Stardew Valley Mystery Box Guide: How to Unlock, Locations, & Item Drop Chances

The mysterious Mr. Qi extends his secretive ways in Stardew Valley 1.6 as he introduces a new item for players to acquire: the Mystery Box. Opening this container allows the player to receive a random item. So, keep reading to learn how to unlock the Mystery Box in Stardew Valley, where to farm it, and the drop chance of items that can appear within!

How to Unlock the Mystery Box in Stardew Valley

Mr. Qi will release the Mystery Box in Stardew Valley only after the player spends 50 in-game days or after collecting the 2nd Prize Ticket from the billboard. You’ll know when you can farm this container when a cutscene with Mr. Qi plays.

Mystery Box Locations

After Mr. Qi releases the Mystery Boxes in Stardew Valley, players can farm these containers in various locations. However, the number of ways to get this container depends on whether you have Foraging Mastery or not. The methods to acquire a Mystery Box without Foraging Mastery in Stardew Valley are the following:

• Defeating monsters
• Chopping trees (may drop with each Axe hit)
• Breaking containers in the Mines, Skull Cavern, and Volcano Dungeon
• Obtaining them from present train cars in Winter
• Shaking trees with seeds
• Panning
• Opening Treasure Chests from fishing
• Opening Golden Fishing Treasure Chests

Upon obtaining Foraging Mastery, the number of ways to farm the Mystery Box in Stardew Valley increases. These methods include the following:

• Buying it from the Calico Egg Merchant during the Desert Festival
• Obtain as a reward from the Squid Fest and Trout Derby festivals
• Trade the Book of Mysteries for a Mystery Box with the Stardew Valley Bookseller
• Digging at artifact spots
• Opening chests in the Skull Cavern
• Opening Golden Mystery Boxes
• Complete Raccoon requests after completing the fifth
• A reward in the prize machine in the Mayor’s Manor
• Place any Milk or Cookie item on the table or long table at the farm during the night of Winter 24 for it to be exchanged for a Mystery Box

Tip: Read the Book of Mysteries to increase the chances of farming Mystery Boxes. Note: Achieving Level 10 in all five skills, which includes Foraging, will make the following on-screen message appear: “You sense that a new way is open….” It means the Mastery Cave at Cindersap Forest is open, allowing you to aim for skill masteries, including Foraging Mastery.

Mystery Box Uses

The Stardew Valley Mystery Box can be cracked open by going to Clint’s Blacksmith shop. Note that he charges 25 gold pieces per box. However, Mystery Boxes cannot be crushed with a Geode Crusher, unlike Geodes. Additionally, it's unwise to give Mystery Boxes to Stardew Valley villagers, as most of them hate receiving these containers as presents. These NPCs include Haley, Harvey, Kent, and Maru. Nonetheless, players can use Mystery Boxes as blue dyes in Emily and Haley’s house. Alternatively, use these boxes as cyan dyes in Sewing Machine spools.

Mystery Box Contents

Below are all the items that can appear after opening a Mystery Box, along with each item’s probability of popping up.

