Overview
Musk Deer are one of the livestock animal types available in Starsand Island. Male Musk Deer secrete musk, a valuable animal product used in crafting high-value processed goods. Musk Deer come in four color variants ranging from Common to Super Rare, with the Super Rare Fairy Musk Deer being one of the most sought-after animals in the entire game due to its distinctive glow-in-the-dark appearance.
Raising Musk Deer requires more advanced ranching infrastructure than starter animals like chickens or rabbits, but the high value of musk and the prestige of rare variants make them a worthwhile investment for players who have established their ranch operations.
Color Variants
Musk Deer exist in four distinct color variants, each with different rarity levels. Rarity affects both the visual appearance and the base quality of musk produced:
Variant | Rarity | Appearance | Musk Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
Common Musk Deer | Common | Standard brown coat, the most commonly encountered variant | Standard quality musk |
Uncommon | Reddish-brown fur with warm tones | Improved quality musk | |
Rare | Dark brown, almost black coat | High quality musk | |
Super Rare | Ethereal white coat that glows in the dark | Premium quality musk |
The Fairy Musk Deer is particularly notable because it emits a soft luminous glow during nighttime hours. This makes it one of the most visually striking animals on the island and a highly desirable addition to any ranch. The glow is purely cosmetic and does not affect gameplay mechanics, but it does make the Fairy Musk Deer easy to spot in your enclosure after dark.
How to Obtain
Musk Deer are purchased from Green Pasture Ranch once you have reached a sufficient Rancher profession tier. Unlike starter animals (chickens and rabbits), Musk Deer are not available at Apprentice Rancher level. You must advance through the ranching certification tiers before they appear in Pastelle's shop terminal.
Method | Variant Available | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
Purchase from Green Pasture Ranch | Common, Uncommon | Higher Rancher tier (Intermediate or above) |
Breeding | All variants (including Rare and Super Rare) | Breeding House or Selective Breeding House |
Special events | Varies | Seasonal events may offer limited Musk Deer |
Common and Uncommon variants can be purchased directly. Rare and Super Rare variants (Golden Musk Deer and Fairy Musk Deer) are obtained primarily through the breeding system. Breeding two Musk Deer together has a chance of producing offspring with a higher rarity tier than either parent, though the odds decrease with each rarity level.
Musk Production
Male Musk Deer produce musk at regular intervals once they reach maturity. The production cycle takes several in-game days, and the musk appears in the animal's enclosure for the player to collect. Musk production is influenced by several factors:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Animal mood | Happy, well-fed, and clean Musk Deer produce musk more reliably. Neglected animals may skip production cycles. |
Variant rarity | Higher rarity variants produce higher quality musk, which sells for more and produces better results in crafting recipes. |
Feed quality | Feeding Musk Deer Golden Feed Mix (produced by the Grinder) further boosts musk quality beyond the variant's base level. |
Gender | Only male Musk Deer produce musk. Female Musk Deer are essential for breeding but do not generate musk themselves. |
Uses for Musk
Musk is a premium crafting ingredient used in several high-value applications:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Perfume crafting | Musk is a key ingredient in perfume recipes, which are among the highest-value processed goods in the game. |
High-tier cooking recipes | Some advanced cooking recipes call for musk as a flavoring or aromatic ingredient. |
Selling directly | Musk sells for a strong price at the Shipping Bin, especially high-quality musk from rare variants. |
Gift giving | Certain NPCs appreciate musk as a gift, making it useful for friendship building. |
Housing Requirements
Musk Deer are housed in barn-type enclosures on your Hopeland property. They require a fenced enclosure with adequate space for the number of deer you plan to keep. Key housing considerations:
Build a barn or fenced enclosure large enough for your planned herd size. Overcrowding reduces mood and can affect production.
Place a Feeding Trough inside the enclosure to automate daily feeding.
Place a Cleaning Pod inside the enclosure to automate daily cleaning.
Ensure the enclosure has a gate or access point so you can enter to collect musk and interact with the animals.
Musk Deer are medium-sized animals. They need more space per animal than chickens but less than cows.
Feeding
Musk Deer require a specific feed type appropriate for their species. Feed can be crafted at the Worktable using harvested crops and grains. The base feed keeps Musk Deer healthy and productive, while Golden Feed Mix (processed through the Grinder) provides a quality boost to their musk output.
Feed Type | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|
Standard Deer Feed | Maintains health and mood; enables regular musk production | Craft at Worktable |
Golden Feed Mix | Boosts musk quality above baseline for the variant | Process Mixed Grains through the Grinder |
Breeding Musk Deer
Musk Deer can be bred using the Breeding House or the Selective Breeding House. Breeding requires one male and one female Musk Deer, both of which must be adults in good condition (fed, clean, and happy).
The breeding system determines the offspring's color variant based on the parents' genetics. Key breeding mechanics:
Breeding two Common Musk Deer has a small chance of producing an Uncommon offspring.
Breeding two Uncommon Musk Deer has a small chance of producing a Rare (Black) offspring.
Breeding two Rare Musk Deer has a very small chance of producing the Super Rare Fairy Musk Deer.
The Selective Breeding House improves the odds of higher-rarity offspring compared to the standard Breeding House.
Offspring inherit traits from both parents. Selectively pairing animals with desirable traits over multiple generations is the key to eventually obtaining the Fairy Musk Deer.
Obtaining the Fairy Musk Deer
The Fairy Musk Deer is the ultimate goal for many Musk Deer breeders. Because it is Super Rare, obtaining one requires patience and a structured breeding program:
Start with the best Musk Deer variants you can purchase (Common or Uncommon from Green Pasture Ranch).
Breed pairs to produce Uncommon offspring. Keep the best Uncommon animals for the next generation.
Breed Uncommon pairs to attempt Rare (Black) offspring. This may take several breeding cycles.
Once you have two Rare (Black) Musk Deer, breed them repeatedly for a chance at the Super Rare Fairy variant.
Use the Selective Breeding House if available to improve your odds at each step.
Keep all animals well-fed with Golden Feed Mix and in good condition throughout the breeding program.
The entire process can take many in-game weeks. Patience is the most important ingredient. Some players report obtaining a Fairy Musk Deer within 3 to 4 generations, while others need 6 or more breeding cycles at the Rare tier.
Tips
Focus on quality over quantity. Two well-cared-for Musk Deer producing premium musk are more profitable than six neglected ones producing low-quality musk.
Always feed Golden Feed Mix when possible. The quality boost applies to every musk harvest, compounding value over time.
Keep at least one male and one female Musk Deer at all times if you plan to breed. Selling all of one gender means you lose breeding capability until you buy more.
The Fairy Musk Deer's glow makes it a great centerpiece for your ranch. Place its enclosure where you can enjoy the visual effect at night.
Musk sells best when processed into perfume. Invest in perfume crafting recipes to maximize the return on your Musk Deer investment.
Check the Breeding and Genetics article for detailed mechanics on trait inheritance and rarity odds.
Do not rush into Musk Deer ranching before your farm income can support it. The purchase price, feed costs, and enclosure construction add up quickly.
Pair your Musk Deer enclosure with automation stations early. Manual feeding and cleaning of deer is more time-consuming than smaller animals.