NPC Friendship Guide
Building friendships with Pelican Townโs residents is a core part of Stardew Valley. Friendship unlocks heart events, recipes, discounts, and eventually marriage. This guide explains how the friendship system works in complete detail and how to maximize your relationships with every villager.
Heart Levels and Friendship Points
Friendship is measured in points, displayed as hearts on the social menu. Each heart represents 250 friendship points, for a maximum of 10 hearts (2,500 points) for regular villagers and 14 hearts (3,500 points) for your spouse after marriage.
Complete Heart Level Table
| Hearts | Friendship Points | Milestone | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Hearts | 0 | Starting point | New villager |
| 1 Heart | 250 | First tier | Basic friendship |
| 2 Hearts | 500 | First heart event (marriage candidates) | Cutscene triggers |
| 3 Hearts | 750 | Second tier | - |
| 4 Hearts | 1,000 | Second heart event (marriage candidates) | Deeper story |
| 5 Hearts | 1,250 | Third tier | - |
| 6 Hearts | 1,500 | Third heart event (marriage candidates) | Conflict/story |
| 7 Hearts | 1,750 | Fourth tier | - |
| 8 Hearts | 2,000 | Fourth heart event (marriage candidates) | Pre-romantic |
| 9 Hearts | 2,250 | Fifth tier | - |
| 10 Hearts | 2,500 | Maximum friendship | Marriage possible |
| 12 Hearts | 3,000 | Spouse (post-marriage) | After marriage |
| 14 Hearts | 3,500 | Maximum spouse friendship | Stardrop gift at 12.5 hearts |
Gift Giving Mechanics
You can give each villager one gift per day (two per day if your spouse). Gifts are the primary way to build friendship. The reaction depends on the villagerโs preferences.
Gift Reaction Points
| Reaction | Points | Description | Visual Indicator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loved | +80 | The villagerโs absolute favorite items | Heart particles |
| Liked | +45 | Items the villager enjoys | Small smile |
| Neutral | +20 | Items the villager has no strong opinion about | No special reaction |
| Disliked | -20 | Items the villager does not like | Frown |
| Hated | -40 | Items the villager strongly dislikes | Green sick face |
Gift Limits
| Relationship | Gifts Per Day | Weekly Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular villager | 1 gift per day | 2 gifts per week | Only the best gift each week counts fully |
| Spouse | 1 gift per day | No weekly limit | Friendship gains are halved |
| Any villager | Maximum 1 gift per birthday | Birthday gift counts as daily gift | 8x multiplier applies |
Birthday Bonuses (8x Multiplier)
Giving a gift on a villagerโs birthday multiplies the friendship points by 8:
| Reaction | Normal Points | Birthday Points |
|---|---|---|
| Loved | +80 | +640 |
| Liked | +45 | +360 |
| Neutral | +20 | +160 |
| Disliked | -20 | -160 |
| Hated | -40 | -320 |
Always save your best gifts for birthdays. A single loved birthday gift (+640) is worth more than 8 days of daily liked gifts (+360). This is the single most important friendship optimization in the game.
Complete Birthday Calendar
| Date | Villager | Best Loved Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 14 | Haley | Coconut, Fruit Salad, Pink Cake, Sunflower |
| Spring 20 | Shane | Beer, Hot Pepper, Pizza, Pepper Poppers |
| Spring 23 | Leah | Goat Cheese, Salad, Truffle, Wine |
| Spring 27 | Emily | Aquamarine, Cloth, Emerald, Ruby, Topaz, Wool |
| Summer 10 | Maru | Cauliflower, Cheese, Coffee, Minerโs Treat |
| Summer 13 | Alex | Complete Breakfast, Salmon Dinner |
| Summer 17 | Sam | Cactus Fruit, Maple Bar, Pizza |
| Summer 22 | Demetrius | Bean Hotpot, Ice Cream, Rice Pudding, Strawberry |
| Fall 2 | Penny | Diamond, Emerald, Melon, Poppyseed Muffin, Sandfish |
| Fall 3 | Abigail | Amethyst, Chocolate, Pumpkin Pie, Spicy Eel |
| Fall 5 | Elliott | Duck Feather, Lobster, Pomegranate, Crab Cakes |
| Winter 10 | Sebastian | Frozen Tear, Pumpkin Soup, Sashimi, Void Egg |
| Winter 14 | Harvey | Coffee, Pickles, Super Meal, Truffle Oil, Wine |
Universal Loved Gifts
Most villagers love at least some of these universal items:
| Item | How to Obtain | Villagers Who Love It |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbitโs Foot | Rabbits (coop), Serpent drop | Almost everyone (except Abigail, Krobus, Leo, Penny) |
| Golden Pumpkin | Spiritโs Eve maze (Fall 27) | Almost everyone |
| Magic Rock Candy | Qiโs Walnut Room (50 Qi Gems) | Almost everyone |
| Pearl | Night Market (4,000g) or fishing | Almost everyone |
| Prismatic Shard | Mines, Skull Cavern | Almost everyone |
Universal Hated Gifts
Avoid giving these items to anyone:
| Item | Exceptions |
|---|---|
| Holly | Abigail, Krobus, Leo love it |
| Quartz | Abigail likes it |
| Trash | Everyone hates it |
How to Find Birthday Information
- Check the calendar in your farmhouse - shows all birthdays
- Talk to villagers - they may mention other villagersโ birthdays
- Look at the notice board outside Pierreโs store - sometimes has birthday announcements
- Watch TV - the โRanchโ channel sometimes mentions birthdays
Heart Event Triggers
Heart events are cutscenes that trigger when you reach certain friendship levels with a villager. For marriage candidates, these events tell their personal story and are required before you can propose.
