Rune Factory 5 Beginner’s Guide: Tips & Tricks for a Successful Farm

by Mike Alexander / Game Guides, General Guides, Tips & Tricks / 01 Feb 2022

The video game genre of “farming/life simulator” has come a long way since its debut in the 90s. Every year, new entries to the genre are released from both indie and big-name developers that continue to expand the features and gameplay that people expect when they pick up a life sim game. One of the earliest versions of this style of game is the Harvest Moon series, which has since spun off into another successful series called Rune Factory. With the release of Rune Factory 5, fans now have the latest and greatest entry in a storied franchise. If this is your first Rune Factory game, then you have an awful lot of catching up to do. However, with this Rune Factory 5 Beginner’s Guide, you’ll get some tips & tricks that should help you build up a thriving farm in no time.

Don’t Forget to Level Your Seeds

Throughout Rune Factory 5, you will come to possess many different kinds of seeds. The product of those seeds vary in their selling price, but there is a way to maximize even a low-cost plant. To do that, you’re going to want to level up your seed. Doing this is simple but easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention. All you have to do is pick up the seed that drops after you harvest a fully grown plant with your trusty sickle. For instance, if you harvest a tomato plant, it will drop a seed that is one level higher than the one you planted. Once you pick that up, the store will now sell seeds for that plant of that higher level, allowing you to plant even higher quality crops. These will in turn sell for a much higher price.

Speak to Livia About Harvest Quality

Just like in real life, some things grow better at certain times of the year. This knowledge is passed down from farmer to farmer, but in Rune Factory 5, all you have to do is go speak to Livia at the SEED Outpost. She will be able to give you a prediction of which two crops will be the most successful for the current week and one week into the future, allowing you some time to plan what you plant. A “good harvest” plant will grow up to two more pieces per crop, increasing your haul by a decent percentage depending on what that crop actually is. It only takes a few seconds, so when you’re planning what to plant next it is always a good idea to stop by and speak to Livia.

Buy the Magnifying Glass

One incredibly helpful tool in Rune Factory 5 is the magnifying glass, which can be purchased at the general store. Equipping this tool while examining your crops will show you a number of different stats that will greatly aid you in your understanding of your soil quality as well as when the perfect time to harvest those crops is. If you’re having a hard time switching between the magnifying glass and your other tools such as the watering can, there is a way to remedy that. If you use your anvil to combine a magnifying glass with any number of tools, including the watering can, having that tool out in your fields will give you the same effect as having the magnifying glass without putting the watering can away. It saves a lot of time and makes things easier on an already busy farmer.

Don’t Sell Everything You Pick Up

Sometimes when you return to your field, you will find that it is covered in debris such as rocks, twigs, and weeds. If you’re like most players, you’ll be tempted to just sell everything you find here to get rid of it and get some extra cash at the same time. However, there is a reason those things show up in your farming area. You’ll quite often need those materials for crafting and building later on, so if you sell them now you’ll be in a little bit of trouble when you need them later. Just drop them into your inventory and forget about them. When you need them, you’ll be happy they’re there.

Get Clean

After a long day of farming and exploring, you’ll probably find yourself low on health and energy. The best way to recharge and get ready for the next day is to make a trip over to the bathhouse for a nice bath. You’re able to take a bath for free once a day, and it will completely recharge both your HP and RP. There’s nothing to lose, and it’s incredibly refreshing!

Mike Alexander

Mike has been playing video games since he was able to hold a controller, having been fascinated by Sonic 2 on his mom’s Sega Genesis. That fascination and passion for the art form has grown exponentially nearly 30 years later, and he doesn’t see that fading away anytime soon.
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