Have you ever noticed those strange little wiggling sticks in Stardew Valley and wondered what they might be? Many people assume that those little “worms” in Stardew Valley are simply a decorative choice to create a rural atmosphere, but this isn’t actually the case. In fact, what looks like wiggling sticks or worms is actually an artifact spot—and these can prove pivotal to completing many aspects of the game.
In line with this thought, today, we are taking a deep dive into what Artifact spots—or “worms”—are in Stardew Valley and how to find these artifact spots in your own game.
What are Artifact Spots in Stardew Valley?
Artifact spots can be found across Stardew Valley, although there are several locations that may be more common. They are indicated as “wriggling worms,” which is simultaneously a wonderfully subtle reference that doesn’t detract from the game while also being easy enough for people to miss. In fact, if you didn’t know what they were initially, you could quite easily pass by these “worms” completely.
What do Artifact Spots Contain?
As you might have guessed from the name, there is a relatively good chance of artifact spots in Stardew Valley containing artifacts. However, this isn’t all they can contain, and you can potentially dig up a wide range of other items. For example, there is a very good chance of digging up lost books, and in the winter, there is up to a 50% chance of finding snow yams or winter roots. Meanwhile, in the Spring, you can potentially find rice shoots, which can be planted near a body of water.
Other common finds in artifact spots include ore, coal,stone, clay, secret notes, and even warp totems.
The potential items to be found in artifact spots differ on GInger Island, where items such as snake skulls, golden coconuts, artifact troves, wild bait, mahogany seeds, omni geodes, and fossilized ribs can also be found.
Where Can I Find Artifact Spots in Stardew and Ginger Island?
Artifact spots are only found on tillable land, and their spawn rate will day from day to day based on a number of factors. The lowest spawn rates are typically found in areas such as the Bus Stop or Cindersnap Forest, at a rate of 0.1/day, while the highest rates appear in the Desert with a whopping 1/day (ten times greater chances accordingly). As such, for those looking to go artifact hunting, not all destinations are necessarily equal.
We should stress that the appearance rate of artifacts will depend on many factors. And for the most part, the presence of an artifact spot in one location will not impact the likelihood of artifacts appearing at other spots. However, the number of artifact spots in any one particular region is limited to two, so if there are two artifact spots currently, no more can spawn in. This drops to a maximum of one artifact spot at a time on the farm; as such, making sure that you are digging up artifact spots regularly is critical.
Artifact Spots in Stardew Differ in the Winter
Thus far, we’ve looked at the main rules for artifact spots and their spawning. However, we should stress here that things become a little different in the Winter when the restrictions on artifact sites are much more limited. Indeed, during the Winter months, the spawn rate for artifact spots increases; as such, you’ll generally notice up to four times the number of “worms” in Stardew Valley in the cold season. This is incredibly useful since artifact spots in the winter are much more likely to contain items such as winter roots.
Other Boosts to Spawn Rates
It’s not just in the winter that the spawn rate of artifact spots appearing increases; this is also true on a number of other specific occasions. As such, if you are hunting for artifacts, keeping the following spawn boosts in mind may help:
The first day of the month is one of the most popular times for artifact hunting, as processing occurs twice.
On Sundays, processing occurs three times, significantly increasing your chances at the end of the week.
Between Summer the 12th and 14th, processing occurs at least six times on the beach, which is the biggest buff to the spawn rate in the game.
Will Artifacts Spawn Behind a Building?
If you haven’t seen an artifact site in your Stardew Game for a while, you might be wondering—could it be hidden behind a building? Well, the good news is, no. As per the game’s rules, artifact spots cannot spawn behind a building, meaning they will always be visible. However, keep in mind that they can spawn behind trees, which may make it far harder to see them.
What Happens if I Don’t Dig Up an Artifact Spot?
The despawning rate for artifact spots is relatively low in Stardew Valley. Around 15% of artifact spots will despawn overnight, so if you haven’t dug up an artifact spot one day, there’s a good chance it will still be there the following morning. This is handy if you come across an artifact spot but don’t have time or room to dig it up there and then; however, the odds aren’t exactly huge, so it’s still better to dig it up on the same day if you can.
