The Desert Trader has some seriously helpful items in stock. Here’s what you need to know!
This article is part of a directory: Stardew Valley: Complete Guide Table of contents
There are several different vendors throughout Stardew Valley, allowing you to purchase a wide range of items. Back with the 1.4 update, we were introduced to the Desert Trader. Here, you will be able to trade for new items that may be hard to get elsewhere.
The Desert Trader is a mysterious vendor who does not accept gold. In this guide, we are going to go over everything you need to know about the Desert Trader. First, let's take a look at where you can find them.
Updated April 27, 2024 by Jacqueline Zalace: Since the Desert Trader was first added to Stardew Valley, their stock has expanded! We've updated this guide with the current stock for this merchant, as well as some tips to help you decide what to buy.
Desert Trader Location
The Desert Trader is located on the right-hand side of the Calico Desert. There will be a wooden fence surrounding an area with the vendor's tent next to a camel.
To get here, you will need to have the bus repaired. This can be done by completing the Vault Bundle at the Community Center. Once the bus is repaired, you can head to the Desert Trader.
This vendor will always be open, except when the Night Market occurs from Winter 15 to 17. This means that if you use a warp totem or obelisk to the desert before the bus is running for the day, you can still purchase items from the Desert Trader.
Permanent Stock
Rather than purchasing items for gold at the Desert Trader, you will trade items. Below, you can find their permanent stock as well as the price. These items will always be available.
Item |
Price |
---|---|
Artifact Trove |
5 Omni Geodes |
Bomb |
5 Quartz |
Mega Bomb |
5 Iridium Ore |
Spicy Eel |
1 Ruby |
Triple Shot Espresso |
1 Diamond |
Warp Totem: Desert |
3 Omni Geodes |
Butterfly Hutch |
200 Bat Wings |
Green Turban |
50 Omni Geodes |
Birch Double Bed |
1 Pearl |
Recipe — Warp Totem: Desert This is a one-time purchase |
10 Iridium Bars |
Midnight Beach Bed |
15 Iridium Bars |
Midnight Beach Double Bed |
30 Iridium Bars |
Dark Piano |
999 Coal |
read more
Best Items To Buy
All of these items are great, but not all are worth it. For example, it's best to buy the recipe for the Warp Totem rather than spending three Omni Geodes to buy a new one. The totem can then be made with the following materials.
- 2x Hardwood
- 1x Coconut
- 4x Iridium Ore
This isn't too bad if you regularly cut down Mahogany trees and explore Skull Cavern.
Everything else in the Desert Trader's permanent stock is worth the purchase, especially the Artifact Trove. These can be cracked open to get rare minerals and artifacts.
Rotating Stock
In addition to a permanent stock, you can find a rotating stock. These items will vary depending on what days you visit. Below, you can find a full list of all items in the rotating stock, as well as the price and when they are available.
Item |
Price |
Availability |
---|---|---|
Hay (3) |
1 Omni Geode |
Mondays |
Fiber |
5 Stone |
Tuesdays |
Cloth |
3 Aquamarine |
Wednesdays |
Magic Rock Candy |
3 Prismatic Shards |
Thursdays |
Cheese |
1 Emerald |
Fridays |
Spring Seeds |
2 Summer Seeds |
Saturdays |
Summer Seeds |
2 Fall Seeds |
Saturdays |
Fall Seeds |
2 Winter Seeds |
Saturdays |
Winter Seeds |
2 Spring Seeds |
Saturdays |
Staircase |
1 Jade |
Sundays |
Magic Turban |
333 Omni Geodes |
Even-numbered Days (2, 4, 6, etc.) |
Magic Cowboy Hat |
333 Omni Geodes |
Odd-numbered Days (1, 3, 5, etc.) |
Void Ghost Pendant This is used to become roommates with Krobus |
200 Void Essence |
Any time if you have max hearts with Krobus and are not married (only 1 available) |
read more
Best Items To Buy
The rotating stock is a mixed bag; below, you can check out the items we recommend purchasing.
- Magic Rock Candy
- Magic Turban
- Magic Cowboy Hat
- Void Ghost Pendant
Desert Trader Currency
As you can see, the Desert Trader used some interesting currency options. The following currencies can be found while mining (in either Skull Cavern or the Mines).
- Omni Geodes
- Stone
- Any Mineral
- Bat Wings (monster drop)
- Iridium (ore found in Skull Cavern)
- Coal
Overall, we suggest having a spare chest in your home meant for storing items used as Desert Trader currency. After a day of caving, you can toss in Void Essence and Bat Wings to build up your collection of currency items.
While it may be tempting to sell one or two Void Essences, you can slowly build up your stock by simply placing them in a chest every time you get a few.
How To Save Up 999 Coal
To get the Dark Piano, you will need 999 coal. This, of course, is a lot. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to get coal. First, we highly suggest visiting the quarry every once in a while to mine coal nodes. These are rocks with little black pieces of coal sticking out from them.
You can also make coal with the Charcoal Kiln. By placing in ten wood, you will receive one coal. We only recommend doing this if you have a lot of coal to spare.
Desert Trader At The Night Market
As mentioned earlier, the Desert Trader will not be at their usual spot in the Calico Desert during the Night Market. From Winter 15 to 17, you can find the Desert Trader sitting on the docks of the beach. Talk to them during the Night Market to receive one free coffee.