Winter Guide
Winter can feel like a quiet season since most outdoor crops cannot grow. However, winter is actually one of the most productive seasons if you use your time wisely. With no crops to tend, you can focus on upgrading tools, exploring the mines, fishing, socializing, and preparing for the next year.
What Changes in Winter
- Outdoor crops die at the transition from Fall 28 to Winter 1 (except Fiber Seeds and Winter Seeds)
- Grass stops growing and existing grass dies
- Forage items change to winter-specific items
- Fish change to winter-only species in many locations
- No rain occurs during winter, so you never need to water outdoor crops
- Townspeople have different schedules and spend more time indoors
Winter Foraging
Four items can be foraged during winter:
| Item | Sell Price | Energy Restored | Health Restored | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Yam | 100g | 33 | 13 | Dig with hoe in dirt areas |
| Winter Root | 50g | 25 | 8 | Dig with hoe in dirt areas |
| Crocus | 60g | 22 | 9 | Found on the ground |
| Holly | 80g | 22 | 9 | Found on the ground |
Snow Yams and Winter Roots are found by hoeing dirt patches in the wild (not on your farm). Crocus and Holly spawn on the ground like other forageables. You can also plant Winter Seeds on your farm to grow these items.
Winter Seeds
Winter Seeds can be crafted from one of each winter forageable (Snow Yam, Winter Root, Crocus, Holly) using the Seed Maker or purchased from Pierreโs occasionally. Planting Winter Seeds on your farm produces random winter forageables, providing a small but steady income.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Seed Cost | Crafted (1 of each forageable) or 30g from Pierre |
| Growth Time | 7 days (wild seeds) |
| Harvests | Multiple (regrows every 7 days) |
| Products | Random winter forageables |
| Total Value per Harvest | ~72g average |
Winter Fishing
Winter offers several fish that are only available during this season:
| Fish | Location | Time | Difficulty | Sell Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squid | Ocean | 6PM-2AM | Medium | 80g |
| Perch | River | Any | Easy | 55g |
| Lingcod | River | 6AM-6PM | Hard | 120g |
| Midnight Carp | Mountain Lake, River | 10PM-2AM | Easy | 45g |
| Walleye | River | Not available naturally (Rain Totem only) | Medium | 105g |
| Sea Cucumber | Ocean | 6AM-6PM | Easy | 75g |
| Flounder | Ocean | 6AM-8AM | Medium | 100g |
| Blobfish | Ocean | 6AM-6PM (Rainy) | Hard | 150g |
| Midnight Squid | Ocean | 12AM-2AM | Medium | 110g |
| Spook Fish | Sewers | All day | Hard | 800g |
| Stonefish | Mines (level 20+) | All day | Medium | 75g |
| Ice Pip | Mines (level 40+) | All day | Medium | 75g |
| Lava Eel | Mines (level 80-100) | All day | Hard | 700g |
Winter Fishing Strategy
- Focus on Lingcod (120g) for the best river income (Walleye is not naturally available in winter)
- Fish in the ocean for Squid (80g) at night
- Mine-exclusive fish (Stonefish, Ice Pip, Lava Eel) can be caught year-round in the mines
- The Spook Fish in the sewers sells for 800g but requires Museum donation access
Upgrading Tools in Winter
Winter is the best time to upgrade your tools at Clintโs Blacksmith. Since you do not need to water crops, you can afford to have your watering can locked in the shop for several days.
