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ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley is all about dumping the urban lifestyle and reviving a farm. While adapting to the new lifestyle, players must master Farming, Foraging, Fishing, Mining, and Combat.
Yes, Combat is an essential skill because there’s plenty of monster hunting to do in Stardew Valley.
While exploring and mining for resources, you’ll encounter blood-thirsty monsters. And if you choose the Wilderness Farm, monsters will appear almost every night. So, you want to start developing Combat skills from the go.
Once you reach Combat Level 5, you must pick one profession- Fighter or Scout. Both these professions have their pros and cons, but the question is, which is the better build?
There’s no right answer to this Stardew Valley question. That’s why, instead of trying to settle this age-old debate, I’ve put together a guide that will tell you everything about the Combat Professions in Stardew Valley.
Once you go through this guide, you’ll have a better idea of the Combat skill and the Professions within.
Combat In Stardew Valley – Levels, Monsters, Tips, & Tricks!
Before tipping in on the Fighter Vs. Scout debate, here’s an overview of the Combat skill.
You’ll learn about all the Levels and Monsters and get some handy tips to master Combat in Stardew Valley.
So, whether you’re a Stardew Valley newbie or a veteran, this section is a must-read.
Combat Levels
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Combat in Stardew Valley unlocks on the 5th day. You’ll receive a letter from the Joja Corporation stating that the landslide blocking the mine’s entrance has been cleared.
Once you enter the mine, you’ll meet Marlon. He’ll give you your first weapon- a Rusty Sword!
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That’s when Combat starts at Level 0. If you choose the Wilderness Farm, your Combat begins on your very first night at the Farm.
Just like every other skill in Stardew Valley, Combat also has 10 Levels. Each level unlocks new recipes that players can use in Combat.
Here’s a table listing all Combat Levels, their rewards, and their respective effects.
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After reaching Combat level 5 in Stardew Valley, players have to choose one of the two professions- Fighter or Scout.
On paper, the choice seems difficult. But when you know the low-down of both these professions, the better choice becomes obvious.
Before giving my verdict, I’ll give you an overview of what’s on offer in both branches. And unless you’re targeting a specific build, you’ll know which is the better choice.
Fighter Profession Overview
The Fighter profession transforms the farmer into an absolute tank.
Players get an Attack and HP boost after choosing Fighter at Combat Level 5. That means the character can deal more damage and withstand more attacks too.
Here’s a summary of the buffs that come with Fighter.
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Here’s a look at Combat Level 10 profession choices if you choose Fighter.
Brute
If you choose Brute, your Attack Damage goes through the roof because Fighter and Brute buffs will stack.
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Acrobat
Some Stardew Valley weapons have special moves that deal higher attack damage than usual. These special moves have a cooldown time which gets reduced with the Acrobat specialization.
| Buff | Effect |
| 50% decrease in cooldown time | Half cooldown time for all special moves. |
For someone who heavily relies on special moves, Scout at Level 5 and Acrobat at Level 10 is a no-brainer.
Higher crit chances and the reduced cooldown increases attacking pedigree and decreases combat time.
However, do take a look at Desperado before making a decision.
Desperado
If you choose Desperado, your critical hits become “deadlier.” The exact number of the damage increase is unknown because Desperado depends on RNG (Random Number Generator).
While crits will always land substantial damage, sometimes you might one-hit the strongest of enemies.
While Acrobat looks good on paper, Desperado is the better choice in the Scout branch because it boosts critical hits. The satisfaction of one-hit kills is higher than the ability to hit special moves more often.
Fighter or Scout – The Better Profession?
While it’s all about personal preferences, Fighter is the better overall choice simply because of the flat rate damage increase.
Fighter increases attack damage by 10% and increases your Max HP as well. And if you choose Brute at Level 10 you get another 15% increase in attack damage.
On the other hand, Scout offers a 50% multiplicative increase in Critical Hit chance. So, to benefit from Scout, you’ll need to increase your base critical hit chance first.
Even the Scout specializations pale in comparison to the buff stack of the Fighter branch.
To finish it off, here’s a table summarizing the two Combat branches.
| Stat | Fighter | Scout |
| Damage | +10% | +50% critical hit chance |
| Health | +15 | N/A |
| Special moves | N/A | Charges special move meter faster |
| Durability | More durable | Less durable |
| Damage output | Consistent damage output | High damage output with high risk |
| Best for | Players who want to be more powerful and durable | Players who want to deal high damage quickly |
Do check out my Stardew Valley Fishing Guide and stay tuned for more.
If you’d like to know about a specific aspect of Stardew Valley, let me know in the comments below.
