Stardew Valley: Guide to Obtaining and Using the Crystalarium

Though it is a farming sim at heart, there's a lot more to Stardew Valley than growing crops and raising animals. Players are constantly striving to turn their small farm into a profitable venture, and there are many valuable items to farm beyond just vegetables. Among these are gemstones, which not only add sparkle and value but also play crucial roles in crafting and make excellent gifts.

Of course, tirelessly searching the mines for the rarest gemstones can become tedious. That's where the Crystalarium proves invaluable. This ingenious device allows players to take a single gemstone or mineral and produce dozens, or even hundreds, more. Here's a comprehensive guide on how Stardew Valley players can make the most of this powerful tool.

Updated January 6, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The 1.6 update brought significant changes to Stardew Valley, including subtle shifts in the functionality of high-level items like the Crystalarium. These changes affect how players can move it and switch the stones inside. This guide has been updated to reflect the latest mechanics introduced in the most recent version of the game.

Obtaining a Crystalarium

To unlock the Crystalarium crafting recipe, players need to elevate their mining skill to Level 9. The crafting materials required include:

• 99 Stone: Easily obtainable by breaking rocks on the farm or within the Mines using a Pickaxe.
• 5 Gold Bars: Gold Ore can be mined at Level 80 and below in the mines with a Pickaxe. Smelt 5 Gold Ores into a Gold Bar using 1 Coal at a Furnace.
• 2 Iridium Bars: Iridium is found in Skull Cavern or can be obtained daily from the Statue of Perfection. Follow the smelting process for Iridium Ore to create bars.
• 1 Battery Pack: Place Lightning Rods outdoors during a thunderstorm. When struck, they'll produce Battery Packs for players to collect.

Even without the recipe or the challenging materials, there are other avenues for acquiring a Crystalarium:

• Community Center Bundle: Completing the 25,000g Bundle in the Vault section of the Community Center rewards players with a Crystalarium. This requires a donation of 25,000g.
• Museum: Donating at least 50 minerals, including Gemstones or Geode Minerals, to the Museum Collection will earn players a Crystalarium from Gunther.

Using the Crystalarium

Once crafted, the Crystalarium can be placed anywhere, indoors or outdoors, on or off the farm. The Quarry is a popular location for setting up a crystal farm, allowing players to operate multiple machines simultaneously.

The Crystalarium can replicate any mineral or gemstone placed inside it, except for Prismatic Shards. Among the options, Quartz has the shortest replication time, though its low value and abundance in the mines make it less appealing. Conversely, Diamonds take the longest to produce at 5 days but offer the highest profitability, making them the best choice for the Crystalarium.

To relocate a Crystalarium, simply hit it with an ax or pickaxe to return it to your inventory. If it's currently replicating a gem, that gem will drop as well. To change the stone inside, interact with the machine while holding the new gem. This action will eject the current gem and insert the new one. For instance, swapping a Ruby for a Diamond is as simple as placing a Diamond into the Crystalarium while it's actively producing Rubies.

Insert a few precious gems, wait a few days, and watch your profits soar. Not only will your wealth increase, but with many NPCs in Pelican Town eager to receive Diamonds as gifts, your social standing will improve as well.