Spelunking with Evie (tips & tricks)

Hello my darlings, and welcome to Mining with Evie! My name is Evelyne and I'm your source for tips and tricks about every secret nook and cranny in Stardew Valley! Today we're going to explore the depths of mining or, as I love to call it, Spelunking!

Getting Started with Spelunking

You can get started with spelunking after Day 5. When you wake up on that day, a letter informs you that a rock slide has been cleared by Joja corp (helpful bastards since it was their fault!), but doesn't tell you what it gives access to. So let me tell you: The Mines!

Accessing the Mines

So you might want to run to the mines right away, all excited that you can go spelunking. But first, remember to water your crops and do any other action that requires your attention because trust me, you're not going to do any of that stuff when you come back. Oh and please, don't forget to bring your pickaxe and hoe!

When you're ready, head to the mines in the north-east corner of the map. To get there in the most direct path, head north from your house and follow the path east. When you hit Linus' tent, go around it from the south. Cross the small bridge and you're there!

When you head into the cave the first time, a helpful Marlon will provide you with a rusty sword and send you off on your adventure. Thank him with a bow and right-click the ladder to start your adventure!

The first 5 mining levels

When you start off spelunking, you'll most likely not be able to do more than 5 levels at a time. This is your introduction to the mine and show you what to expect: lots of breaking stones, lots of enemies, lots of resources.

Basics

Level 1 is easy: Break stones until you find the ladder down. I have yet to find a pattern in levels where you break stones: the ladder is never at the same place and it doesn't seem to be a set number of stones. Hopefully the RNG gods are with you! Right-click the ladder to go down.

The next 4 levels will be pretty much the same: stones strewn everywhere, with enemies coming at you here and there.

Here's your #1 tip that's critical to your sanity: DO NOT DIE If you die, Maru (or Linus, or possibly others?) finds you unconscious (no actual dying, how PC) and you lose progression - you "forget" about 2 elevator waypoints (see later) - that's 10 levels! Yeouch. And if that wasn't enough, you lose a whole lot of stuff too: ~10% of your gold, ~50% of your items (including weapons but excluding tools). So, I repeat, DO NOT DIE and if you do... you might as well just reset to the morning.

Conditions to find the Ladder

Basically, there are 4 different conditions to find the ladder to the next level. From the easiest to the hardest:

• Ladder is there: Sometimes the ladder is just there. Either clear the level (collect/kill/destroy) or go straight down if you're in a hurry.
  
• Kill Monsters: Kill one or more of the mobs on the level. The ladder will appear where you kill the mob. Sometimes, you'll get more than one ladder (for more mobs!)
  
• Mine: Sometimes, all you can do is break rocks to find the ladder. Those are the most costly in terms of Energy. Cherry Bombs help, if you find a cluster, bomb away!
  
• Infested Levels: Some levels (some are static like Level 16, others appear at random) are there for your sword skills. Eliminate all the monsters and a way down appears. If you see a rock in these levels, hit it, it's a hermit crab!

Elevators

Once you reach level 5, you'll hear a *ding*. That's the elevator activating for that level. There's an elevator every 5 level and once it's unlocked, you can go straight to that level when you come back. Expect to make 5 levels of progress every day at first, because of 1) your health, 2) your energy and 3) your lack of inventory space. More levels can be achieved later on (but it's pretty balanced, almost never more than 10 levels per run).

Further Levels and Events

Levels 5-10

The next 5 levels are essentially similar, in that you'll have some mining and killing to do. Nothing super interesting there, but watch out for level 10 - you get a bonus item! And for your efforts, some Leather Boots which offer 1 Defense, 1 Immunity. Yay!

MOAR ENERGY!

As early as level 10 you'll start realizing that Energy is a problem. In fact, it'll probably be your biggest enemy if you're good enough with a sword and have an upgraded backpack. There's a few things you can do to help.

• Pack a snack. The Field Snack is pretty good at first, and some berries are good too. You can find cave carrots in a pinch. But food you eat is food you don't sell... there's a better way.
  
