Stardew Valley: How to Get Clay (2024)

Though it's not used in many recipes, clay is an essential resource in Stardew Valley. It's easy to obtain, but finding it may not be that obvious and can be somewhat of a headscratcher, especially for newer Stardew Valley players.

Stardew Valley added sandboxing to the farming simulator genre. This also leaves a lot of room for player-driven challenges, such as a Fish Pond farm or only growing flowers as a source of income. But to craft materials in Stardew Valley, you will first need to gather the necessary resources. One of these is clay, which can be found in a number of ways.

Updated June 11nd, 2024 by Renri Seong: With the 1.6 release date back in March 2024, Stardew Valley welcomes back returning players to the franchise. As every Stardew Valley player knows, you'll be gathering various resources during your playthrough. Certain resources like wood and stone are easy to farm, but you'll need more than those two if you want to add more buildings to your farm or craft new equipment. Clay is a resource that's quite uncommon in Stardew Valley, especially if you're not looking in the right areas. You're likely to get the majority of your clay from tilling the soil, but as of the 1.5 update, you can get it without having to use the farming hoe. The following guide has been updated to include more clay-farming methods as of the 1.5 and 1.6 version.

How to Find Clay

Tilling the Soil

The main way of finding clay in Stardew Valley is by tilling the ground. You might notice some clay pop out of the ground while prepping your farm for crops. This is a useful albeit not surefire way of getting clay for the beginning seasons of Year 1. However, you're going to want to explore other clay-farming methods before Year 2 rolls around.

Other Ways to Find Clay in Stardew Valley

If you look carefully at the ground, you may notice three black lines/worms wriggling out of the ground. These are known as Artifact Spots, and if you dig them up with the hoe, you may get clay. Stone is also another material you can farm via Artifact Spots. You can also obtain their namesake (i.e, Artifacts) by digging in these spots as well as books for the museum/library in town.

A third method is to go searching for clay in the mines. Much like the soil on your farm, you'll occasionally find patches of dirt on most floors in the mines. Using the hoe on dirt patches in the mines can (sometimes) yield clay.

Lastly, you can get clay by having Clint break open geodes, which have about a 6% chance of "dropping" clay.

Clay Farming Tip for the Mines

Floor 15

If you've reached Floor 15 in the Mines, you can farm clay from the large patch of soft earth directly south of the elevator and ladder. Once you've completed tilled this area, return to the first floor, and from the entrance, take the elevator back down to Floor 15. This should reload the "earth", allowing you to till the dirt a second time if you don't get what you want. Aside from clay, you're likely to get Artifacts and Cave Carrots via this method.

Clay Deposits on Ginger Island

Location: Dig Site

Once you've gained access to Ginger Island, you'll be able to farm clay from clay deposits. Just like ore deposits, these are objects that can be broken up with the pickaxe. They're brown with a lump of clay sticking out the top, distinguishing them from the bone deposits and mussel deposits.

On the downside, clay deposits on Ginger Island can only be found at the Dig Site, which is to the left of the tent south of the Volcano/northern island. The bridge will be broken when you first arrive, and you'll need to gather some Golden Walnuts (10) before the island parrots fix it. If the bridge is repaired, then search around the site for the clay deposits.

What Is Clay Used For In Stardew Valley?

Artisan Equipment & Buildings

Although Clay doesn't have as many uses as other materials scattered throughout Stardew Valley, it is still pretty important for a few particular items you'll want to obtain. Clay can also be used in Tailoring and can be given to residents as a gift. Here's a look at everything that Clay is used for:

Other Uses

• Clay can be used in the Spool of the Sewing Machine in order to produce a brown Shirt. Likewise, it can also be used to create orange dye.
• You may need clay for Fish Pond requests for the following types of fish:
  • Crab Pot Fish: Crayfish, Snail, Periwinkle, Shrimp, Lobster, Crab
  • Foraging "Fish": Mussel, co*ckle, Oyster
  • Bullhead
  • Largemouth Bass
• You may also receive Clay as a gift from either Jas or Vincent during the Feast of the Winter Star event. Despite receiving clay as a gift, it's a universally disliked item. You'll want to refrain from giving it to the other villagers less you want to lower your friendship.

Stardew Valley

Platform(s)

PC , Xbox One , Android , iOS , PS4 , Switch

Released

February 26, 2016

Developer(s)

ConcernedApe

ESRB

E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)

How Long To Beat

53 Hours