Recommended Upgrade Order
| Priority | Tool | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Highest) | Watering Can | Most energy-intensive tool, biggest upgrade benefit |
| 2 | Pickaxe | Essential for mining efficiency |
| 3 | Axe | Important for clearing trees |
| 4 (Lowest) | Hoe | Used less frequently |
Upgrade Costs and Benefits
| Upgrade | Material Cost | Gold Cost | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 5 Copper Bars | 2,000g | Faster tool use |
| Steel | 5 Iron Bars | 5,000g | Faster + can break larger objects |
| Gold | 5 Gold Bars | 10,000g | Faster + can break even larger objects |
| Iridium | 5 Iridium Bars | 25,000g | Fastest + maximum range |
Watering Can Upgrade Benefits
| Level | Tiles Watered | Energy per Tile |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | 1 | 2 energy |
| Copper | 3 | 2 energy (3 tiles for 1 action) |
| Steel | 5 | 2 energy |
| Gold | 9 | 2 energy |
| Iridium | 18 | 2 energy |
Mining and Skull Cavern Focus
With no farming obligations, winter is ideal for deep mining runs. Focus on:
- Reaching level 120 of the mines if you have not already to get the Skull Key
- Skull Cavern runs for iridium ore and prismatic shards
- Collecting geodes to process at the blacksmith for minerals and artifacts
- Fighting monsters for combat XP and drops
Winter Mining Strategy
| Week | Focus |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Reach mine level 120 (if not done), start Skull Cavern |
| Week 2 | Deep Skull Cavern runs (target level 100+) |
| Week 3 | Continue Skull Cavern, collect geodes |
| Week 4 | Final mining push, process geodes at blacksmith |
Farm Planning for Next Year
Use the downtime to prepare for the upcoming spring:
- Stock up on fertilizer from Pierre or craft it
- Save gold for spring crop seeds, especially for the Egg Festival strawberries
- Clear additional farm land for more planting space
- Craft and place sprinklers so you spend less time watering in spring
- Build barns and coops if you plan to raise animals
- Plan your crop layout for maximum efficiency
- Save high-quality crops for the Stardew Valley Fair (Fall 16)
Social Focus
Winter is the perfect time to focus on building relationships with villagers:
- Give birthday gifts to winter birthday villagers (Sebastian on Winter 10, Harvey on Winter 14)
- Talk to everyone daily for 10 friendship points per day
- Give loved gifts to your target marriage candidate(s)
- Attend festivals for bonus friendship (Festival of Ice, Feast of Winter Star, Night Market)
- Complete villager quests from the help board outside Pierreโs store
Secret Notes
Secret Notes are collectible notes that reveal hidden information about the game. They can be found by:
- Digging up artifact spots (worms on the ground)
- Killing monsters
- Fishing (treasure chests)
- Panning in rivers (after Glittering Boulder is removed)
Secret Notes reveal useful information like villager preferences, hidden locations, and game mechanics. Collecting all Secret Notes is a fun completionist goal.
Night Market (Winter 15-17)
The Night Market is a special three-night event on the beach docks with unique shops and the Mermaid Show.
Night Market Schedule
| Night | Activities |
|---|---|
| Night 1 (Winter 15) | Shops open, Mermaid Show at 12:30 AM |
| Night 2 (Winter 16) | Shops open, Mermaid Show at 12:30 AM |
| Night 3 (Winter 17) | Shops open, Mermaid Show at 12:30 AM |
Shopping Guide
| Item | Cost | Why Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl | 4,000g | Universal loved gift |
| Magic Rock Candy | 1,000g | Universal loved gift |
| Star Ring | 500g | Useful combat ring |
| Various furniture | 500-2,000g | Decorative items |
Mermaid Show
- Stand on the end of the pier at 12:30 AM
- Watch the show and note the sequence of notes
- Repeat the sequence on the shell instruments on the dock
- Correct sequence rewards you with a special item
Winter Festivals
Festival of Ice (Winter 8)
An ice fishing competition at the mountain lake. Compete to catch the most fish within a time limit. Use your best fishing rod and bait for the best chance of winning.
Feast of the Winter Star (Winter 25)
A gift exchange festival where the Mayor assigns you a villager to give a gift to. Give your assigned villager a loved gift for maximum friendship boost. You also receive a gift from another villager.
