Stardew Valley is a world where electricity is largely ignored… Outside of the Jojomart, at least. While some objects require power, it can be hard to get electricity, or even batteries, when you need them. So, like everything seems to be in Stardew Valley, you might have to take matters into your own hands. The Lightning Rod is a useful tool for turning a weather mishap into a useful power source. Let’s talk about what this metal pole is used for, so you can maximize your farming experience!
How to Craft the Lightning Rod
The Lightning Rod of Stardew Valley is primarily crafted from a Level 6 Forager Recipe. Once you get a high enough level in Foraging, you can craft a Lightning Rod using one Iron bar, one Refined Quartz, and five Bat Wings. So, you will also need to be a fairly good spelunker to make this item consistently! You can also earn one for paying 10,000g to the Bundle in the Vault, though this does not let you craft it.
Thankfully, in Stardew Valley, foraging is basically any action to collect stuff out in the wild that isn’t specifically farming or mining. Considering how important Wood and Stone is to the early game, your Foraging level is almost guaranteed to reach level 6 in an exceptionally quick manner. Though, you will need to balance that with ensuring that you get good materials from exploring deeper mining levels. A good mixture of spelunking and foraging in the wilds are needed if you want to divert lightning.
Each Lightning Rod can catch one bolt during stormy weather, after which they will enter a “Charged” state. It can’t catch another bolt during this time, and it is not guaranteed to catch any lightning strike that hits the farm. Then, the next day, the Rod will drop a Battery Pack. As long as the Rod is on the map where the storm is, it will always be able to intercept a lightning strike. You do not need to place it exactly where you want to protect: Any Rod will catch a bolt anywhere on your farm, as long as it is placed on your farm.
The more Lightning Rods that have already caught a Lightning Bolt on your farm, the less likely the next lightning strike will be intercepted. So, if a storm has a lot of lightning strikes, your rods may not be able to protect your entire farm. Try to make a handful to make it as likely as possible that you stop most of the storm.
If you’re worried about a Lightning Bolt striking an important feature, don’t be too scared. It’s a 25% chance at base, influenced by luck. So, just pump up your luck and you’ll be fine!
How to Get Battery Packs
Lightning Rods that are struck by a lightning bolt during a storm will become charged. Charged rods will produce a Battery Pack the day after the storm completes. You don’t have to do anything else, since the battery will simply fall out of the rod by itself. You do not need to be on the map with your Lightning Rods for them to become charged and generate packs, either.
Charged Rods will slowly pulse, compared to the stationary Uncharged rod.
Battery Packs are best generated from lightning rods, since they are otherwise very rare drops or very expensive purchases from the Traveling Cart. You’ll also get three from the Children’s Bundle.
Batteries are extremely important, since they are needed for things like the Iridium Sprinkler, Slime Egg-Press, and the Farm Computer. Maru also loves battery packs, so making Lightning Rods is a quick way into her heart!
