While it may seem like a simple farming simulator, Stardew Valley is far more than what initially meets the eye. The first few hours are similar to the likes of Harvest Moon, but it's clear when players explore the mines, desert, and Pelican Town itself that ConcernedApe's title is more ambitious despite boasting a simple art style and gameplay mechanics. In the game it's possible to have a family, wield the most impressive of weaponry, and gallop through the streets of the town on a horse on route to buy hundreds of parsnip seeds.
Naturally, in a game as big as Stardew Valley, there are a handful of trinkets that are less likely to appear than others. Often they are used to upgrade to late-game items early or simply to allow players to proudly display something that is hard to find in the wild. The thrill of finding the most elusive of items speaks for itself, and while tending the crops, wooing the local townsfolk, and rearing the healthiest of livestock is what many would expect would take up time in Stardew Valley, acquiring rare items can take up even more hours.
Prismatic Shard & Galaxy Sword
The prismatic shard is a colorful, spherical, and incredibly rare mineral that can be used in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most constructive is to take it to the Calico Desert by hopping on the bus. From there, if players hold it in the center of the three pillars the shard will be consumed, leaving behind the galaxy sword to be used in the mines. It's a weapon that hits for 60-80 damage, and makes quick work of enemies in both the mines and the skull cavern. The prismatic shard and galaxy sword are each incredibly rare so finding either, or both, is a real treat.
Living Hat
The living hat is perhaps the single rarest item in Stardew Valley. With a 0.01% chance to drop from wilderness golems, rare enemies that spawn on the farm if players select the wilderness layout, they require some pre-planning to even have a chance of finding. Although the description says it '"absorbs moisture from [the player's] scalp" the hat is purely cosmetic, and makes any player's custom character look a bit like Midsommar's May Queen regardless of their appearance. It cannot be sold, which is probably for the best as it should be worn with pride considering its immense rarity.
Dinosaur Egg
Eggs are nothing new in Stardew Valley, as they can be found daily when players acquire chickens and ducks. They can be sold, used in cooking, placed in a mayonnaise machine, or raised in an incubator in the big or deluxe coop to hatch more animals. However, if players are lucky enough to find a dinosaur egg in Stardew while foraging in skull cavern, digging up an artifact spot in the mountains, or while fishing in one of the many areas, among other methods, it can produce a more unlikely addition to the farm. Placing the dinosaur egg into the incubator will spawn a dinosaur, but the drop rate for a dinosaur egg is incredibly low regardless of where it can be found.
Magic Rock Candy
The haunted skull enemies can be found in Stardew Valley's quarry mine, and are a particularly tough opponent for those who haven't come face to face with it before. However, if players can slay the foe, there is a small chance that it will drop the magic rock candy, a rare edible that offers buffs to mining, speed, attack, defense, and luck. The drop rate from haunted skulls is 0.13%, but there are other ways to acquire it, although they are perhaps even more difficult. Magic rock candy and also be attained by giving three prismatic shards to the desert trader, or can be acquired by donating 90 items to the museum.
Stardew Valley is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
