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Overview
Giving gifts is the fastest daily method to build Affection with NPCs. You can give one gift per day per character. The in-game Social app (Phone → Social) tracks gift history and discovered preferences as you experiment. See the relationship system article for full details on how Affection Points translate into heart levels.
Loved/Favorite: +15 Affection Points (flowery aura reaction)
Liked: +10 Affection Points
Neutral: +5 Affection Points
Disliked: +0 Affection Points
Hated: +0 Affection Points
Early Access note: Starsand Island is in Early Access (launched February 11, 2026). Gift preferences are still being documented by the community and may change in future patches. Some items have conflicting reports across different sources. The data below reflects the best available community consensus. When in doubt, check the in-game Social app for the most up-to-date information.
Universal safe gifts
These items work well for almost every NPC and are a reliable fallback when you do not know a character's specific preferences:
Moonflower: The single best universal gift. Almost everyone loves or likes it, the one notable exception is Loren, who hates it.
Chilled Twilight Salad: A broadly safe cooked dish. Most characters at least like it, though a few (including Youfang) dislike it.
Coconut: Broadly liked across nearly all characters.
Plain Noodles: Liked or neutral for the majority of NPCs.
Dragon Fruit: Liked by most characters.
Items most NPCs hate
Red Firefly: Hated by the vast majority of characters. Avoid giving this to anyone (exception: Sylvain and Youfang like it).
Copper: Disliked by many NPCs (exception: Neona loves it).
Trash, weeds, and failed cooking dishes are universally hated.
Raw bugs and insects are disliked by most residents.
Romanceable characters
The table below summarizes gift preferences for every NPC. Scroll down to each character's section for additional notes and details.
NPC | Role | Loved Gifts | Liked Gifts | Disliked/Hated Gifts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mayor's assistant | Tiramisu, Dragon Fruit, Twilight Succulent | Wishful Heart Cookies, Pink Hydrangea, Chilled Twilight Salad, Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Jelly, Pumpkin | Blue Sleep Lily, Wheat, Copper, Red Firefly, Redtail Catfish, Softwood; Pickled Water Spinach, Celeb Moth, Glazed Cicada, Chinese Perch, Gold Ore, Meat Bait | |
Fishing Mentor | Red Beaded Starfish, Blue Hydrangea, Yellow Sleep Lily, Moonflower, Red Tulip, Twilight Succulent | Light Blue Hydrangea, Purple Hydrangea, Dragon Fruit, Grilled Chicken Wings, Mirage Sunflower, Plain Noodles, Coconut, Braised Crab Pot, Grilled Mushrooms, Peanut | Vinegar, Softwood, Copper, Boxfish, Clownfish, Gold Ore; Fiddler Crab, Glowing Shell, Pickled Cabbage, Red Firefly, Glazed Cicada | |
Farming Mentor | Cucumber, Water Spinach, Moonflower Seed, Mirage Sunflower Seed, Garlic, Plainberry, Pumpkin, Moondew Shroom, Sunveil Shroom, Blue Sleep Lily, Wheat, Red Tulip, Cabbage, Wheat Seeds, Yellow Sleep Lily, Twilight Succulent, Moonflower | Pink Hydrangea, Grilled Mushrooms, Wishful Heart Cookies, Dragon Fruit, Plain Noodles | Wafer Biscuits, Crispy Rice, Softwood, Bamboo Leaf, Copper; Veggie Bait, Feather, Red Firefly | |
Crafting Mentor | Copper Sheet, Quartzite, Luminfrog Fragment, Quartz, Floral Sachet, Soothing Sachet, Warming Sachet | Blue Hydrangea, Pink Hydrangea, Purple Hydrangea, Moonflower, Twilight Succulent, Flannel, Grilled Chicken Wings, Red Sleep Lily, Yellow Sleep Lily, Coconut, Plain Noodles | Gold Ore, Prism, Softwood Plank; Premium Wood, Celeb Moth, Mutton, Red Firefly | |
Ranching Mentor | Chicken Feed, Rabbit Feed | Moonflower, Twilight Succulent, Light Blue Hydrangea, Blue Hydrangea, Chilled Twilight Salad, Water Spinach, Pickled Cabbage, Wheat, Coconut, Plain Noodles | Cucumber, Red Sleep Lily, Copper, Strawberry Milk; Moorish Idol, Glazed Cicada, Red Firefly, Soup Dumplings | |
Chef | Celeste Berry, Mushroom Soup | Grilled Chicken Wings, Cloud-Soft Toast, Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Mirthshroom Soup, Fish Head Tofu Soup, Red Tulip, Leek, Cabbage, Spinach, Garlic, Peanut, Dragon Fruit, Watermelon, Tomato, Chilled Twilight Salad | Softwood, Tin, Velvet, Copper, Bamboo Leaf; Glazed Cicada, BC Milk, Caco Laco, Cooking Oil, Red Firefly | |
