Quick Links
InStardew Valley, players can unlock twelve special abilitiesas they progress through the game. These abilities provide various benefits, such as granting access to new areas of the map or permanently increasing the selling prices of items. To unlock all of them, players must complete specific quests and storylines.
Unlocking these abilities enhances the overall farming experience, allowing players to explore hidden features of the game, increase their productivity, and enjoy long-term benefits. Once unlocked, all of these abilities are permanently active, making them highly desirable and rewarding for players who aim to maximize their potential in the game.
Forest Magic
Allows Players To Understand The Junimo Language
The day after discovering the Community Center, players will receivea letter from the Wizardinviting them to visit him at theWizard’s Tower. Located in Cindersap Forest, the tower is where players will meet the Wizard, who will give them a potion calledForest Magicthat grants the ability to read the Junimo language on the Bundles inside the Community Center.
To trigger the “Meet The Wizard” quest, players must first interact with the Golden Scroll (Bundle) found in the lower-left room of the Community Center. Once obtained, this ability becomes permanent and is accompanied by a unique, almost surreal cutscene.
Dwarvish Translation Guide
Allows Players To Understand The Dwarfs
To unlock the ability to understand the Dwarf language, players must donate all four Dwarf Scrolls to the Stardew Valley Museum.
TheDwarvish Translation Guideis then given as a reward from the museum and is shown permanently in the player’s Special Items and Powers tab.
Rusty Key
Unlocks The Sewers
Once players havedonated 60 items to the Museum, a cutscene will trigger the following morning, whereGunthervisits the player’s Farmhouse. He expresses his gratitude for the players' dedication and gives them aRusty Keyhe’s had lying around for some time.
Through trial and error, players will discover that the key unlocks the Sewers, which can be accessed from both Cindersap Forest (to the south) and Pelican Town. Inside, they’ll encounterKrobus, who offers a variety of useful late-game items, including the covetedReturn Scepter.
Club Card
Unlocks The Casino
TheClub Cardis rewarded for completing the “The Mysterious Qi” quest. To begin, players must head to the tunnel next to the Bus Stop and place aBattery Packinside the lock box. This event is not prompted, so players must actively seek out the lock box to start the quest. Once they do,Mr. Qiwill leave a note instructing them to place aRainbow Shellin the box at the train platform. Rainbow Shells can be foraged on the beach during the Summer.
After placing the Rainbow Shell, players will receive another note from Mr. Qi, requesting that they place 10Beetinside Mayor Lewis' fridge.Beet Seedsare available fromSandy’s Oasis for 20g each, meaning players will need to haveunlocked the Desertbefore proceeding with this step. Next, Mr. Qi will leave a cryptic note asking players to give the Sand Dragon its final meal. The answer is to offer aSolar Essenceto the Skeletal Dragon in the Desert. Afterward, Mr. Qi will instruct players to check the lumber pile beside the Farmhouse. There, they will find the Club Card, which grants access to the Casino above the Oasis.
Special Charm
Gives A Permanent Daily Luck Increase
To unlock theSpecial Charmability, players must first obtain the Magnifying Glass, as it is required to read Secret Notes. The Special Charm itself is unlocked through Secret Note #20, which details a series of arrows starting from the center of town. Players must follow these directions carefully.
After completing the path, players will reach a truck next to the Joja Mart. Interacting with the truck will prompt the driver to ask for aRabbit’s Foot. Once the Rabbit’s Foot is delivered, the driver will reward the player with the Special Charm. This item is permanently added to the Special Items and Powers tab, providing a daily boost to the player’s luck.
Skull Key
Lets Players Enter The Skull Cavern And Play Junimo Kart In The Stardrop Saloon
TheSkull Keyis one of the simpler special abilities to acquire. It is located on floor 120 of the Mines, which can be found in the northeast corner of the Mountains. Reaching this floor completes the Mines and also unlocks the chance forPrismatic ShardandDiamondto drop from any defeated monster.
