Stardew Valley is an open-ended RPG developed by Eric Barone and published by Chuckefish. The game focuses on Harvest Moon-like mechanics, and while it looks simple on paper, the RPG elements go very deep.
Once you hit level 5, you will be presented with professions to choose from, and you can go for either Miner or Geologist. We will go over the perks of each of the professions to help you decide which perk is more valuable in both the early game and endgame.
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What is a Miner in Stardew Valley?
If you pick Miner, you will receive +1 ore each from every vein you mine. It is a valuable trait in both the early and late games. Throughout your playthrough, you will need to mine rare ores and bars to build items, and things like Iridium can be complicated to get.
Unlocking the Miner profession will open up two other professions at level 10. You will get to choose the Blacksmith profession, which makes your metal bars worth 50% more or the Prospector profession, which doubles your chances to find coal.
Both of these professions are very useful in the end game, and Prospector’s passive is by far one of the most useful things to have in all of Stardew Valley.
What is a Geologist in Stardew Valley?
The other option you have when you hit level 5 is Geologist. The profession’s passive gives you a 50% chance for gems to appear in nodes as well as geodes when you break rocks.
Gems are invaluable if you want to make money or give gifts. If you find yourself struggling with cash in your playthrough, picking Geologist will guarantee a steady flow of cash throughout your Stardew Valley experience.
Once you hit level 10 as a Geologist, you will be able to choose between the Excavator and Gemologist professions. Excavators double the chances of finding geodes, and gemologists make gems worth 30% more. The Excavator profession is among the best in the game, and you will be able to fill your library with rare artefacts and minerals quickly.
Stardew Valley Profession Forks
Stardew Valley’s Profession Forks determine which passive abilities you get access to depending on whether you choose Miner or Gemologist. No matter which profession you choose at level 5, your level 6-9 rewards are not affected. You will receive Bomb, Mega Bomb, Gold Transmutation, and Crystalarium rewards for the respective levels both as a Miner and Gemologist.
Do note that spending 10,000 gold will allow you to change your profession at the Statue of Uncertainty if you ever want to go back on your decision.
Level 5
- Miner: Additional ore per vein
- Geologist: 50% chance for twice the gems
Level 10 Miner
- Blacksmith: All metal bars are 50% more valuable
- Prospector: Twice the chance to find more coal
Level 10 Geologist
- Excavator: Geode findings are 2x more often
- Gemologist: All gems are 30% more valuable
You should take a look at the level 10 profession forks listed above to decide which one is the most appealing for you. All four options have their strengths, and missing out on any of the passive abilities does not take away from the Stardew Valley experience.
Although, having access to more cash or resources from the passives does make the grind easier, and you will have to spend less time farming resources and focus more on the core gameplay.
Which Profession Should You Choose?
The profession you choose depends entirely on your playstyle. The early game grind can be very boring, and if you do not like the ore grind that you are forced into at the start of the game, picking Miner will make things easier for you. Players may also enjoy the grind and find it relaxing to swing away at veins in mines.
If you find yourself running out of cash in the early game, Geologist is the way to go. The profession you choose should depend on your objective. Extra ore is always going to be valuable no matter where you are in the game, and if you want immediate results, you should choose Miner.
But if you love to collect stuff and hope to have a full artefact museum at some point, Geologist is an excellent option. You will have a steady supply of rare gems that you can gift your friends, and you will never have to worry about cash.
While Miner might be the better option for most players, Stardew Valley is an open-ended RPG, and players can go for either of these options depending on how they want to enjoy the game.
The level 10 professions you get access to should play a role more than anything else when you choose your profession as you will not be able to go back on your decision anytime in the future.
