If you’ve spent any time wandering the shifting corridors of Mt. Hebron in the puzzle-mystery game Blue Prince, you know that feeling. Your stamina is low. You’re down to your last few steps. You desperately need to cross one more room to find a key or reach a shop, but the math just isn't mathing. Then, you find it.
The blue prince salt shaker.
At first glance, it looks like a throwaway item. In a game filled with cryptic maps, supernatural architecture, and high-stakes drafting, a kitchen utensil feels almost insulting. But in the world of Blue Prince, where every single step is a currency more valuable than gold, the salt shaker is a literal lifesaver.
What the Blue Prince Salt Shaker Actually Does
Let's get the mechanics out of the way. Honestly, it’s a simple buff, but the compounding value is where it gets crazy.
When you have the salt shaker in your inventory, every piece of food you consume gives you +1 extra step. That’s it. That’s the "magic." If a banana usually gives you 3 steps, now it gives you 4. If you're eating a heavy meal in the Dining Room that grants 20 steps, the salt shaker bumps it to 21.
Wait. Just one step?
I know. It sounds tiny. You’re probably thinking, "Why would I waste an inventory slot on one extra step?" But here is what most people get wrong: Blue Prince is a game of margins. It’s a roguelike where runs are won or lost by a single digit. If you eat five or six snacks in a single floor, that salt shaker just bought you a whole extra room.
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It’s basically the "Discount Coupon Book" but for your legs. While the Coupon Book saves you a coin on purchases, the salt shaker saves you from the "Game Over" screen when you're exactly one tile away from a staircase.
Where to Find This Thing
You can’t always count on finding the salt shaker, which is what makes it so frustratingly elusive when you actually need it. Like most items in the game, it’s tied to the room drafting mechanic and a bit of RNG (random number generation) luck.
- The Commissary: This is your best bet. If you have 5 coins to spare, the shopkeeper often stocks it. It’s a steep price early on, but it pays for itself if you find enough food.
- The Kitchen: Naturally. If you draft a Kitchen room, there is a high probability—especially if your "Luck" stat is boosted—that the salt shaker will be sitting on a counter.
- Secret Rooms: Sometimes the game hides it behind a bookshelf or in a locked chest.
Keep in mind that Blue Prince uses a "Room Rank" system. You might not see the higher-tier food items until you've reached Rank 8 and unlocked the Dining Room, but the salt shaker works on everything from a basic apple to a Porterhouse Steak.
The "Silver Spoon" Combo
If you really want to break the economy of the game, you have to pair the blue prince salt shaker with the Silver Spoon.
The Silver Spoon is another special item that doubles the effectiveness of food. Now, the math in Blue Prince follows a specific order of operations. Let's look at that banana again.
- Base Value: 3 Steps.
- Salt Shaker Add-on: +1 Step (Total: 4).
- Silver Spoon Multiplier: 4 x 2 = 8 Steps.
Suddenly, a measly piece of fruit is giving you 8 steps. That is a massive swing. If you manage to pull this off with a full meal, you can effectively clear half a floor on a single stomach-full.
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Is It Worth the Inventory Slot?
Inventory management in this game is a nightmare. You're constantly juggling keys, shovels, sledgehammers, and maps. Carrying a salt shaker means leaving something else behind.
Most veteran players will tell you that the salt shaker is an "Early to Mid-Game" priority. Early on, your maximum step count is low, and you're constantly starving. Having that extra point of movement is crucial.
However, once you get into the late-game "Master of the House" phase where you have high base stamina and a surplus of keys, the salt shaker starts to lose its luster. At that point, you’re better off carrying items that help you solve the final puzzles or bypass the more dangerous Room Effects.
Common Misconceptions
I’ve seen a few players on Discord claiming that the salt shaker increases the value of "Step Potions" or "Gems."
It doesn't.
It is strictly tied to food items. Don't waste your coins on it if you’re running a "No Food" build (yes, that’s a thing for the hardcore speedrunners). Also, it doesn't stack if you find two of them. Believe me, I tried. The game just won't let you be that salty.
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Tactical Advice for Your Next Run
If you see the salt shaker in the first three floors, buy it. Even if it costs your last few coins. The utility you get over the next hour of gameplay far outweighs the temporary poverty.
Also, prioritize drafting the Kitchen or the Pantry once you have it. These rooms are basically "recharge stations" that become significantly more efficient when you have the shaker.
One last thing: don't forget you have it. It sounds stupid, but when you're looking at a piece of food and calculating if you have enough steps to reach the next door, remember to add that +1. It has saved my run more times than I can count.
If you're struggling with the math of the Mt. Hebron estate, start paying attention to these small "efficiency" items. They aren't as flashy as the telescope or the master key, but they are the quiet heroes of a successful 100% completion run.
Check your current inventory. If you've got a spare slot and you're heading toward the Kitchen, keep your eyes peeled for that little blue ceramic bottle. It’s the difference between a dead end and a discovery.
Next Steps for Players:
- Cross-reference your current map with known Kitchen locations to hunt for the shaker.
- If you're at Rank 8, save your food items until you've checked the Commissary for a potential salt shaker/silver spoon combo.
- Track your total steps saved over a single floor to see if the inventory trade-off is actually working for your specific playstyle.