Fields of Mistria has officially departed Early Access, presenting an opportune moment for players to dive into its blend of farming simulation and magical adventure. While the game offers familiar mechanics akin to Stardew Valley, such as farming, fishing, and foraging, it also introduces unique characters, lore, and activities that are not always explicitly detailed within the game itself. To help players get started and optimize their experience, a variety of tips and tricks can significantly ease the early game.
Maximizing Early Game Resources
New players will quickly notice the limited stamina bar at the beginning of the game. Fortunately, several locations offer free energy boosts to extend the player's day. These include drinking fountains located in The Eastern Road, The Narrows, and The Beach. Additionally, the Sleeping Dragon Inn provides a free daily soup, and the Bathhouse offers three complimentary baths courtesy of Juniper.
Shipping one of every crop and edible forageable item is a key way to unlock new recipes. Upon shipping an item, a townsperson will eventually send a letter containing a recipe that utilizes it. A strategic order for new edibles is to send the first to the Museum, the second to the shipping box, and then use any subsequent items as desired.
Storage can quickly become an issue, but players can label their chests without needing to craft or learn new recipes. Interacting with the chest interface reveals a labeling option that allows for visual categorization of stored items.
Time-Saving and Storage Strategies
Fields of Mistria's relaxed pace allows for certain items to remain in the world until collected, even if inventory is full. Unlike many similar titles, quests, crops, and foraged goods do not decay. Players can gather items and leave them in the environment to pick up later, potentially collecting respawned items the following day. Later in the game, a "lost and found" box automatically consolidates dropped items each Monday morning.
It is advisable to keep at least one of each item in storage. This foresight can prevent time lost to RNG or backtracking later in the game, especially when quests require specific items from previous biomes or seasons, or when large quantities of resources like wood are suddenly needed.
Combat and Exploration Aids
Within the Mines, especially the Lava Caves, players can utilize their tools to their advantage. The watering can can be used to traverse lava pools and cool down lava-type enemies, creating openings for attack. The Summon Rain spell renders lava harmless, transforming it into walkable terrain.
In the Crystal Caves, Clod Enemies can be targeted with the bug catching net to obtain Clod Bombs. These can be thrown at other enemies or saved for challenging rooms. Gifting bombs is not recommended, as they are universally disliked.
The Caldarus Shrine found within the Mines offers distinct benefits compared to its farm counterpart, specifically enhancing Mining and Combat skills. Players aiming to reach deeper levels of the Mines, such as level 100, should leverage these perks.
Gameplay Settings and Customization
Players have the ability to disable specific perks they find detrimental to their progress. For instance, if searching for particular fish, disabling perks that broaden the fish selection can help narrow the search parameters. Unlocked perks can be toggled on and off without needing to spend Essence again.
For those who feel rushed by the game's clock, the settings menu allows for adjusting the day length and the speed at which time passes. The day length can be extended or shortened, and the oversleep penalty can be disabled for players who frequently play past their character's bedtime.