In line with this thought, today, we are taking a deep dive into what Artifact spots—or “worms”—are in Stardew Valley and how to find these artifact spots in your own game.
What are Artifact Spots in Stardew Valley?
Artifact spots can be found across Stardew Valley, although there are several locations that may be more common. They are indicated as “wriggling worms,” which is simultaneously a wonderfully subtle reference that doesn’t detract from the game while also being easy enough for people to miss. In fact, if you didn’t know what they were initially, you could quite easily pass by these “worms” completely.What do Artifact Spots Contain?
As you might have guessed from the name, there is a relatively good chance of artifact spots in Stardew Valley containing artifacts. However, this isn’t all they can contain, and you can potentially dig up a wide range of other items. For example, there is a very good chance of digging up lost books, and in the winter, there is up to a 50% chance of finding snow yams or winter roots. Meanwhile, in the Spring, you can potentially find rice shoots, which can be planted near a body of water.Other common finds in artifact spots include ore, coal,stone, clay, secret notes, and even warp totems.
The potential items to be found in artifact spots differ on GInger Island, where items such as snake skulls, golden coconuts, artifact troves, wild bait, mahogany seeds, omni geodes, and fossilized ribs can also be found.
Where Can I Find Artifact Spots in Stardew and Ginger Island?
Artifact spots are only found on tillable land, and their spawn rate will day from day to day based on a number of factors. The lowest spawn rates are typically found in areas such as the Bus Stop or Cindersnap Forest, at a rate of 0.1/day, while the highest rates appear in the Desert with a whopping 1/day (ten times greater chances accordingly). As such, for those looking to go artifact hunting, not all destinations are necessarily equal.We should stress that the appearance rate of artifacts will depend on many factors. And for the most part, the presence of an artifact spot in one location will not impact the likelihood of artifacts appearing at other spots. However, the number of artifact spots in any one particular region is limited to two, so if there are two artifact spots currently, no more can spawn in. This drops to a maximum of one artifact spot at a time on the farm; as such, making sure that you are digging up artifact spots regularly is critical.
Artifact Spots in Stardew Differ in the Winter
Thus far, we’ve looked at the main rules for artifact spots and their spawning. However, we should stress here that things become a little different in the Winter when the restrictions on artifact sites are much more limited. Indeed, during the Winter months, the spawn rate for artifact spots increases; as such, you’ll generally notice up to four times the number of “worms” in Stardew Valley in the cold season. This is incredibly useful since artifact spots in the winter are much more likely to contain items such as winter roots.Other Boosts to Spawn Rates
It’s not just in the winter that the spawn rate of artifact spots appearing increases; this is also true on a number of other specific occasions. As such, if you are hunting for artifacts, keeping the following spawn boosts in mind may help:The first day of the month is one of the most popular times for artifact hunting, as processing occurs twice.
On Sundays, processing occurs three times, significantly increasing your chances at the end of the week.
Between Summer the 12th and 14th, processing occurs at least six times on the beach, which is the biggest buff to the spawn rate in the game.
Will Artifacts Spawn Behind a Building?
If you haven’t seen an artifact site in your Stardew Game for a while, you might be wondering—could it be hidden behind a building? Well, the good news is, no. As per the game’s rules, artifact spots cannot spawn behind a building, meaning they will always be visible. However, keep in mind that they can spawn behind trees, which may make it far harder to see them.What Happens if I Don’t Dig Up an Artifact Spot?
The despawning rate for artifact spots is relatively low in Stardew Valley. Around 15% of artifact spots will despawn overnight, so if you haven’t dug up an artifact spot one day, there’s a good chance it will still be there the following morning. This is handy if you come across an artifact spot but don’t have time or room to dig it up there and then; however, the odds aren’t exactly huge, so it’s still better to dig it up on the same day if you can.
FAQs
Is There a Way to Make Hunting for Artifact Spots in Stardew Valley Easier?
If you’ve been struggling to find artifact spots in Stardew Valley, you may want to consider going down the route of the Tracker profession. This highlights off-screen artifact spots, making them far easier to find.
Can I make artifact spots spawn?
Yes. With the treasure totem, you can spawn up to 16 artifact spots at one time, making it a good option for a quick boost to your treasure hunting goals.