Skills Guide
Stardew Valley features five main skills: Farming, Fishing, Mining, Foraging, and Combat. Each skill has 10 levels, with profession choices at levels 5 and 10 that shape your playstyle. Reaching maximum level in all five skills unlocks the Mastery system, granting powerful bonuses.
The Five Skills
Farming
Level up by harvesting crops, petting animals, and producing artisan goods. Professions focus on crop quality, animal products, or artisan profitability.
Level 10: Coopmaster / Shepherd or Artisan / Agriculturist
Fishing
Level up by catching fish. Professions focus on fish value, bait efficiency, crab pot production, or reduced difficulty.
Level 10: Angler / Pirate or Luremaster / Mariner
Mining
Level up by breaking rocks. Professions focus on ore yields, geode finds, or sell prices.
Level 10: Blacksmith / Prospector or Excavator / Gemologist
Foraging
Level up by picking forageables and chopping trees. Professions focus on forage quality, tree tapping, or gathering speed.
Level 10: Tapper / Lumberjack or Botanist / Tracker
Combat
Level up by defeating monsters. Professions focus on critical hits, defense, or HP recovery.
Level 10: Brute / Defender or Acrobat / Desperado
Skill Level Progression
| Level | XP Required | Total XP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | 100 | Starting level (new skills begin at 0) |
| 2 | 150 | 250 | Basic recipe/craft unlock |
| 3 | 250 | 500 | Recipe/craft unlock |
| 4 | 400 | 900 | Recipe/craft unlock |
| 5 | 600 | 1,500 | First profession choice |
| 6 | 800 | 2,300 | Recipe/craft unlock |
| 7 | 1,000 | 3,300 | Recipe/craft unlock |
| 8 | 1,200 | 4,500 | Recipe/craft unlock |
| 9 | 1,500 | 6,000 | Recipe/craft unlock |
| 10 | 2,000 | 8,000 | Second profession choice |
Mastery System
Once you reach level 10 in all five skills, the Mastery system unlocks. You earn Mastery points by completing activities related to each skill. Accumulating points unlocks five Mastery tokens that can be spent on powerful bonuses:
- Farming Mastery: Chance to auto-harvest crops
- Fishing Mastery: Fish always have iridium quality
- Mining Mastery: Double ore from rocks
- Foraging Mastery: Double forage from trees
- Combat Mastery: +25 HP per kill
Skill Guides
Stardew Valley Mastery Guide: Complete Overview
Complete guide to the Mastery system in Stardew Valley 1.6. Learn how to unlock mastery, complete Mastery Quests, earn Mastery Points, and claim Mastery Rings from the Mastery Cave.
Complete Skills Guide
All five skills explained with level progression, XP requirements, profession choices at level 5 and 10, and the Mastery system.
Skills and Professions Guide
Detailed skill guide covering all 5 skills with complete profession trees, XP sources, level-up recipes, and profession choice analysis for optimal builds.