
| Axe | Efficient or Shaving | Swift (faster chopping) |
| Hoe | Reaching (larger area) | Archaeologist (artifacts) |
Seasonal Upgrade Strategy
Spring (Year 1)
| Week | Upgrade | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Watering Can (Copper) | Critical |
| Week 2-3 | Pickaxe (Copper) | High |
| Week 4 | Save for Strawberry Seeds | Higher Priority |
Summer (Year 1)
| Week | Upgrade | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1-2 | Pickaxe (Steel) | High |
| Week 3-4 | Axe (Steel) | High (Secret Woods access) |
Fall (Year 1)
| Week | Upgrade | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1-4 | Watering Can (Steel) | Medium |
| Week 4+ | Save for Winter upgrades | Planning |
Winter (Year 1)
Winter is the ideal time for tool upgrades because you have no crops to water. Upgrade everything you can afford:
- Watering Can (Gold)
- Pickaxe (Gold)
- Axe (Gold)
- Hoe (Copper or Steel)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Upgrading the Watering Can During Growing Season Without Rain: Always check the weather forecast before upgrading your watering can. If no rain is coming, your crops will go unwatered for 2 days.
-
Ignoring the Steel Axe: Many players delay the Steel Axe upgrade, missing out on daily Hardwood from the Secret Woods.
-
Upgrading Multiple Tools at Once: You can only have one tool upgrading at a time. Plan your upgrades sequentially.
-
Forgetting to Pick Up Upgraded Tools: Clint holds your finished tools indefinitely, but you cannot start a new upgrade until you pick up the completed one.
-
Not Using Rainy Days: Rainy days are free upgrade opportunities for your watering can since crops water themselves.
-
Neglecting the Pickaxe: A better pickaxe means faster mining, which means more ore for more upgrades. Itโs a virtuous cycle.
Summary Table: All Tool Upgrades
| Tool | Copper | Steel | Gold | Iridium | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watering Can | 3 tiles | 5 tiles | 3x3 area | 6x3 area | 1st |
| Pickaxe | -1 hit | -2 hits, break boulders | -3 hits | 1 hit everything | 2nd |
| Axe | -2 hits | Remove stumps | Remove logs | 2 hits per tree | 3rd |
| Hoe | 3 tiles | 5 tiles | 3x3 area | 6x3 area | 4th |
| Trash Can | 15% refund | 30% refund | 45% refund | 60% refund | Last |
Mastering tool upgrades is essential for efficient farming in Stardew Valley. Prioritize your watering can early, unlock the Secret Woods with the Steel Axe, and use Winter for major upgrades. With proper planning, youโll transform from an exhausted beginner into a master farmer who can clear land, mine deep, and water crops with minimal effort.