Stardew Valley, the idyllic farming simulation game, offers players several choices that affect their farming life, chief among them being the choice between the Artisan and Agriculturist professions. While both paths have their merits and drawbacks, a closer look reveals that Artisan generally provides a more significant boost in profitability for the majority of players.
Artisan’s Profit Multipliers
The Artisan profession in Stardew Valley increases the value of all artisan goods by a whopping 40–50%, depending on the game’s version. This bonus applies to products like wine, cheese, mayo, and even caviar, all of which are obtained through processing machines. Considering that most of these goods already possess inherent multipliers on their base values, the bonus stacks up, yielding considerably more significant profits over time.
Why Artisan Over Agriculturist?
Agriculturist certainly has its merits. It provides a 10% speed boost in crop growth, which is great for repeat harvest crops like blueberries and cranberries. But there are some drawbacks:
- Increased Workload: Faster crop growth means you’ll need to replant and harvest more often. This adds extra work to your farming routine.
- Limited Crop Impact: Not all crops benefit significantly from faster growth. For instance, one-time harvest crops or already fast-growing crops will see minimal gains.
- Fixed Bug: Agriculturist has been benefiting from a bug where players get a 25% speed boost even when using regular Speed-Gro. This is likely to be fixed, making Agriculturist less profitable in the long run.
Switching Strategies: Is it Worth It?
Some players employ a strategy of switching between the two professions. They might go Agriculturist in the winter to benefit from additional harvests and then switch back to Artisan when focusing on producing high-value goods like iridium wine. While this is a viable strategy, it can be seen as cumbersome and not as straightforward as sticking to one profession.
Making the Most of Your Choice
- Artisan:
- Maximize Kegs and Machines: Having an ample number of kegs and jars can help you get the most out of high-value crops like starfruits and ancient fruits.
- Pick High-Value Crops: Choose crops with high base values as they will provide the most significant profits when processed.
- Agriculturist:
- Plan Carefully: The choice of crops is crucial. Go for multiple-harvest crops or those that can significantly benefit from the 10% growth speed.
- Utilize Speed-Gro: Make the most of this profession by also using Speed-Gro to further increase your harvest rate.
The Bottom Line
The choice between Artisan and Agriculturist comes down to your playstyle. If you’re someone who enjoys micromanaging crops and revels in the act of farming, Agriculturist might be more your speed. However, if you’re looking to optimize profit and enjoy a slightly more hands-off approach to farming, Artisan is the clear winner here.
As Stardew Valley continues to evolve, this meta could change, but for now, the numbers point towards Artisan as the optimal choice for most players looking to maximize their earnings.
