Stardew Valley: How To Befriend Willy

This guide focuses on befriending Willy, the kindly fisherman in Stardew Valley. He's a valuable early connection, providing fishing supplies and helpful advice. Befriending him offers significant advantages.

Building a friendship with Willy is straightforward, offering several benefits. Visit his shop during weekdays, or find him fishing on Saturdays or evenings at the Stardrop Saloon, beach, or river. Gifts significantly boost friendship, especially on his birthday (Summer 24).

Gift Guide

Giving gifts is key to strengthening friendships. Here's a breakdown of Willy's preferences:

Loved Gifts (+80 Friendship):

• Fish: Catfish (), Octopus (), Sea Cucumber (), Sturgeon ()
• Books: Jewels of the Sea (), The Art O' Crabbing ()
• Mead: () (Made with Honey in a Keg)
• Gold Bar: () (From Gold Ore in a Furnace)
• Iridium Bar: () (From Iridium Ore in a Furnace)
• Diamond: () (Found in Mines)
• Pumpkin: () (Grown in Fall)
• All universally loved gifts.

Liked Gifts (+45 Friendship):

• Most fish-based cooked dishes (excluding Dish O' the Sea, Sashimi, and Maki Roll – he's neutral towards these).
• Lingcod (), Tiger Trout ()
• Quartz ()
• Bait and Bobber ()

Disliked & Hated Gifts: Avoid giving Willy foraged goods, non-fish-based cooked dishes, Life Elixir, universally disliked items (except for fish – he's neutral towards most fish not listed above), and universally hated items.

Quests:

Willy occasionally posts quests on the notice board outside Pierre's shop, rewarding gold and friendship points upon completion. He also sends two letters challenging you to catch specific fish (Squid on Winter 2, Year 1; Lingcod on Winter 13, Year 2).

Friendship Perks:

Reaching higher friendship levels unlocks unique recipes from Willy, each providing fishing buffs:

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

By following these tips, you can easily cultivate a strong friendship with Willy and reap the rewards!