Befriend the Seashore Sentry: Willy's Stardew Valley Guide

This guide delves into befriending Willy, the amiable fisherman in Stardew Valley. He's a key early contact, providing your initial fishing rod and ongoing supplies. Building a friendship with him offers significant advantages.

Updated January 4, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Willy, a charmingly quirky character, is surprisingly easy to befriend due to his extensive list of favored gifts, expanded with the 1.6 update. Many new books related to fishing are now included as highly-regarded gifts.

Gift Guide

Generosity is key to winning friends in Stardew Valley. Find Willy at his shop (most weekdays), fishing (Saturdays), or at the Stardrop Saloon/beach/river (evenings). His birthday is Summer 24; gifts on this day provide an 8x friendship boost.

Loved Gifts (+80 friendship points)

These top-tier gifts include hard-to-find fish, but pumpkins and mead are readily accessible alternatives. He also appreciates books on fishing 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
• Pumpkin
• All universally loved gifts

Liked Gifts (+45 friendship points)

Good alternatives to loved gifts; Willy enjoys most fish-based dishes.

• Fish-based cooked 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 decreases.

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

Quests

Willy posts requests on the bulletin board outside Pierre's, rewarding gold and 150 friendship points upon completion. He also sends two letters with fishing challenges:

• Catch a Squid (Winter 2, Year 1): Rewards gold and 1 friendship heart.
• Catch a Lingcod (Winter 13, Year 2): Rewards gold and another friendship heart.

Friendship Perks

Willy shares four fishing-buff recipes:

• 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.

This comprehensive guide ensures a successful friendship with Willy, unlocking his valuable rewards and enhancing your Stardew Valley experience.