Stardew Valley 1.6 Hidden Detail Proves ConcernedApe Is Listening

Summary

• Player suggestions were seemingly taken into account for the latest
  Stardew Valley
  update, including the addition of the powerful Iridium Scythe.
• The Iridium Scythe may have been based on a fan’s idea, providing a 100% chance of turning grass into hay and dealing 20 damage.
• ConcernedApe’s attention to the community is evident in implementing fan suggestions like the Mushroom Log and Dehydrator items.

Given the vocal nature of the Stardew Valley community, it stands to reason that developer ConcernedApe has taken some cues from players over the yearsand one fan has just discovered proof. Throughout its nearly decade-long lifespan, the fantastic farming RPG has been expanded upon with a wealth of new items and content for players to discover, and the latest 1.6 Update is no different. The Iridium Scythe, which was introduced in the latest major patch, is one such addition that was clearly based on an intuitive suggestion from a dedicated fan.

Posted to Reddit by user devourerofsugarthe Stardew Valley fan unearthed an old post from 2021 by TzarOfMinecraft which suggests the inclusion of an Iridium Scythe that would have a 100% chance of turning cut grass into hay and would deal 20 damage when striking an enemy.

While that may seem like a coincidence, devourerofsugar pointed out that the version of the tool that exists in Stardew Valley does exactly that. It’s still unconfirmed whether this old post played a role in the creation of the Iridium Scythe, but it certainly suggests that ConcernedApe is paying attention to the community.

The Iridium Scythe Is A Very Smart Idea

Mowing The Lawn Has Never Been More Profitable

While the stats of both the pitched Iridium Scythe and the version that made it into the game are identical, it’s worth noting that the manner in which the tool is acquired varies significantly. In TzarOfMinecraft’s version, it would be acquired by reaching Level 125 in the Skull Cavern and right-clicking on an Iridium statue of a Grim Reaper, unlocking the scythe in the process. In reality, the Iridium Scythe can only be unlocked by entering the Mastery Cavewhich was also added in Update 1.6, and choosing the Farming Mastery option.

This isn’t the first time ConcernedApe appears to have used suggestions from the community to improve Stardew Valley. The developer is known for taking particularly excellent mods that substantially add to the game and making them an official part of the experience. In the 1.6 Update alone, the Mushroom Log and Dehydrator items both originally started out as fan-made mods that proved so popular amongst the community that they were added to the game for those who may lack the knowledge and experience to install custom add-ons.

In any case, the existence of the Iridium Scythe, which currently stands as the most powerful version of the tool, is fantastic news for those Stardew Valley players who love to farm animals. The ability to turn any clump of grass into hay saves plenty of cash in the long run and eliminates the need to purchase more of the valuable resources from Marnie continually. It takes a while to eventually earn it, but putting in the work will yield plenty of rewards.

Source: devourerofsugar/Reddit, TzarOfMinecraft/Reddit