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One of the first choices you’ll have to make inStardew Valleyis choosing between the Tiller and Rancher professions at Level 5 of yourFarming Skill. Each of these has its own benefits and would take you down a different path with unique specializations at Farming Level 10. These specializations can influence your farm’s focus and income generation.
Since these choices can affect your entireStardew Valleyexperience, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you’re committing to. This guide compares the Rancher and Tiller professions, highlighting the benefits of each.
When To Choose Rancher in Stardew Valley?
The Rancher profession is centered around animal husbandry. Selecting this option at Farming level 5 boosts the value of all animal products by 20% as an automatic perk. This includes all the things you are able to get fromfarm animals inStardew Valleyor their produce. This covers their milk, eggs andWool, as well as the byproducts like cheese andMayonnaise.
The Rancher is perfect for you if you enjoy raising animals and want to see an immediate increase in the selling price of youranimal productsearly on. However, the Rancher’s level 10 specializations are less impactful compared to the Tiller’s level 10 specializations.
At Level 10, Ranchers can further specialize in:
Most players begin without a barn orcoop inStardew Valley, let alone the necessary processing machines for mayonnaise and cheese. As such, the Rancher profession isn’t the best starting point for most players becauseit’s not the absolute most profitable option.
However, if you’re choosing theMeadowlandsFarm(introduced in Update 1.6), which starts you off with a coop and two chickens, the Rancher profession is a more appealing starting choice.
When To Choose Tiller in Stardew Valley?
In contrast, the Tillerprofession inStardew Valleyfocuses entirely on crop cultivation. Choosing this path at Farming Level 5results in a 10% increase in the selling price of all cultivated crops.
While the percentage increase isn’t as high as the Rancher’s initial bonus, players usually sell crops in larger quantities than animal products. So, even though the price increase per item might seem modest, a 10% bonus to every single harvested fruit, vegetable, or flower can lead to decent profits in the long run.
At Level 10, Tillers can further choose from the following options:
If you plan on producing a lot ofArtisan Goods inStardew Valleyand want to maximize profits from your crops, then the Tiller profession is perfect for you. Compared to Rancher, the Tiller profession, which leads to the Artisan skill, ismore profitable in the long run.The Artisan profession gives a substantial 40% increase in the price of artisan goods, which includes processed animal products.
Considering its higher earning potential and flexibility,the Tiller profession (with the Artisan specialization) is hands-down the best route for players inStardew Valley.However, for those who begin on Meadowlands Farm, the Rancher is the better choice.
You can always change your profession later by going to the Statue of Uncertainty in the Sewers for a cost of 10,000g. This way, you can experiment and adjust your specialization as your farm grows.
