Stardew Valley, the beloved farming simulation game, is a world teeming with opportunities and secrets waiting to be discovered. One such addition that caught the eye of many players is the Radioactive Ore, introduced in version 1.5 of the game. Often regarded as the fifth significant ore following Iridium Ore, Radioactive Ore has been an object of curiosity and analysis. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about this fascinating element in Stardew Valley.
The Basics: Radioactive Ore & Radioactive Bars
Key Characteristics
- Smelting Time: For Radioactive Bars, the smelting time is 9 hours and 20 minutes, whereas Iridium Bars take 8 hours.
- Base Selling Price: A Radioactive Bar sells for a base price of 3000g, in contrast to the 1000g for an Iridium Bar.
- Limitations: Unlike some other ores, Radioactive Ore can’t be used as ammo for the Slingshot, and the bars can’t be used for tool upgrades.
Main Uses
- Shipping and Crafting: Both Radioactive Ore and Bars need to be shipped at least once for 100% completion.
- Specialized Crafts:
- Radioactive Ore: Required for crafting the Deluxe Growth Formula and Magical Bait.
- Radioactive Bars: Necessary for crafting the Heavy Tapper and Mini-Obelisk.
To complete your game at 100%, you will need a minimum of 18 Radioactive Ores, which will produce 3 Radioactive Bars and 3 Ores for the specialized crafts mentioned.
Galaxy Souls
A unique feature of Radioactive Bars is their ability to be exchanged for Galaxy Souls. To do so, you must defeat 50 monsters in either the Dangerous Mines or the Dangerous Skull Caverns. Then, on the last day of every month, you can trade 10 Radioactive Bars for Galaxy Souls with the merchant on Ginger Island. The best part? This trade can be done indefinitely.
Gift-Giving and Fashion
Only Maru has a fondness for Radioactive Ore and Bars; everyone else despises them. On a lighter note, you can use Radioactive Ore to craft a green sweater. Though not the most stylish in its default shade, dyeing it white enhances its appeal. As for Radioactive Bars, they can craft a pair of goggles; however, these are purely aesthetic, as the game lacks any form of radioactive damage.
Acquiring Radioactive Ore
Pre-requisites
To even start gathering Radioactive Ore, you need to:
- Collect 100 Golden Walnuts on Ginger Island.
- Take on special quests from Mr. Qi’s Walnut Room.
Dangerous Mines Quest
For the Dangerous Mines, you need to take on the “Deep Danger” quest. Upon completion, you can freely access the Dangerous Mines from the Challenge Shrine on floor 120.
Dangerous Skull Caverns Quest
For the Dangerous Skull Caverns, they are only accessible during the “Skull Cavern Invasion” quest and cannot be accessed outside of it.
Strategies for Mining
The following strategies can help you gather Radioactive Ore more efficiently:
- Timing: Mine during high luck days stacked with luck-boosting items.
- Explosives: Utilize plenty of stairs and bombs for quicker mining.
- Quantity: Expect to collect 50–60 pieces on a good day in the Dangerous Mines, and around 100 pieces in the Dangerous Skull Caverns, although your resource consumption might increase due to stronger monsters.
Mechanics of Radioactive Ore Generation
The generation of Radioactive Ore is influenced by daily luck, luck-enhancing items, and the depth of the mine you’re in. The base spawn rate for the ore is merely 0.1%. Even with several buffs, acquiring Radioactive Ore can be challenging and time-consuming.
Formula
- Base Rate: 0.1%
- Additional Rate: (Floor Depth \times 0.001% + (Daily Luck / 13) + (Luck Boosts \times 0.015%))
Other Considerations
- The ore won’t spawn on floors that are multiples of 5, probably to prevent elevator farming.
- Mining on high-luck days is essential, as it provides the most significant boost to the spawn rate.
Conclusion
Radioactive Ore may not be as versatile as other ores in Stardew Valley, but its rarity and unique applications make it a topic of interest for dedicated players. Whether you are trading it for Galaxy Souls or crafting specialized items, this guide should help you make the most of this intriguing resource.