Heart Event Requirements
| Event | Hearts Required | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| First event | 2 hearts | Non-rainy day, enter correct location |
| Second event | 4 hearts | Non-rainy day, enter correct location |
| Third event | 6 hearts | Non-rainy day, enter correct location |
| Fourth event | 8 hearts | Non-rainy day, enter correct location |
| Fifth event | 10 hearts | Non-rainy day, enter correct location |
Important Heart Event Notes
- Heart events only trigger on non-rainy days
- You must enter the correct location at the right time
- If conditions are not met, the event triggers the next eligible day
- Some events have choice branches that affect dialogue but not the overall story
Friendship Decay Mechanics
Friendship points decay by 2 points per day for each villager you have not spoken to. This decay is very slow and only matters if you completely ignore a villager for extended periods.
Decay Details
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Not speaking to a villager | -2 points per day |
| Speaking to a villager | +20 points, stops decay for that day |
| Giving a disliked gift | -20 points |
| Giving a hated gift | -40 points |
| Giving a loved birthday gift | +640 points |
Decay Mitigation
- Speaking to a villager daily prevents decay entirely
- Even a brief conversation (just clicking on them) counts as โspeakingโ
- Marriage candidates do not decay faster than regular villagers
- After marriage, friendship decay continues if you do not talk to your spouse
NPC Schedule Overview
Each villager follows a daily schedule that changes based on the season, day of the week, and weather. Here is a general overview:
| Villager | General Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alex | House, beach, museum | Lifeguard in summer |
| Elliott | Beach cabin | Walks on beach most days |
| Harvey | Clinic, saloon | Flies helicopter on some days |
| Sam | House, saloon, beach | Band practice with Sebastian |
| Sebastian | Basement, saloon, beach | Motorcycling on some days |
| Shane | House, Joja Mart, saloon | Works at Joja (or community center) |
| Abigail | General store, forest, mines | Plays flute in the rain |
| Emily | Saloon, house | Works at saloon |
| Haley | House, beach, museum | Photography on some days |
| Leah | Cottage, town, beach | Sculpting in cottage |
| Maru | House, clinic, lab | Works at clinic |
| Penny | Trailer, library, museum | Teaches Jas and Vincent |
Complete Villager Gift Preferences
Below is a summary of gift preferences for key villagers. For a complete list, refer to individual villager guides.
Universal Loves (Loved by Most Villagers)
| Item | Who Loves It | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Rabbitโs Foot | Alex, Elliott, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, Shane, Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru | Rabbit coop or Serpent drop |
| Golden Pumpkin | Alex, Elliott, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, Shane, Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru | Spiritโs Eve maze (Fall 27) |
| Magic Rock Candy | Alex, Elliott, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, Shane, Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru | Qiโs Walnut Room (50 Qi Gems) |
| Pearl | Alex, Elliott, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, Shane, Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru | Night Market (4,000g) |
| Prismatic Shard | Alex, Elliott, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, Shane, Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru | Mines, Skull Cavern |
Universal Likes (Liked by Most Villagers)
| Item | Who Likes It | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| All cooked dishes | Most villagers | Cooking |
| All foraged items | Most villagers | Foraging |
| All minerals | Most villagers | Mining |
| All flowers | Most villagers | Foraging, farming |
| All fruits | Most villagers | Farming, trees |
Marriage Requirements
To marry a villager, you must:
- Reach 10 hearts of friendship
- See all 5 heart events for that villager
- Give them a Bouquet (purchased from Pierreโs for 200g after 8 hearts)
- Give them a Mermaidโs Pendant (purchased from the Old Mariner on the beach for 5,000g, available after 10 hearts and the beach bridge is repaired)
After marriage, your spouse moves into your farmhouse and helps with chores. You can have children after marriage by selecting the option from the spouseโs dialogue.
Tips for Efficient Friendship
- Talk to everyone daily - 20 points per day adds up to 7,300 points per year
- Check birthdays on the calendar and plan gifts in advance
- Give loved gifts whenever possible - one loved gift per week makes a huge difference
- Attend festivals for bonus friendship with participants
- Complete quests for villagers when they appear on the help board outside Pierreโs store
- Do not give hated gifts - a single hated gift erases 4 days of talking
- Prioritize marriage candidates if you plan to marry, focus on one candidate at a time
- Use universal loves when you do not know a villagerโs specific preferences
- Save Rabbitโs Foot for birthday gifts - the 8x multiplier makes loved birthday gifts incredibly powerful