Character Gift Guide
Spoilers are on this page!
Players may want to avoid or be cautious toward reading this article/section.
The purpose of the Character Gift Guide is to recommend gifts for each character. Recommendations are based on player experiences and depend heavily on each player's progress in the game. It also lists the characters' preferred gifts.
| Table of Contents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gifting Explained | ||
| Basics | Values | Max Friendship |
| Quest Gifts | Gallery | |
| Gift Recommendations by Character | ||
Gifting Explained
Gifting Basics
Every Island Resident has different sets of gifts that they will accept based the item's tags. At least one tag must match any of the character's 3 liked tags. An item can have up to 4 tags designating the item's type(s).
How well an item increases friendship depends on two factors: the value of its tags and how many liked tags it matches. Tag values are set values but hidden values linked to a hidden tag rarity value (common, uncommon, or rare). How many liked tags match for a particular character is indicated by
hearts shown in-game when gifting items. Each character has a single 3-heart gift that matches their 3 liked tags. Unmatched tags all have the value of an "uncommon" tag with no bonus from being liked.
Each character has a limit of 3 gifts per day. This limit can reset through using a
Friendship Bouquet (to reset all characters' gift limits) or giving a character a
Friendship Blossom (to reset the individual character's gift limit).
Also,
Hello Kitty's
Everyone's Friend Ability (level 12) increases friendship gained from gifts by 10% while she accompanies you. Once you have unlocked this ability, it is highly recommended to always have her as your companion when you give gifts.
My Melody's
Big Smile Ability gives an extra return gift, but it does not increase friendship gained.
Companion Abilities should be used whenever possible when making gifts.
Hello Kitty's
Sous Chef Ability can double cooked food, and
Chococat's
Master Crafter Ability can double items crafted.
Gift Values
Tags,
hearts, and whether a tag is liked or not all factors into how much "Friendship XP" (friendship experience points) a character receives from a particular gift. While the player cannot see directly how much Friendship XP each item is worth, the player can see an equivalent value in how many return gifts a character gives when given the gift.
The Gift Value seen is the sum of the following:
- The values of the tags liked by the characters.
- Tags can either be +0, +1, or +2 depending on a hidden "tag rarity" value, which is not the same as item rarity.
- A bonus of +0 for 1 liked tag (
), +1 for 2 liked tags (
), or +2 for 3 liked tags (

). - An additional +1 for every tag (matching or not).
- A bonus for friendship with the player: +0 for (New) Friend, +1 for Good Friend, and +2 for Close Friend.
Because the last part, the friendship bonus, changes with the character's level, this guide uses the base gift values (or New Friend gift values, calculated with a friendship bonus of 0) to show relative values.
(New) Friend gift value = (sum of liked tags' hidden values) + [(number of liked tags) - 1] + (total number of tags)
Friendship XP is calculated with the following formula:
Friendship XP = 5*(gift value) + 10
The bonuses for "Good Friend" and "Close Friend" do affect Friendship XP gained because they increase the gift value.
This system is meant to allow some flexibility in leveling up characters while still paying attention to the characters' preferences.
In the gift menu, gifts are usually ordered by hearts and then by value. For example, if there are two 1-heart gifts in a row, the first gift will be worth more than or equal to the second gift. If a gift is not on this guide but may still outvalue the gifts listed here, it is still fine to use it! It is only not recommended to craft or cook it for that character.
Max Friendship
Best Friend status is an Island Resident's maximum friendship level unless an Island Resident is new and has not had all of their levels added. When an Island Resident is a Best Friend, the gift value of items no longer matters. Only
hearts do.
Instead of giving their material return gifts, characters distribute Character Gift Boxes.
- A
1-heart gift earns a small character box. - A

