Cinder Shard Guide
Cinder Shards are a valuable resource introduced in Stardew Valley 1.5. Found primarily in the Volcano Dungeon on Ginger Island, they are essential for forging, enchanting, and crafting endgame items.
What Are Cinder Shards?
Cinder Shards are warm, glowing stones obtained from the Volcano Dungeon. They are a key resource for the Forge system and several important crafting recipes.
How to Get Cinder Shards
Volcano Dungeon Sources
| Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Cinder Shard Nodes | Mineable nodes throughout the Volcano Dungeon |
| Common/Rare Chests | Found on dungeon floors |
| Magma Sprites | Enemies that drop Cinder Shards |
| Magma Sparkers | Enemies that drop Cinder Shards |
| Magma Duggies | Enemies that drop Cinder Shards |
| False Magma Caps | Mushroom enemies that drop Cinder Shards |
Other Sources
| Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Stingray Fish Pond | Population 7+ produces Cinder Shards |
| Skull Cavern | Treasure rooms (after Volcano Shortcut unlocked) |
Sell Price
- Base Price: 50g each
Uses for Cinder Shards
Forging (Primary Use)
Cinder Shards are used at the Forge on Floor 10 of the Volcano Dungeon:
| Action | Cinder Shards Required |
|---|---|
| Combine two rings | 20 |
| Enchant a tool/weapon | 20 |
| Add Galaxy Soul to Galaxy weapon | 20 |
| Forge a tool (1st time) | 10 |
| Forge a tool (2nd time) | 15 |
| Forge a tool (3rd time) | 20 |
Trading
| Item | Price | Trader | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinderclown Shoes | 100 Cinder Shards | Dwarf | Volcano Dungeon Shop |
| Jungle Torch | 5 Cinder Shards | Island Trader | Ginger Island |
| Wild Double Bed | 100 Cinder Shards | Island Trader | Ginger Island |
| Deluxe Retaining Soil Recipe | 50 Cinder Shards | Island Trader | Ginger Island |
Crafting
| Item | Materials | Recipe Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ostrich Incubator | 50 Bone Fragments, 50 Hardwood, 20 Cinder Shards | Professor Snail (after completing fossil collection) |
Tailoring
- Used in the Sewing Machine to create Sunglasses
- Orange dye for clothing
Gifting
- Dislike: Almost all villagers
- Hate: Sam
Note: Cinder Shards are generally not good gifts. Most villagers dislike or hate them.
Volcano Dungeon Strategy
Floor Layout
The Volcano Dungeon has 10 floors:
- Floors 1-9: Randomly generated dungeon floors with enemies and obstacles
- Floor 10: The Forge and Dwarf Shop
Tips for Farming Cinder Shards
- Bring Bombs: Useful for clearing rocks and finding nodes quickly
- Combat Gear: Magma enemies can be tough - bring good weapons and food
- Watering Can: Some floors have lava rivers that need to be cooled with water
- Check All Chests: Common and Rare chests can contain Cinder Shards
- Stingray Pond: Set up a Stingray Fish Pond for passive Cinder Shard generation
Volcano Shortcut
After reaching Floor 10 for the first time, you unlock a shortcut that allows quick access to the Forge. This also enables Cinder Shards to appear in Skull Cavern treasure rooms.
Tips for Efficient Collection
- Daily Runs: Visit the Volcano Dungeon daily for consistent Cinder Shard income
- Fish Pond: A Stingray pond with 7+ population provides passive shards
- Save for Forging: You’ll need many shards for ring combinations and enchantments
- Prioritize: Decide whether to spend on forging, trading, or crafting
History
- 1.5: Introduced
- 1.6.4: Now a potential reward from Skull Cavern treasure chests