Key takeaway
Energy is a limited resource in Stardew Valley and runs out as players do daily activities like hoeing the ground, fishing, mining, and more.
The only way to increase Energy permanently is by consuming Stardrops, of which there are seven in the game. Collecting all of them takes the player’s Energy from 270 to 508.
Players can temporarily increase their Energy with Max Energy buffs from food and drinks, like Green Tea, Lobster Bisque, and the Bean Hotpot—to name a few examples.
Every Stardew Valley farmer knows that Energy is the lifeblood to success—without it, you’ll crumble into exhaustion. Luckily, certain food items and Stardrops can push your Energy level to new heights, keeping you farming until the early hours (or until you pass out).
What Is Energy in Stardew Valley?
Your Stardew Valley character has a limited Energy reserve with which to perform their daily farming activities. At the start of the game, players will only have an Energy pool of 270 to work with—you’ll find this runs out quite quickly. Luckily, there are ways of increasing Energy: temporarily through food or permanently with Stardrops.
Sleeping in a bed is the best way to restore your Energy after a long day of life in Stardew Valley. If you’re playing in multiplayer co-op, you can also slowly restore your Energy by standing in bed, regaining two points a second.
Players will become exhausted upon reaching 0 Energy, indicated by the blue face above the Energy bar and the in-game text “You feel sluggish from over-exertion.” Exhaustion then greatly reduces your movement speed, weapons and tools take longer to use, and you cannot use your Fishing Rod.
If you decide to push through the exhaustion, it can have consequences. Upon reaching -15 Energy, you will pass out, and the day will subsequently end.
Once you awaken the following day, you will have a 50% Energy reduction. You can remove this debuff by kissing your in-game spouse (if you have one) or consuming the Muscle Remedy from Harvey’s Clinic. With all this in mind, make sure you get to bed before 2:00 AM at the latest!
What Activities Use Energy?
- Eating the following: Sap, Void Mayonnaise, Pufferfish, Holly, Sea Cucumber, Scorpion Carp, or Red Mushroom
- Using most tools, like a Pickaxe, Axe, Hoe, and Watering Can
- Pushing a chest to move it
- Casting a fishing rod
What Activities Don’t Use Energy?
- Using the scythe or a weapon (swords, slingshots, hammers, clubs, daggers)
- Harvesting crops, forgeable goods, and minerals in the mines
- Moving (riding a horse or walking)
- Eating most food
- Milking cows
- Placing items
- Panning
How to Increase Your Maximum Energy
Presently, Stardrops are the only way to permanently increase your maximum Energy. Subsequently, there are seven Stardrops to collect, taking your Energy from 270 to 508, so you’ll never run out of Energy again!
Here are the ways to get each of the seven Stardrops:
- Reach the bottom floor (Level 100) of the Stardew Valley mines and open the chest
- Reach 12.5 hearts with your spouse or roommate, and they’ll randomly gift you one
- Purchase one for 2,000 Star Tokens from the vendor at the Stardew Valley Fair
- Earn the Master Angler reward to get a Stardrop in the Mail from Willy
- Give Old Master Cannoli a Sweet Gem Berry in the Secret Woods
- Sold by Krobus in The Sewers for 20,000g
- Donate all 95 items to the Museum
The Best Foods for Increasing Energy
Additionally, there are some food items that can temporarily increase your maximum Energy for a short period. Up to two Max Energy buffs can be active at once: one from a drink (Green Tea) and one from a food.
