In the charming world of Stardew Valley, helping your neighbors is an essential part of community building. One of the first quests you’ll encounter in your new farm life is “Robin’s Lost Axe.” This seemingly simple task introduces you to quest mechanics, rewards systems, and the sprawling map of Stardew Valley. Whether you’re a new farmer just starting out or a returning player who needs a quick refresher, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about finding and returning Robin’s lost axe.
Understanding Robin’s Lost Axe Quest
When and How the Quest Triggers
Robin’s Lost Axe is one of the earliest story quests you’ll receive in Stardew Valley. The quest automatically triggers on Spring 11 of Year 1 (the 11th day of your game). When you check your mailbox that morning, you’ll find a letter from Robin explaining her predicament.
Robin’s letter reads: “MISSING: I lost my favorite Axe! If you find it, please return ASAP. I’m having a tough time without it. There’s 250 gold in it for whoever finds the thing.”
After reading the letter, you can accept the quest, and it will be added to your journal. To view your active quests at any time:
- Press ‘J’ on PC/Mac
- Click the exclamation mark (!) icon below your gold total
- Navigate to the quest tab in the menu on console versions
Quest Details at a Glance
| Quest Name | Robin’s Lost Axe |
|---|---|
| Type | Story Quest |
| Trigger | Mail on Spring 11, Year 1 |
| Objective | Find Robin’s axe and return it to her |
| Deadline | None (can be completed anytime) |
| Reward | 250 Gold + 1 Friendship Heart with Robin |
Why Complete This Quest?
While Robin’s Lost Axe quest isn’t mandatory to progress in the game, there are several benefits to completing it:
- Early Gold Boost: 250g is a significant sum in the early game and can help purchase more seeds or tools.
- Friendship Building: Gaining a friendship heart with Robin is valuable as she’s the town carpenter who builds farm buildings and house upgrades.
- Map Exploration: The quest encourages you to explore parts of Cindersap Forest you might not have visited yet.
- Quest Experience: It’s a straightforward introduction to how quests work in Stardew Valley.
Finding Robin’s Lost Axe: Step-by-Step Guide
Location Overview
Robin mentions in her letter that she last remembers using her axe while cutting wood south of Marnie’s Ranch. This gives you a general area to search, but the exact location can be tricky to find if you’re unfamiliar with the map.
The axe is located in the southern part of Cindersap Forest, near the entrance to the sewers (which you won’t be able to access until later in the game).
Detailed Directions to the Axe
Follow these steps to find Robin’s axe with minimal wandering:
- Exit your farm heading south into Cindersap Forest
- Locate Marnie’s Ranch (the building in the northern part of the forest)
- Head south from Marnie’s Ranch until you reach the river
- Cross the first wooden bridge to a small island
- Cross the second wooden bridge to the southern bank
- Continue south until you reach the area with the sewer pipe
- Follow the right cliff face eastward
- Look for the axe behind a tree in a small clearing above the sewer entrance
Visual Path Guide
Here’s a breakdown of the path you’ll take to find the axe:
| Landmark | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Your Farm | South | Exit through the bottom of your farm |
| Marnie’s Ranch | South | The large building with animals |
| River | South | You’ll need to cross this |
| First Bridge | Cross | Leads to a small island |
| Second Bridge | Cross | Leads to the southern forest area |
| Forest Clearing | South/East | Continue until you see the sewer pipe |
| Cliff Face | Follow East | Keep the cliff on your right |
| Small Clearing | Look Around | The axe will be visible near some trees |
Identifying the Axe
When you approach the axe, it will be clearly visible on the ground. Hover your cursor over it, and you’ll see a light blue highlight indicating you can interact with it. Press the action button to pick it up.
Upon collecting the axe, you’ll receive a notification that you’ve found Robin’s axe, and your quest log will update with the next objective: return the axe to Robin.
Returning the Axe to Robin
Finding Robin
Once you’ve found the axe, your next task is to return it to Robin. Robin can typically be found at her Carpenter’s Shop in the mountains, north of Pelican Town, during business hours.
Robin’s Normal Schedule:
- Location: Carpenter’s Shop (Mountain area)
- Business Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Days Off: Tuesday (shop closed)
- Special Days: On certain festival days or during events, she may be elsewhere
If you can’t find Robin at her shop, here are some other common locations where she might be:
| Day/Time | Possible Locations |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Often at Pierre’s General Store (exercise class) |
| After 5:00 PM | At home (same building as shop, different room) |
| Rainy Days | Usually stays indoors at home/shop |
| 24th of any season | Town square for festivals (shop closed) |
Giving Robin Her Axe
To return the axe to Robin:
- Find Robin at her location
- Place the axe in your active item bar (hotbar)
- Select the axe so your character is holding it
- Speak to Robin while holding the axe
When you give Robin her axe, a special dialogue will trigger where she says: “Hey, you found my axe! What a relief… I almost chopped my toe off with the other one I was using. Thank you!”
Claiming Your Reward
After returning the axe to Robin, the quest will be marked as complete in your journal. However, to receive your gold reward, you need to:
- Open your journal (press ‘J’ or click the exclamation point icon)
- Find the completed “Robin’s Lost Axe” quest
- Click on the reward section at the bottom of the quest description
This will award you 250 gold and one friendship heart with Robin. The friendship heart increases your relationship with Robin, which can lead to additional benefits later in the game.
Tips and Optimization Strategies
Best Time to Complete the Quest
While there’s no time limit for completing Robin’s Lost Axe quest, there are some strategic considerations for when to do it:
Efficient Timing Options:
- Same Day (Spring 11): Complete it immediately to get the gold early for purchasing more seeds.
