Hello, friends! In Stardew Valley, not only can we give gifts to villagers, but some villagers will also occasionally reciprocate with gifts in the form of letters. Today, let’s talk about which villagers will return gifts, as well as the conditions and contents of their gifts.
To receive a return gift, the conditions are quite simple: just have a conversation with a villager to be considered acquainted. Even in-game dialogue counts. For example, you can initially meet the Mayor and Robin. However, one tricky thing is that trading with villagers does not count as acquaintance. For instance, if you buy seeds from Pierre for a year, you might still not be acquainted.
Once you become acquainted with a villager, as long as their affection level is not 0, there’s a chance they will send you a gift. The higher the affection level, the higher the probability of receiving a gift. But not everyone will do this. Let’s talk about who will.
Demetrius: He can send Amethyst, Pufferfish, Nautilus Shell, or a Rainbow Shell. The dialogue goes, “I conducted a field study the other day and found this specimen. I hope you’re as interested in it as I am.” The dialogue is fixed and has no relation to the gift sent. The Nautilus Shell is required for a Bundle. If you receive it from his letter before winter, you can sometimes complete the Bundle ahead of time. The Rainbow Shell can be used for the casino quest, but it can be found during summer beach foraging. So, there’s no great need to get it through a letter.
Caroline: Her letter says, “This is a vegetable I grew in my little yard. Perhaps you have so many vegetables at your place that you don’t know what to do with them, but that’s okay.” You can receive Cauliflower, Potato, or Parsnip. All three are crops from the spring crop package. If you forget to plant one of these in spring and can’t unlock the greenhouse, this can be a remedy. Unfortunately, there’s no green bean.
Pam: “I found this in my drawer, and I thought you might find it useful.” You can receive Beer, an Energy Tonic, or a Battery Pack. In the second year, Pam needs a battery for a remote control quest, and she might send you a battery at the same time, which is quite amusing. She might also send you beer when she’s thirsty, making her seem picky. A Battery Pack is essential in the early stages of the game. If you don’t craft a lightning rod in the first summer, you might get your first Battery Pack through Pam.
Emily: “Are you doing alright? I hope you like the gift I sent you.” You can receive Cloth or Wool. Interestingly, if you only talk to Emily a few times and then get Cloth through this method, she will immediately invite you to her house to use her sewing machine. It feels like love at first sight.
Linus: “Hello, my friend. I’ve had a good harvest from the merchant recently, and I’d like to share my good fortune with you.” You can receive Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Fried Calamari, Sashimi, or Maki Roll. He claims to have a good harvest at the mountain lake, but there’s no catfish or squid there, and he doesn’t have a kitchen. So, how does he cook? Are these items from the trash?
Shane: “I thought writing you a letter would be fun, although I’m not good at writing. I’ve included a small gift, don’t tell anyone. This is something I got from Joja Mart a while ago. I don’t need it anymore, so I thought you might like it.” You can receive Pepper Poppers, Strange Bun, or Pizza. Shane’s letter gives a hint about his past connection with Joja Mart. The gifts he sends are mostly food items, which are generally useful for restoring energy and health in the game. Pepper Poppers can also provide a speed boost, which is helpful for exploring mines or getting around the farm more quickly.
Leah: “Hey there! I had some extra wood lying around and thought you could use it. Take care!” You can receive 30, 40, or 50 pieces of wood. While the amount of wood is not significant, it’s still a kind gesture from Leah. If you’re in the early stages of the game and in need of some wood for crafting, it’s a small but helpful gift.
Abigail: “I was exploring the mines, and I found something cool. I thought you might like it. Don’t get too attached, though. I might need it back someday.” You can receive a Fire Quartz or an Amethyst. Abigail’s gift and message show her adventurous nature, and the items she gives can be useful for crafting or completing bundles. Fire Quartz is a required item for the Geologist’s Bundle, and Amethyst can be used as a gift for other villagers or refined in a Crystalarium.
Sandy: “Hello, dear! I hope you’re enjoying the Valley. I’ve enclosed a little gift I found in the desert. I hope it brings a smile to your face.” You can receive a Coconut or a Cactus Fruit. These items can be found when foraging in the desert, and both can be used for the Desert Forage Bundle. If you haven’t unlocked the desert yet, receiving these items from Sandy can be a pleasant surprise.
Remember that receiving gifts from villagers is not guaranteed, and the probability increases with higher affection levels. These gifts can be helpful in various ways, such as completing bundles, crafting items, or restoring energy and health. It’s always nice to receive a thoughtful gift from a friend in Stardew Valley!