This guide explores friendship in Stardew Valley, detailing how to maximize relationships with villagers. Building friendships is crucial for integrating into Pelican Town, whether aiming for camaraderie or romance.
While conversation and gifting are key, not all interactions are equal. This guide clarifies the friendship point system and provides strategies for efficient relationship building.
The Heart Scale
The in-game heart scale (accessed via the menu) displays friendship levels with each NPC. Each heart represents 250 friendship points. Reaching certain heart levels unlocks special events, mail, and dialogue options.
Earning Friendship Points
Gaining one heart requires 250 points. Points are earned through various interactions:
- Daily Conversations: Talking to an NPC usually yields +20 points; +10 if they're busy. Ignoring an NPC results in a friendship decrease (-2 points daily, -10 if a bouquet was given, -20 for a spouse).
- Bulletin Board Deliveries: Completing deliveries grants +150 points with the recipient.
- Gifting:
- Loved Gifts: +80 points
- Liked Gifts: +45 points
- Neutral Gifts: +20 points
- Disliked Gifts: -20 points
- Hated Gifts: -40 points
- Winter Star Festival gifts: 5x points
- Birthday gifts: 8x points
Boosting Friendship Gain
The "Friendship 101" book (available from the Prize Machine or the Bookseller in Year 3) provides a permanent 10% boost to friendship gains.
Special Gifts and Interactions
- 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.
- Movie Theater: Inviting an NPC to the movies grants points based on movie and snack choices.
- Conversations & Dialogue: Choosing appropriate dialogue options can yield +10 to +50 points, while negative responses decrease friendship. Heart events offer similar opportunities.
Festivals and Events
- Flower Dance: Dancing with an NPC (4 hearts or higher) grants +250 points.
- Luau: Contributing to the community soup impacts friendship levels.
- Community Center (Bulletin Board Bundles): Completing all Bulletin Board bundles grants +500 points with each non-dateable villager.
This comprehensive guide equips players with the knowledge to cultivate meaningful relationships in Stardew Valley, unlocking the game's full social potential. Remember to consider individual preferences when gifting and choosing dialogue options for optimal friendship gains.
