Stardew Valley Friendship Guide: Maximize Your Relationships
Making friends is key to thriving in Stardew Valley's charming Pelican Town. This guide details how to build strong relationships, whether you're aiming for friendship or romance. While talking and gifting are crucial, not all interactions are equal. This guide breaks down the friendship point system to help you reach maximum friendship levels.
Updated January 4, 2025, to reflect the 1.6 update.
The Heart System
Check your relationship status with each NPC via the in-game menu's heart tab. Each heart represents a friendship level, unlocked through accumulating friendship points. Reaching certain heart levels triggers special events, gifts, and dialogue.
One Heart = 250 Friendship Points
Gaining one heart requires 250 friendship points. Various actions—talking, gifting, etc.—affect your friendship level. Positive actions earn points; negative ones decrease it.
Boosting Friendship Gains
Acquire the "Friendship 101" book (9th Prize Machine prize, or a rare Bookseller item after Year 3). This grants a permanent 10% bonus to friendship point gains from positive interactions. It doesn't affect friendship point losses.
Friendship Point Values
Numerous interactions impact your friendship points.
Daily Interactions
- Talking: +20 points (or +10 if the NPC is busy). Ignoring an NPC 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: +80 points
- Liked: +45 points
- Neutral: +20 points
- Disliked: -20 points
- Hated: -40 points
Gifts given on the Feast of the Winter Star are worth 5x the points, and birthday gifts are 8x.
Stardrop Tea
This universally loved gift grants +250 points (+750 on birthdays/Winter Star Feast). It bypasses daily/weekly gift limits. Find it in the Prize Machine, Golden Fishing Chests, the Helper's Bundle, or from the raccoon.
Movie Theater
Invite NPCs to the movies with a Movie Ticket (1000g). Movie and concession choices affect friendship points.
- Loved Movie: +200 points
- Liked Movie: +100 points
- Disliked Movie: 0 points
- Loved Concession: +50 points
- Liked Concession: +25 points
- Disliked Concession: 0 points
Conversations and Dialogue
Dialogue choices significantly impact friendship. Positive responses earn +10 to +50 points, while negative ones decrease friendship. Heart Events offer similar opportunities for substantial point gains or losses.
Festivals and Events
- Flower Dance: Dancing with an NPC (4+ hearts) grants +250 points.
- Luau: Your soup contribution affects friendship with everyone.
- Community Center: Completing the Bulletin Board bundles grants +500 points with each non-datable villager.
By understanding this system and utilizing these strategies, you'll be well on your way to building strong relationships in Stardew Valley!