• 1x Dressed Spinner: 0.16% (requires Fishing Level ≥ 6)
• 1x Cork Bobber: 0.16% (requires Fishing Level ≥ 6)
• 1x Cherry Sapling: 0.1%
• 1x Apricot Sapling: 0.1%
• 1x Orange Sapling: 0.1%
• 1x Peach Sapling: 0.1%
• 1x Pomegranate Sapling: 0.1%
• 1x Apple Sapling: 0.1%
• 1x Lucky Lunch: 0.13%
• 1x Stardew Valley Almanac: 0.13%
• 1x Bait and Bobber: 0.13%
• 1x Woodcutter’s Weekly: 0.13%
• 1x Mining Monthly: 0.13%
• 1x Combat Quarterly: 0.13%
• 1x Fried Egg: 0.13%
• 1x Omelet: 0.13%
• 1x Salad: 0.13%
• 1x Cheese Cauliflower: 0.13%
• 1x Baked Fish: 0.13%
• 1x Parsnip Soup: 0.13%
• 1x Vegetable Medley: 0.13%
• 1x Complete Breakfast: 0.13%
• 1x Fried Calamari: 0.13%
• 1x Strange Bun: 0.13%
• 1x Fried Mushroom: 0.13%
• 1x Pizza: 0.13%
• 1x Beat Hotpot: 0.13%
• 1x Glazed Yams: 0.13%
• 1x Carp Surprise: 0.13%
• 1x Hashbrowns: 0.13%
• 1x Pancakes: 0.13%
• 1x Salmon Dinner: 0.13%
• 1x Fish Taco: 0.13%
• 1x Crispy Bass: 0.13%
• 1x Pepper Poppers: 0.13%
• 1x Bread: 0.13%
• 1x Tom Kha Soup: 0.13%
• 1x Trout Soup: 0.13%
• 1x Chocolate Cake: 0.13%
• 1x Pink Cake: 0.13%
• 1x Rhubarb Pie: 0.13%
• 1x Cookie: 0.13%
• 1x Spaghetti: 0.13%
• 1x Fried Eel: 0.13%
• 1x Spicy Eel: 0.13%
• 1x Sashimi: 0.13%
• 1x Maki Roll: 0.13%
• 1x Tortilla: 0.13%
• 1x Red Plate: 0.13%
• 1x Eggplant Parmesan: 0.13%
• 1x Rice Pudding: 0.13%
• 1x Ice Cream: 0.13%
• 1x Blueberry Tart: 0.13%
• 1x Autumn’s Bounty: 0.13%
• 1x Pumpkin Soup: 0.13%
• 1x Super Meal: 0.13%
• 1x Cranberry Sauce: 0.13%
• 1x Stuffing: 0.13%
• 20x Parsnip Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Bean Starter: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Cauliflower Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Potato Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Corn Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Wheat Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Pepper Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Radish Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Eggplant Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Artichoke Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 20x Pumpkin Seeds: 0.16% in Spring and 0.05% in Winter
• 1x Emerald Ring: 0.16%
• 1x Ruby Ring: 0.16%
• 1x Magic Rock Candy: 0.2%
• 1x Aquamarine Ring: 0.3%
• 1x Jade Ring: 0.3%
• 1x Ossified Blade: 0.31%
• 1x Prismatic Shard: 0.4%
• 1x Book of Stars: 0.49%
• 1x Book of Mysteries: 0.49%
• 1x Pearl: 0.49%
• 1x Golden Pumpkin: 0.49%
• 1x Sturdy Ring: 0.6%
• 1x Amethyst Ring: 0.6%
• 1x Glowstone Ring: 0.6%
• 5x Mega Bomb: 0.63%
• 3x Tripe Shot Espresso: 0.63% if Fishing Level < 6 and 0.31% if Fishing Level ≥ 6)
• 2x Dish O’ The Sea: 0.63%
• 2x Luck Lunch: 0.63%
• 20x Quality Fertilizer: 0.63%
• 20x Deluxe Speed-Gro: 0.63%
• 2x Life Elixir: 0.63%
• 3x Warp Totem: Farm: 0.63%
• 1x Quality Sprinkler: 0.63%
• 3/4x Mystery Box: 0.63%
• 8x Carrot Seeds: 0.63% (only appears from Winter 21 to Spring 23)
• 8x Summer Squash Seeds: 0.63% (only appears from Spring 24 to Summer 20)
• 8x Broccoli Seeds: 0.63% (only appears from Summer 21 to Fall 20)
• 8x Powdermelon Seeds: 0.63% (only appears from Fall 21 to Winter 20)
• 1x Treasure Chest: 0.8%
• 1x Chowder: 0.86%
• 1x Fish Stew: 0.86%
• 1x Escargot: 0.86%
• 1x Lobster Bisque: 0.86%
• 1x Maple Bar: 0.86%
• 1x Crab Cakes: 0.86%
• 1x Shrimp Cocktail: 0.86%
• 1x Wallpaper: 0.95%
• 1x Mystery Shirt: 0.96%
• 1x Mystery Hat: 0.97%
• 8x Parsnip Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Bean Starter: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Cauliflower Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Potato Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Corn Seeds: 1.51% in Spring or Fall and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Wheat Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Pepper Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Radish Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Eggplant Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Artichoke Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 8x Pumpkin Seeds: 1.51% in Spring and 0.5% in Winter
• 2x Mystery Box: 3.62%
• 10x Quality Fertilizer: 6.03%
• 10x Deluxe Speed-Gro: 6.03%
• 1x Warp Totem: Farm: 6.03%
• 3x Coffee: 6.03%
• 5x Bomb: 6.03%
• 10x Hardwood: 6.03%
• 1x Warp Totem: Mountains: 6.03%
• 10x Mixed Seeds: 6.03%
• 10x Mixed Flower Seeds: 6.03%
• 1x Warp Totem: Beach: 6.03%