Ever wondered how to upgrade tools in Stardew Valley quick? Yeah, same here. Upgrading is one of the biggest power spikes in the game. A stronger pickaxe breaks rocks faster. A better axe chops wood quicker. An upgraded hoe or watering can covers way more ground.
But here's the catch: the process isn't obvious the first time around. You need to find Clint's blacksmith shop, bring the right bars, pay gold, and wait two days without your tool. Whether you're after copper tools or the best iridium tools, this guide covers it all. By the end, you'll know exactly how to upgrade tools in Stardew Valley quick.
What Tools Can You Upgrade?
Clint can upgrade four standard tools:
- Axe – chops trees, stumps, and logs.
- Pickaxe – breaks rocks, ore nodes, and mine clutter.
- Hoe – tills soil for planting.
- Watering Can – waters your crops.
Fishing rods don't work the same way. You buy better rods, like the Fiberglass Rod and Iridium Rod, at Willy's Fish Shop instead of upgrading them. The scythe also works differently and isn't part of Clint's upgrade system.
All four tools follow the same upgrade path: Copper → Steel → Gold → Iridium. You can't skip ahead, and every tier costs the same for every tool.
How Tool Upgrades Work: The Basics
Before you rush over to Clint's, you need to know the rules:
- All upgrades happen at Clint's Blacksmith in Pelican Town.
- You provide the tool, the bars, and the gold.
- The upgrade takes 2 full days. During that time, you don't have your tool at all.
- Clint works on only one tool at a time.
- The watering can must be empty before Clint will take it.
If you're trying to figure out how to upgrade tools in Stardew Valley quick, the biggest secret is preparation. Always have your bars and gold ready before you step into the shop. Otherwise, you'll waste a whole day running back and forth between your farm, the mines, and the blacksmith.
How to Upgrade Tools in Stardew Valley Quick: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Gather Ore and Coal
You need ore to make bars. Here's where to find each type:
- Copper Ore – floors 1–39 of the Mines.
- Iron Ore – floors 41–79 of the Mines.
- Gold Ore – floors 81–119 of the Mines.
- Iridium Ore – rare. Best found in the Skull Cavern in the Calico Desert. You can also get it from fishing treasure chests, magma geodes, and meteorites.
Don't forget coal. Smelting bars requires coal, and one of the best sources is Dust Sprites on the middle floors of the Mines (around floors 40–79).
Use the mine elevator to speed this up. Once unlocked, it lets you warp to every 5th floor. So head to floor 35 for copper, floor 45 for iron, and floor 85 for gold.
Step 2: Smelt Bars in a Furnace
Raw ore is useless to Clint. You need bars first. Each bar needs 5 ore and 1 coal:
- 5 Copper Ore + 1 Coal = Copper Bar
- 5 Iron Ore + 1 Coal = Iron Bar
- 5 Gold Ore + 1 Coal = Gold Bar
- 5 Iridium Ore + 1 Coal = Iridium Bar
Every upgrade tier requires exactly 5 bars.
Haven't built a furnace yet? Clint mails you the furnace recipe after you start bringing in copper ore. Here's a big time-saver: build 3 or 4 furnaces and keep them all running. Smelting takes in-game time, so more furnaces means a much shorter wait.
Step 3: Bring the Tool, Bars, and Gold to Clint
Go to Clint's Blacksmith in Pelican Town during opening hours. Make sure the tool you want to upgrade is in your inventory. Talk to Clint, and if you have everything he needs, he'll take the tool and start the upgrade. Don't go on festival days, because the shop will be closed.
Here are the exact costs for each tier:
| Upgrade Tier | Materials Needed | Gold Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 5 Copper Bars | 2,000g | 2 Days |
| Steel | 5 Iron Bars | 5,000g | 2 Days |
| Gold | 5 Gold Bars | 10,000g | 2 Days |
| Iridium | 5 Iridium Bars | 25,000g | 2 Days |
These costs are the same for the axe, pickaxe, hoe, and watering can. To fully upgrade one tool from basic to iridium costs 42,000g total. If you want all four done, that's 168,000g. Start saving early.
