Stardew Valley: How To Befriend Willy

This guide delves into the rewarding friendship with Willy, the amiable fisherman of Stardew Valley. He's a key early contact, providing your initial fishing rod and ongoing supply needs. Building a rapport with Willy offers significant advantages. This updated guide (January 4, 2025) reflects the 1.6 update, including new book gifts.

Befriending Willy is straightforward, yielding valuable benefits. Take time from farming to fish with him and show your appreciation with thoughtful gifts. He particularly values rare aquatic finds!

Gift Guide

Friendship flourishes through generosity. Present gifts to Willy at his shop (most weekdays), his fishing spots (Saturdays), or the Stardrop Saloon (evenings). Remember his birthday (Summer 24) for an 8x friendship boost.

Loved Gifts (+80 Friendship)

These top-tier gifts significantly increase friendship. Some are challenging to obtain (rare fish), but pumpkins and mead are readily accessible. Willy also appreciates fishing-related books and valuable crafting materials.

• Fish: Catfish , Octopus , Sea Cucumber , Sturgeon
• Books: Jewels Of The Sea , The Art O' Crabbing
• Mead (Honey in a Keg)
• Gold Bar (Gold Ore in Furnace)
• Iridium Bar (Iridium Ore in Furnace)
• Diamond (Mines)
• Pumpkin (Fall Crop)
• All universally loved gifts

Liked Gifts (+45 Friendship)

These are excellent alternatives if loved gifts are scarce. Willy enjoys most seafood dishes; cook your catch and share the bounty!

• Cooked fish dishes (excluding Dish O' the Sea, Sashimi, Maki Roll – neutral)
• Fish: Lingcod , Tiger Trout
• Quartz
• Bait And Bobber

Disliked & Hated Gifts

Avoid these to prevent friendship loss. Hated gifts are significantly worse than disliked ones.

• Foraged goods
• Non-seafood cooked dishes
• Life Elixir
• Universally disliked gifts (except fish – neutral, unless specified above)
• Universally hated gifts

Quests (+150 Friendship)

Willy occasionally posts requests on the "Help Wanted" board. Completing these earns gold and a friendship boost. He also sends two challenging fishing letters:

• Catch A Squid (Winter 2, Year 1)
• Catch A Lingcod (Winter 13, Year 2)

Friendship Perks

Willy shares four fishing-buff recipes as your friendship grows:

• Chowder (+1 Fishing) (3 Hearts)
• Escargot (+2 Fishing) (5 Hearts)
• Fish Stew (+3 Fishing) (7 Hearts)
• Lobster Bisque (+3 Fishing, +30 Max Energy) (9 Hearts)