| Name | Ingredients | Recipe Source(s) | Energy / Health Restored | Buff(s) | Buff Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bean Hotpot | Green Bean (2) | Obtained from Clint in the Mail after reaching 7+ Hearts | 125 Energy 56 Health | Magnetism (+32) Max Energy (+50) | 7 minutes |
| Complete Breakfast | Fried Egg (1) Hashbrowns (1) Milk (1) Pancakes (1) | The Queen of Sauce, Year 2, Spring 21 | 200 Energy 90 Health | Farming (+2) Max Energy (+50) | 7 minutes |
| Green Tea | Tea Leaves (1) | Produced in a Keg | 13 Energy 5 Health | Max Energy (+30) | 4 minutes 12 seconds |
| Lobster Bisque | Lobster (1) Milk (1) | -The Queen of Sauce, Year 2, Winter 14 -Obtained from Willy in the Mail after reaching 9+ Hearts | 225 Energy 101 Health | Fishing (+3) Max Energy (+50) | 16 minutes 47 seconds |
| Red Plate | Radish (1) Red Cabbage (1) | Obtained from Emily in the Mail after reaching 7+ Hearts | 240 Energy 108 Health | Max Energy (+50) | 3 minutes 30 seconds |
| Super Meal | Artichoke (1) Bok Choy (1) Cranberries (1) | Obtained from Kent in the Mail after reaching 7+ Hearts | 160 Energy 72 Health | Speed (+1) Max Energy (+40) | 3 minutes 30 seconds |
| Tom Kha Soup | Coconut (1) Common Mushroom (1) Shrimp (1) | Obtained from Sandy in the Mail after reaching 7+ Hearts | 175 Energy 78 Health | Farming (+2) Max Energy (+30) | 7 minutes |
In addition to temporarily increasing your maximum Energy, there are also some cooking recipes to get your hands on to replenish your Energy stores. Some of these recipes require leveling up your friendship with specific Pelican Town residents, while other recipes only need Milk and a Cheese Press!
| Name | Ingredients | Recipe Source(s) | Energy/Health Restored | Buffs | Buff Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit Salad | Apricot (1) Blueberry (1) Melon (1) | The Queen of Sauce, Year 2, Fall 7 | 263 Energy 118 Health | N/A | N/A |
| Pink Cake | Melon (1) Sugar (1) Egg (1) Wheat Flour (1) | The Queen of Sauce, Year 2, Summer 21 | 250 Energy 112 Health | N/A | N/A |
| Chowder | Clam (1) Milk (1) | Obtained from Willy in the Mail after reaching 3+ Hearts | 225 Energy 101 Health | Fishing (+1) | 16 minutes 47 seconds |
| Maple Bar | Maple Syrup (1) Sugar (1) Wheat Flour (1) | The Queen of Sauce, Year 2, Summer 14 | 225 Energy 101 Health | Farming (+1) Fishing (+1) Mining (+1) | 16 minutes 47 seconds |
| Pumpkin Pie | Pumpkin (1) Wheat Flour (1) Milk (1) Sugar (1) | The Queen of Sauce, Year 1, Winter 21 | 225 Energy 101 Health | N/A | N/A |
| Cheese | Milk (1) Cheese Press | N/A | -Normal Quality: 125 Energy, 56 Health -Gold Quality: 115 Energy, 101 Health | N/A | N/A |
| Autumn's Bounty | Pumpkin (1) Yam (1) | Obtained from Demetrius in the Mail after reaching 7+ Hearts | 220 Energy 99 Health | Foraging (+2) Defense (+2) | 7 minutes 41 seconds |
| Glazed Yams | Yam (1) Sugar (1) | The Queen of Sauce, Year 1, Fall 21 | 200 Energy 90 Health | N/A | N/A |
How to Restore Energy Without Sleeping
Besides sleeping or consuming Food, there’s only one other way to restore Energy in Stardew Valley: the Spa, located in the southwest of the Railroad. The Spa and Railroad become accessible in Year 1, Summer 3.
While relaxing in the tranquillity of the Spa, your Health and your Energy will increase by 10 points a second until both bars are full. Make sure your player character is in the water and hasn’t moved recently.
With these handy tips, you should be able to plow through your exhaustion and cultivate success in no time! To couple with your Energy gains, you should maximize your Inventory space and fill it with all your crops and goods.