How to get Ectoplasm in Stardew Valley

If you’re working your way through Special Orders in Stardew Valley, then you’ll eventually run into one from the Wizard. He asks for something very specific, which doesn’t appear outside the quest — Ectoplasm. 

Ectoplasm doesn’t show up as a gatherable item at any point outside of the Wizard’s Special Order quest, ‘A Curious Substance’. After picking up the quest at the board in Pelican Town, you’ll have seven days to collect some Ectoplasm, but where to get it?

Loations and enemies for Ectoplasm in Stardew Valley

As long as “ A Curious Substance” is active, Ectoplasm has a very small 9.5% chance to drop from the following monsters:

• Ghosts
  • Found in the Mines between floors 51 and 79
• Carbon Ghosts
  • Found in Skull Cavern on Mummy levels
  • Found between floors 31 and 39 of the Dangerous Mines
• Putrid Ghosts
  • Found between floors 51 and 69 of the Dangerous Mines

The easiest way to get Ectoplasm for the quest is by taking the elevator down to floor 55 of the Mines and farming Ghosts on the floors before 79. Basic Ghosts have 96 HP, while Carbon and Putrid Ghosts have 190 and 500 HP, respectively. 

Drops from Ghost monsters in Stardew Valley

Each of these monsters also have a chance to drop other items, regardless of whether “A Curious Substance” is active or not:

If you’ve previously reached the final floor of the Mines, each of these monsters also has a chance to drop Diamonds and Prismatic Shards. Even if you don’t get Ectoplasm to drop immediately, this quest offers a good chance to stock up on other resources or source some artifacts.