Ginger Island (Year 2+)
If you have unlocked Ginger Island, winter is an excellent time to explore it. Tropical crops grow year-round on the island, and you can farm there during winter for additional income. Key Ginger Island activities include:
- Farm tropical crops - Pineapple, Taro Root, and Ginger grow year-round on the island farm
- Collect Golden Coconuts - Trade at the Island Field Office for rare items
- Explore the Volcano Dungeon - Access the Forge for ring enchanting and weapon upgrades
- Fish for island-exclusive species - Lionfish, Stingray, Blue Discus
- Plant orchards - Banana and Mango trees thrive on the island
Ginger Island Winter Crops
| Crop | Seed Source | Growth | Sell Price | Gold/Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pineapple | Island Trader (1 Qi Gem) | 14 days | 280g | 20.00g |
| Taro Root | Island Trader (5 Qi Gems) | 10 days | 175g | 17.50g |
| Ginger | Island foraging | N/A | 100g | Free |
Winter Money-Making Strategies
While crops do not grow in winter, there are still several ways to make money:
Strategy 1: Mining and Skull Cavern
- Target iridium ore (600g per bar)
- Collect and sell gems
- Process geodes at the blacksmith
- Expected income: 5,000-20,000g per day
Strategy 2: Fishing
- Winter fish sell for 55-800g each
- The Spook Fish in the sewers sells for 800g
- Lava Eel in the mines sells for 700g
- Expected income: 2,000-8,000g per day
Strategy 3: Foraging and Winter Seeds
- Plant Winter Seeds for steady forage income
- Collect Snow Yams and Winter Roots by hoeing
- Expected income: 500-2,000g per day
Strategy 4: Animal Products
- Animals continue producing in winter
- Process milk into cheese, eggs into mayonnaise
- Expected income: 1,000-5,000g per day (depending on animals)
Strategy 5: Artisan Goods Processing
- Use kegs and preserves jars on stored crops
- Process animal products into artisan goods
- Expected income: Varies based on stockpile
Winter Foraging Tips
Winter foraging requires a slightly different approach than other seasons. Snow Yams and Winter Roots are hidden underground and must be dug up with a hoe. Look for dirt patches on the ground in the wild areas (not on your farm). Each dirt patch has a chance to contain a Snow Yam or Winter Root.
Foraging Locations
| Location | Items Found | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Town | Crocus, Holly | Ground forage |
| Forest | Crocus, Holly | Ground forage |
| Farm | Crocus, Holly | Ground forage |
| Backwoods | Snow Yam, Winter Root | Hoe dirt patches |
| Mountain | Snow Yam, Winter Root | Hoe dirt patches |
| Beach | Crocus, Holly | Ground forage |
Winter Seed Strategy
Planting Winter Seeds on your farm is a low-effort way to generate income during winter. Each Winter Seed plant grows a random winter forageable every 7 days. With Deluxe Speed-Gro, growth time is reduced to 5 days.
| Setup | Cost | Daily Income | Season Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Winter Seed plants | Free (crafted) | ~72g/day | ~1,440g |
| 40 Winter Seed plants | Free (crafted) | ~144g/day | ~2,880g |
| 20 Winter Seeds + Speed-Gro | 200g | ~108g/day | ~2,160g |
Winter Farm Planning
Winter is the ideal time to plan your farm layout for the next year. Consider:
Farm Layout Planning
| Consideration | Tips |
|---|---|
| Crop plots | Plan sprinkler coverage for maximum efficiency |
| Animal housing | Place barns and coops near hay storage |
| Processing | Position kegs and preserves jars near crop areas |
| Paths | Build paths for efficient movement between areas |
| Storage | Place chests near work areas for easy access |
Spring Preparation Checklist
| Item | Why | How |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry seeds | Best spring crop | Save from Year 1 or buy at Egg Festival |
| Sprinklers | Automate watering | Craft or buy from Qiโs room |
| Fertilizer | Improve crop quality | Buy from Pierre or craft |
| Backpack upgrade | Carry more items | Buy from Pierre (10,000g) |
| Tool upgrades | Work faster | Visit Clintโs shop |
| Seeds for all seasons | Plan ahead | Buy in advance from Pierre |
Winter Activity Summary
| Week | Recommended Activities |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Upgrade tools, start mining, forage |
| Week 2 | Deep Skull Cavern runs, social focus |
| Week 3 | Festival of Ice (Day 8), continue mining, Night Market prep |
| Week 4 | Night Market (Days 15-17), Feast of Winter Star (Day 25), farm planning |
| End of Winter | Final preparations for spring, plant Winter Seeds if desired |