Coal – the resource that is seemingly everywhere yet nowhere at once. Somehow, you never seem to have enough of it. Here are some tips for coal farming in Stardew Valley.
Why is Coal Important?
Coal is an invaluable resource in Stardew Valley. It’s used in 17 different craft recipes, including bombs, preserve jars, and scarecrows, just to name a few. You also need it to run the furnace, which makes other important resources such as copper, iron, and gold bars.
What is Coal Farming?
Coal farming is a term used to describe trying to get as much coal as you can in a short amount of time. The following are tips for maximizing your chances of finding coal.
Hitting/Blowing up rocks
Rocks all over the map have a decent chance of dropping coal. Daily Luck (which can be found on the Fortune Teller channel of the television) will affect your chance of finding coal. If you’re looking to get as much coal as possible, then wait for a good luck day.
Additionally, if you have the Prospector profession, your chances of finding coal are doubled. If you’re already at level 10 mining but haven’t chosen Prospector, you can visit the Statue of Uncertainty to change it. The Statue lives in the Sewers to the left of Krobus, and it costs 10,000g to change professions.
Killing Dust Sprites and Other Monsters
Another great way to farm for coal is to kill Dust Sprites, which have a 50% chance of dropping it. The best way is to refresh one of the ice floors, such as 55, over and over until you’re satisfied. Additionally, wearing the burglar’s ring will increase your chance of getting item drops from monsters.
A number of other monsters have a chance of dropping coal as well. You can raise red, purple, or black slimes in a slime hutch, and they have a 10% chance of dropping coal. Additionally, stone golems (found on floors 31-39) and metal heads, shadow shamans, and shadow brutes (found on floors 101-119) also drop coal.
Looking For Mine Carts and Bags
On certain floors in both the regular mines and Skull Cavern, you can find either a minecart or a bag that contains coal. In the Pelican Town mines, each cart will only have coal once. In Skull Cavern, since the floors are randomized, you’re more likely to find carts or bags that are still full. However, they too will deplete after enough visits.
Using the Charcoal Kiln
The charcoal kiln is a recipe you get at level 4 foraging and can be made with 20 wood and 2 copper bars. This machine will turn 10 pieces of wood into 1 piece of coal in 30 in-game minutes. While it is not the most time-efficient way to get coal, it’s a great quick fix if you have an excess of wood.
You can also buy wood from Robin for 10g each. With this method, each piece of coal costs 100g, which is less than Clint’s 150g. However, after year 2, wood is 50g each, and therefore turning it into coal costs 500g. At that point, it’s more cost-efficient to buy coal from Clint directly for 250g a piece.
Catching The Train
Some trains will have carts filled with coal and will drop a few pieces as it passes by. When you get the notification “A train is passing through Stardew Valley,” go up to the train tracks north of the mountains. You may have a chance of finding coal there.
Luckily, you don’t need to be present as the train passes to collect it. You do, however, need to grab it before going to bed, as it will despawn the next day.
Cracking Open Geodes
All four types of geodes – the geode, frozen geode, magma geode, and omni geode – have a chance to contain coal. If you bring any of these to Clint, he can crack them open for 25g each. Each geode type has a different chance of spawning coal. Regular geodes have the highest chance at 8.33%, while omni and magma geodes have the lowest chance at 5%.
Other Sources
There are a few other ways to get coal in Stardew Valley, though less predictable.
- Artifact spots in the mountain, backwoods, and farm
- Trash cans
- Fishing treasure chests
- Panning
- The traveling cart for 100-1,000g
- A fruit tree after it is struck by lightning
Conclusion
Coal can be one of those tricky resources where you have plenty and then suddenly you have none. However, with patience and determination, you can replenish your stores in no time. Follow these tips, and soon you’ll be swimming in the stuff!
