While Stardew Valley is fundamentally a farming simulation, it offers a rich gameplay experience that extends well beyond merely planting crops and raising livestock. Players are on a quest to maximize their farm’s profitability, and there are numerous valuable resources to harvest beyond conventional vegetables. Among these treasures are gemstones, which not only add sparkle to the game but also serve critical purposes in crafting and as fantastic gifts for the townsfolk.
However, the process of mining for rare gemstones can become tedious. Fortunately, the Crystalarium provides a remarkable solution. This versatile device allows players to take a single gemstone or mineral and replicate it, generating dozens—or even hundreds—of copies. Here’s how to effectively utilize the Crystalarium in Stardew Valley.
Updated January 6, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The recent 1.6 update introduced significant gameplay changes, including some subtle adjustments affecting high-tier items like the Crystalarium. This updated guide incorporates all pertinent information regarding its functionality in the current game version.
How to Obtain a Crystalarium
Crafting a Crystalarium requires players to enhance their mining skill to Level 9. The necessary materials for this crafting recipe are as follows:
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99
: Easily obtained by breaking rocks on the farm or in the mines.
- 5 : Gold Ore can be found at or below Level 80 in the mines. To forge Gold Bars, smelt 5 Gold Ore with 1 Coal in a Furnace.
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2
: Mine Iridium in the Skull Cavern or get it daily from the Statue of Perfection. Follow the same smelting process as Gold Ore.
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1
: Gather Battery Packs by placing lightning rods outside during storms; they will charge up when struck by lightning.
If crafting isn’t feasible due to materials or skill level, there are alternative ways to acquire a Crystalarium:
- Community Center Bundle: Complete the 25,000g Bundle within the Vault of the Community Center to receive a Crystalarium as a reward.
- Museum: Donate at least 50 minerals (including gemstones or geode minerals) to receive a Crystalarium from Gunther.
How to Use the Crystalarium
After crafting, players can place the Crystalarium in any location, be it indoors, outdoors, on the farm, or elsewhere. Many opt to set up a crystal farm in the Quarry, operating several Crystalariums simultaneously.
The Crystalarium is capable of duplicating any mineral or gemstone provided, except for Prismatic Shards. Among the various options, Quartz has the fastest replication time, though its market value is relatively low due to abundance. In contrast, Diamonds take five days to replicate but yield the highest profits, making them the most desirable choice for the Crystalarium.
To reposition a Crystalarium, strike it with an axe or pickaxe; this action will return the device to the player’s inventory. If the machine is currently replicating a gem, that gem will be returned to the player as well. To alter the gemstone being duplicated, simply place a new one in the active Crystalarium—this replaces the existing gem. For instance, if a Crystalarium is producing Rubies and the player wishes to switch to Diamonds, they can interact with the Crystalarium while holding a Diamond to initiate the swap.
By placing a selection of valuable gems in their Crystalariums and allowing some time to pass, players can watch their profits grow—contributing to their farming empire. Moreover, as Diamonds are highly favored gifts among non-player characters (NPCs) in Pelican Town, players will certainly enhance their relationships with the townsfolk.
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