Rain is a fact of life on planet Earth. It nourishes everything around us so that we may eat and prosper. It is, however, a force we cannot control, unlike in Stardew Valley. Players can manipulate what weather will occur the next day by using a Rain Totem, one of many powerful Totems available in the game.
This can be extremely helpful for anyone who wants crops watered without sprinklers or those who need rain to activate certain events, like purchasing a Mermaid Pendant from the old sailor in order to propose to a character. For those wanting to control the forces of rain in their favorite indie farming game, all the ingredients and how to obtain them can be found below.
How The Rain Totem Works
When used, the Rain Totem will increase the likelihood of rain the next day, but never a thunderstorm, and never rain on a festival day or the 1st day of a season. You can also use it on Ginger Island, as its weather is independent of the valley.
Rain Totems can sometimes be found in Skull Cavern treasure rooms, but other than that, you’ll have to craft the Totem yourself to command the weather.
Unlocking The Recipe For The Rain Totem
The recipe for the Rain Totem is unlocked once you reach Foraging Level Nine, which is one away from the maximum. You’ll need to obtain lots of foraging experience points in order to reach this.
The simplest way to do this is by chopping down trees with an Axe, as each tree will give you 12 XP and removing the stump of a tree cut down will give another 1 XP. You'll also notice that 7 XP is granted for each foraged item picked up from the ground, so it’s best to grab things you see while out and about. A whopping 25 XP is awarded when Large Stumps and Large Logs are removed, though a Large Stump will require a Copper Axe and a Large Log needs a Steel Axe or stronger to be removed.
Ingredients Needed To Craft The Rain Totem
Once you’ve obtained the Rain Totem Recipe, you’ll need three unique ingredients in order to craft it.
Hardwood (x1)
Hardwood is described as a “special kind of wood with superior strength and beauty,” which explains why it’s harder to obtain. The easiest way is to upgrade your Axe to a Copper Axe and cut down Large Stumps, which provide Hardwood. These can be found in the Secret Woods (though a Large Log blocks the way), and some might have spawned on your farm fields when you first began the game.
Other methods of getting Hardwood include breaking barrels and crates in the Mines (Hardwood is a random loot item there) or raising a Woodskip Fish Pond to a population of six, whereupon they may gift you five pieces of Hardwood.
Truffle Oil (x1)
This Artisan Good is made from Truffles, a type of fungus/mushroom found by Pigs grazing outside. Picking up Truffles on the farm counts as Foraging XP, though you won’t be able to pick up any in the Winter since animals stay indoors.
To get Truffle Oil, you’ll need to own a Pig and an Oil Maker to convert the Truffles. The Oil Maker recipe is unlocked at Farming Level Eight and requires 50 Slime, 20 Hardwood, and 1 Gold Bar.
On the Pig end of things, you’ll need to have built a Deluxe Barn to house one in, which is the biggest and last upgrade for a Barn. Upgrading from a Big Barn to a Deluxe Barn will require 550 Wood, 300 Stone, and 25,000g, though the profits of Truffle Oil will earn that money back quite quickly.
Pine Tar (x5)
This useful substance is gathered by placing a Tapper onto any mature Pine Tree. The sap-collecting process is about five to six days, though a Heavy Tapper will cut this time in half. The recipe for the basic Tapper is unlocked at Foraging Level Three and requires 40 Wood and Two Copper Bars.
Once you’ve collected all three ingredients, you’ll be able to call upon mysterious powers to bring rain upon the valley at your command. What a glorious feeling. Anybody feel like singing?