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, known for her affection towards animals and her intriguing relationship with Mayor Lewis. Despite her occasional absence from the store, her warm and caring nature makes her a cherished part of the community. Befriending Marnie can be beneficial, especially early in the game, as she offers valuable recipes and free hay, and even plays a role in the amusing quest to retrieve Lewis's purple shorts.

Updated on January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Stardew Valley's enduring appeal is largely due to its richly detailed characters, with Marnie being a standout figure. Her gentle demeanor and helpfulness make her a favorite among players. As you navigate your new life in Pelican Town, understanding what gifts Marnie appreciates can significantly boost your friendship. With the 1.6 update now available on all platforms, this guide has been refreshed to reflect the latest on Marnie's preferences.

What Gifts Does Marnie Like?

To win Marnie's heart in Stardew Valley, gifts play a crucial role. Not all gifts are equal in her eyes, with some being more cherished than others. Remember, gifts given on her birthday, Fall 18th, yield 8x the usual friendship points. Here's a detailed look at what Marnie loves and likes.

Loved Gifts

For maximum friendship points (80 points each), consider these items, especially on 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 drop from happy rabbits in your coop.
  • Pearls can be obtained by correctly playing the Mermaid's song at the Night Market or occasionally from a Fish Pond with Blobfish.
  • Prismatic Shards are rare gems with multiple acquisition methods; see this guide for more information.
  • Magic Rock Candy is available from the Desert Trader on Thursdays in exchange for three Prismatic Shards, though this may not be the best use of your shards.
  • Stardrop Tea increases friendship by one full heart and can be obtained from various sources, including the Prize Machine and high-level Raccoon quests.
• Diamond, which can be found in the lower 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 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. This recipe is obtained 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 your Coop.
• Milk, obtained from cows and goats in your Barn.
• Quartz, commonly found in the Mines.
• Flowers (except Poppy), with Crocuses and Sweet Peas being good options, 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 not mentioned above (e.g., Ruby, Emerald, Topaz), found in the Mines.
• Stardew Valley Almanac, a Farming skill book available through various methods, most reliably from the Bookseller.

Disliked & Hated Gifts

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

• Salmonberry
• Seaweed
• Wild Horseradish
• Holly
• Crafting materials like 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, inviting Marnie to a movie can boost your friendship by up to 250 points, depending on her enjoyment of the film and concessions. Fortunately, Marnie enjoys all films, making her an easy companion for movie outings.

• Loved Films (200 points): The Miracle at Coldstar Ranch, shown 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 post Help Wanted quests on the bulletin board outside Pierre's store, rewarding 150 friendship points upon completion. Additionally, she has specific quests:

Cow's Delight

On Fall 3, Marnie sends a letter requesting Amaranth for her cows. Completing this quest earns you 500g and increases friendship by one heart. Amaranth Seeds can be purchased from Pierre's shop for 35g and take 7 days to mature.

Marnie's Request

At three hearts, Marnie asks for a Cave Carrot to train her goats. This quest rewards 100 friendship points and a charming cutscene. Cave Carrots can be found by digging in the Mines.

Friendship Perks

Befriending Marnie comes with several perks, including recipes at certain friendship levels:

• Pale Broth: Sent at three hearts. This recipe is profitable and restores 125 Energy and 56 Health, requiring only 2 White Algae.
• Rhubarb Pie: Sent at seven hearts. Profitable and a loved gift for several villagers, it restores 215 Energy and 96 Health, made with Rhubarb, Wheat Flour, and Sugar.

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