Dungeon delving inStardew Valleycan yield players some handy crafting materials, but to do so, they have to contend with some hostile creatures. The mines, the Volcano Dungeon, and Skull Cavern are all filled with monsters ready to destroy the player, and it can be dangerous to venture forth.
However, taking on these creatures in a fight can have its benefits. Not only do they drop some useful items of their own, butStardew Valley’s Adventurer’s Guild will provide some handsome rewards for meeting certain monster-slaying bounties. Here are a few tips for players hoping to hone their combat prowess in this farming sim.
Updated August 07, 2025 by Demaris Oxman:Stardew Valleymay be a peaceful game at heart, but players may still want to let off steam from time to time. If that’s the case, head down underground where the monsters dwell. Slaying these creatures is an essential skill for players who want to achieve Perfection, as this goal involves reaching all the Adventurer’s Guild Monster Slaying Goals, as well as completing Qi Challenges that require some difficult combat. To help players who wish to reach this lofty goal, this list has been updated with more tips to masterStardew Valley’s monster-slaying action.
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9Boost Speed
It’s hard to find an aspect ofStardew Valleywhere speed cannot improve the player’s performance. When it comes to combat in the mines,mobility is key,as it helps players avoid enemy attacks when they’re being ambushed from all angles.
The faster the player can move, the faster they can react to cave bugs flying their way, or Shadow Shamans shooting dark projectiles at them. Coffee is a great choice to increase speed, but certain food items can do the same. Many of the following items have other boosts as well, but they all offer +1 speed for varying durations:
8Cook Helpful Recipes
Speaking of handy consumables,plenty of food itemscan provide the player with some helpful buffs as they venture into caves and dungeons. Some of the best for monster-slaying missions include:
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Additionally, remember to take non-buffing food items as well. When eating a food item, any buffs that it contains will replace any buffs that the previous food item granted. It’s important to bring items that can replenish health and energy without removing active buffs.Purple mushroomsare a great choice for this. Alternatively,Pink Cake, Fruit Salad, and Fiddlehead Risottoall replenish plenty of health without any buffs.
7Find Your Weapon Preference
There are plenty of different weapon types inStardew Valley, and each will appeal to different play styles. Some players may find themselves to be handy with a slingshot, while others might prefer the simplicity of swinging a sword or thrusting a dagger.
Players should take the time and invest the coin to purchase and try outdifferent types of weaponsthat theAdventurer’s Guild has to offer. The easiest, most effective choice may differ for everyone, so figure out which one feels most natural to the player. Players can finda more detailed guide toStardew Valley’s weapons here, but here’s a quick summary of each type:
6Forge & Enchant Weapons
No matter what weapon the player has chosen, they can’t go wrong by adding some extra punch to it. At the Forge at the end of Ginger Island’s Volcano Dungeon, players canadd stat boosts and extra effects to their weaponsby using Cinder Shards and various gemstones.
Players can also use this forge tocreateInfinity Weapons,powered-up versions of the Galaxy Weapons. These are the most powerful items of their kind in the game, featuring higher stats.
5Choose Rings Wisely
Rings can make a huge difference in a player’s experience on a monster hunt. By far the best option is theIridium Band, which glows, increases magnetism, and boosts attack power by 10%. As the player can wear up to two rings at once, the following make good choices for combat missions as well:
At the Volcano Forge, players can merge two rings into one, combining their effects. This essentially allows the player to wear four rings at once. However, bear in mind that this process cannot be undone, so fuse with caution.
4Craft & Use Monster Musk
For players trying to meet the Adventurer’s Guild monster-slaying goals, it can actually be helpful to try and attract more monsters. To that end, it can be worth crafting a few bottles ofMonster Musk, which draws creatures to the player’s scent.
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To obtain this crafting recipe, players must first completethe Wizard’s special order, “Prismatic Jelly,” by bringing him the titular item. Once the player has crafted the item using30 slime and 30 bat wings,it will double the number of monsters that appear on a floor in the mine. The effect lasts 10 minutes, so bring a few bottles for long expeditions.
3Learn Enemy Types & Attacks
“Know your enemy” applies tocombat inStardew Valleyjust as it does in any other game. There are a wide variety of monsters that roam the various dungeons, and each has a particular style of attacking. Slimes, for example, are slow-moving but will occasionally launch themselves at the player, usually taking a moment to gather momentum before they do. Cave Flies and Serpents will dive-bomb the player at high speeds, making them a priority to take out.
Understanding enemy behavior makes it easier for the player to take them out. Shadow Shamans in the lava levels of the Mines, for example, have a healing spell that restores the health of other enemies. Kill them first to make it easier to hunt the rest.Some enemies have ranged attacks, but others can only harm the player by touching them.Knowing which enemies one will be facing and anticipating their attacks can help players prepare.
2Use Bombs
Though the right weapon is invaluable in wiping out monsters, nothing compares to the damage that bombs can do. Even the little explosions that Cherry Bombs provide can be useful, but nothing compares to the power of Mega Bombs. What’s more, bombs are the only means of permanently killing the mummiesin Skull Cavern.
When monsters are swarming and players are at a loss, simply plant a bomb and make a break for it.Players will take damage if caught in the blast, so be sure to take cover. The following Bombs can be crafted inStardew Valley:
3 tiles
5 tiles
6-8 tiles
1Time Weapon Strikes Carefully
When it comes toStardew Valley’s combat, there’s more to success than just clicking rapidly to swing a sword. If they time their strikes right, players canknock away monsters at the right time to avoid an attack. By putting this distance between themselves and the enemy, players can gain vital seconds in which to eat a snack, plant a bomb, or simply strike their foe again.
The best time to strike is right when the monster is about to attack — say, when a slime readies itself to lunge forward, or a serpent closes in on the player’s hitbox. Additionally,keep weapon speed in mindwhen timing strikes. The Obsidian Edge, for example, moves more slowly than the Galaxy Sword; remember this when timing attacks. As with many aspects in video games, the best way to hone this skill is to practice.
