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11 Overview
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33 Gift-giving is the primary way to build relationships with the residents of Starsand Island. Every NPC has a unique set of preferences: items they love, items they like, and items they dislike or hate. Giving the right gifts consistently is the fastest route to unlocking heart levels, which in turn open up room visits, bulletin board requests, return gifts, and, for romanceable characters, the ability to move in together. This guide covers the mechanics behind gifting, universal safe choices, and detailed preferences for every character in the game.
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55 How Gifting Works
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77 You can give one gift to each NPC per day. Hand them the item directly during a conversation. The affection points you receive depend on the NPC's reaction to the item.
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1010 ActionAffection PointsDaily conversation (no gift)+5Neutral gift (no strong reaction)+5Liked gift+10Loved gift+15Sugar Painting (portrait gift)+30 (varies by NPC)Easy Bulletin Board request+15 (approx.)Hard Bulletin Board request+25 to 30 (approx.)Side quest or main quest completion+50Returning a lost item+20
1111 Hated and disliked gifts give 0 affection points but waste the daily gift opportunity. Always check an NPC's preference panel before gifting a new item you are unsure about.
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1313 Checking Preferences in Game
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1515 Open your Phone and navigate to the Social app. Tap on any NPC's profile, then select the heart symbol labeled Preference to view your discovered gift history. Each item you have previously gifted appears with a reaction icon (heart, smile, or frown). Preferences you have not yet tested remain hidden until you try them.
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1717 Heart Level Milestones
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1919 As you accumulate affection points, NPCs progress through heart levels. Each level unlocks new interactions.
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2121 HeartsPoints RequiredUnlock1 Heart90Return Gifts: NPC sends items in the mail2 Hearts220Photo Invites: take group photos together3 Hearts370Room Visit: enter their room (may contain a chest)4 Hearts500Bulletin Board Requests5 HeartsVariesMove-In and Romance (romanceable NPCs only)
2222 Romanceable NPCs cap at 5 Hearts. Non-romanceable NPCs and the four crossover characters cap at 4 Hearts.
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2424 Calendar System
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2626 Starsand Island uses a four-season calendar with 28 days per season, totaling 112 days per year. Seasons are: Spring (Month 1), Summer (Month 2), Fall (Month 3), and Winter (Month 4). Birthdays listed in this guide use this format.
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2929 Universal Safe Gifts
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3131 If you are unsure what to give an NPC, the following items are almost universally well-received. Keep a stock of these for daily gifting rounds.
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3333 ItemNotesMoonflowerAlmost universally loved or liked. One major exception: Loren hates it.Pasture GrassUniversally liked by nearly all NPCs. Easy to gather from any meadow.Celeste BerryUniversally liked. Foraged from bushes across the island.CoconutBroadly liked by most NPCs. Found on palm trees at the beach.Grilled Chicken WingsLiked by the majority of NPCs. Cooked with chicken meat and cooking oil.Plain NoodlesLiked by many NPCs. Simple recipe at any cooking station.
3434 Warning: Several items are widely hated across the island. Avoid gifting Copper, Red Firefly, and Glazed Cicada unless you know the NPC specifically wants them. Bruce is one of the few characters who actually loves insects.
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3636 Romanceable NPCs: Bachelors
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3838 There are seven romanceable bachelors in Starsand Island. Each has a birthday and a unique set of loved and liked gifts.