Woodworker | Diamond | Softwood, Coconut, Moonflower, Floral Sachet, Plain Noodles, Warming Sachet, Crispy Noodles, Latiao, Grilled Chicken Wings, Twilight Succulent, Red Tulip, Berry Daifuku, Dragon Fruit, Light Blue Hydrangea, Mirage Sunflower | Arrow, Copper, Iron Nail, Softwood Plank, Cucumber; Red Firefly, Gold Ore, Mutton | |
Arcade owner | Tin Ingot, Radiant Crystal, Sunveil Shroom, Moondew Shroom, Mirthshroom, High-Performance Wire Set | Star Ramen, Grilled Fish, Chilled Twilight Salad, Crispy Mushrooms, Celeste Berry, Beef Jerky, Jelly, Wishful Heart Cookies, Grilled Chicken Wings, Dragon Fruit, Coconut, Plain Noodles | Copper, Simple Pellet, Pumpkinseed; Moonflower, Blue Hydrangea, Glazed Cicada, Red Firefly | |
Fashion designer | Flannel | Chilled Twilight Salad, Moonflower, Premium Wool, Twilight Succulent, Blue Hydrangea, Moondew Shroom, Wheat, Softwood, Velvet, Dragon Fruit, Tin Ingot, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Cucumber | Iron, Caco Laco, Copper, Red Firefly; Chinese Perch | |
Mechanic | Copper, Tin, Iced Americano, Quartz | Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Coconut Latte, Lamb Skewers, Grilled Chicken Wings, Twilight Succulent, Sunflower Seeds, Watermelon, Plainberry, Pumpkin | Alloy; Red Firefly, Mango Sago, Daiquiri, Pickled Water Spinach, Clownfish, Bamboo, Caco Laco | |
Stylist | Velvet, Diamond, Floral Sachet, Soothing Sachet, Warming Sachet | Potato, Pumpkin Seed Fish, Chinese Perch, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Garlic, Pumpkin, Light Blue Hydrangea | Copper, Red Firefly, Redtail Catfish, Softwood, Margarita; Clownfish, Ginger, Curio Bowl | |
Pet shop owner | Black Tea Macaron | Fries, Grilled Chicken Wings, BC Milk, Caco Laco, Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Sunveil Shroom, Watermelon, Red Sleep Lily, Giant Egg, Water Spinach, Sunflower Seeds | Chinese Perch, Velvet, Charcoal, Mantis, Swallowtail Butterfly, Celeb Moth, Red Firefly, Bamboo Leaf; Copper | |
Musician | Light Blue Hydrangea, Blue Hydrangea, Moonflower, Red Firefly | Water Spinach, Chilled Twilight Salad, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Celeste Berry, Pink Hydrangea, Grilled Mushrooms, Moondew Shroom, Yellow Sleep Lily, Twilight Succulent | Copper, Ripening Fertilizer, Char Siu Bao | |
Fortune teller | Fresh Bamboo Shoot, Black Tea Macaron | Garlic, Light Blue Hydrangea, Dragon Fruit, Caco Laco, BC Milk, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Red Firefly, Sunveil Shroom, Crispy Noodles, Latiao, Berry Daifuku, Hot Dry Noodles, Sunflower Seeds, Purple Hydrangea | Chilled Twilight Salad, Softwood Plank, Grilled Chicken Wings, Wool, Mantis, Swallowtail Butterfly, Celeb Moth; Pickled Water Spinach, Runebird Fragment, Tin, Copper | |
Exploration Mentor | Blue Sleep Lily, Mirage Sunflower, Moonflower, Sunveil Shroom, Moondew Shroom, Twilight Succulent | Chilled Twilight Salad, Grilled Mushrooms, Luminfrog Fragment, Pink Hydrangea, Garlic, Lamb Skewers, Coconut, Floral Sachet | Meat Bait, Softwood Plank, Tin | |
Architect (crossover) | Moonflower, Twilight Succulent | Red Sleep Lily, Cucumber, Midnight Herb, Lamb Skewers, Dragon Fruit, Chilled Twilight Salad | -- | |
Crossover NPC | Dragon Fruit | Watermelon | Clownfish, Moonstone |
Solara
Solara Mayor's assistant, Community Center
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Tiramisu, Dragon Fruit, Twilight Succulent |
Liked | Wishful Heart Cookies, Pink Hydrangea, Chilled Twilight Salad, Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Jelly, Pumpkin |
Disliked | Blue Sleep Lily, Wheat, Copper, Red Firefly, Redtail Catfish, Softwood |
Hated | Pickled Water Spinach, Celeb Moth, Glazed Cicada, Chinese Perch, Gold Ore, Meat Bait |
Delphin
Delphin Fishing Mentor, AquaBlue Outpost
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Red Beaded Starfish, Blue Hydrangea, Yellow Sleep Lily, Moonflower, Red Tulip, Twilight Succulent |
Liked | Light Blue Hydrangea, Purple Hydrangea, Dragon Fruit, Grilled Chicken Wings, Mirage Sunflower, Plain Noodles, Coconut, Braised Crab Pot, Grilled Mushrooms, Peanut |
Disliked | Vinegar, Softwood, Copper, Boxfish, Clownfish, Gold Ore |
Hated | Fiddler Crab, Glowing Shell, Pickled Cabbage, Red Firefly, Glazed Cicada |
Note: Red Beaded Starfish has conflicting reports. Most sources list it as loved, but one source lists it as hated. The majority consensus is loved, consistent with Delphin's fishing theme.
