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Marnie is a beloved character in Stardew Valley, known for her passion for animals and her intriguing relationship with Mayor Lewis. Despite her occasional absence from her store's register, her warm and gentle nature 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. Whether you're aiming to deepen your relationship with her or simply want to learn more about her, this guide will help you navigate the process of befriending Marnie in Stardew Valley.
Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: The characters in Pelican Town are a significant reason for Stardew Valley's enduring popularity. Marnie, the local rancher, stands out with her kindness and helpfulness. As you settle into your new home, giving gifts is an excellent way to build friendships with the town's residents. But what does Marnie like, and where can you find these items? With the 1.6 update now available on all platforms, this article has been updated to provide the latest information on Marnie's preferences.
What Gifts Does Marnie Like?
To win Marnie's heart, gifts are your best tool. However, not all gifts are equal in her eyes—some will delight her more than others, while certain items might even offend her. Remember, any gift given on her birthday, Fall 18th, will earn you 8 times the usual friendship points. Here's a detailed list of gifts that Marnie appreciates:
Loved Gifts
These are the top-tier gifts for Marnie, each earning you 80 friendship points. Save 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 obtained by completing the maze at the Spirit's Eve festival each year.
- The Rabbit's Foot can drop from happy rabbits in your coop.
- A Pearl can be found by playing the Mermaid's song correctly at the Night Market or occasionally in a Fish Pond with Blobfish.
- Prismatic Shards are the rarest gems in the game; for a full guide on obtaining them, click here.
- Magic Rock Candy can be traded at the Desert Trader every Thursday for three Prismatic Shards, though this isn't cost-effective if you use the candy as a gift.
- Stardrop Tea boosts friendship by a full heart when given to 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, commonly 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 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 there's a wider variety to choose from:
Egg, except Void Egg. Collect these from chickens in the Coop.
Milk, obtained from cows and goats in your Barn.
Quartz, often foraged in the Mines.- Flowers, except Poppy. Crocuses and Sweet Peas are good choices, available 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 like
Wine, 
Jelly, 
Pickles, and 
Honey are great gifts for Marnie. - Other gemstones not mentioned above (e.g., Ruby, Emerald, Topaz), found in the Mines.
- Stardew Valley Almanac, a Farming skill book. It can be found in various ways (fishing chests, Mystery Boxes, artifact spots, etc.), but the most reliable method is purchasing it from the Bookseller.
Disliked & Hated Gifts
Avoid giving Marnie any of the following items, as they will decrease your friendship with her:
- 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. Fortunately, Marnie enjoys all movies, making it easy to please her:
- Loved Films (200 points): The Miracle at Coldstar Ranch, shown during Winter in odd-numbered years.
- Liked Films (100 points): All other films.
- 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 Help Wanted quests on the bulletin board outside Pierre's store. Completing these quests will earn you 150 friendship points. Additionally, she may request your help with the following quests:
Cow's Delight
On the 3rd of Fall, Marnie sends a letter requesting a bunch of 
Amaranth, her cows' favorite treat. Delivering it to her will earn you 500g and increase her friendship by one heart. To complete this, buy 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 you 100 friendship points and a charming cutscene. Find Cave Carrots by digging in the dirt in the Mines with a Hoe.
Friendship Perks
Befriending Marnie comes with several perks, including recipes she sends at certain friendship levels:
Pale Broth: Sent at three hearts. This recipe, while not providing any special perks, is profitable and useful for turning White Algae into an energy source. It restores 125 Energy and 56 Health.
Rhubarb Pie: Sent at seven hearts. This profitable recipe is also a Loved gift for several villagers. Made with Rhubarb, Wheat Flour, and Sugar, it restores 215 Energy and 96 Health.
Additionally, Marnie may send you 30 
Hay in the mail, which is particularly helpful during the winter in Year 1 when feeding animals can be challenging.
