When starting a new farm in Stardew Valley, one of the first major upgrades players should consider is improving their basic tools. The copper axe represents the first tier of tool upgrades and provides significant benefits for clearing land and gathering resources. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about obtaining the copper axe – from gathering the necessary materials to completing the upgrade process, plus tips on maximizing its effectiveness.
Why Upgrade to a Copper Axe?
Before diving into the process of obtaining a copper axe, it’s important to understand why this upgrade should be among your early priorities in Stardew Valley.
Benefits of the Copper Axe
The copper axe offers several advantages over the basic starting axe:
- Fewer hits required: Trees require 8 hits instead of 10 to chop down
- Faster resource gathering: Normal stumps require 4 hits instead of 5
- New capabilities: Ability to break large stumps for hardwood
- Energy efficiency: Less total energy expended per tree/stump
- Time savings: Speeds up the process of clearing land for farming and building
As a new farmer, these improvements may seem modest, but they add up significantly over time, especially when clearing large areas of your farm for cultivation or construction.
Materials Required for the Copper Axe Upgrade
To upgrade your basic axe to a copper axe, you’ll need the following:
| Requirement | Amount | Where to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Bars | 5 | Smelt from copper ore (requires furnace) |
| Gold | 2,000g | Farming, foraging, fishing, mining, etc. |
| Basic Axe | 1 | Already in your possession at game start |
The most challenging part for new players is typically obtaining the 5 copper bars, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the mining and smelting processes in Stardew Valley.
Finding Copper Ore in Stardew Valley
Copper ore is the raw material needed to create copper bars. Here are the primary methods to obtain copper ore:
1. Mining in The Mines
The most reliable source of copper ore is The Mines, located in the northeast corner of the map, north of the carpenter’s shop:
- Best levels: Floors 2-39 have the highest concentration of copper nodes
- Identifying copper nodes: Look for reddish-brown rocks with copper-colored specks
- Yields: Each copper node provides 1-3 copper ore when broken
- Mining skill bonus: Higher mining skill and the Miner profession can increase ore yield
To access The Mines, you’ll need to wait until at least day 5 of Spring (when the landslide blocking the path is cleared). You’ll receive a letter from Joja Corporation informing you that the landslide has been removed.
2. Alternative Sources of Copper Ore
If you’re struggling in the mines or want additional ways to gather copper ore:
- Fishing treasure chests: Occasionally contain copper ore
- Geodes: All types of geodes have a chance to contain copper ore when broken open by Clint
- Artifact spots: Digging up artifact spots (worm spots) in Pelican Town, Railroad, Bus Stop, Backwoods, Cindersap Forest, or the Mountains has a chance to yield copper ore
- Garbage cans: Rarely found in the garbage can outside the Blacksmith shop
- Panning: Can occasionally yield copper ore when using the copper pan
- Monster drops: Copper Slimes drop copper ore
- Purchasing: Copper ore can be bought from Clint the Blacksmith for 75g each (price increases to 150g in Year 2+)
Creating a Furnace
Before you can create copper bars, you’ll need to build a furnace:
1. Unlocking the Furnace Recipe
The furnace recipe is unlocked automatically through a cutscene:
- Collect your first copper ore (from any source)
- The next morning (if it’s not raining), Clint the Blacksmith will visit your farm
- He’ll give you the blueprint for the furnace
2. Crafting the Furnace
To craft the furnace, you’ll need:
- 20 Copper Ore
- 25 Stone
Open your crafting menu, select the furnace recipe, and place it on your farm. The furnace works outdoors or inside buildings, so choose a convenient location.
Smelting Copper Bars
Now that you have a furnace, you can smelt copper ore into copper bars:
1. Smelting Process
For each copper bar, you need:
- 5 Copper Ore
- 1 Coal
To smelt:
- Make sure coal is in your inventory
- Select the copper ore in your inventory
- Right-click (or appropriate button for your platform) on the furnace
- Wait for 30 in-game minutes for the smelting process to complete
- Collect your copper bar from the furnace
2. Finding Coal
Coal is required for smelting and can be obtained through:
- Breaking rocks in The Mines
- Killing Dust Sprites on levels 40-79 of The Mines (40% drop chance)
- Purchasing from Clint for 150g each (250g in Year 2+)
- Using a Charcoal Kiln (converts 10 wood into 1 coal)
Tip: If you have reached Foraging level 4, consider crafting a Charcoal Kiln to convert excess wood into coal. The Charcoal Kiln requires 1 Gold Bar, 20 Wood, and 25 Stone to craft.
Upgrading Your Axe at the Blacksmith
Once you’ve gathered 5 copper bars and 2,000g, you’re ready to upgrade your axe:
1. Upgrade Process
- Take your axe and 5 copper bars to Clint’s Blacksmith shop in town
- The Blacksmith is open from 9 AM to 4 PM every day except Friday (closes at 12 PM) and is closed on festival days
- Speak to Clint and select “Upgrade Tools”
- Select your axe from the menu
- Pay 2,000g and provide the 5 copper bars
- Clint will take your axe for upgrading, which takes two days to complete
2. Planning Around the Upgrade
Since you’ll be without your axe for two days, it’s best to plan the upgrade strategically:
- Consider upgrading on days when you plan to focus on activities that don’t require an axe (fishing, mining, etc.)
- Upgrade during rainy days when you won’t need to water crops
- Avoid upgrading right before you need to clear land for a new season’s planting
Note: The upgrade will be ready for pickup on the morning of the third day (e.g., if you drop it off on Monday, it will be ready on Wednesday morning). You’ll receive a notification when the upgrade is complete.
