"Befriend Marnie in Stardew Valley: Tips and Tricks"

Quick Links

• What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

• Movie Theater Preferences

• Quests

• Friendship Perks

Marnie, the beloved rancher of Stardew Valley, is known for her affection toward animals and her secret romance with Mayor Lewis. Despite her frequent absences from the store's register, she remains a fan favorite due to her kind and gentle demeanor. Befriending Marnie can be immensely beneficial, especially in the early stages of the game, as she offers valuable recipes and free hay. For those interested in deepening their relationship with her or simply learning more about her, this guide provides all the necessary details on how to befriend Marnie in Stardew Valley.

Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The enduring appeal of Stardew Valley can be largely attributed to its vibrant cast of characters, with Marnie standing out as a kind and helpful friend. As players strive to build friendships in their new home, gifts play a crucial role in gaining affection. But what does Marnie like, and where can players find these items? With the 1.6 update now available on all platforms, this article has been refreshed to reflect the most current information on Marnie's preferences.

What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

To win over Marnie's heart, gifts are your best tool. However, not all gifts are equal in her eyes—some will earn you more favor than others, while certain items may even upset her. Remember, gifts given on her birthday, Fall 18th, will grant you eight times the usual friendship points. Here's a detailed look at the gifts Marnie loves and likes.

Loved Gifts

These are the top-tier gifts that will earn you 80 friendship points with Marnie. Reserve these for special occasions, especially her birthday:

• Universal Loves: Prismatic Shard, Pearl, Magic Rock Candy, Golden Pumpkin, Rabbit's Foot, Stardrop Tea
  • The Golden Pumpkin is easily obtainable by completing the maze at the Spirit's Eve festival each year.
  • The Rabbit's Foot can be obtained by keeping happy rabbits in your coop.
  • Pearls can be found by correctly playing the Mermaid's song at the Night Market or in Fish Ponds with Blobfish.
  • Prismatic Shards, the rarest gem, can be acquired in multiple ways; click here for a comprehensive guide.
  • Magic Rock Candy can be traded from the Desert Trader every Thursday for three Prismatic Shards, though this might not be the best use of such rare gems.
  • Stardrop Tea boosts friendship by a full heart and 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 lower levels of the Mines.
• Cooked meals:
  • Pink Cake, made from Wheat Flour, Egg, Sugar, and Melon. The recipe is available from the Queen of Sauce on Summer 21, Year 2.
  • Pumpkin Pie, crafted with Pumpkin, Wheat Flour, Milk, and Sugar. Learn this recipe from the Queen of Sauce on Winter 21, Year 1.
  • Farmer's Lunch, made from Omelet and Parsnip. This recipe is unlocked at Farming Level 3.

Liked Gifts

These gifts will earn you 45 friendship points and are more common, increasing your chances of having one on hand:

• 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 respectively, are good choices.
• 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 (e.g., Ruby, Emerald, Topaz), found in the Mines.
• Stardew Valley Almanac, a Farming skill book available through various means, most reliably from the Bookseller.

Disliked & Hated Gifts

Avoid giving Marnie the following gifts as they will decrease your friendship with her:

• Salmonberry
• Seaweed
• Wild Horseradish
• Holly
• Crafting materials like clay, coal, and ores
• Raw fish
• Crafted items such as 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 movie ticket. Depending on her enjoyment of the film and concessions, you can gain up to 250 friendship points. Fortunately, Marnie enjoys any film that's showing:

• 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 other concessions not listed below.
• Disliked Concessions (0 points): Black Licorice, Fries, JojaCola, JojaCorn, Nachos, Salted Peanuts, Truffle Popcorn

Quests

Like other villagers, Marnie might post a Help Wanted quest on Pierre's bulletin board. Completing these quests earns you 150 friendship points. Additionally, Marnie has specific quests for you:

Cow's Delight

On Fall 3, Marnie sends a letter asking for a bunch of Amaranth, her cows' favorite treat. Delivering this earns you 500g and increases her friendship by one heart. Amaranth Seeds can be purchased from Pierre's shop for 35g and take seven days to mature before being harvested with a scythe.

Marnie's Request

At three hearts, Marnie requests a Cave Carrot to train her goats. Completing this quest grants 100 friendship points and a charming cutscene. Cave Carrots are found by digging in the dirt in the Mines with a Hoe.

Friendship Perks

Befriending Marnie comes with several perks, including recipes she sends as your friendship grows:

• Pale Broth: Sent at three hearts. While it doesn't offer any special perks, it's a profitable dish that converts White Algae into energy, restoring 125 Energy and 56 Health.
• Rhubarb Pie: Sent at seven hearts. This dish is profitable and loved by several villagers. It's made from Rhubarb, Wheat Flour, and Sugar, restoring 215 Energy and 96 Health.

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