• Use the public bath. On the last day of spring, there's an earthquake in the night and from that point on, right next to Linus' tent (north of Robin the Carpenter) a path opens to the bath. Stay in (and don't move) to recover all energy and life! I generally stop by after my morning watering and gathering.
  
• When you reach level 100 you get a Starfruit (I think) which raises your max energy. The fair in mid-fall lets you get one too, if you've got the dough or the talent for the games!

Levels 11-20

Much of the same except a few things. You might not have encountered your first "Infested" level yet - where you need to kill all the mobs including giant slimes that may spawn more small ones. This will definitely happen in this area if it hasn't already.

Other loot to watch for (now and later!):

• At level 20, you get a new sword. Wooh!
  
• There are 2 levels of slingshots, the second one being level 70. Right-click with a stack of rocks in your inventory to arm, hold right-click to fire!
  
• The Obsidian Edge at level 80 (or 90?) is pretty good, though you can get a better one from Marlon if you have the cash.

Tips and Tricks Section

• Unlock the minecart as soon as possible (from the Community Center, boiler room). You can only do so when you have access to gold, but it saves you a lot of time as you only need to take the cart from the bus stop next to your house. It also gives quick access to the blacksmith and museum in town!
  
• With the sword, if you click on any of the 8 blocks around you, your character faces that direction when swinging. If you click further away than 1 block away, the sword always hits in the direction you're facing, regardless of where your mouse is. So basically, always face your enemies head-on!
  
• The sword also doesn't take any energy to swing. It can break crates and barrels, bushes, as well as crystals in later levels. Don't use your pick or axe on any of those!
  
• The pickaxe will hit where your mouse is, in a 1 block radius around you.
  
• To make your life easier, you can hold SHIFT to show a red square where you'll hit with a tool (this can be turned on permanently in the menu, check Always Show Tool Hit Location and uncheck Hide Tool Hit Location When Moving)
  
• When you get a message saying you're starting to feel exhausted, stop what you're doing and go back home. You do not want to have to walk all the way back while exhausted!
  
• If you collapse from exhaustion in the mines, you'll wake up in bed with a fee from the nurse.
  
• If the clock hits midnight (It's getting late), stop what you're doing and run home. You'll make it just in time. If you don't (1:30 is the max) you'll wake up home with only half your energy - not something you want to happen.
  
• Torches can be crafted (wood+sap) but you can also pick them up with a pickaxe on levels where they are. You don't need to place them, holding them generates light.
  
• Look out for 2 special rings (killing or crates might give them): The Magnet Ring so you don't have to walk to get loot, and the Glow Ring that produces light (no more torches!). They have different levels, I've seen Small and just regular. Writing this guide with a new character I was lucky - I got both in Small form in my first 10 levels, whaaaaat!
  
• You can craft bugmeat into bait, so if you have your fishing rod on you, craft and place into the rod directly! (Thanks to GauHellDragon on #stardewvalley , IRC)
  
• Use your hoe on the dirt patches (where the digger enemy appears) to get random minerals, ores and carrots to replenish your energy. (Thanks to GauHellDragon on #stardewvalley , IRC)
  
• Luck has an influence on what you find in the mines (as it does everything). The fortune teller in the TV will inform you in her usual mumbo-jumbo if you'll get lucky or not.

[shadow78755]

the obsidian sword is at lvl 90

[Death2all546]

Normal rocks (Stone) or Explosive Ammo (crafted or bought from Adventurer's guild). You use it by clicking and dragging away from yourself. The slingshot is aimed in the opposite direction that you drag.

[Microwave37]

Ive reached the bottom of the mine by using lots of stone starircases, and i still dont know how to use the slingshot, is it just normal rocks used as ammo, or is it some sort of pebble?

[Alterion]

@pandawizardofawesome: they are random. I *thought* they were static. But... they're not.

[Large Fat Man]

if possible can you include the levels that are infested?

[Streiben]

Ahhh, glad to know that the luck increases chances for good loot.
See you in the cave in the desert. ♪ (Sea Cucumber + Tortilla + Blue Jazz can be made into a dish, which provides 3+ luck, called Lucky Meal. You might want to add that to your guide n.n)