While exploring the world ofStardew Valley, players will come across many different secrets and fun surprises that they may not expect. Among the more valuable things a player can collect is aTreasure Chest, a package of useful items that is worth 5,000 gold if one chooses to sell it.
These treasure chests can be found in a few different places, but their primary location is in the water. Those who are fishing have a 15 percent chance of catching a treasure chest when casting a line out. Because catching this is unique compared to catching other fish, it’s important to get an understanding of them.
Updated on August 04, 2025 by Christina Roffe:With the new Version 1.6 update in Stardew Valley, players now have the chance to increase their Mastery stats and unlock new rewards. This includes Golden Treasure Chests, an upgraded version of the regular Treasure Chests you may find in the water. We have updated this article to include information on Golden Treasure Chests, including how you can unlock them, where you can get them, and some of the possible items you can find inside. We have also updated the possible rewards from regular Treasure Chests to include new items introduced in the recent update.
How To Catch a Treasure Chest
Players can catch a treasure chest in any body of water that is possible to fish in. There is a 15 percent chance, with certain fishing rod attachments available, to increase the potential of getting a treasure chest. When catching a fish, players will notice a treasure chest icon pop up during the fishing mini-game. If players hover the green bar over the icon, they can catch the treasure. However, they mustalso catch the fishthat is trying to be caught at the same time. Otherwise, the treasure will not be obtained.
What Is in a Treasure Chest
When successfully fishing out a treasure chest, players will not know for sure what will be in it. The chance of finding only one item is 60 percent, but chests do have chances of having multiple items: 24 percent for two items, 10 percent for three items, and six percent for four or more items.
What items spawn in the chest depends on a few factors, including what fishing level the player is at, how far they cast their line out, and theirprogress in finding artifacts. The list of items includes:
How to Get a Golden Treasure Chest
After the Version 1.6 update was introduced toStardew Valley, players now have the chance to reel inGolden Treasure Chestsas well. If you want to get these, you’ll first need to improve your Mastery stats. You can find your current Mastery level in the Skills section of the main menu.
To increase your Mastery points, you may either go about your daily tasks such as farming, fishing, mining, and more, or you can pick up someSkill Books from the Bookseller. After you’ve reached the required number for the next level, you’ll want to make a visit to theMastery Cave, found in the eastern section of Cindersap Forest.
Inside here, you’ll want to approach theFishing Masterypillar with the fishing rod depicted on the front. Along with Golden Fishing Chests, you’ll also now have an Advanced Iridium Rod and therecipe for Challenge Bait.
Within Golden Treasure Chests, you have the chance to get some of the following items:
Other Places to Find Treasure
While fishing is the primary way to find treasure, there are two other methods of obtaining a chest. The first is through finding Artifact Troves. There are many ways to obtain these, including digging them up inArtifact Spots on Ginger Island, purchasing them from the Desert Trader for 5 Omni Geodes, found in tier 3 supply crates on the Beach Farm, and dropped by Haunted Skulls after the Vault Bundle is finished. These troves have a chance to contain a chest. Another way is through using Secret Note #16 to find a chest that is buried where the X is marked on the note.
