"Befriending Marnie in Stardew Valley: Tips and Tricks"

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• What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

• Movie Theater Preferences

• Quests

• Friendship Perks

Marnie, a beloved character in Stardew Valley, is cherished for her compassionate nature and passion for animals. She's also known for her intriguing relationship with Mayor Lewis and her occasional absence from her shop's counter. Despite these quirks, her warmth and kindness make her a favorite among players.

Early in the game, befriending Marnie can be particularly beneficial. She offers recipes, free hay, and even a chance to retrieve Lewis's infamous purple shorts from her bedroom. Whether you're aiming to maximize your friendship or simply get to know her better, this guide will help you build a strong bond with Marnie.

Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The enduring appeal of Stardew Valley owes much to its rich cast of characters, including the kind-hearted rancher, Marnie. As players settle into Pelican Town, giving gifts is a key way to foster relationships with its residents. What does Marnie like, and where can you find these items? With the release of the 1.6 update across all platforms, this article has been refreshed to reflect the latest on Marnie's preferences.

What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

To win Marnie's heart, gifts are your best tool. Not all gifts are equally appreciated, though—some are more cherished than others, and the wrong gift can even offend her. Remember, any gift given on her birthday, Fall 18th, earns 8x the usual friendship points. Here's a comprehensive list of gifts that Marnie enjoys:

Loved Gifts

These are the top-tier gifts that will earn you 80 friendship points. Save them for special occasions, especially her birthday:

• Universal Loves: Prismatic Shard, Pearl, Magic Rock Candy, Golden Pumpkin, Rabbit's Foot, Stardrop Tea
  • The Golden Pumpkin can be found by completing the maze at the Spirit's Eve festival each year.
  • The Rabbit's Foot might drop from happy rabbits in your coop.
  • Pearls can be obtained by playing the Mermaid's song correctly at the Night Market or found in a Fish Pond with Blobfish.
  • Prismatic Shards are rare gems; click here for a detailed guide on how to acquire them.
  • Magic Rock Candy is available from the Desert Trader every Thursday in exchange for three Prismatic Shards, though this isn't the most cost-effective option for gifting.
  • Stardrop Tea, which increases friendship by a full heart, can be obtained from the Prize Machine, high-level Raccoon quests, Golden Fishing Chests, or as a reward for the Helper's Bundle at the Community Center.
• Diamond, often found in the deeper levels of the Mines.
• Cooked meals:
  • Pink Cake, made with Wheat Flour, Egg, Sugar, and Melon. The recipe is available from the Queen of Sauce on 21 Summer, Year 2.
  • Pumpkin Pie, made with Pumpkin, Wheat Flour, Milk, and Sugar. Learn this recipe from the Queen of Sauce on 21 Winter, Year 1.
  • Farmer's Lunch, made with Omelet and Parsnip. This recipe is unlocked at Farming Level 3.

Liked Gifts

These gifts will earn you 45 friendship points and are more readily available:

• Egg, except Void Egg, collected from chickens in the Coop.
• Milk, obtained from cows and goats in the Barn.
• Quartz, commonly foraged in the Mines.
• Flowers, except Poppy. Crocuses and Sweet Peas, foraged in Winter and Summer, are good choices.
• Fruit Tree Fruits: Apple, Apricot, Orange, Peach, Pomegranate, Cherry, grown from Saplings purchased at Pierre's store.
• Artisan Goods, except for Oil and Void Mayonnaise. Examples include Wine, Jelly, Pickles, and Honey.
• Other gemstones like Ruby, Emerald, and Topaz, found in the Mines.
• Stardew Valley Almanac, a Farming skill book, obtainable through various methods including fishing chests, Mystery Boxes, artifact spots, or purchasing from the Bookseller.

Disliked & Hated Gifts

Avoid giving these gifts as they will decrease your friendship with Marnie:

• Salmonberry
• Seaweed
• Wild Horseradish
• Holly
• Crafting materials such as clay, coal, and ores
• Raw fish
• Crafted items, including fences, bombs, sprinklers, floors, bait, fertilizers, etc.
• Geodes and geode minerals

Movie Theater Preferences

Once the movie theater is operational, you can invite Marnie to a movie by giving her a ticket. Depending on her enjoyment of the film and concessions, you can earn up to 250 friendship points. Marnie enjoys every movie, perhaps due to her love for the cinema experience itself.

• Loved Films (200 points): The Miracle at Coldstar Ranch, shown during Winter in odd-numbered years.
• Liked Films (100 points): All other movies.
• Disliked Films (0 points): None.
• Loved Concessions (50 points): Ice Cream Sandwich, Stardrop Sorbet
• Liked Concessions (25 points): All others not listed below.
• Disliked Concessions (0 points): Black Licorice, Fries, JojaCola, JojaCorn, Nachos, Salted Peanuts, Truffle Popcorn

Quests

Marnie may post Help Wanted quests on Pierre's bulletin board, rewarding you with 150 friendship points upon completion. Additionally, she might request your help with specific quests:

Cow's Delight

On Fall 3, Marnie sends a letter requesting Amaranth, her cows' favorite treat. Delivering it earns you 500g and a heart of friendship. Purchase Amaranth Seeds from Pierre's shop for 35g; they take 7 days to mature and are harvested with a scythe.

Marnie's Request

At three hearts, Marnie asks for a Cave Carrot to train her goats. Completing this request earns 100 friendship points and a delightful cutscene featuring a goat's trick. Find Cave Carrots by digging in the dirt in the Mines with a Hoe.

Friendship Perks

Befriending Marnie comes with several benefits, including recipes she sends at certain friendship levels:

• Pale Broth: Sent at three hearts. While it offers no special perks, it's profitable and useful for converting common ingredients into an energy source. It requires 2 White Algae and restores 125 Energy and 56 Health.
• Rhubarb Pie: Sent at seven hearts. Profitable and loved by several villagers, it's made with Rhubarb, Wheat Flour, and Sugar, restoring 215 Energy and 96 Health.

Additionally, Marnie may occasionally send you 30 Hay through the mail, which is especially helpful during the challenging winter months of Year 1.