Unlocking Sam's Heart: The Ultimate Guide to Romance & Marriage in Stardew Valley

Sam, a resident of 1 Willow Lane in Stardew Valley, is one of the six eligible bachelors in the town. Living with his younger brother, Vincent, and mother, Jodi, Sam has been facing considerable stress due to his father's absence. His father, Kent, has been serving in the military and has been away for several years, which has left Sam longing for his return.

Known for his outgoing and free-spirited nature, Sam enjoys going on adventures and skateboarding. He is also passionate about playing the guitar and has a deep love for music. In fact, Sam dreams of forming a band in Stardew Valley with his friends, Sebastian and Abigail. Players have the opportunity to develop a strong bond with Sam and potentially marry this kind-hearted NPC.

Sam’s Schedule

Sam is a vibrant and dynamic villager who is always on the move. Tracking him down can be quite a challenge due to his ever-changing schedule based on the season. Typically, Sam can be found jamming on his guitar in his bedroom or skateboarding around town.

In the Spring and Summer, Sam holds a part-time job. On Mondays and Wednesdays, he goes to JojaMart and works from 12:50 to 4:00 PM. However, if the Community Center is restored, Sam will work at the Museum instead. After finishing his shift, he goes back home to spend time with his family.

Sam frequently visits The Stardrop Saloon on Fridays, where he enjoys playing pool near the Arcade from 4 PM until 9:20 PM when he makes his way back home. Saturdays are often reserved for spending time with his friend, Sebastian, while during the summer months, he dedicates his free days to taking his younger brother, Vincent, to The Beach.

However, Sam's schedule undergoes changes during the Fall and Winter seasons. In the Fall, he departs from home at 1:20 PM to walk to The Forest, where he remains until 7 PM. In the Winter, he tends to spend more time indoors but still makes visits to The Stardrop Saloon in the evenings.

Sam’s Favorite Gifts

Sam occasionally deviates from his regular routines. He makes it a point to take a leisurely stroll around Pelican Town on Days 9 and 23 of each season. Moreover, on Fall 11, he makes a necessary visit to Harvey's Clinic for his yearly checkup. Additionally, Sam is known to eagerly attend the Night Market on Winter 17, where he can be found enjoying the festivities at 5 PM. In the event of rain, Sam typically opts to stay indoors and occupy himself with his handheld video game. Alternatively, he may choose to head to the Stardrop Saloon at 2 PM.

To enhance their Friendship points with Sam, players have the option of presenting him with gifts twice weekly. Remarkably, giving Sam a gift on his birthday, specifically on Summer 17, yields eight times the effect on Friendship points. Sam, being an uncomplicated individual, derives genuine pleasure from simple gifts. It is worth noting that Joja Cola is the sole item in the game that Sam particularly favors.

Things Sam loves being gifted are:

All Universal Loves

Cactus Fruit

Maple Bar

Tigerseye

Pizza

Things Sam likes being gifted are:

All Universal Likes (except Vegetables, Pickles, Mayonnaise, and Duck Mayonnaise)

All Eggs (except Void Eggs)

Joja Cola

Sam’s Heart Events

Trigging Sam's Heart Events is straightforward since they mostly occur inside his house. The player's response during these events has no impact on their Friendship level with Sam, except for the four-heart event.

To trigger the Two Hearts event, simply enter Sam's house while he is present. Regardless of the player's choice of music style, both Sam and Sebastian will agree with them.

Three Hearts – Head to the beach during daylight hours, from 7 AM to 3 PM, in any season except Winter. Sam seeks the player's advice on whether to raise his younger brother's expectations. He wholeheartedly supports whatever decision the player makes.

Four Hearts – Upon entering Sam's residence, players discover him in the kitchen. He kindly offers them a snack but accidentally drops an egg on the kitchen floor. Sam's mother becomes upset with the mess, prompting Sam to implore the player to clarify the situation. Players are given a choice to either shoulder the blame or not, with the former option elevating their friendship with Sam by 50 points.

Six Hearts – Visit the Town between 12 PM and 4 PM on a rain-free day. Witness Sam skateboarding and Lewis catching him grinding on Emily and Haley’s flower box. The Mayor seeks the player's opinion on the property damage.

Eight Hearts – Between 6 AM and 8 AM, Sam appears at the player's doorstep to invite them to witness his band perform in Zuzu City. This invitation is exclusive to players who have experienced Sam's two-heart event.

Ten Hearts – Upon receiving a letter from Sam, players are instructed to enter the town on a sunny day between 8 PM and 12 AM. Sam cleverly leads the player to his room for a private conversation, where he confesses his feelings. However, their intimate moment is interrupted when Sam's mother unexpectedly knocks on the door. In a hurry, he hides the player under the bed. After his mother finally leaves, players are faced with two options: either 'Get out of Bed' or 'Stay Put'. Depending on the choice made, a romantic cutscene unfolds with Sam and the player sharing a passionate kiss.

Dating and Marrying Sam

To start a romantic relationship with Sam, players must first achieve an eight-heart friendship with him. In order to date Sam, players must present him with a flower Bouquet, which can be purchased at Pierre's store for 200 g. Once the bouquet is given, Sam will happily accept and his status in the Socials tab will change to "boyfriend."

Upon reaching a ten-heart friendship with Sam, players have the option to marry him. They can propose to Sam by offering him a special necklace called the Mermaid's Pendant. This pendant can be purchased from the Old Mariner, who is usually found by the tidal pools on the Beach during rainy days. The Mermaid's Pendant is available for 5,000 g.

Stardew Valley is available now for Android, iOS, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.