Stardew Valley: How To Befriend Willy

This guide focuses on befriending Willy, the kind-hearted fisherman in Stardew Valley. He's an early contact, providing your starting fishing rod and ongoing supplies. Building a friendship with him offers significant advantages.

Befriending Willy is straightforward and rewarding. Regular visits to his shop (weekdays) or his fishing spots (weekends and evenings) are key. Gifts significantly boost your friendship level, especially on his birthday (Summer 24 – 8x effect!).

Gift Guide

Willy appreciates thoughtful gifts. Here's a breakdown:

Loved Gifts (+80 friendship):

• Rare Fish: Catfish, Octopus, Sea Cucumber, Sturgeon. These are challenging to catch but highly effective.
• Fishing-Themed Books: "Jewels of the Sea," "The Art O' Crabbing."
• Mead: Crafted from honey in a keg.
• Precious Metals: Gold Bar (from gold ore), Iridium Bar (from iridium ore).
• Gems: Diamond (found in mines).
• Pumpkins: Grown during Fall.
• Universally Loved Gifts: (Check the in-game list for current options).

Liked Gifts (+45 friendship):

• Fish Dishes: Most cooked fish dishes (excluding Dish O' the Sea, Sashimi, Maki Roll – neutral).
• Specific Fish: Lingcod, Tiger Trout.
• Quartz: A readily available mineral.
• Bait and Bobber: Fishing supplies.

Disliked & Hated Gifts: Avoid these!

• Foraged goods.
• Non-fish dishes.
• Life Elixir.
• Universally disliked/hated items (except for fish – Willy is neutral towards most fish, excluding those listed above).

Quests

Willy occasionally posts requests on the bulletin board outside Pierre's General Store. Completing these tasks earns gold and significant friendship points (150). He also sends two personal fishing challenges via letter:

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

Friendship Perks

Reaching higher friendship levels unlocks four unique fishing-buff recipes from Willy:

• Chowder (3 hearts): +1 fishing buff.
• Escargot (5 hearts): +2 fishing buff.
• Fish Stew (7 hearts): +3 fishing buff.
• Lobster Bisque (9 hearts): +3 fishing buff, +30 max energy.

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