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4040 NPCBirthdayLoved GiftsEasy Liked GiftsGraminovaSpring 3Moonflower, Mirthshroom, Moondew Shroom, Sunveil Shroom, farm crops (Cucumber, Wheat, Garlic, Pumpkin, Potato, Cabbage, Leek), Pasture Grass, PeanutsCeleste Berry, Grilled Mushrooms, Chilled Twilight SaladSylvainSpring 14Moonflower, Twilight Succulent, Blue Hydrangea, Light Blue Hydrangea, Purple Moonrise, Yellow Sleep LilyCeleste Berry, Grilled Mushrooms, Pasture GrassYoufangSpring 28Fresh Bamboo Shoot, Bamboo, Bamboo LeafCeleste Berry, Pasture Grass, Moonflower, LatiaoDelphinSummer 3Blue Hydrangea, Yellow Sleep Lily, Moonflower, Light Blue HydrangeaCeleste Berry, Grilled Mushrooms, Dragon FruitAurelisSummer 13Aurorite OreCeleste Berry, Pasture Grass, Mirthshroom, Grilled Chicken WingsZephyriaSummer 16Moonflower, Twilight Succulent, Mirage Sunflower, Spirit Fruit, Midnight Herb, mushrooms (Sunveil, Mirthshroom, Moondew)Pasture Grass, Celeste Berry, Dragon Fruit, Lamb SkewersLorenFall 6Copper Ingot, Tin Ingot, Iron Ingot, Gold Ingot, Bronze, Magnet, Iron Sheet, Chip, Cappuccino, Iced AmericanoCeleste Berry, Pasture Grass, Grilled Chicken Wings, Caco Laco
4141 Youfang's preferences are uniquely narrow. He is one of the few NPCs who strongly favors bamboo products over flowers or cooked food. Loren is the only romanceable NPC who hates Moonflower; gift him tech items and coffee instead. Aurelis only has one confirmed loved gift (Aurorite Ore), which is rare. Focus on his broad liked list for daily gifting.
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4343 Romanceable NPCs: Bachelorettes
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4545 There are eight romanceable bachelorettes in Starsand Island.
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4848 NPCBirthdayLoved GiftsEasy Liked GiftsPastelleSpring 10Animal feeds (Chicken Feed, Rabbit Feed, Duck Feed, Mirth Chicken Feed)Celeste Berry, Pasture Grass, Moonflower, Baked PotatoZerineSpring 17Ores and minerals (Stone, Copper Ore, Tin Ore, Quartz, Iron Ore, Gold Ore, Flamecore Ore, Aurorite Ore, Quartzite), Luminfrog Fragment, Piggy Bank, Runebird FragmentCeleste Berry, Moonflower, Pasture Grass, Pink HydrangeaSerenaSummer 11Diamond, Velvet, Starflare Core, sachets (Floral, Soothing, Warming)Pasture Grass, Moonflower, Celeste Berry, Dragon FruitNeonaSummer 13Iced Americano, Mocha, Quartz, Copper Ore, Tin Ore, Iron Ore, Gold Ore, Flamecore Ore, Aurorite Ore, TinCeleste Berry, Pasture Grass, Coconut, MoonflowerAlexSummer 13DiamondPasture Grass, Moonflower, Celeste Berry, LatiaoLunelleFall 16Flannel, Linen, Leather, Black Fabric, Green Fabric, River LotusPasture Grass, Moonflower, Celeste Berry, Grilled FishSolaraFall 26Strawberry Mousse, TiramisuCeleste Berry, Pasture Grass, Moonflower, LatiaoStellaWinter 18Black Tea MacaronMoonflower, Celeste Berry, Pasture Grass, Fenta
4949 Pastelle is easiest to gift early in the game since animal feeds are cheap and readily available from her own shop. Zerine loves ores, making her a natural match if you explore the Moonlit Forest regularly. Alex and Serena both love Diamond, but this is a rare resource; stick to their liked lists for daily gifts. Neona and Alex share a birthday on Summer 13, along with Aurelis.
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5151 Non-Romanceable NPCs
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5353 These residents cannot be romanced but still offer friendship rewards up to 4 Hearts, including return gifts, photos, room visits, and bulletin board requests.
