A grizzled old fisherman with a kindly nature,Willyis among the first connections players make inStardew Valley.He gifts the player a fishing rod, teaches them how to reel in the big catch, and is available whenever players need fishing supplies.
Befriending Willy isn’t hard to do, and can provide players with surprisingly useful benefits.Stardew Valleyis all about making connections with others, so take a break from farming to fish with Willy at the docks andoffer a gift as a sign of generosity. He’ll especially appreciate receiving rare aquatic specimens!
Updated June 23, 2025, by Demaris Oxman: Willy is a bit of a quirky older fellow, but he’s one of the easiest NPCs to befriend inStardew Valleythanks to his surprisingly long list of favorite gifts. With the 1.6 update, that list has only increased. There are now several books that players can give Willy as Loved or Liked gifts — most of which, unsurprisingly, have to do with fishing. Here’s everything players need to know about befriending Willy in the latest version of the game.
Gift Guide
The best way to win over friends inStardew Valleyis through generosity. To offer Willy a gift, find him in his shop most weekdays, or fishing on Saturday. In the evenings, he’ll be at the Stardrop Saloon, or fishing at the beach or river.
Keep in mind thatWilly’s birthday is Summer 24.Any gift given on this day will have8x the usual effect on friendship.
Loved Gifts
The best options to give to Willy, each of these gifts will increase friendship by80 points. Some are hard to come by, such as thehard-to-catch fish, but pumpkins and mead are great options. Willy also loves books that let him learn more about his favorite pasttime, as well as valuable crafting materials.
Liked Gifts
If Loved gifts are a little hard for players to come by, these are good substitutes. Willy likes most seafood dishes, so players are encouraged to cook up their catch and share the bounty of the sea. Each will increase friendship by45 points.
Disliked & Hated Gifts
Any decrease in friendship is somethingplayers should avoid; thus, avoid giving Willy these items. While Hated gifts are definitely worse than Disliked, it’s generally best to keep any of the following away from Willy:
Quests
On the “Help Wanted” board outside Pierre’s, Willy may post asking for a specific item or challenging villagers to catch acertain number of a specific fish. Completing these objectives and talking to Willy will reward the player with gold depending on the item, and150 friendship pointswith Willy.
Twice, the player will receive letters from Willy, challenging them to catch a specific fish.
Friendship Perks
It turns out Willy’s apretty good cook, ready to make something delicious with every fish he pulls out of the sea. Unlike most villagers who send one or two recipes, Willy sends a whopping four. Fittingly, they all provide fishing buffs.
