What To Do With Gold Bars In Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide
Gold bars in Stardew Valley are much more than just shiny objects to sell. They’re a versatile resource used for tool upgrades, crafting crucial items, and even completing bundles. Deciding what to do with your gold bars requires careful consideration of your current progress in the game, your financial situation, and your long-term goals for your farm.
Understanding the Value of Gold Bars
Before diving into specific uses, let’s understand the basic value. You can sell gold bars for 250g (gold), or 375g if you have the Blacksmith Profession. This profession, obtained at Mining Level 10, significantly increases the value of all metal bars. However, selling them is often the least optimal use, especially early on, because their utility far outweighs their immediate monetary value.
Key Uses for Gold Bars
Here are the primary ways you’ll utilize gold bars in Stardew Valley:
- Tool Upgrades: Perhaps the most important use, gold bars are required to upgrade your tools to Tier 4 (Gold Level) at Clint’s blacksmith shop. Upgrading your watering can, pickaxe, axe, and hoe to gold dramatically improves their efficiency, saving you time and energy.
- Crafting Recipes: Gold bars are components in several valuable crafting recipes, including:
- Bee House: Produces honey, a consistent source of income.
- Keg: Processes fruits and vegetables into more valuable wines and juices.
- Preserves Jar: Turns crops into pickles and jellies.
- Crystalarium: Duplicates gems, offering a passive income stream or a way to obtain needed minerals.
- Quality Sprinkler: Waters 8 adjacent tiles, automating your farming.
- Lightning Rod: Prevents lightning from striking your crops.
- Slime Incubator: Hatches slime monsters (for specialized slime farming).
- Mayonnaise Machine: Turns eggs into mayonnaise.
- Completing the Blacksmith’s Bundle: Located in the Boiler Room of the Community Center, completing the Blacksmith’s Bundle requires a single gold bar, alongside other metal bars like copper and iron. Restoring the Boiler Room unlocks minecart travel, making traversing the valley much faster.
- Gifting: While not the most efficient use, gold bars are universally liked gifts by many villagers, helping to improve your relationships.
- Forge: Diamonds can be used at the Forge to give a random upgrade to a melee weapon.
The Early Game vs. Late Game
The optimal use for gold bars changes as you progress through Stardew Valley.
Early Game: Prioritize Tool Upgrades and Bundles
In your first year, acquiring gold ore can be challenging. Prioritize upgrading your most frequently used tools (watering can, pickaxe) and completing the Blacksmith’s Bundle. The improved efficiency of gold tools and the unlocked minecart system will greatly accelerate your progress.
Mid-Game: Focus on Crafting and Automation
Once you have gold tools and have completed the Blacksmith’s Bundle, shift your focus to crafting. Bee Houses, Kegs, Preserves Jars, Crystalariums, and Quality Sprinklers will significantly boost your income and automate your farm, freeing up your time for other activities.
Late Game: Diversification and Long-Term Planning
In the late game, you’ll likely have a surplus of resources. Continue crafting items to further optimize your farm. You can also hoard gold bars as a store of value, or gift them to villagers to maximize friendships.
Deciding When to Sell Gold Bars
Selling gold bars should generally be avoided unless you’re in dire need of funds and have no other options. The long-term benefits of using them for crafting and upgrades far outweigh the short-term gain of selling them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about gold bars in Stardew Valley:
1. How do I get Gold Ore in Stardew Valley?
Gold ore is primarily found in the Mines, starting around level 80. The deeper you go, the more common it becomes. You can also occasionally find gold ore in fishing treasure chests, panning, or as a monster drop.
2. How many Gold Bars do I need for all Tool Upgrades?
You need 15 Gold Bars in total to upgrade all 5 basic tools (Axe, Pickaxe, Hoe, Watering Can, Fishing Rod) to Gold level (3 bars per tool).
3. What is the best way to farm Gold Ore?
The Skull Cavern is the best place to farm gold ore, but it requires significant preparation and combat skills. Otherwise, focus on reaching the lower levels of the regular Mines, between floors 80 and 120, to increase your chances of finding gold ore.
4. Is it better to sell Gold Ore or Gold Bars?
It’s almost always better to smelt gold ore into gold bars before selling, especially if you have the Blacksmith Profession. The bar provides more gold value.
5. What is the purpose of the Blacksmith Profession?
The Blacksmith Profession, unlocked at Mining Level 10, increases the sell price of all metal bars, including gold bars, by 50%. It’s a valuable profession for maximizing your income from mining.
6. Can I buy Gold Bars instead of mining for Gold Ore?
Yes, you can purchase gold bars from Clint’s blacksmith shop, but they’re quite expensive. Mining is generally more cost-effective, especially early on.
7. What are some good recipes that use Gold Bars?
Some popular recipes include:
- Quality Sprinkler: For automating crop watering.
- Bee House: For producing honey.
- Keg: For making wine.
- Preserves Jar: For making pickles and jellies.
- Crystalarium: For duplicating gems.
8. What is the “best” tool to upgrade to Gold first?
The best tool depends on your playstyle, but the watering can and pickaxe are often prioritized. An upgraded watering can saves you time and energy on your crops, while an upgraded pickaxe allows you to mine faster and more efficiently.
9. How long does it take to smelt Gold Ore into a Gold Bar?
Smelting requires 5 gold ore and 1 coal to begin and takes approximately 5 in-game hours to complete.
10. Should I save my Coal for smelting Gold Ore?
Yes, coal is essential for smelting gold ore, so prioritize acquiring it through mining or purchasing it from Clint.
11. Are Gold Bars used for any quests?
No, gold bars are not directly required for any major quests. They are, however, needed for the Blacksmith’s Bundle in the Community Center.
12. Can I use Gold Bars to craft clothing?
No, gold bars are not used in any clothing recipes.
13. Are Gold Bars a good gift to give to villagers?
Most villagers “like” receiving gold bars, which improves your friendship with them. However, there are more efficient ways to increase friendship, such as gifting loved items.
14. What is the value of a Gold Bar with the Artisan Profession?
The Artisan Profession affects artisan goods like wine and jelly, not metal bars. The Blacksmith profession is the one that affects metals.
15. Where can I learn more about Stardew Valley gameplay mechanics?
You can explore many online resources such as the Games Learning Society website at GamesLearningSociety.org or https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, the official Stardew Valley Wiki, and numerous online communities.