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5555 NPCRoleLoved GiftsEasy Liked GiftsBrucePastelle's brotherMoonflower, Midnight Herb, insects (Red Firefly, Solarwing Butterfly, Glazed Cicada, Emerald Hornscarab), mushroomsCeleste Berry, Pasture Grass, Coconut, Frost FizzGarrikRancher, Pastelle's father(No confirmed loved gifts)Celeste Berry, Pasture Grass, Moonflower, Pickled LeekCharleneCoffee shop workerMoonflower, Diamond, Moondew Shroom, Pink Sleep LilyPasture Grass, Celeste Berry, Coconut, Coconut LatteHattieRetired teacher, Zerine's grandmotherSleep Lily Seeds (all types), Purple Moonrise, Wheat SeedsCeleste Berry, Pasture Grass, Moonflower, MilkMarstonCoast GuardCeleste Berry, Dragon Fruit, Moonflower, Coconut, Pasture Grass, Mirthshroom, Twilight Succulent, Pumpkin, Yellow Sleep LilyGrilled Chicken Wings, Scallop, Tiger PufferMatildaGraminova's mother, Sagewood's wifeMoonflower, Pasture Grass, Moondew Shroom, Leek, Water SpinachCeleste Berry, Caco Laco, Strawberry MilkMomoLoren's sister, artistBlonde Doll, Pink Fox Plushie, jams (Watermelon, Pineapple, Banana), Yo-Yo, Sheep Plushie, Mini 4WDPasture Grass, Moonflower, Celeste Berry, French FriesRegisLongtime ResidentPlain Noodles, Mountain & Sea Skewers, Grilled Chicken Wings, Chilled Twilight Salad, Grilled Mushrooms, Lamb Skewers, Baked PotatoPasture Grass, Celeste Berry, Moonflower, LatiaoSagewoodRetired seed shop owner, Graminova's fatherCucumber, Peanut, Moonflower, Pasture Grass, Pickled Cabbage, Yellow Sleep Lily, Red Sleep LilyCeleste Berry, BC Milk, Grilled Chicken Wings, Ripening Fertilizer I
5656 Bruce is unique among NPCs because he actually loves insects (Red Firefly, Glazed Cicada, Emerald Hornscarab) that most other characters hate. Save your bug catches for him. Regis is one of the easiest non-romanceable NPCs to befriend since he loves many common cooked dishes. Momo prefers toys and dolls, which can be purchased from certain shops or found in treasure chests.
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5858 Crossover Characters
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6060 Four characters from Pathea Games' My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock appear in Starsand Island as visitors. They arrive after the Train Station is repaired and are capped at 4 Hearts (non-romanceable). Their original voice actors return for these cameos.
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6262 NPCFromArrivesLoved/Liked GiftsGustMy Time at PortiaSummer 23, after Train Station repairMoonflower, Blue Hydrangea, Pasture Grass, Celeste Berry, Dragon Fruit, CucumberGingerMy Time at PortiaSummer 23, after Train Station repairSheep Plushie (loved), Pink Fox Plushie (loved), Celeste Berry, Pasture Grass, Berry DaifukuFangMy Time at SandrockFall 1, after Train Station repairEcho Bean, Moonflower, Midnight Herb, Spirit Fruit, Pasture Grass, Celeste BerryNiaMy Time at SandrockFall 1, after Train Station repairMoonflower (loved), Blue Hydrangea (loved), River Lotus (loved), Pasture Grass, Celeste Berry
6363 Gust and Ginger arrive together on Summer 23. Gust lives across the street from Bloom Atelier in the northeast area, while Ginger stays at Unit 308, south of the town square. She tends to stay indoors during rainy weather. Fang and Nia arrive together on the first day of Fall. Fang lives in a house on the far west side of the island overlooking the sea, while Nia moves in near Serena's home.
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6565 Sugar Paintings
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6767 Sugar Paintings are a special gift type that provides +30 affection, double the value of a loved gift. To obtain one, you need a photo of the NPC taken at 2 Hearts or higher. Bring the photo to the Tanghua Master (a visiting merchant), who creates a Sugar Painting portrait for 100 coins. You can obtain one Sugar Painting per day. This is the most efficient single-gift affection boost in the game.
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6969 Tips and Strategies
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7171 Start each day with a gifting round. Talk to every NPC you pass (+5 affection each) and give gifts to your priority characters.Grow Moonflowers on your farm for a reliable supply of the most universally loved gift in the game.Keep a stack of Celeste Berries, Pasture Grass, and Coconuts in your inventory as backup gifts for NPCs whose preferences you have not yet discovered.Once you reach 2 Hearts with a character, take their photo and use Sugar Paintings for the biggest single-gift affection boost (+30 points).Complete Bulletin Board requests when available. Hard requests give 25 to 30 affection points, which stacks well with daily gifting.If you want to befriend crossover characters, repair the Train Station as early as possible. Gust and Ginger arrive in Summer, while Fang and Nia arrive in Fall.Check the Social app on your Phone regularly to track which gift reactions you have discovered for each NPC.Avoid gifting Copper, Red Firefly, and Glazed Cicada to anyone unless you know they specifically like those items. Bruce is the only character who appreciates insects.