Getting everyone in Mistria to like you is harder than it looks at first. You walk into town, try to be nice, and suddenly you're accidentally handing a bug to Adeline and she’s looking at you like you just insulted her entire lineage. It happens. Honestly, the social aspect of this game is surprisingly deep, and if you want to unlock those heart events or just get some decent mail on your birthday, you have to know what to carry in your pockets.
Most people think they can just spam flowers. That sorta works for Celine, but try giving a dandelion to March and he’ll basically scoff at you while hammering away at his anvil. If you want to stop guessing, you need to understand the tier system. You've got Loved gifts, which are the gold standard, and Liked gifts, which are your everyday bread and butter for steady progression.
The Secret to Fields of Mistria Liked Gifts
If you're just starting out, don't stress about the "Loved" items. Most of them require high-level cooking recipes or rare drops from the mines that you won't see for weeks. The Fields of Mistria liked gifts are where the real efficiency is. A "Liked" gift gives you 10 friendship points, while a "Loved" one gives 20. But here's the kicker: liked gifts are usually free or super cheap.
Take Valen, for instance. She’s the town doctor and a bit of a mystery. You could spend forever trying to cook her a complex Sushi Platter. Or, you could just pick up a Dandelion off the ground in Spring. She likes them. It’s free. It takes two seconds.
Why Birthdays Change Everything
You really have to pay attention to the calendar in your diary. Gifting on a birthday is basically a cheat code. A Liked gift on a birthday jumps from 10 points to 30 points. Even a "Neutral" gift—something they don't even particularly care for—gets a massive boost to 23 points.
If you miss a birthday, you’re leaving massive progress on the table. For characters like Balor, whose birthday is Summer 10, just keeping a spare Ruby or some Golden Cookies in a chest specifically for that day will save you weeks of daily chatting.
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What Each Character Actually Wants
Mistria’s residents are picky. It's not like other farming sims where one "Universal Like" covers 90% of the population. While things like Scent of Spring and Cow-Shaped Donuts are generally safe bets for almost everyone, most NPCs have very specific "Liked" categories.
The Early Game Favorites
For Adeline, the town's hardworking leader, you can’t go wrong with a simple Tulip in the Spring or Heather in the Fall. She also likes Lemonade, which is easy to whip up once you have a few lemon trees. She’s all about those refined, classic vibes.
March is the one everyone wants to win over because of that "grumpy blacksmith" energy. He’s actually pretty simple: give him Copper, Iron, or Silver Ore. Since you’re probably spending half your time in the mines anyway, just keep a stack of Copper Ore on you. It’s a "Liked" gift and it’s basically infinite.
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Celine is the easiest of the bunch. She likes almost every flower you can forage. Daffodils, Daisies, Dandelions—if it grows in the dirt and looks pretty, she’s into it.
The Cooking Advantage
Once you unlock the Likable Cooking Skill, the game changes. This skill gives you a random chance to turn any dish you cook into a "Universally Liked" item. This is huge. You can take something basic like grilled corn and suddenly it’s a gift that works for almost everyone in town.
For the kids—Dell, Luc, and Maple—you have to be careful. They have "Banned" categories. Don't give them coffee or alcohol. They won't take it. Dell specifically loves Apples and Snails, which you can find just by wandering around the forest.
Avoid These Common Gifting Mistakes
I’ve seen so many players waste high-value items on the wrong people. Just because something is "rare" doesn't mean an NPC wants it. Caldarus, the dragon statue, is a prime example. He likes Beet Soup and Chocolate Cake, but if you try to give him a Dragon Scale or a Dragon Claw, he actually dislikes it. It’s a bit ironic, but that’s Mistria for you.
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Also, watch out for "Weird Gifts." These are usually animal treats. Unless you’re talking to Dozy (who actually loves Dog Treats) or Hayden (who is neutral toward them), don't hand these out to people. It’s a fast way to get a disappointed look and zero friendship points.
Quick Reference for Easy Liked Gifts:
- Ryis: Wood or Stone. Literally the stuff you clear off your farm.
- Juniper: Red Wine or White Wine (buy these at the Inn).
- Reina: Garlic or Cheese.
- Eiland: Chocolate or any basic berry-based dessert.
- Hayden: Eggs or Milk.
Moving Past the Basics
As you settle into year two, you’ll want to start transitioning from Liked gifts to Loved gifts for your favorite characters. The difference in speed is noticeable. If you're dating someone, those 20-point "Loved" gifts are non-negotiable if you want to see those later heart events before the end of the season.
The best strategy is to keep a dedicated "Gift Chest" near your farm exit. Fill it with a few stacks of Copper Ore, some foraged flowers, and any high-quality crops you’ve harvested. That way, when you head into town for your daily rounds, you aren't scrambling to find something decent to hand out.
Focus on the birthdays first, then the easy forageables, and finally the cooked dishes. If you do that, you'll have the whole town at maximum friendship before you even hit your third year in Mistria.
Practical Steps to Max Friendship
- Check your diary every Monday morning to see if any birthdays are coming up that week.
- Stockpile "Easy Likes" like Copper Ore for March and Olric, and flowers for Celine and Adeline.
- Prioritize the Saturday Market. Vendors like Darcy often sell "Loved" items like Coffee or Chocolate Cake that are hard to craft early on.
- Upgrade your Cooking Skill as soon as possible to get those "Likable" infusions on basic recipes.
- Talk to Elsie daily. Once you finish her early quests, she occasionally drops hints about what other villagers actually want, which fills in your relationship log automatically.