When to Prioritize the Copper Axe Upgrade
While the copper axe is useful, you may wonder when to prioritize this upgrade relative to other early-game expenses. Here’s a general guideline:
Early-Game Upgrade Priority
| Upgrade | Approximate Timing | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Axe | Spring Year 1 (Days 10-20) | Helps clear land efficiently, access to hardwood from large stumps |
| Copper Pickaxe | Spring Year 1 (Days 10-20) | Helps mine ores faster, break mine boulders |
| Backpack Upgrade | Spring Year 1 (Days 15-25) | Increases inventory space from 12 to 24 slots |
| Copper Watering Can | Late Spring/Early Summer Year 1 | Waters 3 tiles at once, best upgraded before a rainy day |
| Steel Axe | Summer Year 1 | Allows access to Secret Woods for daily hardwood |
Many experienced players recommend upgrading the copper axe after the copper pickaxe, as the pickaxe helps gather resources more efficiently for further upgrades.
Maximizing Your Copper Axe’s Efficiency
Once you have your copper axe, here are some tips to maximize its effectiveness:
1. Efficient Tree Chopping
- When chopping trees, position yourself so that the wood, sap, and seeds drop in a convenient location
- Clear multiple trees in a concentrated area to minimize movement between trees
- Consider planting tree seeds in organized rows for easier future harvesting
2. Special Uses for the Copper Axe
- Large stumps: Your copper axe can now break large stumps, which yield hardwood (a valuable resource)
- Farm clearing: Clear space more efficiently for crops, buildings, and decorations
- Bush clearing: On Riverlands, Forest, Hill-top, and Beach Farm maps, some bushes can be destroyed with a copper axe or better
3. Energy Management
- Each successful hit with the axe consumes 2 energy (at Foraging level 0)
- As your Foraging skill increases, energy consumption decreases (by 0.1 per level)
- Consider carrying food items to replenish energy when performing extensive clearing work
Pathway to Future Axe Upgrades
The copper axe is just the first tier of axe upgrades in Stardew Valley. Here’s the pathway for future upgrades:
Steel Axe Upgrade
- Materials: 5 Iron Bars, 5,000g
- Benefits: Trees require 6 hits, small stumps require 3 hits, can break large logs
- Special access: Required to enter the Secret Woods (by breaking the large log at the entrance)
Gold Axe Upgrade
- Materials: 5 Gold Bars, 10,000g
- Benefits: Trees require 4 hits, small stumps require 2 hits
Iridium Axe Upgrade
- Materials: 5 Iridium Bars, 25,000g
- Benefits: Trees require 2 hits, small stumps require 1 hit
Common Challenges and Solutions
“I can’t seem to find enough copper ore.”
- Focus on mining floors 1-39, especially around level 20
- Break all regular rocks in the mines as they can also drop copper ore
- Consider purchasing some ore from Clint to speed up the process
- Check the traveling cart on Fridays and Sundays for possible copper bars
“I’m struggling to find coal for smelting.”
- Dust Sprites on mine levels 40-79 have a high drop rate for coal
- Consider investing in a Charcoal Kiln once you have a gold bar
- Mine on days with good luck (check your TV’s “Fortune Teller” channel)
- Consider purchasing coal from Clint if you have the funds
“The upgrade process is taking too long!”
- Remember that tool upgrades take two days to complete
- Plan your farming activities around the upgrade period
- Consider upgrading multiple tools back-to-back to minimize disruption
“Is the copper axe really worth the investment?”
- Yes, especially if you have a lot of clearing to do on your farm
- The copper axe is required before you can upgrade to higher tiers
- The ability to break large stumps for hardwood is valuable for crafting and building
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I upgrade my axe directly to a higher tier, skipping the copper upgrade?
No, tool upgrades in Stardew Valley must be completed in sequence. You must upgrade to copper first, then steel, then gold, and finally iridium.
Q2: What’s the difference between large stumps and large logs?
Large stumps can be broken with a copper axe or better, while large logs require at least a steel axe. Both provide hardwood when broken. Large logs notably block the entrance to the Secret Woods, which is why the steel axe upgrade is particularly valuable.
Q3: Is there any way to get the copper axe upgrade without mining?
While mining is the most efficient method, you can technically avoid it by purchasing copper ore from Clint (75g each in Year 1, 150g each in Year 2+) and coal (150g each in Year 1, 250g each in Year 2+). However, this is much more expensive than mining the resources yourself.
Q4: Does the Prospector profession help with finding copper ore?
The Prospector profession is a special track of the Foraging skill and doesn’t directly affect mining. For better ore yields, you’ll want to advance your Mining skill and choose the Miner profession at level 5, which increases ore yield by 1.
Q5: Can I still use my axe while it’s being upgraded?
No, Clint will keep your axe during the upgrade process. You won’t be able to chop trees, break stumps, or perform other axe-related tasks until you pick up the upgraded tool from his shop.
Conclusion
Upgrading to the copper axe is one of the first significant steps in developing your farm in Stardew Valley. With this upgrade, you’ll clear land more efficiently, access new resources like hardwood, and begin the path toward even more powerful tool upgrades.
The process requires some initial investment in mining and resource gathering, but the benefits are well worth the effort. By following this guide, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to obtain your copper axe efficiently and use it effectively to develop your farm.
Remember that Stardew Valley is about enjoying the journey, so don’t feel pressured to rush the upgrade process. Take your time, explore the mines at your own pace, and celebrate each milestone in your farming adventure!
