Alright so I had this big problem in Stardew Valley. Couldn’t figure out how to get deeper into the dang mine after level 120. Every time I tried taking the elevator down there, boom, total dead end. Just a big, stupid statue blocking the way, laughing at me. Seriously annoying. Where were all the good ores and monsters hiding?
Getting Desperate & Finding Weird Stuff
Finished the regular mine levels ages ago, right? Got that last elevator unlock. But nope, still blocked. Felt like I was missing something huge. Spent way too many days running around town bothering people, looking in caves, diving back into the mine hoping for a secret door I missed. Seriously, drove me nuts.
Then one day, deep in the Skull Cavern over in the desert (barely surviving those nasty Serpents, let me tell you), bam! I open a chest way down and find this… skull key. Just lying there. Old, heavy, looked creepy. Didn’t have a clue what it did. Checked every door in Pelican Town, every chest at home, even tried it on that grumpy statue outside the mines – nothing. Useless! Or so I thought.
The Big “Oh!” Moment (Finally!)
Few weeks later, probably after too much beer at the Stardrop, I remembered that stupid statue blocking the bottom of the mine. Decided, “Eh, why not?” and took the elevator down to level 120. Again. The statue looked the same. Grumpy, unmoving. I walked up to it, almost feeling silly, and instead of trying to walk past, I just clicked on it.
HOLY SHI–!
Pulled out that skull key automatically! Suddenly, the statue starts rumbling, shakes like crazy, and then sinks right into the floor! Leaves behind this super creepy, dark hole with a ladder down.

That skull key! That’s what opened it! Not a skeleton key, it was literally the key for the skull statue!
Diving Into Hell (Almost)
Grabbed my best sword (Lava Katana, saved up forever for that), packed a ton of bombs and food (barely had any money left after that!), and jumped in. Had no idea what to expect.
And wow. Just wow.
- Level 121 was hell. Seriously, lava everywhere. Hot as heck, monsters hitting like trucks. Forget Copper and Iron ore – this place had Iridium nodes popping up like crazy! Bombed my way through trying not to get roasted alive. Nearly died like five times before I found the ladder down.
- Monsters? Forget bugs and slimes. Met these evil Iridium Bats and Squids that shoot fireballs or zap you. Tough as nails. Took all my cheese just staying alive.
- Scary New Stuff: Floors shift and change quick, traps are everywhere, and sometimes it just throws huge waves of monsters at you. Needed every bit of gear I had.
Why Bother? (Totally Worth It)
It was brutal, yeah. Burned through resources like crazy. But the payoff?
- Massive loot. Finding Iridium Ore without going insane in the Skull Cavern? Dream come true!
- Crazy new items only drop down there. Mystic Stones! Prismatic Shard (found one on level 135!).
- That challenge! Honestly, felt awesome unlocking it. Took forever to figure the skull key thing, but pushing deeper than anyone else? That’s the real bragging right.
So yeah. Skull key + statue at the bottom of the regular mines = your ticket to the really scary, super rewarding levels. Don’t waste weeks like I did running around confused. Just remember that creepy statue needs a creepy key! Bring serious firepower and snacks. You’re gonna need ’em.
