Many quests in Stardew Valley are a one-and-done situation. However, all of Mr. Qi’s special challenges, as well as certain Special Orders from the board in front of the mayor’s manor, can be repeated, allowing players to earn their rewards over and over again.
Pelican Town’s Special Orders board goes up on Fall 2, Year 1, and players can take on quests starting then. Mr. Qi’s challenges are a little harder to obtain, since his special order board is located inside Qi’s Walnut Room on Ginger Island, which unlocks after the player collects 100 Golden Walnuts. Quests from both sources typically refresh on Monday, and vary in both rewards and time limits. These are the ones that are most worth repeating, whether for their significant rewards, or simple gameplay satisfaction.
Aquatic Overpopulation / Biome Balance
Fishing Practice
- Rewards: Farm Computer recipe (first completion); Gold depending on the fish caught
- Maximum Timeframe: 7 days
These two special orders both involve catching a certain number of a specific type of fish, as per Demetrius’ request. “Aquatic Overpopulation” asks the player to catch 10 of the specified fish, while “Biome Balance” requires 20. These may seem like daunting numbers, especially the latter, but the challenge becomes significantly easier with the use of targeted bait. Simply catch a fish and place it in a Bait Maker to create “[fish type] Bait,” which increases the chances of hooking the given fish.
This quest is great for players who are trying to raise their Fishing skill, as it gives them plenty of opportunity to practice. And since they get to keep all the fish they catch, players can use their spoils to cook some of the game’s best recipes.
Gus’ Famous Omelet
A Feast For The Whole Town
- Rewards: Mini-fridge (first completion); 3000g
- Maximum Timeframe: 14 days
If players have a coop full of happy chickens, gathering 24 eggs is an easily achievable goal. This makes Gus’ special order a walk in the park, and an easy way for players to net a significant payout for surprisingly little effort.
With its 14-day time limit, this quest can be completed with only two chickens, if the player keeps them fed and laying every day. Duck and Dinosaur Eggs are also eligible for the omelet; it seems Gus isn’t picky. Though there aren’t extra gameplay benefits to this special order like there are for some others, it’s an easy one to complete and a good choice for making some extra money.
Robin’s Resource Rush
How Much Wood Could A Farmer Chop?
- Rewards: Stone Chest recipe (first completion); 2500g
- Maximum Timeframe: 7 days
To complete this special order from Robin, players must gather 1000 pieces of either Wood or Stone, as specified when given the quest. They don’t have to deliver it to her, but instead get to keep it for themselves, as the order is simply a fun challenge that Robin came up with.
The reason for completing and repeating this quest is fairly obvious: players get a chance to stock up on crafting resources, and get paid for it in the process. It’s a simple one, but sometimes it’s fun to go back to basics and see just how fast the player can mine or chop.
Cave Patrol
Slay Monsters in the Caves
- Rewards: Geode Crusher recipe (first completion); 6000g
- Maximum Timeframe: 7 days
This special order comes from Clint, and tasks players with killing 50 of a specific monster type in the Mines. There’s an equal chance that the player must target Grubs, Bats, Skeletons, or Dust Sprites. Accept this quest, cook plenty of restorative food items, grab a sword, and head to the Mines for some monster hunting.
This quest not only has the heftiest Gold reward of all the repeatable special orders, but it can also be a great opportunity for players to gather crafting resources. Any trip to the mines will inevitably have players coming back with significant amounts of Stone and various ores; plus, slaying Dust Sprites or Skeletons will help farmers collect Coal or Bone Fragments, respectively. Targeting a particular monster type can also help players seeking to complete the Monster Eradication Goals at the Adventurer’s Guild, killing two birds with one stone.
Qi’s Kindness
Get Rewarded For Generosity
- Reward: 40 Qi gems
- Maximum Timeframe: 7 days
Not only does this quest provide the player with a considerable amount of Qi gems, but it also gives them the opportunity to strengthen their friendships with NPCs. Handing out Loved gifts left and right will improve the player’s friendships in no time, and might even set them on the path to romance if they haven’t begun it already.
It’s worth doing a bit of research and stockpiling before starting this quest. Knowing the Loved gifts of several characters and having them on hand will mean that the farmer won’t have to scramble to complete this objective. Once players have a decent supply of beloved items, it’s worth repeating this quest multiple times to earn Qi gems and become the most popular member of Pelican Town.
Danger in the Deep
Rediscovering The Mines
- Reward: 50 Qi gems
- Maximum Timeframe: 7 days
Many of Mr. Qi’s challenges relate to mining, but this is the only one that involves the mines in Stardew Valley rather than Skull Cavern. The elevator has been reset, and the mines are set to “dangerous” mode. As they dig their way through the mine again, players will encounter very different biomes from the ones they are used to, along with strange new monsters that deal a lot more damage.
“Danger in the Deep” is a fun challenge for players who enjoy the mining aspect of the game, and offers a decent reward for a task that doesn’t feel overwhelming. It’s also a great opportunity to get resources like Radioactive Ore, which only appears in the mines when they are set to “dangerous” mode. Other valuable drops become more common as well, such as Diamonds and Prismatic Shards, an extra reward for players who take on dangerous monsters.
Qi’s Crop
A Fantastic Feat of Farming
- Reward: 100 Qi gems
- Maximum Timeframe: 28 days
“Qi’s Crop” can be a bit of a beast to complete, but it provides by far the biggest reward for any of Mr. Qi’s special orders. To fulfill this order, the player must grow and ship 500 Qi Fruits, grown from Qi Beans in one month. This typically requires a huge operation involving Seed Makers, Iridium Sprinklers, Speed-Gro, and more.
The reward is massive, allowing players to purchase all sorts of special items from Qi’s shop in the Walnut Room. Not only that, but “Qi’s Crop” can be a genuinely fun opportunity for late-game players who are looking to keep things interesting. Planning the perfect setup and dedicating a whole season to Qi Fruit can be a satisfying challenge if the game has started to get stale.
Stardew Valley
- Released
-
February 26, 2016
- ESRB
-
E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
-
ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
-
ConcernedApe
- Engine
-
Proprietary
