Stardew Valley Friendship Guide

This guide delves into the intricacies of friendship in Stardew Valley, explaining how to maximize your relationships with the villagers. Building strong bonds is crucial, whether you're aiming for friendship or romance. While conversation and gifting are key, not all interactions are equal.

The Heart System:

The in-game heart menu shows your friendship level with each NPC. Each heart represents 250 friendship points. Reaching certain heart levels unlocks special events, mail, and dialogue options.

Boosting Friendship:

To accelerate friendship gains, acquire the "Friendship 101" book. This book, obtainable from the Prize Machine (9th prize) or the Bookseller (Year 3, 9% chance), provides a permanent 10% friendship point bonus.

Point Values:

• Daily Interactions: Talking to an NPC yields +20 points (or +10 if they're busy). Ignoring them results in a -2 point penalty (-10 with a bouquet, -20 for a spouse). Bulletin Board deliveries grant +150 points to the recipient.

• Gift Giving:
  • Loved Gifts: +80 points
  • Liked Gifts: +45 points
  • Neutral Gifts: +20 points
  • Disliked Gifts: -20 points
  • Hated Gifts: -40 points
  • Birthday/Feast of the Winter Star gifts multiply these values by 8x and 5x respectively.

• 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: Inviting an NPC to the movies (using a Movie Ticket) yields points based on their preferences for the movie and concessions. Loved Movie: +200; Liked Movie: +100; Loved Concession: +50; Liked Concession: +25.

• Dialogue Choices: Responding appropriately to NPC questions can yield +10 to +50 points; poor choices can decrease friendship. Heart Events offer similar opportunities for significant point gains or losses.

Festivals and Events:

• Flower Dance: Dancing with an NPC (4+ hearts) grants +250 points.
• Luau: Contributing to the community soup yields varying points based on the soup's quality.
• Community Center (Bulletin Board): Completing all Bulletin Board bundles awards +500 points with each non-dateable villager.

This comprehensive guide provides a detailed understanding of Stardew Valley's friendship system, empowering players to forge meaningful connections within Pelican Town. Remember to consider individual preferences when gifting and choosing dialogue options for optimal results.