Stardew Valley: How to Get a Pearl

Stardew Valley, the beloved farming simulation game, offers a treasure trove of activities, quests, and items. Among these items, the pearl stands out as a rare and valuable treasure. Here's a guide that'll give you all the details on how to obtain a pearl, its various uses, and strategies to increase your chances of finding one.

What’s the Deal with Pearls?

The pearl is a rare item in Stardew Valley, described as a "rare treasure from the sea." It can be sold for 2,500 gold, making it one of the more valuable items in the game. Additionally, it is universally loved by all villagers, making it an excellent gift to improve relationships​​​​.

How to Get Your Hands on a Pearl

The Night Market’s Mermaid Boat

• Event: Winter 15-17
• Location: The Beach
• Method: During the Night Market, you can visit the Mermaid Boat and click on the clam shells in a specific sequence. This sequence is revealed by Secret Note #15 and is 1-5-4-2-3. Successfully completing this sequence will reward you with a pearl. Note that this method guarantees only one pearl per player per save file​​.

Fishing on the Submarine Ride

• Event: Night Market (Winter 15-17)
• Details: The Submarine Ride at the Night Market offers a 0.4% base chance of catching a pearl. This chance can be increased to 0.9% if you use a Curiosity Lure, an item that boosts your chances of catching rare fish and treasures​​​​.

Using Fish Ponds

• Blobfish Pond: If you populate a Fish Pond with at least 9 Blobfish, there is a 1.7-1.9% chance that the pond will produce a pearl.
• Crab Pond: Filling a Fish Pond with 10 Crabs will eventually result in Willy rewarding you with a pearl. This method is guaranteed but requires the effort of filling the pond and completing any quests the crabs might request​​​.

Opening Artifact Troves

• Details: Opening Artifact Troves can be obtained by trading Omni Geodes at the Desert Trader. Opening these troves offers a 3.7% chance of finding a pearl​​.

Hunting in the Mines and Ginger Island

• Shrine of Challenge: Foraging in the Mines after activating the Shrine of Challenge can yield pearls.
• Journal Scrap #6: Completing this journal scrap on Ginger Island also provides an opportunity to find a pearl​​.

What to Do with a Pearl

Gifting

• Universally Loved: The pearl is universally loved by all villagers in Stardew Valley. Giving a pearl as a gift can significantly boost your relationship with any character, which is particularly useful for players looking to maximize their friendship levels​​​​.

Tailoring

• Bridal Veil: In the sewing machine, the pearl can be used to create a Bridal Veil. This is a unique item that can be used during wedding events in the game​​.

Trading

• Desert Trader: At the Desert Trader, you can exchange a pearl for a Birch Double Bed or a Magic Rock Candy. The Birch Double Bed is a decorative item, while the Magic Rock Candy provides various beneficial buffs when consumed​​​​.

Boosting Your Odds

Fishing Tips and Tricks

• Timing: Fish during the early morning or late evening when fish are more active. This increases your chances of catching rare fish that might have a pearl.
• Bait and Tackle: Use high-quality rods, bait, and tackle to improve your chances. Experiment with different combinations to find what works best for you​​.

Checking Out Different Fishing Spots

• Diverse Locations: Don’t limit yourself to just one fishing spot. Stardew Valley offers a variety of locations, each with unique fish populations. Exploring different areas can increase your chances of finding a fish that carries a pearl​​.

Making the Most of Events

[l]iNight Market: Take full advantage of the Night Market events, especially the Submarine Ride. Participating in these events increases your chances of catching rare items like the pearl​​.[/li]

Detailed Steps and Requirements for Using Fish Ponds

To maximize your chances of obtaining pearls through fish ponds, you need to understand the requirements and steps involved in setting up and maintaining these ponds.

Building a Fish Pond

Materials Needed:

• 200 Stones: Commonly found in Mines, Quarry, or around your farm.
• 5 Seaweed: Can be caught while fishing.
• 5 Green Algae: Also caught while fishing.
• 5,000 gold: Earned through various farm activities like selling crops or artisan goods.

Process:

• Visit Robin at the Carpenter's Shop with the materials.
• Select the fish pond option in her build menu and place it on your farm​​.
• Populating the Fish Pond

Blobfish: Catch during the Submarine Ride at the Night Market or use Magic Bait at the beach.
Crabs: Use Crab Pots in saltwater locations, or defeat Rock Crabs and Lava Crabs for a chance to obtain crabs.

Maintaining the Pond

• Quests: Fish in the pond will request specific items to grow in population. Fulfill these quests to increase the number of fish and, subsequently, your chances of obtaining pearls.
  

Blobfish Pond Quests:

Quest Item Population Growth

• 3× Coral, 2× Frozen Tears, 2× Sea Urchin From 1 to 3 Blobfish
• 5× Coffee Beans, 1× Mayonnaise From 3 to 5 Blobfish

Crab Pond Quests:
Quest Item Population Growth

• 5× Clay From 3 to 5 Crabs
• 10× Bug Meat or 5× Quartz From 5 to 7 Crabs
• 1× Sea Urchin or 5× Solar Essence From 7 to 10 Crabs

By diligently maintaining your fish ponds and completing the necessary quests, you can create a reliable source of pearls.

Common Questions

Pearl Acquisition Methods at a Glance

Method Details Chance/Requirement
Mermaid Boat Click clam shells in sequence (1-5-4-2-3) Guaranteed one per player per save file
Submarine Ride (Night Market) Fish during the event 0.4% base, 0.9% with Curiosity Lure
Blobfish Fish Pond Populate with at least 9 Blobfish 1.7-1.9%
Crab Fish Pond Fill with 10 Crabs Guaranteed from Willy
Artifact Troves Trade Omni Geodes at Desert Trader 3.7%
Mines and Ginger Island Various quests and events Varies by event

By following these methods and tips, you'll be well on your way to obtaining the elusive pearl in Stardew Valley. Happy farming and fishing!