Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide to Friendship
Forging strong bonds with the residents of Pelican Town is crucial in Stardew Valley. Whether aiming for friendship or romance, cultivating relationships is key to thriving in this charming farming simulator. While conversation and gifting are well-known methods, understanding the nuances of the friendship system is vital for maximizing your relationships. This guide will delve into the mechanics of friendship building, updated for Stardew Valley 1.6.
The Heart System
The in-game heart menu (accessed via the menu screen) displays your relationship level with each NPC. Each heart represents a significant friendship milestone, unlocking unique events, mail, and dialogue options. However, the hearts only represent the culmination of friendship points.
Friendship Points: The Foundation
Each heart requires 250 friendship points. Points are earned through various interactions, and lost through neglect or negative actions.
Boosting Friendship Gains
The "Friendship 101" book, obtainable from the Prize Machine (9th prize) or the Bookseller (Year 3, 9% chance), provides a permanent 10% boost to friendship point gains from positive interactions. It doesn't affect point losses.
Interaction Point Values
Numerous actions impact friendship levels:
- Daily Conversations: +20 points (or +10 if the NPC is busy). Ignoring an NPC results in a -2 point penalty per day (-10 with a gifted bouquet, -20 for a spouse).
- Bulletin Board Deliveries: +150 points with the recipient.
- Gift Giving:
- Loved: +80 points
- Liked: +45 points
- Neutral: +20 points
- Disliked: -20 points
- Hated: -40 points
- Winter Star Festival: 5x points
- Birthdays: 8x points
- 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 high-level requests. It can be given even after reaching the daily/weekly gift limits.
- Movie Theater: Inviting an NPC to the movies (using a Movie Ticket) yields varying points based on movie and concession choices:
- Loved Movie: +200 points
- Liked Movie: +100 points
- Disliked Movie: 0 points
- Loved Concession: +50 points
- Liked Concession: +25 points
- Disliked Concession: 0 points
Dialogue Choices and Heart Events
Conversations offer opportunities to earn (+10 to +50 points) or lose points, depending on your responses. Heart Events present similar choices, with potentially larger point swings (+/- 200 points).
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 Bundles): Completing all Bulletin Board bundles rewards +500 points with each non-dateable villager.
By understanding and applying these mechanics, you can effectively cultivate friendships and unlock the full potential of your Stardew Valley experience.
