Check-up: Interesting Things You Need to Know

In Stardew Valley, Harvey is the go-to spot for non-playable characters for their health concerns. There are healing items available for purchase at his clinic, and you’ve likely encountered him numerous times when you passed out. But did you know that there’s an in-game check-up scene that you can access? Read this guide if you’re interested in unlocking this quick cutscene. 

Harvey happens to be the only doctor in town and has two excellent tonics available for restoring your health and stamina. Although it is a costly item, it’s worth getting if you have extra gold.

NPCs visit him once a year for their medical examination. So, you might be wondering why your player isn’t able to have regular check-ups with him? Similarly, why isn’t there a dialogue box or selection choice for scheduling an appointment?

Fortunately, the game includes a little bonus for you in the form of a Four-Heart cutscene event with the doctor. For those interested in learning how it works, check out this guide, and we’ll teach you exactly what to do.

How to activate the check-up scene?

Gifting

To activate the check-up cut scene, you must gift Harvey consistently until you reach a four-heart friendship. The doctor loves many items, including pickled food, super meal, rabbit’s foot, truffle oil, prismatic shard, wine, but most of all, coffee!

Once you reach two hearts with him, you’ll receive a quick cutscene of Harvey doing a home consultation.

Meanwhile, having a 4-heart friendship unlocks the check-up scene in his clinic.

How important is the check-up? 

The drawback of the doctor’s appointment in Stardew Valley is its purpose. The check-up sequence is purely for the player’s benefit upon attaining a particular relationship status, which isn’t valuable to your gameplay overall.

When your character becomes fatigued or passes out, you’ll receive a letter the following day informing that you’ve been taken and returned home after treatment. 

While if you deplete your energy levels in the Skull Cavern, you’ll most likely wake up in Harvey’s clinic. That’s 1,000g or 10% of your earnings deducted for medical bills.

Nonetheless, you may restore your health and energy by consuming any food items. This is where Harvey’s tonics come into play. The muscle remedy provides +22 health and +50 energy while also removing the exhaustion indicator. 

On the other hand, energy tonic gives you +500 energy and +200 health.

However, each remedy costs 1,000g, which is absurdly expensive given that the energy tonic can be obtained as a gift from Pam, found in the Skull Cavern, or looted from Iridium bats.

Moreover, you can substitute the overpriced remedy with dishes you can cook twice or three times in equivalent. For instance, a bean hotpot provides +125 energy and 56+ health, with +30 maximum energy and +32 magnetism. And to triple its healing effects, all you need to do is consume three-bean hotpots.

Apart from buying instant treatment, what other options does he offer? Sadly, the answer is not so much.

Yearly Check-ups

Every NPC has a doctor’s appointment scheduled on a specific day. You can get all the information you need about their yearly physical exam right below.

Final Thoughts

As much as you want to have frequent medical sessions, the game can only offer you a brief cutscene of the medical appointment. However, this heart event can be a great thing for those who want to further their relationship with Harvey!