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With 24 status effects in Stardew Valley, knowing what's helpful and harmful can be a shot in the dark. If you don't rely on guidebooks, you'll probably eventually figure out what items and creatures do what, but that can take dozens, if not hundreds, of hours. Instead of wasting time trying to figure everything out, it's easier to simplify everything into two categories.

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There are 16 buffs and eight debuffs. For the most part, you can earn buffs through specific meals. Various monster attacks will give you debuffs. In short, buffs are something you can create while debuffs are not.

Buffs

    All buffs currently available in Stardew Valley.

Stardew Valley has limited time per day to do chores, talk with locals, and roam. If you want to use your time efficiently, buffs can be a necessity. Most buffs can temporarily increase proficiency in professions like Mining, Farming, and so on. Buffs will also increase points in areas like Attack and Defense stats for a while.

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The same directly applies in Stardew Valley. Food not only helps restore energy, but in certain circumstances, it can make tasks quicker. Higher proficiency means less energy usage. It also means more energy to use on more important tasks like redesigning your farm. The most practical and accessible recipes will be noted for convenience's sake.

Adrenaline Rush

  • Speed is increased speed (+2) for three seconds
  • This buff can be activated while holding a Savage Ring and killing a monster.
  • The Savage Ring is awarded to the player after completing the Adventurer's Guild goal of slaying 150 Void Spirits.

Attack Buff

  • Increases attack damage
  • Activated by eating a Fried Mushroom (+2) or Roots Platter (+3).
  • The Mines have an infinite supply of Winter Roots and Cave Carrots, making it one of the easiest buffs to stock up on.

Defense Buff

  • Increases Defense
  • Activated by eating Autumn's Bounty (+2), Banana Pudding (+1), Crab Cakes (+1), Eggplant Parmesan (+3), Pumpkin Soup (+2), Stuffing (+2), or Mango Sticky Rice (+3).
  • After reaching seven hearts with Robin, she'll send you the recipe for Pumpkin Soup. Stock up on pumpkins and milk because Pumpkin Soup also increases luck and lasts for nearly eight minutes.

Farming Buff

  • Increases Farming level (less energy consumed when using your watering can and hoe, increased high quality crop chances)
  • Activated by eating Hashbrowns (+1), Maple Bar (+1), Complete Breakfast (+2), Pepper Poppers (+2), Tom Kha Soup (+2), or Farmer's Lunch (+3).
  • The Farmer's Lunch only requires an Omelette and Parsnip, but you need to upgrade your farmhouse once and have three levels in Farming.

Fishing Buff

  • Increases Fishing level (increased fishing bar size, increased fish size cap and higher quality chances, less energy consumed when using fishing rod, decreased time before fish bites)
  • Activated by eating Chowder (+1), Dish O'The Sea (+3), Escargot (+2), Fish Stew (+3), Fish Taco (+2), Lobster Bisque (+3), Maple Bar (+1), Seafoam Pudding (+4), Shrimp Cocktail (+1), or Trout Soup (+1).
  • After maxing out Willy's friendship, Lobster Bisque's recipe is unlocked. You simply need Lobster and Milk.
    • This recipe also increases max energy.

Foraging Buff

  • Increases Foraging level (axes use less energy, increased chance of more berries on berry bushes)
  • Activated by eating Autumn's Bounty (+2), Pancakes (+2), Survival Burger (+3), or Tropical Curry (+4).
  • The Pancake's perks last for 11 minutes and can be bought at The Stardrop Saloon.
    • The recipe can also be learned watching The Queen of Sauce's channel on Summer 14, Year 1.

Luck Buff

  • Grants increased Luck. Luck affects many things, including the amount of wood dropped by trees, the chances of treasure appearing while fishing, and a ton more.
  • Increase your Luck stat by eating Banana Pudding (+1), Fried Eel (+1), Ginger Ale (+1), Shrimp Cocktail (+1), Spicy Eel (+1), Pumpkin Soup (+2), or a Lucky Lunch (+3).
    • Ginger Ale is a beverage, not a cooked dish, so you can stack its buffs with a food dish.
  • Pumpkin Soup offers the most optimal buffs for the fewest ingredients.

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Magnetic Radius Buff

  • Increase the Magnetic Radius of your character, allowing you to pull in items from further away.
  • Activated by eating Bean Hotpot (+32) or Crispy Bass (+64); Wearing the Small Magnet Ring (+1) or Magnet Ring (+2) also increases Magnetic Radius.

Max Energy Buff

  • Increase Maximum Energy
  • Activated by consuming Bean Hotpot (+30), Complete Breakfast (+50), Green Tea (+3), Lobster Bisque (+50), Red Plate (+50), Super Meal (+40), or Tom Kha Soup (+30).
    • Max Energy buffs can be stacked by consuming Green Tea and one of the cooked dishes, since it's considered a beverage.

