What does the shrine at the bottom of the mines do?

The Shrine of Challenge at the bottom of the mines in Stardew Valley is a switch that allows players to toggle between the normal Mines or the “dangerous” Mines, though changing from one to the other won’t take effect until the next morning. This Shrine is essentially a switch that increases the difficulty of the mines, making them more challenging with stronger enemies when activated.

Related FAQs

General Information

1. What happens when you get to the bottom of the mines?: The last floor or Level 120 of the Mines will revert back to a lava-earth with a purple hue of Levels 80 to 109, with no enemies and no more threats, and players can obtain a special Skull Key.
2. Can you go deeper than 120 in Stardew Valley?: The Mines on the regular map only go to Level 120, but players can use the Skull Key found at Level 120 to open up a new Cave system.
3. What does remixed mine rewards do?: Remixed Rewards result in a random reward for each reward floor from a list, with some floors unchanged and all floors having the possibility of having their normal reward.

Mining and Game Progression

4. What’s the bottom of the mine in Stardew Valley?: Floor 120 gives players the Skull Key, and also changes a few other elements of the game, such as allowing Prismatic Shards and Diamonds to drop from Monsters.
5. Is 120 the bottom of the mine Stardew Valley?: Floor 120 is the last one for the mines, but the Skull Key opens up a second, limitless Cave system called the Skull Caverns.
6. How many years does it take to 100% Stardew Valley?: There is no maximum time limit to play Stardew Valley, but some players can complete all of the game’s objectives by around year 40.

Equipment and Tools

7. What can you do with a golden scythe?: The Golden Scythe can be used to harvest hay from grass, which can then be used to feed animals on the farm, with a 75% higher chance to produce hay.
8. What does +1 mining do in Stardew Valley?: Mining Skill adds +1 to Pickaxe proficiency, with mining skill points awarded when rocks are destroyed, and increases the chance for gems to appear in pairs.
9. What is the best mining equipment in Stardew Valley?: The Pickaxe is the best mining equipment, and players should upgrade to a Copper Pickaxe as soon as possible to save time and energy.

Game Mechanics and Features

10. What is the penalty for 2am in Stardew Valley?: If the player stays awake until 2am, their character will pass out and 1,000g will be lost.
11. How to unlock the Skull Cavern?: The door to the Skull Cavern is locked, and players need the Skull Key found at Floor 120 of the Mines to enter.
12. What makes the most money in Stardew Valley?: Ageing Wine or Cheese in a cask increases its quality, with Starfruit Wine remaining the single most profitable item from a single crop in the entire game.

Tips and Strategies

13. Do bombs count as mining Stardew?: The game counts “mining” as any time players are cracking rocks, whether it be with a Pickaxe or a bomb.
14. Is the golden scythe worth it?: The Golden Scythe has a larger radius than the standard Scythe and is more likely to cut all grass in its radius, with a 75% chance per swipe to harvest hay from grass.
15. Should I pick miner or geologist?: If players value faster tool upgrades, Miner is great, but if they value an early source of additional gold and gifts, the Geologist is the way to go, with the option to change profession using a late-game feature.