Graminova
Graminova Farming Mentor, Happiness Seed Shop
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Cucumber, Water Spinach, Moonflower Seed, Mirage Sunflower Seed, Garlic, Plainberry, Pumpkin, Moondew Shroom, Sunveil Shroom, Blue Sleep Lily, Wheat, Red Tulip, Cabbage, Wheat Seeds, Yellow Sleep Lily, Twilight Succulent, Moonflower |
Liked | Pink Hydrangea, Grilled Mushrooms, Wishful Heart Cookies, Dragon Fruit, Plain Noodles |
Disliked | Wafer Biscuits, Crispy Rice, Softwood, Bamboo Leaf, Copper |
Hated | Veggie Bait, Feather, Red Firefly |
Note: Coconut and Chilled Twilight Salad have conflicting reports for Graminova. Some guides list them as liked, others as disliked. Use caution with these items.
Zerine
Zerine Crafting Mentor, General Store
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Copper Sheet, Quartzite, Luminfrog Fragment, Quartz, Floral Sachet, Soothing Sachet, Warming Sachet |
Liked | Blue Hydrangea, Pink Hydrangea, Purple Hydrangea, Moonflower, Twilight Succulent, Flannel, Grilled Chicken Wings, Red Sleep Lily, Yellow Sleep Lily, Coconut, Plain Noodles |
Disliked | Gold Ore, Prism, Softwood Plank |
Hated | Premium Wood, Celeb Moth, Mutton, Red Firefly |
Pastelle
Pastelle Ranching Mentor, Green Pasture Ranch
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Chicken Feed, Rabbit Feed |
Liked | Moonflower, Twilight Succulent, Light Blue Hydrangea, Blue Hydrangea, Chilled Twilight Salad, Water Spinach, Pickled Cabbage, Wheat, Coconut, Plain Noodles |
Disliked | Cucumber, Red Sleep Lily, Copper, Strawberry Milk |
Hated | Moorish Idol, Glazed Cicada, Red Firefly, Soup Dumplings |
Aurelis
Aurelis Chef, Aureleaf Kitchen
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Celeste Berry, Mushroom Soup |
Liked | Grilled Chicken Wings, Cloud-Soft Toast, Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Mirthshroom Soup, Fish Head Tofu Soup, Red Tulip, Leek, Cabbage, Spinach, Garlic, Peanut, Dragon Fruit, Watermelon, Tomato, Chilled Twilight Salad |
Disliked | Softwood, Tin, Velvet, Copper, Bamboo Leaf |
Hated | Glazed Cicada, BC Milk, Caco Laco, Cooking Oil, Red Firefly |
Alex
Alex Woodworker, Lex Woodworks
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Diamond |
Liked | Softwood, Coconut, Moonflower, Floral Sachet, Plain Noodles, Warming Sachet, Crispy Noodles, Latiao, Grilled Chicken Wings, Twilight Succulent, Red Tulip, Berry Daifuku, Dragon Fruit, Light Blue Hydrangea, Mirage Sunflower |
Disliked | Arrow, Copper, Iron Nail, Softwood Plank, Cucumber |
Hated | Red Firefly, Gold Ore, Mutton |
Loren
Loren Arcade owner, Chrono Arcade
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Tin Ingot, Radiant Crystal, Sunveil Shroom, Moondew Shroom, Mirthshroom, High-Performance Wire Set |
Liked | Star Ramen, Grilled Fish, Chilled Twilight Salad, Crispy Mushrooms, Celeste Berry, Beef Jerky, Jelly, Wishful Heart Cookies, Grilled Chicken Wings, Dragon Fruit, Coconut, Plain Noodles |
Disliked | Copper, Simple Pellet, Pumpkinseed |
Hated | Moonflower, Blue Hydrangea, Glazed Cicada, Red Firefly |
Lunelle
Lunelle Fashion designer, Ethereal Styles
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Flannel |
Liked | Chilled Twilight Salad, Moonflower, Premium Wool, Twilight Succulent, Blue Hydrangea, Moondew Shroom, Wheat, Softwood, Velvet, Dragon Fruit, Tin Ingot, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Cucumber |
Disliked | Iron, Caco Laco, Copper, Red Firefly |
Hated | Chinese Perch |
Neona
Neona Mechanic, G-Power Bike
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Copper, Tin, Iced Americano, Quartz |
Liked | Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Coconut Latte, Lamb Skewers, Grilled Chicken Wings, Twilight Succulent, Sunflower Seeds, Watermelon, Plainberry, Pumpkin |
Disliked | Alloy |
Hated | Red Firefly, Mango Sago, Daiquiri, Pickled Water Spinach, Clownfish, Bamboo, Caco Laco |
Note: Neona is one of the only characters who loves Copper and Tin. Fitting for a mechanic. Some sources conflict on whether Cabbage and Wheat are liked or disliked. Use caution with those items.