- Rainy Day: Since you can’t farm on rainy days, it’s a good opportunity to explore and complete quests.
- Before Building Projects: Build friendship with Robin before requesting farm buildings to potentially get discounts.
Combining With Other Tasks
To maximize efficiency, consider combining your quest journey with other productive activities:
- Foraging: The forest area where the axe is located often has spring onions, wild horseradish, and other forageable items.
- Fishing: The river near the bridges is a good fishing spot, especially for spring fish.
- Meeting Villagers: Use the trip south to introduce yourself to Leah (who lives near the forest) and Marnie if you haven’t already.
- Wood Collection: Gather wood from trees in the area for building projects.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Looking in the wrong area: Some players misinterpret “south of Marnie’s Ranch” and search too far east or west.
- Forgetting to claim the reward: Remember to click on the reward in your journal after giving Robin her axe.
- Visiting on Tuesday: Robin’s shop is closed on Tuesdays, making her harder to find.
- Full inventory: Ensure you have at least one empty inventory slot to pick up the axe.
Understanding Robin and Relationship Benefits
Who is Robin?
Robin is the local carpenter in Stardew Valley and one of the first villagers you meet when you arrive at your farm. She introduces herself at the beginning of the game and leads you to your new farmhouse.
Key Facts About Robin:
- Occupation: Town Carpenter
- Family: Married to Demetrius; mother to Sebastian and Mara
- Location: Lives and works at the Carpenter’s Shop in the Mountain area
- Birthday: Fall 21
Benefits of Building Friendship with Robin
Increasing your friendship with Robin through quests and gifts provides several advantages:
- Building Services: Robin is responsible for constructing all farm buildings and house upgrades.
- Recipe Gifts: At higher friendship levels, Robin will mail you cooking and crafting recipes.
- Heart Events: Special cutscenes that develop her character and story.
- Community Center: Robin plays a role in certain Community Center bundles and town events.
Robin’s Favorite Gifts
To further increase friendship after completing her quest, consider giving Robin these gifts:
| Gift Type | Items |
|---|---|
| Loved Gifts (Best) | Goat Cheese, Peach, Spaghetti |
| Liked Gifts (Good) | Most Gems, Most Vegetables, Wood, Stone |
| Neutral Gifts | Most Cooked Dishes, Fruits |
| Disliked Gifts | Clay, Quartz, Wild Horseradish |
| Hated Gifts (Avoid) | All Fish, Seaweed, Pickles |
Other Robin-Related Quests
Robin’s Resource Rush
Later in the game, you may encounter Robin’s Resource Rush, a special order that becomes available after Fall 2, Year 1:
- Objective: Collect 20 Hardwood and 20 Wood for Robin
- Deadline: 7 days from acceptance
- Reward: 500g and 1 Friendship Heart
Winter Request
On Winter 21, Robin will send another request via mail:
- Objective: Bring 10 Hardwood to Robin
- Requirements: Steel Axe or better (to access Hardwood)
- Reward: 500g and 1 Friendship Heart
Help Wanted Board Requests
Robin occasionally posts requests on the Help Wanted board outside Pierre’s General Store:
- Common Requests: Resources like Wood or Stone
- Rewards: 8x the base value of the requested items
- Friendship: 150 friendship points
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Axe Not Appearing
If you’re having trouble finding the axe:
- Verify you’ve accepted the quest by checking your journal
- Ensure you’re looking in the correct location (near the sewer entrance in Cindersap Forest)
- Check that you have inventory space to pick it up
- Confirm you’re playing on a save where you’ve received the letter (Spring 11 or later)
Can’t Give Axe to Robin
If you’re unable to give the axe to Robin:
- Make sure the axe is in your hotbar and currently selected
- Verify you’re talking to Robin and not another NPC
- Check that you’re not trying on a Tuesday (when her shop is closed)
- Try again during business hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Quest Not Completing
If the quest doesn’t register as complete after giving Robin the axe:
- Open your journal to manually claim the reward
- Ensure you’ve interacted with Robin while holding the axe
- Try exiting and restarting the game if the completion doesn’t trigger
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a time limit to complete Robin’s Lost Axe quest?
No, there’s no time limit for this quest. You can complete it at any point after receiving it on Spring 11. The quest will remain in your journal until completed.
Does completing Robin’s Lost Axe quest affect gameplay progression?
While completing the quest isn’t mandatory for progressing through the game, it does provide early gold and friendship with Robin, which can be beneficial for future building projects.
Can I lose the axe after finding it?
No, once you pick up Robin’s axe, it becomes a quest item in your inventory and cannot be lost, sold, or placed in storage containers. If somehow you do lose it, check the Lost and Found box in Mayor Lewis’s house.
Are there consequences for not completing the quest?
There are no negative consequences for not completing Robin’s Lost Axe quest other than missing out on the gold reward and friendship heart with Robin.
Can I find the axe before receiving the quest?
No, the axe will only appear in Cindersap Forest after you’ve received Robin’s letter on Spring 11 and accepted the quest.
Conclusion
Finding and returning Robin’s lost axe is one of the first quests you’ll encounter in Stardew Valley. While relatively simple, it introduces important game mechanics and rewards you with early gold and friendship. The quest encourages exploration of the southern forest area and helps you build a relationship with Robin, an essential character for developing your farm.
By following this guide, you should be able to locate the axe quickly, return it to Robin efficiently, and claim your well-deserved rewards. Remember that building relationships with villagers like Robin is an integral part of the Stardew Valley experience and can lead to unique benefits throughout your farming journey.
Happy farming, and good luck with all your Stardew Valley adventures!
