Befriend Marnie in Stardew Valley: Tips and Tricks

Quick Links

• What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

• Movie Theater Preferences

• Quests

• Friendship Perks

Marnie is a beloved character in Stardew Valley, renowned for her passion for animals and her intriguing relationship with Mayor Lewis. Despite her frequent absences from her shop's counter, her warm and gentle demeanor makes her a favorite among players. Befriending Marnie can be highly beneficial, especially in the early stages of the game, as she offers valuable recipes and free hay. This guide provides a comprehensive approach to building a strong friendship with Marnie in Stardew Valley.

Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The rich cast of characters in Pelican Town is a key factor in Stardew Valley's enduring appeal. Marnie, the local rancher, is particularly cherished for her kindness and assistance. As players settle into their new life, gifting is an effective way to foster relationships with the town's residents. Understanding what Marnie likes, and where to find these items, is crucial. With the recent 1.6 update now available on all platforms, this article has been refreshed to reflect the latest information on Marnie's preferences.

What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

Gifting is a sure way to win Marnie's heart. However, the quality of the gift matters; some items are more cherished than others, while certain gifts can actually offend her. Remember, any gift given on her birthday, Fall 18th, yields eight times the usual friendship points. Here's a detailed list of gifts Marnie loves and likes.

Loved Gifts

These gifts are perfect for winning over Marnie, earning 80 friendship points each. Keep these in reserve 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 easily obtained each year by navigating the maze at the Spirit's Eve festival.
  • The Rabbit's Foot has a chance to drop from rabbits kept in a happy state in the farm's coop.
  • A Pearl can be acquired by correctly playing the Mermaid's song at the Night Market or occasionally found in a Fish Pond with Blobfish.
  • Prismatic Shards, the rarest gem in the game, can be obtained through various methods; for a detailed guide, click here.
  • Magic Rock Candy is available from the Desert Trader every Thursday in exchange for three Prismatic Shards. However, trading Prismatic Shards for Magic Rock Candy might not be the best strategy if you use these gems as gifts too.
  • Stardrop Tea instantly increases friendship by one full heart with any NPC. It 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, which players can commonly find in the deeper levels of the Mines.
• Cooked meals:
  • Pink Cake, crafted from Wheat Flour, Egg, Sugar, and Melon. The recipe is available by watching 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, consisting of Omelet and Parsnip. This recipe is unlocked at Farming Level 3.

Liked Gifts

These gifts will boost your friendship with Marnie by 45 points. They are more abundant, making it easier to find something suitable in your inventory:

• Egg, except Void Egg. These are collected from chickens in the Coop.
• Milk, obtained from cows and goats in the Barn.
• Quartz, often foraged in the Mines.
• Flowers, except Poppy. Crocuses and Sweet Peas are good choices, as they can be foraged in Winter and Summer respectively.
• Fruit Tree Fruits: Apple, Apricot, Orange, Peach, Pomegranate, Cherry. These can be grown from Saplings purchased at Pierre's store.
• Artisan Goods, except for Oil and Void Mayonnaise. Items such as Wine, Jelly, Pickles, and Honey are excellent gifts for Marnie.
• Other gemstones not mentioned above (such as Ruby, Emerald, Topaz), which can be found in the Mines.
• Stardew Valley Almanac, a Farming skill book. This book can be obtained through fishing chests, Mystery Boxes, artifact spots, and most reliably by purchasing it from the Bookseller.

Disliked & Hated Gifts

Avoid giving Marnie any of the following 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 watch a film by giving her a movie ticket. Her enjoyment of the movie and concessions can boost your friendship by up to 250 points. Fortunately, Marnie enjoys all movies, which makes choosing a film easy:

• Loved Films (200 points): The Miracle at Coldstar Ranch, which plays during Winter in odd-numbered years.
• Liked Films (100 points): All others.
• 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 occasionally post a Help Wanted quest on the bulletin board outside Pierre's store. Fulfilling these requests earns you 150 friendship points. Additionally, Marnie may ask for your help with the following specific quests:

Cow's Delight

On the 3rd of Fall, Marnie sends a letter requesting a bunch of Amaranth, as it's her cows' favorite treat. Delivering the Amaranth rewards you with 500g and increases her friendship by one heart.

To complete this request, purchase Amaranth Seeds from Pierre's shop for 35g. These seeds take 7 days to mature and are harvested using a scythe.

Marnie's Request

Upon reaching three hearts with Marnie, she will ask for a Cave Carrot to help train her goats. Completing this quest earns you 100 friendship points and a delightful cutscene where a goat performs a trick.

To find Cave Carrots, dig in the dirt in the Mines using a Hoe.

Friendship Perks

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

• Pale Broth: Sent at three hearts. While it doesn't provide any special buffs, it's a profitable dish and a useful energy source made from 2 White Algae, restoring 125 Energy and 56 Health.
• Rhubarb Pie: Sent at seven hearts. This profitable recipe is also a Loved gift for many villagers. It's made from Rhubarb, Wheat Flour, and Sugar, restoring 215 Energy and 96 Health.

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