Starting out in Stardew Valley can be an exhilarating experience for new players. Aside from creating their character and choosing which farm to go with, players need to sort out all the different controls as well. Once their playthrough has begun, there are some monumental things players can complete in their first week of Stardew Valley that can set them up for success.
That first week is the one where players should meet all the citizens of Pelican Town, clear out a portion of their farm, and begin their journey in the mines. Noting this, however, there are certain events that can only happen at a certain point in time. For those looking to get the most out of their first week in Stardew Valley, this guide is here to help.
What to do on Day 1 of Stardew Valley?
The first day in the game is a Monday, and players begin life in Stardew Valley in their bed. The first thing to do is to collect the seeds inside the farmhouse and head outside to clear a space to plant them. A player's first objective should be to cut down enough wood to craft a chest (50 wood) and lay out their very first crops.
Once work on the farm is complete, players should head into town and begin their meet and greet with the citizens of Stardew Valley. This should bring them to Pierre's General Store where they should purchase themselves some more seeds to plant. On a limited budget, Parsnips are a great option to level up farming and turn a decent profit quickly.
Players should continue to track down people as well as forage the Mountain region, the Beach, and the Cidersnap Forest. As the first day comes to a close, plant the remaining seeds and water them. Something to keep in mind while exploring: clearing weeds with a scythe doesn't use up any energy and can easily gather both fiber and mixed seeds.
What to do on Day 2 of Stardew Valley?
The second day is one that should focus less on the farm and more on Stardew Valley's Pelican Town. After watering the crops that were planted yesterday, players can head to the Beach and meet Willy for the first time. This cutscene will grant players their first fishing rod and open up that potential revenue stream. Aside from him, players should then wrap up their introductions to the 27 major characters and finish this off with a gift to any of the characters to earn 100 gold.
The General Store run by Stardew Valley's Pierre is closed on Day 3 and so players should spend what money they have earned thus far on purchasing more seeds if they are looking to earn more gold. Aside from that investment, players should continue to explore the town and surrounding regions for forage or fish to improve that skill.
Of note, players should make sure to explore the Cidersnap Forest and check for Spring Onions near the sewer pipe. These don't sell for much, but they can provide some additional energy in a pinch.
What to do on Day 3 of Stardew Valley?
It always rains on the third day, and so players need not waste any energy watering crops. With all the villagers met and crops planted and watered, today is a day to level up foraging and fishing. For those looking to do the latter, they should fish right in front of the fish shop run by Stardew Valley's Willy and, once their inventory is full, head inside and sell what they have caught and begin the process again.
What to do on Day 4 of Stardew Valley?
With the profits earned from yesterday, players can invest in some of Stardew Valley's best Spring crops, plant them, and water them. Unfortunately, the more seeds that players plant, the more energy they use. It is because of this delicate balance that players should hold on to the items they forage and make sure they don't accidentally become exhausted.
Nothing really new opens up on this day, so players can continue to focus on improving their fishing, foraging, and farming skills as much as possible. It is important to remember that conserving energy in Stardew Valley is crucial, and players should make sure they go to sleep before midnight in order to ensure they recover as much as possible.
What to do on Day 5 of Stardew Valley?
There are three major developments on Day 5 of Stardew Valley: the player's pet arrives, the local mines open up, and the first event at the Community Center can be triggered. Once players open up their door, Stardew Valley's rancher Marnie will greet them with the animal they chose when setting up their playthrough. After this cutscene, they can check the mailbox to learn that JojaMart has removed the landslide that has been blocking the mines. To further add to this busy day, players will also begin their journey with the Community Center the moment they enter Pelican Town from the Bus Stop.
To manage all this, players should first harvest all the crops they planted on the first day, sell them to Pierre, and purchase more seeds. Before they can do this, however, players will trigger the Community Center cutscene and be given the Rat Problem quest. To move this major arc in Stardew Valley along, players can head inside the Community Center and activate the Golden Scroll.
After completing this, players should head into the mines and meet with Marlon. That character will give them their first sword, and players should dedicate some time and energy to the first few levels of the mines.
Collecting a single copper ore will trigger an event for the next day and grant players the blueprint for a furnace. Also, available for the first time, the Traveling Cart in Stardew Valley should be in the Cidersnap Forest for players to visit as well.
What to do on Day 6 of Stardew Valley?
As long as that copper ore was collected, Stardew Valley's blacksmith Clint should appear on the player's front steps and awkwardly introduce himself. By this point, players should have reached Farming level 1 and should be able to craft a scarecrow to protect their growing farm from birds. Fortunately, this day is much less hectic than the previous one, and players can focus on improving either their fishing, farming, foraging, or mining skills.
Skills/Levels | Level 1 recipes | Level 2 recipes | Level 3 recipes |
Farming | Scarecrow, Basic Fertilizer | Mayonnaise Machine, Stone Fence, Sprinkler | Bee House, Speed-Gro, Farmer's Lunch |
Foraging | Wild Seeds, Field Snack | Survival Burger | Tapper |
Fishing | Casting distance increased | Bait | Crab Pot, Dish O' The Sea |
Mining | Cherry Bomb | Staircase | Miner's Treat |
Aside from the recipes, players also improve their proficiency with applicable tools (i.e. the hoe and watering can are tied to farming) and therefore reduce their energy cost. If players were able to activate the Community Center, they should receive a letter from Stardew Valley's local Wizard that is related to that quest line and can head over to see him on this day. Once inside his tower, players will be given the ability to understand the bundles within the Community Center.
What to do on Day 7 of Stardew Valley?
The last day of this first week in Stardew Valley starts with the first episode of the Queen of Sauce on the TV. After watching this program, players should water their crops and can choose to head over to the Traveling Cart. Other than this, players should aim at checking off the easier quests remaining.
The ones within reach at the moment are Initiation (kill ten slimes and visit the Adventurer's Guild), Forging Ahead (craft a furnace), and Smelting (smelt a Copper bar). All three require the player to spend some time in the mines in Stardew Valley, but it is important they bring in some type of food to help with energy and health management.
Stardew Valley is available now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.