Unlock Friendship Secrets in 'Stardew Valley'

Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide to Friendship

Forging strong relationships is key to thriving in the charming world of Stardew Valley. As a newcomer to Pelican Town, cultivating friendships and romantic connections is essential for integrating into the community. This guide details how to maximize your relationships with the villagers.

While chatting, gifting, and thoughtful dialogue choices boost friendship, not all interactions are equal. This guide clarifies the mechanics of friendship gain and loss.

Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The 1.6 update has revitalized interest in Stardew Valley. While the core friendship system remains unchanged, new additions in 1.6 are highlighted below.

The Heart System

Access your relationship status with each NPC via the in-game menu's heart tab. This displays friendship levels (hearts) earned. Higher heart levels unlock special events, mailed recipes, and unique dialogue options. However, the heart display doesn't fully illustrate friendship point accumulation.

Understanding Friendship Points

Each heart represents 250 friendship points. Most interactions (talking, gifting) impact friendship points. Positive actions earn points, while neglect or negative actions decrease them.

Accelerating Friendship

The "Friendship 101" book, obtainable as the ninth Prize Machine prize (Mayor's Mansion) or occasionally from the Bookseller (Year 3, 9% chance), provides a permanent 10% friendship point bonus. This only affects positive interactions; friendship point deductions remain unaffected.

Friendship Point Values: Interactions

Numerous actions affect friendship points:

Daily Interactions

• Talking: +20 points (or +10 if the character is busy). Daily conversation prevents friendship decay (-2 points per day). Bouquets increase this decay to -10, and neglecting a spouse results in a -20 point loss.
• Bulletin Board Deliveries: +150 points with the recipient.

Gifting

Gift preferences vary, but point values are consistent:

• Loved: +80 points
• Liked: +45 points
• Neutral: +20 points
• Disliked: -20 points
• Hated: -40 points

Gifts given during the Feast of the Winter Star (5x points) and birthdays (8x points) significantly impact friendship, so choose wisely!

Stardrop Tea

This universally loved gift (+250 points, or one heart; tripled during special occasions) can be obtained from the Prize Machine, Golden Fishing Chests, the Helper's Bundle (remixed Community Center), or occasionally from the raccoon.

Movie Theater

Inviting someone to the movies (Movie Ticket: 1000g) offers friendship boosts based on movie and concession choices. Loved movies (+200 points), liked movies (+100 points), loved concessions (+50 points), liked concessions (+25 points). Disliked choices have no effect.

Conversations and Dialogue

Dialogue choices impact friendship significantly (+10 to +50 points or deductions). Heart Events offer similar opportunities with even larger point swings (+/- 200 points).

Festivals and Events

• Flower Dance: Dancing with an NPC (4 hearts or higher) grants +250 points.
• Luau: Soup contributions affect friendship: best (+120 points), good (+60 points), neutral (0 points), bad (-50 points), worst (-100 points).
• Community Center: Completing the Bulletin Board bundles rewards +500 points (2 hearts) with all non-dateable villagers.

This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the social landscape of Stardew Valley and build lasting relationships with its memorable characters.