Engaging in marriage primarily for financial gain may seem like an archaic concept, yet it remains a strategic approach, especially in the world of Stardew Valley. While building romantic relationships with NPCs offers its charm, occasionally, players may prioritize their fiscal goals, particularly when navigating the expensive JojaMart community development projects. In this context, every coin counts.
It’s crucial to consider not only the monetary profits associated with marrying a specific character but also the unique advantages they provide. On occasion, receiving gifts from your spouse—such as prepared meals—can yield benefits that surpass mere financial metrics. For instance, what you may gain from these gifts might outweigh their potential selling price.
So, which spouse proves to be the most lucrative partner on your farm? Let’s explore this intriguing query further.
Although Krobus is classified as a “roommate, ”for the purposes of this guide, he will be included as a potential spouse due to his supportive nature and his gifts.
Understanding the Benefits of Marriage
Regardless of the individual you choose as your partner, the advantages of marriage in Stardew Valley generally follow a similar pattern. Your spouse’s happiness is largely tied to the gifts and attention you provide, resulting in them assisting with farm tasks and presenting gifts in return.
However, the assistance from your spouse can be inconsistent. While they may occasionally water crops or perform useful chores, this help might not always be significant. For instance, if your crops are already being watered automatically, the help you receive becomes a bit less impactful.
Although minor tasks like repairing fences are beneficial, relying solely on your spouse for labor may not always be wise. In the end, the gift system tends to be the most advantageous aspect of marriage in the game.
Gift Selection from Your Spouse
Each spouse presents a different array of gifts, ranging from as few as six options from characters like Sam and Harvey to an impressive 13 options from Abigail and Haley. While they frequently gift food items, if you’re primarily focused on profits, be aware that the selling price of several meals often surpasses precious gems!
The gifts given by your spouse are at their base quality, meaning that factors like farming skills or fertilizer will not enhance their value. That said, buffs such as those provided by the Rancher skill can increase a gift’s selling price.
| Spouse | Potential Gifts | Cooked Food |
|---|---|---|
| Amethyst, Bat Wing, Bomb, Cherry Bomb, Fire Quartz, Solar Essence, Void Essence | Chowder, Crab Cakes, Lobster Bisque, Parsnip Soup, Tom Kha Soup, Trout Soup | |
| None! | Baked Fish, Crispy Bass, Dish O’ The Sea, Fried Eel, Hashbrowns, Omelet, Pancakes, Survival Burger | |
| None! | Baked Fish, Coffee, Chowder, Fish Stew, Fried Calamari, Wine (Winter 28 only) | |
| Cloth, Duck Feather, Omni Geode, Refined Quartz, Wool | Bean Hotpot, Blueberry Tart, Chocolate Cake, Cookie, Rice Pudding | |
| None! | Bean Hotpot, Blueberry Tart, Bread, Chowder, Cookie, Eggplant Parmesan, Fried Egg, Hashbrowns, Maple Bar, Omelet, Pancakes, Parsnip Soup, Poppyseed Muffin | |
| None! | Carp Surprise, Complete Breakfast, Crispy Bass, Fried Eel, Salmon Dinner, Vegetable Medley | |
| Sea Urchin, Void Egg, Void Mayonnaise, Void Salmon | Fried Eel, Lucky Lunch, Poppyseed Muffin, Strange Bun | |
| Cactus Fruit, Chanterelle, Common Mushroom, Daffodil, Dandelion, Fiddlehead Fern, Leek, Morel, Red Mushroom, Spice Berry, Sweet Pea, Wild Horseradish | Coffee, Wine (Winter 28 only) | |
| Bomb, Cherry Bomb, Gate, Refined Quartz, Quality Fertilizer, Warp Totem: Farm | Blueberry Tart, Chocolate Cake, Cookies, Crab Cakes, Fried Mushroom, Rice Pudding | |
| Egg, Geode, Large Milk, Mixed Seeds | Crispy Bass, Fried Eel, Hashbrowns, Omelet, Pancakes, Salmon Dinner, Vegetable Medley | |
| Cactus Fruit, Coconut, Earth Crystal, Geode | Pancakes, Pizza | |
| Amethyst, Bat Wing, Cave Carrot, Frozen Tear, Obsidian, Void Essence | Coffee, Beer (Winter 28 only) | |
| Large Egg, Void Egg | Beer, Omelet, Pale Ale, Pepper Poppers, Pizza |
Optimal Timing for Gift Collection
Your spouse will present you with gifts under two primary conditions:
- They are indoors at the Farmhouse
- The weather conditions are rainy
On rainy days, the type of gift can vary based on the time of day. In the morning, you might receive breakfast, while dinner or dessert is likely in the evening.
Please note that “rainy”extends beyond just rain, encompassing snow as well during winter. Krobus, specifically, might also give gifts on non-rainy days.
Not every spouse possesses cooking prowess; some may only prepare breakfast or dinner. If the gift isn’t a meal, it will be given anytime you interact with them throughout the rainy day.
For the easiest method of collecting gifts, engage with your spouse every morning and evening on rainy days—these instances are more common than times when your spouse is indoors, which is much more apparent!
Maximizing Profitability in Marriage
If you aim to optimize every aspect of your farm, even in making fish ponds lucrative, it’s wise to evaluate the average value of gifts from your spouse. The following analysis excludes Winter 28 gifts and solely focuses on the base value of each gift.
| Spouse | Average Gold Per Gift |
|---|---|
| Harvey | 198.33 |
| Emily | 196.00 |
| Krobus | 186.88 |
| Shane | 183.57 |
| Elliott | 142.00 |
| Haley | 139.62 |
| Maru | 123.55 |
| Penny | 118.64 |
| Abigail | 114.62 |
| Alex | 109.38 |
| Alone | 109.17 |
| Sebastian | 87.86 |
| Leah | 84.17 |
Leading the rankings is Harvey, whose selection of high-value foods favors him. Close behind is Emily, boosted by her specific item gifts, particularly when the Artisan perk is activated, allowing her to edge into the lead.
Ultimately, meal gifts present a significant value. From a practical standpoint, bonuses like Farming +2 from Harvey’s and Shane’s gifts heighten the appeal of these high-value spouses.
Conversely, partners like Maru and Abigail may offer valuable tools, yet those tools may not carry significant market value. When contemplating a lucrative union, it is advisable to steer clear of partners who provide useful but low-value items.
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