Serena
Serena Stylist, Bloom Atelier
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Velvet, Diamond, Floral Sachet, Soothing Sachet, Warming Sachet |
Liked | Potato, Pumpkin Seed Fish, Chinese Perch, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Garlic, Pumpkin, Light Blue Hydrangea |
Disliked | Copper, Red Firefly, Redtail Catfish, Softwood, Margarita |
Hated | Clownfish, Ginger, Curio Bowl |
Stella
Stella Pet shop owner, Woof & Wow Pets
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Black Tea Macaron |
Liked | Fries, Grilled Chicken Wings, BC Milk, Caco Laco, Coconut, Moonflower, Plain Noodles, Sunveil Shroom, Watermelon, Red Sleep Lily, Giant Egg, Water Spinach, Sunflower Seeds |
Disliked | Chinese Perch, Velvet, Charcoal, Mantis, Swallowtail Butterfly, Celeb Moth, Red Firefly, Bamboo Leaf |
Hated | Copper |
Sylvain
Sylvain Musician, Silvan Notes
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Light Blue Hydrangea, Blue Hydrangea, Moonflower, Red Firefly |
Liked | Water Spinach, Chilled Twilight Salad, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Celeste Berry, Pink Hydrangea, Grilled Mushrooms, Moondew Shroom, Yellow Sleep Lily, Twilight Succulent |
Disliked | Copper, Ripening Fertilizer, Char Siu Bao |
Youfang
Youfang Fortune teller, Bastrom Heights
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Fresh Bamboo Shoot, Black Tea Macaron |
Liked | Garlic, Light Blue Hydrangea, Dragon Fruit, Caco Laco, BC Milk, Coconut, Plain Noodles, Red Firefly, Sunveil Shroom, Crispy Noodles, Latiao, Berry Daifuku, Hot Dry Noodles, Sunflower Seeds, Purple Hydrangea |
Disliked | Chilled Twilight Salad, Softwood Plank, Grilled Chicken Wings, Wool, Mantis, Swallowtail Butterfly, Celeb Moth |
Hated | Pickled Water Spinach, Runebird Fragment, Tin, Copper |
Zephyria
Zephyria Exploration Mentor, Exploration Club
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Blue Sleep Lily, Mirage Sunflower, Moonflower, Sunveil Shroom, Moondew Shroom, Twilight Succulent |
Liked | Chilled Twilight Salad, Grilled Mushrooms, Luminfrog Fragment, Pink Hydrangea, Garlic, Lamb Skewers, Coconut, Floral Sachet |
Disliked | Meat Bait, Softwood Plank, Tin |
Crossover characters
Gust
Gust Architect from My Time at Portia (4 hearts max)
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Moonflower, Twilight Succulent |
Liked | Red Sleep Lily, Cucumber, Midnight Herb, Lamb Skewers, Dragon Fruit, Chilled Twilight Salad |
Ginger
Ginger From My Time at Portia (4 hearts max)
Category | Items |
|---|---|
Loved | Dragon Fruit |
Liked | Watermelon |
Disliked | Clownfish, Moonstone |
Strategy tips
Moonflower meta: Grow Moonflowers on your farm at Hopeland and give one to every NPC daily. It is loved or liked by nearly everyone except Loren.
Match profession to gifts: Farming items for Graminova, crafting materials for Zerine, metals for Neona, mushrooms for Loren.
Check the Social app: Your phone tracks discovered preferences, no need to memorize everything.
Focus on 2–3 NPCs: Since gifts are once-per-day, spreading across all 15 characters slows progress. Target the characters you care about.
Loved > Liked: +15 vs +10 per day adds up. Finding each character's Loved gift saves weeks of progress.
Avoid giving Red Firefly, Copper (for most NPCs), trash, weeds, or failed cooking dishes.