Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide to Friendship
Forging strong bonds with the residents of Pelican Town is crucial in Stardew Valley. Whether your goal is friendship or romance, building relationships is key to thriving in this charming farming simulator. This guide details how to maximize your friendships, incorporating updates from the 1.6 patch.
The Heart System
Access your relationship status with each NPC via the in-game menu's heart tab. This shows your friendship level with each character in hearts. Reaching certain heart levels unlocks special events, mailed recipes, and unique dialogue options. However, the heart gauge only partially reflects friendship progress.
Understanding Friendship Points
Each heart represents 250 friendship points. Almost every interaction—talking, gifting, etc.—affects your relationship. Positive actions earn points, while ignoring or negatively interacting with characters decreases friendship.
Boosting Friendship Gains
Acquire the "Friendship 101" book. Found as a Prize Machine reward (ninth prize) or occasionally sold by the Bookseller (Year 3, 9% chance), this book costs 20,000g and provides a permanent 10% bonus to friendship gains. Note: This bonus doesn't affect friendship loss.
Friendship Point Values for Interactions
Many actions impact friendship points.
Daily Interactions
- Talking: +20 points (or +10 if the character is busy). Ignoring a character results in a -2 point penalty daily (-10 if you've given them a bouquet, -20 for your spouse).
- Bulletin Board Deliveries: +150 points with the recipient.
Gifting
Gift preferences vary.
- Loved Gifts: +80 points
- Liked Gifts: +45 points
- Neutral Gifts: +20 points
- Disliked Gifts: -20 points
- Hated Gifts: -40 points
Birthday and Feast of the Winter Star gifts multiply point values (x8 and x5 respectively). Be mindful of gift choices on these special days!
Stardrop Tea
This universally loved gift grants +250 points (+750 on birthdays/Winter Star). It can be obtained from the Prize Machine, Golden Fishing Chests, the Helper's Bundle, or from the raccoon for completing requests. It bypasses daily/weekly gift limits.
Movie Theater
Taking someone to the movies (requires a Movie Ticket) yields varying points based on movie and snack choices.
Conversations and Dialogue
Responding appropriately to character questions grants +10 to +50 points; negative responses reduce friendship. Heart Events also feature dialogue choices with significant point impacts.
Festivals and Events
- Flower Dance: Dancing with someone (4+ hearts) grants +250 points.
- Luau: Contributing to the community soup yields varying points based on the soup's quality.
- Community Center: Completing the Bulletin Board bundles awards +500 points with each non-dateable villager.
By understanding these mechanics, you can cultivate meaningful relationships and unlock all that Stardew Valley has to offer.