To reach the bottom of the Mines faster, consider usingStaircase, upgrading weapons, and bringing food that boosts luck and speed. Players can access the Skull Cavern once they obtain the Skull Key, but only after unlocking the Desert, as the Skull Cavern is located in the top-left corner of the Desert.
Magnifying Glass
Gives Players The Ability To Find Secret Notes
TheMagnifying Glassis rewarded for completing the “A Winter Mystery” quest, which is triggered when players visit the Bus Stop from their farm in Winter between 6 AM and 4 PM. Upon arrival, a shadowy figure will dart across the screen and into town.
If players follow the figure’s footsteps and interact with the bush to the right of the playground in Pelican Town, the figure will reveal itself and drop the Magnifying Glass for the player to collect. This shadowy figure is later revealed to beKrobus, marking players’ first encounter with him and introducing a bit of subtle foreshadowing for future interactions.
Dark Talisman
Unlocks The Passage At The Northeast End Of The Railroad
To unlock the passage to the Witch’s Swamp, players need theDark Talisman, which comes with its own quest. This quest begins when theWizardasks the player to retrieve hisMagic Ink, setting them on the path to find the Dark Talisman. The Wizard suggests askingKrobusabout it. Krobus reveals that he has seen the Talisman in a chest inside the Mutant Bug Lair located to the left in the Sewers.
Once the player obtains the Dark Talisman, they must interact with the green structure that is blocking the passage. After doing so, the structure will fly away, clearing the way and granting access to the Witch’s Swamp.
Magic Ink
Allows Players To Access The Magic Book For New Farm Buildings
The second part ofthe Wizard’s quest, following the acquisition of theDark Talisman, is to find his lostMagic Ink. To do this, they need access to the Witch’s Hut, which is blocked by a Goblin. One of the Lost Books in the library reveals that Goblins have a strong liking forVoid Mayonnaise.
By presenting the Goblin with Void Mayonnaise, he will move aside, allowing players to enter the Witch’s Hut. Inside, the Magic Ink can be found on the table to the left. The Witch’s Hut also houses three shrines, which allow players to erase memories, erase children, and invite monsters onto their farms.
Bear’s Knowledge
Multiplies The Selling Price Of Blackberries And Salmonberries By Three
Similar to theSpecial Charm, players must first unlock theMagnifying Glassbefore they can obtain theBear’s Knowledge. Secret Note #23 reads, “If yoo can reed dis… come to seecrit wuds. Pleez bring may-pal serrup.” While the note is not perfectly written, players can still figure out what to do.
To trigger the event, players need to enter the Secret Woods, located in the top-left corner of Cindersap Forest, while havingMaple Syrupin their inventory. This will prompt a cutscene where a bear shares hisspecial knowledge of berriesin exchange for Maple Syrup. Afterward, players will be able to sell bothBlackberryandSalmonberryfor three times their original selling price.
Spring Onion Mastery
Multiplies The Selling Price Of Spring Onions By Five
To unlock theSpring Onion Mastery, players must reach 8 hearts of friendship with bothVincentandJas. This can be done by regularly talking to them and giving them gifts. To make this easier, give loved gifts such asGrapeto Vincent andPink Caketo Jas.
Once this is achieved, players must enter Cindersap Forest during Spring, where they will trigger a cutscene featuring the two children caring forSpring Onion. This cutscene grants players a deeper understanding of Spring Onions, allowing them to sell them for five times their original selling price.
Key To The Town
Allows Players To Access All Buildings In Town At Any Time Of Day
TheKey To The Townis one of the most challenging special abilities to unlock, as it becomes available late in the game. This item can be obtained fromMr. Qi’s Walnut Room on Ginger Island for 20Qi Gem, requiring significant time and effort to acquire.
To access the Walnut Room, players must first collect 100Golden Walnut. Afterward, they canearn Qi Gemsby completing challenging tasks from the Special Order Board inside the room. Alternatively, players can activate the Shrine of Challenge on level 120 of the Mines, which transforms them into the Dangerous Mines. In these altered Mines, Qi Gems become available as special drops throughout the floors.
