Gab Hernandez 
Stardew Valley 1.6 has buffed the Thorns Ring, and some players may want to see if it’s worth fielding against enemies.
Combat’s not the first thing that springs to mind when one thinks of Stardew Valley, but it’s a big part of the game. Though it’s no Hotline Miami, Stardew Valley combat can be a key source of unique resources, on top of being a fun break from the usual farming grind. Before players obtain the Infinity Weapons, however, they have to use a combo of other items.
Rings are one of the most popular accessories to pair with combat. Every ring has its niche, but among the most unorthodox is the Thorns Ring. When an enemy hits a player with the Thorns Ring, any damage they deal is also reflected back at them. The Stardew Valley 1.6.9 update buffed the item by allowing players to stack together two rings, dealing double damage. This can make for a powerful build when diving into Skull Cavern, but how do players actually use it?
How to craft Thorns Ring in Stardew Valley 1.6
The player must reach Combat Level 7 to unlock the Thorns Ring recipe. The Thorns Ring requires 50 Bone Fragments, 50 Stone, and 1 Gold Bar to craft. Farming for its ingredients is fairly simple.
Players can farm bone fragments from Skeletons in the Mines, Lava Lurks in the Volcano Dungeon, Bone Nodes in Ginger Island, and random containers in the Skull Cavern. With any pickaxe, players can gather stones from rocks anywhere in the world. Players in a rush can just buy 50 Stone from Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop. Do note that Stone costs 100g at the start of year two, so players must prepare lots of gold.
Finally, a Gold Bar is forged by smelting five Gold Ore in a furnace or transmuting two Iron Bars. There’s also a tiny chance of acquiring Gold bars from certain mobs and events, but mining is the most reliable method.
Best Thorns Ring build for Skull Cavern
Thorns Ring players should max out the health bar whenever possible and bring plenty of healing items. They should also equip two Thorns Rings for maximum damage output.
Thorns Ring is a risky item to use, but it does guarantee damage against mobs that players struggle against. Truthfully, the Thorns Ring becomes obsolete once the player gains access to end-game weaponry, but it’s a reliable source of guaranteed damage in the mid to early-late game.
But it’s important to remember that the item doesn’t negate damage, it simply reflects it back. This means that players will be taking a lot of damage, so it’s important to bring loads of food or healing items for each journey into the depths.