Mining Buff

  • Increases Mining level (reduced energy consumption when using a pickaxe)
  • Activated by eating Banana Pudding (+1), Cranberry Sauce (+2), Eggplant Parmesan (+1), Maple Bar (+1), Miner's Treat (+3), or Squid Ink Ravioli (+1).
  • Reach seven hearts with Lewis to get the Eggplant Parmesan recipe. With the additional Defense bonus, it's helpful on long mining treks.

Monster Musk Buff

  • Doubles monster spawn rates for ten minutes
  • Activated by consuming Monster Musk.
    • Buff will begin on the next floor, not the current one, when consumed
  • Unlock the Monster Musk recipe by completing the Prismatic Jelly order for the Wizard.
    • 30 Slime and 30 Bat Wings are required to make Monster Musk.

Oil of Garlic

  • Prevents infested floors from appearing and swarms from occurring in The Mines and Skull Cavern for ten minutes.
  • Activated by consuming Oil of Garlic.
    • Oil of Garlic is made with ten garlic and one oil. After reaching Combat Level 6, the recipe is unlocked.

Speed Buff

  • Increase speed (you move faster)
  • Activated by consuming Coffee (+1), Crab Cakes (+1), Pepper Poppers (+1), Spicy Eel (+1), Super Meal (+1), or Triple Shot Espresso (+1).
    • Beverages and food can stack, so you can consume Coffee or Triple Shot Espresso along with a cooked dish for an extra boost.
  • The Stardrop Saloon sells Coffee for 300 gold every day.
  • Make a Keg and grow coffee beans in the Spring and Summer to keep bring in a study supply of coffee and save some money.

Squid Ink Ravioli Buff

  • Grants immunity to debuffs for three minutes
  • Activated by consuming Squid Ink Ravioli
    • After reaching Combat Level 9, Squid Ink Ravioli can be crafted with Squid Ink, Wheat Flour, and a Tomato.

Warrior Energy

  • Grants ten extra attack points for five seconds
  • Activated by killing an enemy while wearing a Warrior Ring.
  • After reaching Combat Level 10, the Warrior Ring can be crafted with 10 iron bars, 25 coal, and 10 frozen tears.

Yoba's Blessing

  • Gain invincibility against monster attacks for five seconds
  • Activated by being struck by an enemy while wearing a Ring of Yoba.
  • The blessing is not always guaranteed but chances are increased with Luck buffs and low health.

Debuffs

    All status debuffs available in Stardew Valley.

Surprisingly, there are few debuffs in Stardew Valley. If you never venture into The Mines or Skull Caverns (and you didn't select the wilderness farm), you probably won't encounter 90% of these debuffs. These are inflicted upon you by monsters.

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Even if you are hit, though, the effects tend to last for only a few seconds. There's no debuff mechanic that will cause any major annoyances. Stardew Valley is supposed to be a relaxing game, not a frustrating one.

Burnt

  • After being hit by a Magma Sparker, your Speed (-2) and Defense (-3) are reduced for six seconds.
  • Magma Sparkers can only be found in the Volcano Dungeon and can quickly swarm an unprepared player.

Darkness

  • After being hit by a Shadow Sniper, the game's screen is almost entirely darkened for five seconds.
  • Shadow Snipers shoot at a distance and only fire in straight lines, meaning their attacks can be predicted and dodged.

Frozen

  • After being hit by a Skeleton Mage, your Speed is reduced by eight points for two seconds.
  • Skeleton Mages shoot in straight lines, so it's very easy to dodge their attacks.

Jinxed

  • After being hit by a Shadow Shaman, your Defense is reduced by eight points for eight seconds.
  • Target Shadow Shamans first because they heal all enemies in a given area.

Nauseated

  • After being hit by a Putrid Ghost, you'll be unable to eat or drink anything for two minutes.
  • Nausea can be cured by eating Ginger or drinking Ginger Ale.

Slimed

  • After being hit by a Slime, your Speed is reduced by four points for two to three seconds.

Tipsy

  • Consuming alcoholic beverages (Mead, Pale Ale, Beer, Wine) reduces your Speed by one point for 30 seconds.

Weakness

  • After being hit by the Blue Squid's orb, your Speed is reduced by 20 points for ten seconds.
  • Blue Squids can travel through walls and spawn rapidly, so it's important to be always be prepared.
    • Luckily, Blue Squids only appear if the Shrine of Challenge is active or the Danger in the Deep quest is in progress.

Next: Stardew Valley: Complete Guide and Walkthrough