Unlocking Pirate Cove in Stardew Valley: A Complete Guide
Stardew Valley is packed with engaging content, offering players a multitude of activities to explore. While some features are readily accessible, others require certain conditions to be met before unlocking them. One such hidden gem is the Pirate Cove, situated on Ginger Island, which entails several steps to access.
This guide will provide you with all the essential details about the Pirate Cove, including its location, the steps to unlock it, and the activities available there. Be aware that this guide includes late-game content and may contain spoilers.
Getting to Ginger Island
Before you can reach the Pirate Cove, you need to secure access to Ginger Island. This milestone typically becomes available after you have completed the Community Center or the JojaMart Warehouse.
Once the Community Center is finalized, Willy will send you a letter advising that his small boat at the back of his fishing shop needs repairs. To fix the boat, you’ll require the following materials:
- 200 Wooden Planks
- 5 Iron Bars
- 1 Golden Walleye
- 10 Fiber
After delivering these items, Willy will repair the boat, allowing you to sail to Ginger Island for a fee of 1,000g.
Unlocking Pirate Cove
As you navigate around Ginger Island, you’ll encounter areas where parrots perch. These spots enable you to unlock specific upgrades for the island using Golden Walnuts. To officially access the Pirate Cove, there are several upgrades you must complete first. Here’s a brief checklist of what you’ll need to accomplish:
- Talk to Leo
- Unlock Island West (the area where the farmhouse is located)
- Upgrade the Farmhouse
- Unlock the Resort
In total, you will need 51 Golden Walnuts to complete these tasks. Even after finishing the Community Center, completing this part of your adventure can take time.
Meeting Leo
You will first need to talk to Leo, who can be found in his hut on the right side of the main beach where Willy’s boat awaits. A parrot in Leo’s hut requires one Golden Walnut before proceeding to the next step.
Unlocking Island West
Next, you’ll unlock the west side of the island. To do this, find the entrance on the left side of the main beach, which is currently blocked by a large turtle. Feed the nearby parrot ten walnuts to awaken the turtle and have it move aside.
The farmhouse in this area functions like your main house in the valley. You can sleep here and, eventually, even upgrade it for added features such as a mailbox.
Upgrading the Farmhouse
After unlocking the area, you’ll need to upgrade the farmhouse, which requires 20 Golden Walnuts.
Unlocking the Beach Resort
Then, return to the main beach to unlock the Beach Resort, which also costs another 20 Golden Walnuts. You’ve likely seen the construction framework when you first arrived. However, repairs can only commence after upgrading the farmhouse.
The Beach Resort is a lively area frequently visited by many Pelican Town residents.
Finding Pirate Cove
Once the Beach Resort cleanup is complete, you’ll notice the debris pile in the lower right-hand corner is gone as well. This clears the way to a hidden area featuring a star-shaped pond, where you’ll find the mermaid puzzle.
To access Pirate Cove, look for planks leading into the wall on the right side of the star pond. This will be your secret passage to the Pirate Cove!
Activities at Pirate Cove
During daytime visits, you’ll enter an empty cove; however, the real excitement awaits at night. On even-numbered days without rain, a group of pirates can be found inside the cove after 8 p.m. While these NPCs cannot be gifted items, you can interact with them.
Free Mead
If you’re wearing any pirate-themed clothing, you’ll receive a gift of Mead from the bar.
Darts Game
While the pirates are present, you can challenge them to darts. Winning your first three games will reward you with Golden Walnuts; after that, you can continue playing but won’t earn any additional rewards.
The Mermaid Puzzle
Another engaging feature outside the Pirate Cove is the Mermaid Puzzle. Solving this puzzle grants five Golden Walnuts, contributing to your completion journey.
Fishing in Pirate Cove
Yes, you can also fish in the waters of the Pirate Cove! Even when the pirates aren’t around, the area remains accessible for fishing. You might even catch unique fish here, including the stingray, which is only found in this part of the game. In addition, you have the chance to find a Gourmand Statue, a decorative item for your island or valley.
It’s advisable to explore Pirate Cove as soon as possible to take advantage of the unique fishing opportunities and other allurements it has to offer!
