Good footwear is vital. You want the right shoes for jogging, the right boots for farming, and, most importantly, the right boots for spelunking and killing monsters.
Stardew Valley isn't lacking in footwear, with a total of seventeen different pairs you can obtain and wear during your cave adventures. They offer different levels of protection and immunity to debuffs, and come in a variety of colors and styles for the farmers trying to look their best. There's a little bit of something for everyone.
10 Mermaid Boots
With a shimmering blue reminiscent of the sea, Mermaid Boots are a must-have for aspiring fashionistas. And they're not all looks - the boots have the highest immunity protection and third-highest defense of all the footwear in Stardew Valley.
They're also quite rare, as they can't be bought and are only found in chests in the Volcano Dungeon on Ginger Island. They have roughly an 11 percent chance of dropping, making them a very nice and pretty find.
9 Cinderclown Shoes
Cinderclown Shoes are another Volcano Island-exclusive footwear, available at the Dwarf's Shop for 100 Cinder Shards. They're third highest both in defense and immunity, which makes up for their rather clownish appearance (they did belong to a jester, after all).
They're sturdy boots for all the caves in the game, so make sure you have them on before you go adventuring!
8 Genie Shoes
The low defense stat might make the Genie Shoes less appealing, but their immunity is second highest in the game. They can't be bought, only found from loot drops after the fortieth floor in Skull Caverns, the Quarry Mine, or fishing treasure chests.
They also have a unique style and can give your character a nice flare to set them apart in the 16-bit town. If you're less worried about taking damage and more worried about being immune, they're definitely the boots for you.
7 Dragonscale Boots
With the highest defense and no immunity, Dragonscale Boots are a bit one-sided. You can make up for that with rings, however, so lack of immunity doesn't have to be a deal breaker.
They, like the Mermaid Boots, have an 11 percent chance of being found in Volcano Dungeon treasure chests, and their muted but shiny appearance makes them a great match for most outfits. Even if you find them and don't want them right away, hold on to them - they'll come in handy someday.
6 Combat Boots
These are among the first boots you can get in the game. They can be bought from Adventurer's Guild for 1,250g after reaching the 40th floor in the cave - or they can be fished out of treasure chests.
They're not the prettiest or the strongest, but they're the first good boots you'll get, and you'll want to get them on ASAP before you move on to face the horrors of floor forty-one and beyond.
5 Dark Boots
These fashionable beauties can be bought from the Adventurer's Guild for 2,250g after reaching the 80th floor of the mine, or from fishing treasure chests. They go with anything, and they offer defense against attacks and immunity to effects like poison and curses.
While the price tag can seem a little daunting in the early stages of the game, it's worth it for something that goes with every outfit and will offer you good protection in the mines.
4 Space Boots
Space Boots are among the top five best footwear in the game - fourth highest in immunity and fifth highest in defense. You can get them as a prize after reaching floor 110 in the mines or buy them from the Adventurer's Guild for 5,000g after that.
Anything made from iridium tends to have higher quality and better stats, and while the space boots aren't number one, they're solid quality for the Pelican Town mines and a must-have for purple lovers.
3 Firewalker Boots
These sturdy boots are a prize for reaching the 80th floor of the mine, can be bought from the Adventurer's Guild for 2,000g, or can be found in fishing treasure chests. There are no penalties for walking on hot floors, so the description is mostly for show.
They're pretty average as far as defense and immunity go but offer an equal balance, so you're not choosing between the two, and the dark brownish-red color shouldn't clash with anything you wear.
2 Crystal Shoes
Live your Cinderella dreams - if you dream of being a Cinderella farmer. These are a rare special monster drop in the Skull Caverns, as well as a possible reward on floor 110 of the Pelican Town mines if you have remixed rewards turned on when you start a new game.
Their immunity is on the higher end, making them more valuable, although they're lacking in defense. As far as fashion goes, however, they're pretty attractive.
1 Emily's Magic Boots
These boots aren't particularly special, but they are unique and part of a set. You get these, Emily's Magic Hat, and Emily's Magic shirt during Emily's 14-heart event. You'll have to befriend, romance, and marry Emily, then be an A+ spouse, in order to acquire them.
Their defense and immunity are decent, but, most importantly, they have a matching hat and shirt set! That's practically the height of fashion... as long as you like pink and blue. They're nice colors, right? Note: don't actually try to use them as compost, as the description implies.