Summary
Now that the latest 1.6 update has been released forStardew Valley, its new Mastery System has proven to be a real game-changer by pushing beyond its previous skill caps and upping the ante with replayability. ThoughStardew Valleyhas garnered critical acclaim and a substantial fanbase as an inspired spiritual successor to cult classics likeHarvest Moon, one of the few criticisms the game received was for its limited replay value. But while a case could be made that replayability might not neatly fit the themes and narratives of sim games, the new Mastery System could be the answer thatreturningStardew Valleyplayerswere hoping for.
Alongside the extra content introduced toStardew Valleyvia its 1.6 update, this Mastery System offers new rewards for those who continue to play despite having already leveled up each skill to the maximum tenth rank. Moreover, the Mastery points-based system is easy to use and readily accessible once players have hit their skill cap, allowing them to turn any excess experience into redeemable Mastery Points. With the benefits players get from redeeming special perks, items, and other helpful rewards, the new system might be enough to tideStardew Valleyfans over until the release of ConcernedApe’s next game,Haunted Chocolatier.
Stardew Valley’s Mastery System Offers Game-Changing Rewards
In total, there are redeemableMastery rewards for each ofStardew Valley’s five skills, and though the items or perks players receive for an individual Mastery may vary, they are at least guaranteed three rewards for each one. Depending on which approach someone takes when playingStardew Valley, players might want to prioritize redeeming certain Mastery rewards before any others due to the benefits they can provide. One or two examples from the full table include the Mining Mastery, which increases yield rates of gem-bearing rocks for get-rich-quick miners, while the Farming Mastery allows players to find and use Golden Animal Crackers to double their livestock production.
Mastery rewards
Stardew Valley’s Mastery System Gives Players More To Do
With the new goal of intentionally reaching rank 10 for any ofStardew Valley’s skills and receiving these Mastery rewards, both new and old players have a reason to keep going even when they’ve maxed out their experience. True to the Mastery Systems name, players can reach new heights and becomeStardew Valleymasters with what may now be the best items and perks available. So, whether players are returning to their old farms or followingConcernedApe’s request and restartingStardew Valleyfrom scratch, the new Mastery System means that there will still be more to do beyond the “end” of the game.
But Stardew Valley’s Mastery System Might Have a Downside
However, while the Mastery System now rewards players for sticking withStardew Valleyeven when they’ve hit the highest skill ranks, this may only be a partial fix for the game’s replay value. Once players have mastered each ofStardew Valley’s five skills and received the new rewards, they may again be left with nothing else to work towards. Unless there arefuture updates forStardew Valleyor if players are content with just the simplicity of day-to-day farming life, then the Mastery System might only help extend the game’s lifespan for a little while longer.
