iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To earn four candles at Grandpa’s Shrine in Stardew Valley, reach at least 12 of the 21 available evaluation points. Grandpa evaluates your first two years at the start of Year 3, but a missed four-candle result is not permanent: place a Diamond on the shrine to request another evaluation. The four-candle reward is the Statue of Perfection, which you must collect by interacting with the shrine.
When Grandpa evaluates your farm
Grandpa’s note says he will return at the start of the third year to assess your success. The number of candles lit around his shrine reflects points earned from milestones during your first two years. The Stardew Valley Wiki lists 21 available points and four candle bands: 0–3 points light one candle, 4–7 light two, 8–11 light three, and 12 or more light all four. Stardew Valley Wiki: Grandpa
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Stardew Valley (Nintendo Switch) | $33.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Stardew Valley [Nintendo Switch - Standard Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61q+3LXDcGL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Stardew Valley [Nintendo Switch - Standard Edition] | $32.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Stardew Valley - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5169YeVCjKL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Stardew Valley - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $14.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
Grandpa’s Letter includes the line, “If you’re reading this, you must be in dire need of a change.” In the game, the letter sets up his return and evaluation; it does not mean you must follow one particular farming style.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
How to reach the four-candle threshold
The scoring system rewards different kinds of progress, so there is no single required route. The visible scoring criteria on the Stardew Valley Wiki include earnings milestones, skill levels, achievements, relationships, keys, and Community Center progress. You need 12 points in total—not every milestone—and can combine the areas that best fit your save.
#1 Best Overall
- Create the farm of your dreams: build your farm from the ground up on 1 of 5 map layouts suited to your play style!
- mmaster your branching skills: raise animals, grow crops, start an orchard and build useful machines!
- become a part of the local community: get to know all 30+ residents of Pelican town!
- customize your farmer: there are hundreds of character customization options to choose from!
- settle down and start a family: share life on the farm with 1 of 12 characters you can date and marry, and even have children with!.explore vast, mysterious caves! Encounter dangerous monsters and valuable treasures!.spend a relaxing afternoon at one of the local fishing spots: the waters are teeming with seasonal varieties of delicious fish. Craft bait, bobbers, and crab pots to help you in your journey toward catching every fish and becoming a local Legend!.
Build earnings if your farm is thriving
Earnings milestones listed by the wiki are 50,000g, 100,000g, 200,000g, 300,000g, 500,000g, and 1,000,000g. The first five thresholds award one point apiece; reaching 1,000,000g awards two, for up to seven earnings points. Earnings are a substantial route, but the total available points mean you can make up ground in other categories instead.
Use skills and achievements as additional routes
Skill-level milestones and achievements can contribute points alongside earnings. If you are already making progress across several skills or completing achievements, those milestones may help close the gap without requiring you to focus solely on income. The linked wiki page has the full scoring table; check its current criteria for exact skill and achievement conditions.
Mix social, exploration, and Community Center progress
Relationships, obtaining the Skull Key and Rusty Key, and Community Center progress are also represented in the scoring categories. The Community Center’s completion and its ceremony are listed as milestones. Marriage is not a mandatory objective: the evaluation allows points from several different routes, and no one category is required to reach 12.
What to do if you get fewer than four candles
- Place a Diamond in Grandpa’s Shrine to request another evaluation.
- Allow the game to load or, in some cases, reach the first day of the following season; the renewed evaluation can occur after either trigger.
- Once the shrine shows four candles, interact with it manually to collect the reward.
This gives you another chance after the initial Year 3 evaluation, so a shortfall on the first visit does not lock you out of the reward.
Rank #3
- You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life.
- Now with Multiplayer! Invite 1-3 players to join you in the valley! Players can work together to build a thriving farm, share resources, and build relationships with townspeople or each other.
- New Single Player Content! Including the new Winter Market Festival, more collectibles, added character cut-scenes and even hats for your horse!
What the four candles give you
Four candles grant the Statue of Perfection. The Stardew Valley Wiki says the statue produces 2–8 Iridium Ore per day. The shrine does not explicitly announce the reward, so interact with it after reaching the four-candle result to receive the statue. Stardew Valley Wiki: Grandpa
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
