If you’re just starting out in Moonstone Island and looking for a reliable way to earn money without breaking the flow of your gameplay, this guide offers a practical and surprisingly profitable method. It’s not a min-maxed exploit and it doesn’t require constant grinding—instead, it’s a simple, passive loop that fits seamlessly into everyday exploration and progression.

What This Method Is (And Isn’t)

Let’s make it clear upfront: this strategy isn’t the absolute fastest, nor does it involve abusing some obscure loophole. What it is, however, is a low-effort, steady method that rewards natural gameplay and exploration. It’s perfect for players who want to make good gold early on without sacrificing the joy of discovery.

Step One: Get the Right Tools

To begin, you’ll need just a few basic tools and stations, most of which you’ll unlock naturally as you progress:

• Multiple Furnaces – These are cheap to craft, so make several.
• Anvil – Unlock this by selling three iron ingots to the woman at the upgrade store.
• Access to Ore and Coal – You’ll find these in the secret underground tunnels that spawn when you break special rocks in the overworld.

Don’t worry if you haven’t memorized the locations of these tunnels—they’re procedurally generated and pop up often enough that you’ll come across them during regular exploration.

Step Two: Mine Copper and Iron

While there are plenty of materials to find, Copper and Iron Ores are the sweet spot for this money-making method. Though they sell for only 10 and 20 gold respectively in their raw form, you’re going to multiply their value with a simple crafting trick.

• Copper Ore → Copper Ingot
• Iron Ore → Iron Ingot

Smelting ores into ingots only requires one unit of coal, which is everywhere—break rocks and you’ll have more than enough. Then, toss the ores into your furnaces and let them cook while you go about your day.

When you return, you’ll find your ores transformed into high-value goods:

• Iron Ingot: Sells for 1,200 gold
• Copper Ingot: Also increases in value significantly

Step Three: Turn Ingots Into Sheets

To take this even further, use the Anvil to convert ingots into metal sheets. This requires no additional materials—just a bit of time—and adds even more value:

• Iron Sheet: Sells for 1,600 gold, up from the 1,200 of the ingot alone

The math is simple and powerful. Three iron ores and a pinch of coal turn into a sheet worth 1,600 gold. That’s a massive profit jump from the original 60 gold those ores would’ve earned raw.

Step Four: Rinse, Repeat—and Don’t Forget the Poop

Once you’ve got your smelting operation going, you can increase your passive income by leveraging the Spirit Barn. Here’s a quirky tip: feed your spirits fiber, and they’ll produce poop—yes, poop—that you can sell. It doesn’t fetch a huge sum, but it’s free money.

That said, don’t sell it all. Some temple events and greenhouse upgrades require specific types of poop. Be smart—keep a stash on hand.

Suggested Routine for Passive Profit

If repetitive tasks bore you, this method blends nicely into your day-to-day gameplay. Here’s how to structure your sessions:

1. Explore – Dive into mines, gather ores, and fight enemies.
2. Return Home – Smelt everything you’ve found in your furnaces.
3. Go to Sleep – Wake up to finished ingots.
4. Convert Ingots to Sheets – Do this at the anvil to max out your profits.
5. Sell Your Products – Toss everything you don’t need into the sell crate.
6. Check Your Spirit Barn – Collect and store any spirit poop.

Repeat this process daily, and you’ll find yourself swimming in gold while still enjoying the natural rhythm of the game.

A Word on Moonstones

Yes, Moonstone Ingots are also valuable, and you can use this same method on them—but don’t. Moonstones are far more valuable for upgrades, especially in the early and mid-game. Selling them will likely leave you regretting it when you’re short on this rare resource later.

Final Thoughts: Efficient, Enjoyable, and Effective

This isn’t a high-intensity gold rush—it’s a steady stream that rewards exploration and crafting. If you’re someone who enjoys feeling productive while playing at your own pace, this is the perfect strategy. You’ll build wealth organically, prepare for more costly upgrades, and keep the fun intact without ever feeling like you’re grinding.

So grab your pickaxe, build those furnaces, and let the money flow—Moonstone Island’s economy is yours to master, one ingot at a time.