Stardew Valley players may at first suspect that there aren't any challenging combat areas in the game. But, after progressing through the in-game seasons, they will eventually encounter the difficult mines and caverns the game has to offer. One of these locations in Stardew Valley is the Skull Cavern and, in a recent clip, one player showed off just how close they were to being overwhelmed when they were saved by a misclick.
Stardew Valley is a simulation role-playing game that features farming, mining, fishing, foraging, and even combat. One of the best places for intense combat in the game is the Skull Cavern, an area that gets progressively more challenging as players make their way down.
A post by u/barberbee shows a panic-filled moment 37 levels deep in the Skull Cavern in Stardew Valley. To start, this player accidently eats an iridium quality red mushroom, decreasing their remaining stamina by 130 points. This sends u/barberbee on a mad dash around the rocks and, unfortunately for them, into a Serpent. This knocks down their health by 22 points and leads them to eventually run into another Serpent for a further 30 points of damage. At this moment in the clip, u/barberbee is one hit away from death and scrambling through their inventory for one of the more useful items in Stardew Valley, a Warp Totem. At the last minute, the player accidently brings up their sword and blocks the incoming Serpent. This buys them just enough time to switch to the Totem and use it, saving their life.
Any Stardew Valley player who has unlocked the Skull Cavern should empathize with this player's clip. Even with preparation and great items, it is easy to get overwhelmed by enemies and use the wrong item. In this case, the panic led to what saved u/barberbee. Had they attempted to warp before blocking the Serpent they likely wouldn’t have done so fast enough to save their own life.
As far as some are concerned, the Skull Cavern makes Stardew Valley feel like a survival horror game rather than the peaceful role-playing game it is categorized as. This area can be extremely challenging and, though the rewards for successful trips can be great, it is likely not worth the adventure for some players.
It does, however, add a new dimension to the game. Part of what makes Stardew Valley so successful is the number of different gameplay mechanics it has. Players are able to romance NPCs, take on side quests, and, in the case of the Skull Cavern, take on serious enemies. Regardless of how players feel about this area, this clip shows off an impressive, if very lucky, moment for a Stardew Valley player.
Stardew Valley is out now for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Mobile, and Switch.