Tools are an important element in Stardew Valley as you need them for certain tasks. You get five main tools at the start with standard quality. Upgrading them will allow you to be a more efficient and effective farmer. A high quality tool will enable you to manage your character's energy and time better as well as get resources you wouldn't normally get using the standard ones. Here's a comprehensive guide to each tool's uses, upgrade costs and special abilities.
Stardew Valley Tool: Axe
The standard axe in Stardew Valley can chop down a tree with 10 hits and a small stump with 5 hits. The upgrades and requirements are as follows:
Copper Axe: For this axe upgrade, you need 5 Copper Bars and 2,000G. After this upgrade, you can now take down a tree with 8 hits and a normal stump with 4 hits. You can now also chop large stumps.
Steel Axe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iron Bars and 5,000G. Trees now take only 6 hits and small stumps 3 hits. The Steel Axe now also allows you to chop large logs.
Gold Axe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Gold Bars and 10,000G. It now only takes 4 hits to take down trees and 2 hits to chop small stumps.
Iridium Axe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iridium Bars and 25,000G. Chopping down a tree only takes 2 hits, while small stumps require 1 hit.
Stardew Valley Tool: Pickaxe
The Stardew Valley pickaxe is used for breaking stones and furniture items. It can also be used as a weapon to enemies. It takes 1 hit to break a rock, 2 hits for grey rocks, 3 hits for Copper ore nodes, 4 hits for Iron ore nodes, 5 hits for Topaz or Amethyst nodes and 8 hits for Gold ore nodes. The upgrades and requirements are as follows:
Copper Pickaxe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Copper Bars and 2,000G. It now only takes 1 hit to break all rocks, 2 hits for Copper ore nodes and 3 hits for Topaz or Amethyst nodes. It now also allows you to break 2x2 rocks in the mines.
Steel Pickaxe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iron Bars and 5,000G. It now only takes 1 hit to break rocks and Copper ore nodes and 2 hits for Iron ore nodes. You can now also break 2x2 boulders in the farm.
Gold Pickaxe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Gold Bars and 10,000G. It now only takes 1 hit to break rocks, Copper ore nodes and Iron ore nodes and 2 hits for Gold ore nodes. The upgrade also allows you to break meteorites.
Iridium Pickaxe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iridium Bars and 25,000G. It now only takes 1 hit to break rocks, Copper ore, Iron ore and Gold ore nodes.
Stardew Valley Tool: Hoe
The hoe is the heart of farming in Stardew Valley. Without it, you can't plant crops. The standard tool tills one square. When it is upgrade, you can till more squares when you hold the button. Here are the upgrades and requirements:
Copper Hoe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Copper Bars and 2,000G. You can now till three square in front of you.
Steel Hoe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iron Bars and 5,000G. You can now till five squares.
Gold Hoe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Gold Bars and 10,000G. You can now till 3x3 plots.
Iridium Hoe: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iridium Bars and 25,000G. You can now till 3x6 plots.
Stardew Valley Tool: Fishing Pole
As you can guess, the fishing pole is used for fishing in Stardew Valley. The standard is made of Bamboo and can be purchased for 500 coins from Willy in the second day. The upgrades and requirements are as follows:
Fiberglass Rod: For this upgrade, you need to be at Fishing level 3 and 1,800G. This upgrade allows you to use a bait.
Iridium Rod: For this upgrade, you need to be at Fishing level 6 and 7,500G. This upgrade allows you to use bait and tackle.
Stardew Valley Tool: Watering Can
To grow your crops, you obviously need a watering can. The standard tool waters 40 squares, one square at a time, but upgraded ones can water more by holding down the button. The upgrades and requirements are as follows:
Copper Watering Can: For this upgrade, you need 5 Copper Bars and 2,000G. The can now holds 50 units of water and can water three squares at once.
Steel Watering Can: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iron Bars and 5,000G. The can now holds 120 units of water and can water five squares at once.
Gold Watering Can: For this upgrade, you need 5 Gold Bars and 10,000G. The can now holds 198 units of water and can water a 3x3 plot at once.
Iridium Watering Can: For this upgrade, you need 5 Iridium Bars and 25,000G. The can is now able to water a 6x3 plot at once.
To upgrade your tools, you need to go to the blacksmith. Note that you will not be able to use them while they're at the shop, so make sure to time the upgrades when you're not going to use them.
Watering cans are tricky as you need them everyday. Leave it to the blacksmith when you know it's going to rain the next day or at the end of the season when plants will die anyway. You can also time the upgrades at wintertime. For some tips on how to start the first year right, refer to our Stardew Valley guide here.
