There are several different professions (also referred to sometimes as "skills") in the game Stardew Valley.
- Farming: Each level grants +1 proficiency to the hoe and watering can tools. Levels are gained by harvesting crops. Caring for animals also increases this.
- Mining: skill is increased by using the pickaxe tool to break rocks. Each level adds +1 to pickaxe proficiency.
- Foraging: Foraging skill includes both gathered foraged goods, and wood from trees chopped with an axe tool. Each level adds +1 axe proficiency.
- Fishing: Fishing is the skill associated with catching fish. Successfully completing the fishing minigame increases fishing skill. Each level adds +1 fishing rod proficiency.
- Combat: Combat is a skill tied to the player's ability to fight against monsters. Each level adds +5 health points.
Strategy Guide/Tips
- For Farming, Tiller > Agriculturist seems like a very good choice but it is not - turning stuff into wine or juice is very profitable and 50% artisan bonus is better than 10% growth bonus. (think like this: 10% more crops = 10% more profit. 50% more money = 50% more profit)
- Rancher > Coopmaster is surprisingly good. Make a shitload of coops, stuff them to the brim. You'll have at least two ducks to sell every day, which can easily make you 5000. (then you refill them using the incubator) combined with the amount of eggs you'll be getting, you can make 20000 a day. In other words, not profitable if you know your crops, but the best choice if you don't want to use Tiller.
- Mining's level 5 skills both seem like pretty decent choices, but imo geologist is better. Here's why: Blacksmith won't make you much. In an incredible scenario where you can make 100 bars each day, you'll make ten thousand or so. Not worth it. Prostpector gives you more coal. This one's actually pretty good because many machines take coal to craft. Most useful if you don't mine that often.
- Excavator and Gemologist are both great, so it's down to preference, really.
- In Foraging, just don't take the Forester perk. It's shit. Your wood will become 1 or 2 coins more expensive, and the second set of perks will make trees drop hardwood, or make syrup more expensive - both absolutely shit. Tracker can be useful if you like mining - find lots of food items on the way to the mine. The real winner is botanist, though. Having a chance to find two guaranteed gold star items is always nice. (great food item, decent sell item)
- In Fisher, all perks are decent. Angler and Pirate for better fish/treasure, Mariner if you have several crab pots that you rely on for cooking (can be useful), and Luremaster if you have lots of crab pots. (can be a lucrative business)
- In fighter, just don't take Brute. 15% damage is at most 7 points or so. Defender is bad - you'll get 25 HP, which is literally one hit from some enemies - but can be useful if you don't plan to go any deeper into the mines than you need to. (25 HP is pretty decent in levels 1-100 of the regular mines)
- Acrobat is nice if you use swords or daggers - always be able to block, or spam jabs all the time. Desperado is killer because of the Scout perk, which adds 50% critical chance. So.... +50% chance, and +xx% damage!
