How To Use The Slingshot In Stardew Valley

Because what better way to defeat a dragon than by shooting a potato at them?

Not every farmer can go toe to toe with the strange monsters and dangerous spirits that lurk within the underground dangers in this cozy farming game. Some prefer to keep things at a distance. For those brave few, Stardew Valley offers the Slingshot class of weapons.

Related: Stardew Valley: The Best Weapons, Ranked

Slingshots offer a different approach to combat from the rest of the game's tools, weapons, and bombs. With charge times and multiple types of ammo, they can be a bit tricky to wield for the uninitiated. Here's everything you might need to know when using the long-range option against the various monsters of the Mines.

Slingshots operate very differently from the melee weapons in Stardew Valley. Instead of attacking instantly, they require a charge-up period where the button needs to be held down. They’re also the only weapons capable of attacking at a distance while also requiring ammo.

Before you can do anything, they need ammo. Qualifying ammo can be ‘equipped’ onto the item by picking it up in the inventory and alternate-selecting it when over the Slingshot, same as with fishing rods and bait.

Hold down the attack button to charge your shot. During this time, a target reticle will appear; point it at your intended target to aim. Once charged (indicated by a stretching sound effect), you can release the button to fire your ammo.

While charging your Slingshot, you will not be able to move around. Ensure that you have enough time to aim and fire before a monster can attack you.

Unlike the other weapon types in Stardew Valley, only two kinds of slingshots are ever available: the Slingshot and the Master Slingshot. Both items are found as reward chests deeper into the mines.

Slingshots

Where To Find

Adventurer's Guild Price

Slingshot

The Mines - Floor 40

500g

Master Slingshot

The Mines - Floor 70

1,000g

Once acquired for the first time, they will also become available at the Adventurer's Guild for 500g and 1,000g, respectively.

Related: Stardew Valley: Most Dangerous Monsters (And How To Beat Them)

There are, technically, nine different ammo types available for both Slingshots. Each one deals different amounts of damage. They all behave the same, except for the Explosive ammo, which has a blast radius on impact.

Damage dealt by each ammo type is not consistent, but a randomly generated value. The Master Slingshot is a direct improvement from the base model, dealing precisely twice as much damage. Each ammo and its respective damage ranges are organized below. This does not take critical hits into account.

Ammo Type

Slingshot Damage

Master Slingshot Damage

Fruits, Veggies, Eggs

1-3 dmg

2-6 dmg

Wood

1-5 dmg

2-10 dmg

Stone

3-11 dmg

6-22 dmg

Copper Ore

5-21 dmg

10-42 dmg

Coal

8-31 dmg

16-62 dmg

Iron Ore

10-41 dmg

20-82 dmg

Explosive Ammo

10-41 dmg (in an area)

20-82 dmg (in an area)

Gold Ore

15-61 dmg

30-122 dmg

Iridium Ore

25-101 dmg

50-202 dmg

For the longest time, stone will be your go-to ammo of choice. While not the strongest, it's the most plentiful. As you progress, you might find yourself with an excess of ores, which can make for good ammo.

As tempting as it may be, we don't suggest you use Explosive Ammo. The slow charge speed and the movement of enemies often result in your targets getting too close and the explosive range damaging yourself alongside your target.

Shooting the residents of Pelican Valley will not hurt them. It will, however, upset them and reduce their friendship points.

Next: Stardew Valley: Complete Guide And Walkthrough

Taking a more casual approach to gaming, he will always choose co-op over competitive. When not glasses deep into another management game, he's probably talking himself blue about the current trends in VR.