Quick answers (read this first)
- Tool upgrades happen at Clint’s blacksmith (east of town, by the museum).
- You need the right metal bars plus gold; ore alone is not enough—smelt bars first in a furnace.
- Clint keeps the tool for a couple of days—plan around watering if you upgrade the can.
- First upgrade should fix your worst chore: big watering pain → can; mine grinding → pickaxe.
- Skip upgrading every tool the week copper unlocks.
Who this is for (and who should skip)
Use this if you have copper sitting in a chest and do not know whether to upgrade the watering can, pickaxe, or axe first. Clint’s menu shows exact bar requirements—this guide teaches priority, not memorized recipes.
Skip or skim if you already route iridium tools and plan upgrades seasons ahead. This is copper-and-iron Year 1 thinking for players still learning the furnace loop.
Version note (Stardew Valley 1.6): Tool upgrade mechanics and Clint’s shop hours are stable in 1.6. The update did not change which bars each tier needs—verify counts in Clint’s menu in-game. QoL improvements like improved menu navigation make geode cracking on the same trip slightly smoother, but the two-day wait while Clint works is unchanged.
From our Year 1 save (real pitfalls): Clint upgrade downtime is real—plan around missing your watering can on sunny days. Smelt ore from mines into bars before you visit; ore stacks alone will not upgrade anything.
Pros & cons of early upgrades
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Less energy per chore; faster rocks and trees; mornings feel manageable; mines become less grindy. |
| Cons | Gold and bar sink; tool downtime at Clint’s; can delay seeds or backpack if timed badly. |
| Use when | Crop loop is stable and one chore clearly hurts every day. |
| Skip when | Broke, patch empty, or inventory still tiny without Pierre’s backpack. |
First upgrade comparison: watering can vs pickaxe vs axe
| Tool | Upgrade when… | Wait if… |
|---|---|---|
| Watering can | Mornings are only watering; patch is growing | Can is gone during a sunny week with a huge field |
| Pickaxe | Mines dominate your afternoons | You still cannot water a stable crop loop |
| Axe | Farm clearing blocks layout daily | Seeds or backpack matter more this week |
| Hoe | Large fields need tilling speed | Year 1 patch is still small—usually later |
Personal tips from our Year 1 save
We smelted bars before Clint trips—photo 12 shows bars ready, not ore. Photo 6 is upgrades plus geodes on one visit. Our first upgrade was the watering can, timed before rain. Short mine trips on rainy days—photo 18—fed the bar loop without competing with watering.
Interactive checklist
Tick as you play. Saved in this browser only.
Safe to skip (anti-FOMO)
- Upgrading the scythe path early—basic scythe handles grass fine forever.
- Maxing every tool before Summer seeds.
- Buying cart ore at panic prices for one upgrade.
- Hoe upgrades while your patch is still a small rectangle.
Decision table: what to upgrade first
| If you feel… | Upgrade… | Wait on… |
|---|---|---|
| Mornings are only watering pain | Watering can | Axe cosmetics |
| Mines are all you do after chores | Pickaxe | Hoe until you expand a lot |
| Wood clearing blocks farm layout | Axe | Everything if seeds are missing |
| Inventory full, patch empty | Backpack / seeds first | Any tool upgrade |
| Rain forecast tomorrow | Watering can hand-off tonight | Upgrading can on a sunny planting week |
Real screenshots from our Year 1 save
Game screenshot © ConcernedApe — used for guide commentary
Game screenshot © ConcernedApe — used for guide commentary
Game screenshot © ConcernedApe — used for guide commentary
How to upgrade (operations)
- Name your worst daily chore. Water, rocks, or wood—pick one.
- Mine ore; keep coal for smelting. Short trips beat marathon floors early.
- Smelt bars on the farm. Ore alone is not upgrade-ready.
- Check weather before watering-can upgrades. Rain covers crops while Clint works.
- Visit Clint during shop hours. Select one tool; pay bars and gold shown in menu.
- Play two days without that tool. Rain, smaller patch, or alternate chores.
- Pick up and test before the next upgrade. Feel the QoL difference first.
- Crack geodes on the same trip when possible. One visit, two errands.
Common mistakes
- Upgrading watering can right before a sunny week with a huge field. Crops need water every sunny day. Time the hand-off around rain or shrink the patch first.
- Spending bars on the wrong tool. A faster pickaxe does not help if mornings are miserable because the can still covers one tile. Fix the chore you hate daily.
- Ignoring backpack or seeds. Tool upgrades feel powerful, but they do not plant seeds or add inventory rows. Balance QoL with farm growth.
- Arriving after shop hours. Clint closes like other shops. Check the clock before walking east.
- Bringing ore instead of bars. The upgrade menu wants smelted metal. Smelt at home, then travel.
Alternative variations
- Farm-first: Copper watering can before deep mining. Keeps crop income stable while you learn the valley.
- Mine-first: Copper pickaxe early; keep the crop patch tiny until bars flow reliably.
- Slow burn: One upgrade per season. Less rush, more time to save bars and gold between tiers.
FAQ
Where is Clint?
East Pelican Town near the museum and river—the blacksmith building with the forge glow visible inside.
Can I still water while the can is upgrading?
No. That tool is gone until Clint finishes. Use rain days, a smaller patch, or wait until crops are less critical before handing it over.
Hoe upgrade priority?
Usually later than watering can or pickaxe for calm Year 1 farms. Upgrade when tilling large areas becomes a daily time sink.
Can I upgrade two tools at once?
Clint works on one upgrade at a time. Queue your next upgrade after pickup, not in parallel.
Do tool upgrades affect energy cost?
Higher tiers cover more tiles per swing and break tougher nodes. Exact energy numbers vary by tool—we focus on felt daily relief, not spreadsheet math.
Next steps / related pages
Unofficial fan guide. Not affiliated with ConcernedApe.