Choosing the right rod at the right time makes a huge difference in Star Fishing. If you upgrade randomly, you will waste money on rods that barely improve your farming speed. A smart progression path lets you reach late-game areas faster while saving millions in the process. This guide breaks down the most efficient rod progression route, from early game all the way to the strongest rod currently available.
Best Rod Progression Summary
For the fastest and most efficient progression:
- Plastic → Reinforced → Copper Energy → Moon → (Optional Observatory) → Cave Rod → Crystal Rod → Frozen Flame Rod → Crimson Rod
Skipping weaker rods saves money and speeds up your journey to endgame content.
Early Game Rod Path (Fast Money Start)
When you first spawn in, head to the starter rod section.
1. Plastic Rod
Your first purchase should be the Plastic Rod since it is the cheapest upgrade. It gives you a small boost and helps you start earning money quickly.
2. Reinforced Rod
After building some cash, move directly to the Reinforced Rod. It improves consistency and lets you farm faster than staying on early beginner gear.
3. Copper Energy Rod
This is your third priority. These three rods (Plastic → Reinforced → Copper Energy) are the best early-game setup for quick money generation.
Avoid overspending on minor upgrades in between. Your goal is to scale income as fast as possible.
Skip Strategy: Space Rod to Moon Rod
After Copper Energy, you will see the Space Rod. While it looks tempting, it is better to skip it and go straight for the Moon Rod. The price gap is not huge, and the Moon Rod provides better overall value. Skipping weaker mid-tier rods helps you save money for later zones.
Smart Bobber Pairing
Rod progression works best when paired with the right bobber upgrades.
- Buy the first three basic bobbers.
- Skip the fourth.
- Upgrade directly to the Cosmic Bobber.
Cosmic gives a strong luck boost and helps you prepare for Cave progression.
Observatory Rod (Optional)
To reach the Observatory, progress toward Hog’s Object and head right. Inside, you will find a rod and bobber. However, this rod is optional.
You can:
- Buy the Observatory Rod
- Skip it and go directly for the Cave Rod
Many players skip Observatory and save money for Cave progression instead. This makes reaching late-game rods easier.
Cave Rod & Crystal Upgrade
To unlock the Cave area:
- Talk to the Cave Miner.
- Complete the requirements to unlock the zone.
- Speak to the Guardian inside.
After finishing the Guardian’s quest, you unlock:
- Crystal Rod
- Crystal Bobber
This is your first major late-game power spike. Once you have Crystal gear, farming becomes significantly easier.
Library Rod – Frozen Flame
After exiting the Cave, head right to reach the Library.
Inside the Library:
- Complete the required quests.
- Unlock the special rod room.
- Go down and complete a short parkour section.
At the end, you will find:
- Frozen Flame Rod
- Frozen Flame Bobber
This rod is extremely important. It is required for unlocking the final rod in the game.
Unlocking the Crimson Rod (Best Rod in Star Fishing)
The Crimson Rod is currently the strongest rod available.
Here’s the progression:
- Talk to the Bridge Builder to repair the bridge.
- Climb the stairs and speak to the Knight to open the gate.
- Enter the castle area.
- Complete the Merlin-related quest.
- Talk to the King and complete his quest to obtain a key.
- Use the key to unlock the next gate.
- Finish the maze questline inside.
After completing all required quests, you unlock:
- Crimson Rod
- Crimson Bobber
This is the final endgame setup and gives the highest performance in high-tier zones.
Rod progression in Star Fishing is all about planning ahead. If you upgrade too often or buy every rod you see, you will slow down your progress. Focus on major power spikes like Crystal, Frozen Flame, and finally Crimson. Once you reach the Crimson Rod and Bobber, you will be able to farm late-game Stars efficiently and compete with top players. Stick to this path, manage your cash wisely, and your progression will feel much smoother from start to finish.