How to Guarantee Rain in Stardew Valley: The Definitive Guide
Want to control the weather in Stardew Valley? While you can’t magically snap your fingers, the secret to ensuring a rainy day lies in the Rain Totem. This crafted item, unlocked at Foraging Level 9, guarantees rain the following day when used. Let’s dive deep into how to reliably bring on the rain and why it’s such a valuable asset in your farming endeavors.
The Power of the Rain Totem
The Rain Totem is your primary tool for summoning rain. Here’s a breakdown of how it works and why you’d want to use it:
- Crafting Recipe: Once you reach Foraging Level 9, the recipe for the Rain Totem will appear. You’ll need 1 Hardwood, 1 Honey, and 5 Pine Tar to craft one.
- Treasure Rooms: Keep an eye out when exploring the Skull Cavern! You might find 1-3 Rain Totems in treasure rooms, offering a convenient way to acquire them without crafting.
- Guaranteed Rain: Using a Rain Totem guarantees rain the very next day. This is crucial for planning your farming activities and taking advantage of rain-dependent benefits.
- Winter Exception: While rain doesn’t naturally occur during Winter, a Rain Totem can force it, leading to a unique rainy, snowy mix.
Why Rain is So Important in Stardew Valley
Rain isn’t just a cosmetic weather effect; it has significant gameplay implications:
- Automatic Watering: Rain automatically waters all your outdoor crops, saving you valuable time and energy. This is particularly useful for large farms or when you’re focusing on other tasks like mining or fishing.
- Mushroom Farming: Rain encourages the growth of mushrooms in the Secret Woods and on your farm if you have the appropriate farm cave. More mushrooms mean more crafting resources and potential profit.
- Fishing Opportunities: Some fish are only active during rainy weather, opening up new fishing opportunities and allowing you to complete your fish collection.
- Increased Forage: Certain forageable items spawn more frequently during rainy days.
- Avoiding Work: Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to water your crops, and a rainy day provides a good reason to take a break and focus on other activities.
- Completing Bundles: Certain crops requiring rain can contribute to bundles within the Community Center, so controlling the weather can help with that.
Advanced Rain Strategies
- Stockpiling Rain Totems: Craft Rain Totems whenever you have spare resources. Having a stockpile ensures you can summon rain whenever needed.
- Planning Around Rain: Use the weather report on the TV to plan your days. If rain is predicted, focus on indoor activities or resource gathering. If it isn’t, consider using a Rain Totem if rain is crucial for your upcoming plans.
- Rain Totems and Sprinklers: While Rain Totems are effective, remember that they only guarantee rain for one day. Invest in sprinklers to automate watering and reduce your reliance on rain in the long run, particularly in the Greenhouse.
- Skull Cavern Runs: Make Skull Cavern runs with the intent of finding Rain Totems in Treasure Rooms. With enough luck, you could greatly increase your supply of rain summoning totems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Rain in Stardew Valley
1. What’s the base chance of rain in Stardew Valley?
The chance of rain varies by season:
- Spring: Around 18.3% in year 1, 13.725% in year 2 or later. It always rains on Spring 3 (year 1).
- Summer: Increases steadily from 12.6% on Summer 2 to 20.1% on Summer 27.
- Fall: Same as spring (13.725%), but year 1 can be stormy.
- Winter: Never rains naturally.
2. Can I make it rain in Winter?
Yes! Using a Rain Totem in Winter will force it to rain the next day. You might even experience a mix of rain and snow.
3. What if I use a Rain Totem and it doesn’t rain the next day?
This is a rare occurrence and could be a bug. Double-check that you actually used the totem, and if the issue persists, consider reporting it on the Stardew Valley forums. It may also be a save file error, and simply restarting the game may fix the issue.
4. Do thunderstorms count as rain for watering crops?
Yes, thunderstorms count as rain. Your crops will be watered just as if it were a regular rainy day.
5. Where does Penny go when it rains?
When it’s raining, Penny is typically found either inside her trailer or at the museum looking at books. After the Beach Resort on Ginger Island is unlocked, she may randomly spend the day there.
6. Do I need to water my crops if it’s going to rain tomorrow?
No. If rain is predicted for tomorrow, you don’t need to water your crops today. They will be automatically watered tomorrow by the rain.
7. Do animals go outside when it rains?
No, farm animals will not go outside when it rains, storms, or snow. They will stay inside their coop or barn. Make sure they have hay available to eat.
8. Do Junimo Huts work in the rain?
No, Junimos will not collect crops during winter or when it rains.
9. How many lightning rods should I have?
The optimal number of lightning rods depends on your farm layout and frequency of storms. However, around 35 lightning rods should be sufficient, while 50 or more experience diminished returns.
10. Do chickens come out in the rain?
No, chickens will not come out in the rain. They’ll stay inside the coop and eat hay.
11. Can I leave the chicken coop door open overnight?
Yes, you can leave the chicken coop door open overnight without any negative consequences.
12. What happens if animals sleep outside?
If you close the barn door before all the animals are inside, they will be trapped outside overnight. Their mood will be grumpy the next day, regardless of the weather.
13. Does the rain increase the chance of finding certain forageable items?
Yes, certain forageable items spawn more frequently during rainy days. Keep an eye out for these valuable resources.
14. What are the benefits of marrying Penny in Stardew Valley?
Penny is a shy and kind villager who dreams of starting a family. Penny brings the player coffee every morning and will redecorate the farmhouse with plants.
15. Does the Games Learning Society have any educational resources related to games like Stardew Valley?
While the Games Learning Society primarily focuses on the intersection of learning and games in broader contexts, exploring games like Stardew Valley within an educational framework can provide valuable insights. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about their initiatives and resources on game-based learning.
Mastering the Rain Totem is key to optimizing your farming strategies in Stardew Valley. By understanding its mechanics and planning accordingly, you can take control of the weather and reap the rewards of a well-timed rain shower. Happy farming!