New player warning: don't hand over a watering can that still has water in it. Clint won't take it until you empty it first.
Step 4: Wait Two Days
This is the annoying part. Your tool is gone for 2 days. You can't chop wood, break rocks, till soil, or water crops with it. So plan around it.
Upgrading your watering can? Do it in winter when there's nothing to water, or on a day when the forecast calls for rain. Rain will water your crops for free. Upgrading your axe? Chop all the wood you need before you hand it over.
When I upgraded my first axe, I made sure all my wood chopping was done beforehand. That planning saved me a ton of frustration.
New player warning: don't drop your watering can off on the first day of spring. You'll regret it when you've got 200 crops waiting for water.
Step 5: Pick Up Your Upgraded Tool
After two days, go back to Clint's shop and talk to him. You'll get your upgraded tool back with no extra fee. Then you can start the next tier or upgrade a different tool.
Since Clint only works on one tool at a time, grab your tool ASAP to keep the upgrades rolling.
Which Tool Should You Upgrade First?
If you're not sure where to start, here's the order most players agree on:
- Pickaxe – Faster mining means more ore, which means more bars, which means faster upgrades across the board. This is the snowball tool.
- Axe – Wood is essential for buildings, kegs, and farm projects. A steel axe also unlocks the Secret Woods.
- Watering Can – Upgrade this in winter. When you hold the use button, it waters multiple tiles at once and saves tons of energy.
- Hoe – Handy, but the least urgent. Upgrade it when you have spare bars.
Once your hoe or watering can hits copper or higher, you can hold the button to charge it. This gives you a bigger area:
- Copper: 3 tiles in a row
- Steel: 5 tiles in a row
- Gold: 3x3 area
- Iridium: 6x3 area
The axe and pickaxe don't have charge attacks. They just hit harder, break tougher stuff, and take fewer swings. Trust me, when I got my pickaxe to copper, mining felt like a completely different game.
How to Upgrade Tools in Stardew Valley Quick: Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you want to speed through upgrades without stress, don't make these mistakes:
- Upgrading a watering can that still has water in it. Clint won't take it. Empty it first.
- Upgrading at the worst possible time. You lose the tool for 2 days. Don't drop your axe off in the middle of a big clearing project, and don't drop your watering can off on the first day of spring.
- Bringing ore instead of bars. Clint only accepts bars. Smelt everything before you visit.
- Forgetting to pick up your finished tool. You can't start another upgrade until you grab it. Pick it up right away.
- Wasting iridium on low-priority tools. Iridium is rare. Spend your first iridium bars on the pickaxe or axe.
- Ignoring the weather forecast. If the TV says rain tomorrow, water your crops today, then upgrade your watering can tonight. Rain does the work for you.
New player warning: seriously, don't blow your first iridium bars on the hoe. You'll want them for the pickaxe or axe.
FAQ
How long does it take to upgrade a tool in Stardew Valley?
Every upgrade takes 2 full days. Drop a tool off Monday morning and you'll get it back Wednesday morning.
Can I upgrade more than one tool at the same time?
No. Clint can only work on one tool at once. You have to pick up the finished tool before you can start another upgrade.
Do I have to upgrade tools in order?
Yes. You need to go Copper → Steel → Gold → Iridium in order. There's no way to skip tiers.
Can I upgrade the fishing rod at Clint's?
No. Fishing rods are bought from Willy's Fish Shop, not upgraded at the blacksmith.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to upgrade tools in Stardew Valley quick is all about preparation. Smelt bars early, save gold, and don't upgrade tools when you're about to need them. Start with the pickaxe, use winter wisely, and avoid the common mistakes above.
Soon you'll have a full set of iridium tools.
