Several in-game years may go by before aStardew Valleyplayer finds their firstPrismatic Shard, but even then, they may have absolutely no idea what to do with it. Suffice it to say that Prismatic Shards are exceptionally rare, with only one or two guaranteed drops, and a sub-one-percent chance of finding one organically almost anywhere else. The few reliable ways of farming for Prismatic Shards take a while to build up to, requiringlate-game unlocks like true perfection.
Prismatic Shards have many uses, but none of them are immediately clearjust to look at them. They don’t appear to be part of any crafting recipes, and it seems a waste just to sell such a rare material, even if it does fetch a high price. Even so, there’s no one universal solution as to what to do with the first Prismatic Shard - the answer depends on the player’s progress through the game, and their top priorities at the moment they find it.
You Can Donate Your Prismatic Shard
Museum Or Missing Bundle
If the player is lucky enough to find one in the early game,it’s possible to donate aPrismatic Shardto the Museum. Frankly, though, it’s not really worth it; while it does contribute to the overall number of artifacts and minerals they’ve donated, there’s no special reward just for donating a Prismatic Shard. It’s better off saved for a more fulfilling reward later in the game, so consider just sticking it in a
chest and waiting until those are unlocked.
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If the player is in the late midgame and has already completedall the other Community Center bundles,they may also opt to donate the Prismatic Shard to the Missing Bundle. This is far from the worst thing one can do with their first Prismatic Shard. Completing the Missing Bundle unlocks the movie theater. It represents a huge change to Pelican Town, and the player’s ultimate victory in the Community Center storyline. It’s also a great way to level up relationships withsome ofStardew Valley’s singles.
However,there’s no need to use a Prismatic Shard to complete the Missing Bundle. There are six items in the bundle, but only five slots need to be filled. As the Prismatic Shard is arguably the hardest one to get, there’s some value in finishing this bundle with the other five, and saving the Prismatic Shard for another day.
You Can Give Your Prismatic Shard Away
Not Recommended
As an alternative,it’s possible - although very much not recommended - to give a Prismatic Shard away to a villager. It’s an almost universally loved gift, and is good for a solid affinity points boost from almost any villager. The only person in town who doesn’t care for Prismatic Shards is Haley. In fact, she outright hates them, so don’t even bother trying to win her over by giving her a Prismatic Shard.
That said,it’s almost always a terrible idea to give a Prismatic Shard to a villager, unless the player has already obtained aStatue Of True Perfectionand really, really needs a quick gift for a forgotten birthday. Remember how rare these materials are - it’s always nice to make friends, but there are far easier ways to do that, and a Prismatic Shard can serve the player in a multitude of better ways.
You Can Craft With Your Prismatic Shard
Wedding Rings & Enchantments
And while there are no immediately obvious crafting recipes that make use of Prismatic Shards, there are a few more advanced crafting tasks that require them. For one thing,the player will need a Prismatic Shard to craft aWedding Ring. The recipe can be bought from the Traveling Cart when it’s in town on Fridays and Sundays, or during the Night Market and Desert Festival. Until it’s purchased, it’ll always appear in the merchant’s inventory in a multiplayer game, regardless of their other inventory, but in a single-player game, it won’t appear at all.
Players will need aMermaid’s Pendantto propose marriage to an NPC villager (or aVoid Ghost Pendantto make Krobus their roommate).
Keep in mind that this is useless in a single-player game, or one in which the players all plan to marry NPCs;a Wedding Ring is only used when two player characters wish to get married to one another. That said, if player one’s plan is to settle down with player two, and they want to do so sooner rather than later, it makes sense to save a Prismatic Shard for the ring.
Besides that,Prismatic Shards are also necessary forall enchantments at the Forge. This is a late-game customization option that players can only access after reaching the top of the Volcano Dungeon on Ginger Island. Each weapon/tool enchantment costs one Prismatic Shard and 20Cinder Shards, the latter of which can be found abundantly in the volcano area. Just remember that tool enchantments are random; there’s no way to influence the one the player gets. Therefore, it’s best to wait until the player has a solid stockpile of Prismatic Shards to start using the forge.
Other Uses For Prismatic Shards
Stores, Swords, & More
There are a handful of other miscellaneous uses for Prismatic Shards, but most of them - besides one - represent pretty fringe cases, and aren’t particularly helpful to the player. Let’s start with the most useful one:bring a Prismatic Shard to the center of the three pillars in the Calico Desert and hold it aloft to get theGalaxy Sword.
With 60-80 damage, this is one of the best weapons the player can reliably obtain inStardew Valleyby the time they unlock the Calico Desert.If the player has been struggling with Skull Cavern, then the Galaxy Sword can be a game changer, and well worth the Prismatic Shard cost.
The Dwarvish Headstone in the graveyard provides a clue as to this secret, but players don’t need to be able to read Dwarvish to claim the Galaxy Sword.
Players will also need four Prismatic Shards to complete Mr. Qi’s quest “Four Precious Stones,” in exchange for 20 Qi Gems. That particular goal can wait if any of these other options sound appealing, though. Prismatic Shards can also be exchanged with the Desert Trader - three Shards for one piece ofMagic Rock Candy. This is a pretty powerful healing item, but not worth the Prismatic Shards unless the player has an excess. Prismatic Shards can be used in theSewing Machineto craft a colorful set of clothing, but that’s not worth the effort.
Finally,a Prismatic Shard can also be offered as a sacrifice at the Dark Shrine of Selfishness if the player wants to get rid of a child. Doing so transforms the child into a dove, which flies away, never to be seen again. This will inevitably be useful to some players, but these cases are very rare, and so there’s no need to save a Prismatic Shard for a potential offering down the line.
And that’s absolutely everything a player can do with a Prismatic Shard. Again, there’s no universally correct solution, but depending on the player’s progress, they’re better off using one to claim the Galaxy Sword, enchant a tool, or craft a Wedding Ring than to donate, gift, or sell. With these uses, Prismatic Shards can be an enormous help inStardew Valley.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a charming indie farming scene that took the world by storm. After inheriting a run-down farm from their grandfather, the player moves to Stardew Valley to start a new life away from the city. Grow crops, raise animals, befriend the villagers, and discover the secrets the valley has to offer.
