Stardew Valley isn’t just a farming simulator; it’s a game of strategy. While many approaches can earn you money, one of the most efficient yet least talked about is the “Sheep Strategy.” This strategy revolves around raising sheep to generate a steady income with minimal effort. In this article, we will explore how you can set up your farm to maximize profits through the Sheep Strategy.
Advantages of the Sheep Strategy
- High Automation: Once your setup is complete, it requires almost no daily effort—just a bit of hay.
- Quick Setup: Within a few game hours, you could be up and running, earning money faster than with most other strategies.
- Predictable Earnings: With optimal conditions, a single sheep can produce wool that sells for an average of 816g per day.
The Basics: What You’ll Need
To start off, your farm should have at least four Deluxe Barns, which house your sheep. Here’s a quick rundown of the costs:
- Four Deluxe Barns: 27.8K
- 48 Sheep: 38.4K
- Auto-Petter, Shears, and Heaters: 30.8K
- Startup Costs (excluding hay): Around 100K
Generating the Initial Investment
Starting off with the Sheep Strategy requires a substantial investment of around 100K gold. However, you can earn this initial amount through various means such as:
- Planting Tea Saplings
- Mining
- Brewing Hops into Ale
- Fishing
Efficient Start: The Early Game Plan
- Day 1: Plant 15 Leek Seeds and gather wood to craft two Chests. Then sleep.
- Day 2: Go fishing until you reach level 3. Your primary objective is to unlock Crab Pots to boost your Fishing skill later.
- Day 4: After watering your leeks, go back to sleep.
- Day 5: Harvest Leeks, and buy and plant 16 Cauliflower Seeds.
During this period, chop wood and mine to gradually level up your Foraging to level 3. At this point, craft three Tappers and install them on Oak Trees to collect Oak Resin.
Mid-Game Progression
- End of Spring: Acquire materials for crafting 22 Quality Sprinklers.
- Summer: Place 22 Quality Sprinklers and plant 88 Blueberries.
Setting Up Sheep Barns
Once you’re ready to proceed with the Sheep Strategy, you’ll need to do the following:
- Choose the Rancher Skill at Level 5: This will later allow you to pick the Shepherd skill at level 10, which boosts sheep wool production.
- Prepare Materials for 4 Deluxe Barns and Silos: You’ll need a large amount of wood and stone. Also, purchase enough Copper Ore and Coal for crafting.
- Get the Vault Room: As soon as you have enough money, purchase the Vault Room from Joja Mart.
The Sheep Strategy in Action
- Switch to Starfruit: Once you’ve built your barns and are ready to proceed, switch your greenhouse crops to Starfruit and start brewing Starfruit Wine.
- Automation: Buy Auto-Petters, Auto-Grabbers, and Heaters for each barn.
- Buy Sheep: At this point, fill your barns with sheep.
Advanced Tips: Beyond the Sheep Strategy
- Upgrade Tools: Once you’ve made your millions, you can buy ores to upgrade all of your tools.
- Build the Golden Clock and Warp Towers: Having achieved financial security, you can now focus on convenience.
- Town Gifts: Use the money to buy gifts for the townspeople to increase your relationships with them.
Conclusion
The Sheep Strategy might not be as glamorous as other approaches in Stardew Valley, but it’s an efficient, straightforward way to make millions within a relatively short period. With careful planning, initial investment, and automation, you can turn your Stardew Valley experience into a lucrative endeavor with minimal daily upkeep.
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new player looking for effective ways to make money, give the Sheep Strategy a try, and let those sheep turn your dreams into reality.
Note: This strategy is subject to change as the game updates or new strategies emerge. Always remember to adapt your playstyle accordingly.