"Befriend Marnie in Stardew Valley: Tips and Tricks"

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• What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

• Movie Theater Preferences

• Quests

• Friendship Perks

Marnie, the beloved rancher of Stardew Valley, is cherished by players for her gentle nature and passion for animals. Despite her occasional absence from the store's register, she remains a valuable ally, particularly in the early stages of the game. Befriending Marnie can unlock helpful rewards like recipes and free hay, and even lead to amusing quests, such as retrieving Mayor Lewis's purple shorts from her bedroom. Whether you're aiming to deepen your bond with her or simply curious about her character, this guide will help you navigate the path to befriending Marnie in Stardew Valley.

Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Stardew Valley's enduring appeal is largely due to its vibrant cast of characters, including the kind-hearted rancher, Marnie. Building friendships in Pelican Town is often done through thoughtful gifts, but knowing what Marnie appreciates can be tricky. With the recent 1.6 update now available on all platforms, this article has been refreshed to provide the most current insights into Marnie's likes and dislikes.

What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

Gifts are a surefire way to win over Marnie. Like all villagers, she has preferences, and choosing the right items can significantly boost your relationship. Keep in mind that any gift given on her birthday, Fall 18th, is worth 8 times the usual friendship points. Below, you'll find a detailed list of gifts that Marnie loves and likes.

Loved Gifts

These gifts will earn you 80 friendship points each, making them perfect choices, especially on her birthday:

• Universal Loves: Prismatic Shard, Pearl, Magic Rock Candy, Golden Pumpkin, Rabbit's Foot, Stardrop Tea
  • The Golden Pumpkin can be easily obtained each year by completing the maze at the Spirit's Eve festival.
  • The Rabbit's Foot may drop from happy rabbits in your coop.
  • A Pearl can be found by correctly playing the Mermaid's song at the Night Market or occasionally in a Fish Pond with Blobfish.
  • Prismatic Shards are the rarest gem in the game; click here for a full guide on how to obtain them.
  • Magic Rock Candy is sold by the Desert Trader every Thursday in exchange for three Prismatic Shards, though this trade may not be worth it if you use the shards as gifts.
  • Stardrop Tea boosts friendship by a full heart; it's available from the Prize Machine, high-level Raccoon quests, Golden Fishing Chests, and as a reward for the Helper's Bundle at the Community Center.
• Diamond, commonly found in the deeper levels of the Mines.
• Cooked meals:
  • Pink Cake, made with Wheat Flour, Egg, Sugar, and Melon. Recipe is obtained by watching the Queen of Sauce on Summer 21, Year 2.
  • Pumpkin Pie, made with Pumpkin, Wheat Flour, Milk, and Sugar. Learn this recipe from the Queen of Sauce on Winter 21, Year 1.
  • Farmer's Lunch, made with Omelet and Parsnip. Recipe obtained at Farming Level 3.

Liked Gifts

These items will grant you 45 friendship points and are more commonly available:

• Egg (except Void Egg), collected from chickens in the Coop.
• Milk, obtained from cows and goats in the Barn.
• Quartz, often found in the Mines.
• Flowers (except Poppy), such as Crocuses and Sweet Peas, foraged in Winter and Summer respectively.
• Fruit Tree Fruits: Apple, Apricot, Orange, Peach, Pomegranate, Cherry, grown from Saplings bought at Pierre's store.
• Artisan Goods (except Oil and Void Mayonnaise), such as Wine, Jelly, Pickles, and Honey.
• Other gemstones like Ruby, Emerald, and Topaz, which can be found in the Mines.
• Stardew Valley Almanac, a Farming skill book, obtainable through various means including the Bookseller.

Disliked & Hated Gifts

Avoid giving Marnie any of these items, as they will negatively impact your friendship:

• 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. Her enjoyment of the film and concessions can earn you up to 250 friendship points. Fortunately, Marnie enjoys all movies, making it easy to please her.

• Loved Films (200 points): The Miracle at Coldstar Ranch, shown in Winter during 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 other concessions not listed below.
• Disliked Concessions (0 points): Black Licorice, Fries, JojaCola, JojaCorn, Nachos, Salted Peanuts, Truffle Popcorn

Quests

Marnie may post a Help Wanted quest on Pierre's bulletin board, which, upon completion, will earn you 150 friendship points. Additionally, she may request your assistance with the following quests:

Cow's Delight

On Fall 3, Marnie sends a letter requesting a bunch of Amaranth, her cows' favorite treat. Bring it to her for a reward of 500g and an increase of one heart in friendship. Amaranth Seeds can be purchased from Pierre's shop for 35g and take 7 days to mature.

Marnie's Request

At three hearts, Marnie will ask for a Cave Carrot to train her goats. You'll receive 100 friendship points and a charming cutscene in return. Find Cave Carrots by digging in the dirt in the Mines.

Friendship Perks

Befriending Marnie offers several advantages, including the following recipes sent at certain friendship levels:

• Pale Broth: Sent at three hearts. A profitable dish that restores 125 Energy and 56 Health, made with 2 White Algae.
• Rhubarb Pie: Sent at seven hearts. A profitable recipe loved by many villagers, restoring 215 Energy and 96 Health, made with Rhubarb, Wheat Flour, and Sugar.

Additionally, Marnie may send you 30 Hay in the mail, a helpful gesture during the challenging winter months of Year 1.