Maru is a quiet girl who lives with her parents in the mountains. She is arguably the most intelligent marriage candidate in Stardew Valley, and has a heartwarming route that is a perfect romantic journey for your time in the Valley. Maru is like her dad and loves to create, and is a fan of observing the stars. Maru's passion easily sets her apart from the rest of the cast.
Related: Stardew Valley: All Of The Gifts The Dwarf Loves
Maru is also a gentle soul who is easy to please. To help you win her heart, the guide below lists her schedule and her loved gifts, as well as her various heart events.
Basic Info About Maru
Maru is an intelligent character who, like most characters, appreciates receiving a birthday present. She works part-time at the clinic as a nurse, where she can often be found.
Birthday: Summer 10
Home Location: Robin's Shop
Night Market Visit: Winter 16
Occupation: Nurse
Maru's Schedule
Maru does go to work regularly, so this can make her a bit easy to find as she keeps much of the same schedule. She is friends with Penny, so you can often find them together. Maru isn't big on exploring the town or drinking and prefers to spend time at home when she isn't busy.
Regardless of the season, Maru does not leave the house if it is raining.
Spring
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| MONDAY AND SUNDAY | |
| 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Home |
| 1:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. | Heading into town |
| 3:20 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Sitting on the bench by the Saloon |
| 6:30 p.m. to ~8:30 p.m. | Heading home |
| ~8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. | Home (she goes to bed at 11 p.m.) |
| TUESDAY AND THURSDAY | |
| 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. | Home |
| 8 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. | Walking to work at the Clinic |
| 9:20 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | At work at the Clinic |
| 4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Walking home from work |
| 6:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. | Home (she goes to bed at midnight) |
| WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY | |
| 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Home |
| 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Walking toward the Community Center |
| 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Sitting on the bench by the Community Center |
| 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Walking home |
| 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Home (she goes to bed at 10 p.m.) |
Summer
| When | Where |
|---|---|
| MONDAY AND SUNDAY | |
| 6 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Home |
| 1:30 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. | Walking into town |
| 3:20 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Sitting on the bench by the Saloon |
| 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Walking home |
| 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. | Home (she goes to bed at 11 p.m.) |
| TUESDAY AND THURSDAY | |
| 6 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. | Home |
| 7:50 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. | Heading to work at the Clinic |
| 9:40 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | At work at the Clinic |
| 4:45 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. | Walking home from work |
| 6:40 p.m. to 12 a.m. | Home (she goes to bed at midnight) |
| WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY | |
| 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Home |
| 2 p.m. to 2:40 p.m. | Walking to the lake |
| 2:40 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Standing by the lake |
| 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Walking home |
| 7:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. | Using telescope outside |
| 12 a.m. | Goes inside and then to bed |
Fall and Winter
*Maru's schedule is basically the same in the Fall and Winter as it is in the Spring, but some of the times are slightly different. Most importantly, she starts work at 9:40 a.m. instead of 9:20.
Gifting to Maru
Maru is easy to get liked gifts for, but her loves will be harder to come by until players reach their first summer. However, she has quite a few of them, giving you some options.
| Maru | |
|---|---|
| Loves (+80 points) |
|
| Likes (+45 points) |
|
| Neutral (+20 points) |
|
| Dislikes (-20 points) |
|
| Hates (-40 points) |
|
Triggering Maru's Cutscenes
Maru is a girl who knows what she wants in a partner; because of this, it can be easy to get dialogue choices wrong. This can cost you the loss of friendship points and can be a bit confusing for players, so here is what will happen with each choice.
Two Hearts
To activate this event, visit Robin's shop while Maru is home. In this event, she will be helping her dad test soil samples. She will briefly leave you with Demetrius and then come back to inquire what you were talking about.
| Don't say anything | +10 friendship points with Demetrius
|
| Say that Demetrius is being weird | -100 friendship points with Demetrius
|
Four Hearts
For this event, visit Maru while she is at work. You will witness her break a beaker, and she will ask what you think she should do.
| "Just scoop it off the floor. He won't know the difference." | -50 friendship points |
| "Tell Harvey it was my fault." | -20 friendship points |
| "Tell Harvey it was an accident." | +50 friendship points |
Six Hearts
For this event, you'll need to go to the mountain on a sunny day between 9 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. Maru will invite you to look through her telescope and then inquire as to what you can see.
| "A beautiful planet." | +30 friendship points |
| "A cold, dark abyss." | -30 friendship points |
Eight Hearts
For the eight heart event, visit Maru while she is home. She will be working on an invention and ask you to touch it, but you'll get injured once you do. She'll ask if you're okay.
| "It's okay, it doesn't even hurt." | +30 friendship |
| "You'd better be [sorry]. This hurts like crazy!" | -50 friendship |
Ten Hearts
Visit the Carpenter's Shop between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.. This time she will take you to see her complete invention. By the end of her cutscene, her robot MarILDA will go off into space. She'll ask your opinion on MarILDA's departure.
| Tell her your impressed | +50 friendship points |
| Tell her you're disappointed | -50 friendship points
|
| Mention that Demetrius is "okay" with you two dating | No effect on friendship |
| Say nothing | No effect on friendship |
If you choose to be disappointed, you can explain to Maru why, and your response will regain the friendship points you lost or lose you even more:
| "MarILDA's just a piece of machinery designed to act human." | +50 friendship points |
| "I was just kidding. MarILDA deserves her freedom." | +50 friendship points |
| "I would've put her to work on the farm." | -50 friendship points |
Fourteen Hearts
All of other marriage candidates have a 14-heart event, and Maru is no exception. It can only be reached if you're married to her, since non-married NPCs will max friendship with you at ten hearts. It's not a part of romancing Maru, because you're already married at that point, so we won't spoil it for you here!
Next: Stardew Valley: Complete Guide And Walkthrough
