Stardew Valley: Best Books of Power, Ranked

Introduced in the 1.6 update, Stardew Valley's Books of Power give players unique perks when read. Currently, 19 of these books are scattered around the map and available for purchase at the Bookseller Shop. While some of the books can be bought or discovered multiple times, their effects are one-time permanent buffs that do not stack.

Despite their usefulness, not all Books of Power are worth pursuing — especially for players who aren’t perfectionists. If you can tolerate a few empty slots in your character’s stats, it’s advisable concentrate on the following, especially when trying to determine how to spend your money at the Bookseller. We’ve meticulously tested each one to compile a list of Books of Power that are worth your money, time, and effort.

the raccoon in front of the giant stump in stardew valley.

Stardew Valley: The Giant Stump Quest Guide

The Giant Stump Quest is a new questline in Stardew Valley 1.6 that gives you new Pelican Town friends; here’s how to complete this mission.

7 Monster Compendium

Drop Doubles

the book of monster compendium in stardew valley 1.6.

Monsters prove surprisingly generous in death, often dropping valuable items that can be consumed, gifted, or sold. However, there's a secret power capable of further enhancing your gains: the Monster Compendium. Those who peruse this Power Book enjoy an increased chance of receiving double the loot from slain monsters. Just imagine the thrill of obtaining two Prismatic Shards for dispatching a single Shadow Brute.

6 Dwarvish Safety Manual

Bombs Aren't As Dangerous

the book of dwarvish safety manual in stardew valley 1.6.

You’re a smart miner. Your pockets are full of bombs that clear Mine Floors like a breeze. But you also know that playing with dynamite has its own risks. Sometimes, your blasts can damage you. But what if there was a way to mitigate that risk?

Read the Dwarvish Safety Manual, which grants you 25% immunity against the damage caused by your bombs. With this manual in hand, you can rest assured that your dungeon-clearing endeavors are much safer. The only downside is that the effect doesn’t stack; no matter how many manuals you read, the Dwarves have only devised a method to prevent a quarter of the damage.

5 Horse: The Book

Ride Like a Jockey

In a farming simulator where slimes and skeletons attack you, speed is a must. While veteran Stardew Valley players can traverse the land as cowboys atop their trusty horses, let’s be honest: horses aren’t that fast. (They are technically only 1.5 points faster than running.) What you really need is to soar through the air like those racing horses seen on TV. Thankfully, version 1.6 makes that dream a reality.

By reading Horse: The Book, your trusty steed becomes exceptionally fast. Say goodbye to sluggish travel. In fact, this Power Book makes teleportation a less attractive option. Why not savor the journey while traveling from point A to B like a world-class jockey?

4 Price Catalogue

No Bargaining, Please

Prior to v1.6, you had to ask for an “expert evaluation” to figure out an item’s price, which essentially meant the game lacked a crucial quality-of-life feature: Sell Price Tags. This forced players to resort to workarounds, such as visiting nearby shops or consulting external wiki resources, to ascertain a product’s value.

However, the game’s latest version addresses this issue. By reading the Price Catalogue, your character memorizes all price tags. The Price Catalogue significantly enhances quality of life, saving players countless hours of in-game time.

3 Animal Catalogue

Goodbye, Marnie

animal catalogue book in stardew valley 1.6.

Plenty of players grow frustrated with Marnie's way of running her show; she’s often nowhere to be found when you need her most. Fortunately, the developer, ConcernedApe, is aware of this annoyance and has taken proactive steps to address Marnie’s lack of punctuality.

Recognizing that it’s likely too late to rectify Marnie’s time management skills, ConcernedApe has introduced a new Book of Power. This ingenious addition allows players to access Marnie’s shop counter and obtain whatever they need, even in her absence. It's a modern solution to a classic issue.

2 Way of the Wind

Now I Am Become Wind, the Destroyer of Slowpokes!

the way of wind power book in stardew valley 1.6.

By default, your character’s walking speed is 2, running speed is 5, and riding speed is 6.5. It's decent, but not particularly swift. Traversing the expanded world of Stardew Valley can become a challenge as walking feels sluggish. Thankfully, in version 1.6, that’s no longer the case.

Upon reading Ways of the Wind (Part One and Part Two), your walking and running speeds increase significantly. This permanent buff transforms walking into an experience akin to riding, eliminating the need to summon your horse for a quick visit to Pelican Town.

1 The Diamond Hunter

Diamonds Everywhere

the diamond hunter book of power in stardew valley 1.6.

If we were to calculate the drop rate of Diamonds by Mine Level, it would be as rare as 0.000016 per floor. This rarity stems from the fact that Diamonds only become available for mining after level 50, with a 1 in 500 chance of encountering them. However, the Diamond Hunter buff can alter these odds. With this enhancement, there’s an increased likelihood of obtaining Diamonds, as it grants any stone a small chance of dropping them.

Before reading this Power Book, Diamonds are exclusively discoverable in titular Nodes and Gem Nodes. However, after absorbing its knowledge, Diamonds may be obtained by breaking any nodes and rocks, including those found on the farm.