2-heart gift earns a medium character box. - A


3-heart gift earns a regular character box.
What rewards a Character Gift Box contains depends only on the box size. The regular character box has a chance at having a Character Hat inside.
My Melody's Companion Ability does not give a bonus character box. She still gives a bonus of the character's normal return gift.
Quest Gifts
Gifts given during
Quests sometimes do increase friendship. In particular, the Welcome Gifts that the player gets for the "Small Gift Big Smile" and "Missing Friends, Missing Gifts" quests are meant to start the process of befriending the characters. Sometimes, quest-related items do earn return gifts from the characters (usually if the items have at least one liked tag), but this is not guaranteed.
Completing quests will sometimes earn additional Friendship XP with the characters who give them. This is always true for
Daily Quests.
Starting Characters
Badtz-maru Gifts
Badtz-marulikes the tags:
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Item(s) |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | Great value, but it is possible to run short on | |||
| 7 | Best option before | |||
| 6 | Use only if low on ingredients for | |||
| 5 | Okay option with | |||
| 4 | Other Examples: |
Examples: |
Good options before | |
Examples: |
Cheap early options once the | |||
| Cheap early option once the | ||||
| 3 | Early option, but | |||
| 3x |
Early option, but save 10x | |||
| 2 | Basic starting option. | |||
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Chococat Gifts
Chococat likes the tags:
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | 1x |
Very expensive in materials required. Unlocked at | ||
| 7 | 1x |
Good value for the cost, but players may want to save up 100x | ||
| 4 | 1x |
Good alternative if low on | ||
| 1x |
Good alternative if low on | |||
| Good alternative if low on | ||||
| Alternative if low on | ||||
| Alternative if low on | ||||
| Alternative if low on | ||||
| 3 | 2 plans: | Earliest starting option.
| ||
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Hello Kitty Gifts
Hello Kitty likes the tags:
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | Best value. Available with the | |||
| 9 | 2nd-best gift value, but | |||
| 8 | Great value for cost. Available with the | |||
| 7 | Best early option; materials all obtainable in | |||
| 6 | An early option but not quite as good as the | |||
| 3 | Best starting option if out of | |||
| 2 | Starting option if out of | |||
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My Melody Gifts
My Melody likes the tags:
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 9 | Best option. Available with the | |||
| 7 | Good option with the | |||
| Good option with the | ||||
| Good option with the | ||||
| 6 | 2 recipes: | Best option before the | ||
| 3 | Best beginner's option. | |||
| 2 | Basic starting option. | |||
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Pochacco Gifts
Pochacco likes the tags:
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | Best option. Available with | |||
| 7 | Good option. Requires | |||
| 2 recipes: | Good option with the | |||
| 3 | Very early option. | |||
| Usable without cooking station upgrades. | ||||
| 2 | Basic starting option. A better option is to cook with it at the | |||
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Tuxedosam Gifts
Tuxedosam likes the tags:
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | 5x |
Best value but expensive to craft. Unlocked at | ||
| 8 | 2nd-best gift value. Available with the | |||
| 7 | 3x |
An expensive option. The | ||
| 6 | Good option with easy-to-obtain ingredients. Available with the | |||
| 1x |
An affordable option but requires the | |||
| 4 | Examples: |
Cheap early options once the | ||
| Cheap early option once the | ||||
| Good option before | ||||
| 3 | Early option, but | |||
| 3 plans: | An early option but not very affordable then. The | |||
| 2 | Basic starting option. | |||
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Encountered Elsewhere
Keroppi Gifts
Keroppi likes the tags:
He is first encountered by following the path north outside the Resort Gate and then climbing up to the Lilypad Lagoon in the
Spooky Swamp.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 7 | 1x |
Highest value but | ||
| 1x |
An alternative but still expensive and likely to be obtained too late to be useful. The | |||
| 5 | Easy and early option with | |||
| 4 | Example: |
Cheap option. | ||
Example: |
Cheap option with | |||
| 2 | Very basic starting option, but try to avoid it. | |||
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Kuromi Gifts
Kuromi likes the tags:
She is first encountered while heading north from
Keroppi in the
Spooky Swamp.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | Best option. Available with the | |||
| 8 | Great option. Available with the | |||
| 7 | 5x |
Expensive to craft, but most valuable early gift. Using 1 per day is affordable. | ||
| 6 | Alternative option. Use if low on | |||
| 4 | Examples: |
Examples: |
Somewhat early options. Using the | |
| 3 | Somewhat early option. Using the | |||
| Early option. With 7x | ||||
| 2 | Basic starting option, but try to cook or craft instead. | |||
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Cinnamoroll Gifts
Cinnamoroll likes the tags:
Chocolate (+1)
Spice (+2)
Cozy Beverage (+2)
He is encountered during
Kuromi's level 1 quest. To gift him early on, travel to
Mount Hothead and collect
Magma Blooms and
Cinna Blooms to cook into gifts. Additional quests are not required to get to
Mount Hothead.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | 2 recipes: | Best value. Available with the | ||
| 9 | Good option if low on | |||
| 8 | Alternative if low on | |||
| 7 | 2 recipes: | Good option before | ||
| Good alternative if low on | ||||
| 6 | 2 recipes: | |||
| Option with easy-to-obtain ingredients available with the | ||||
| 4 | 2 recipes: | Early options obtainable without additional quests or tools. | ||
| 2 recipes: | ||||
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Pekkle Gifts
Pekkle likes the tags:
He can be reached in
Gemstone Mountain's Gemstone Town after the "Power Up the Gate" quest, though other quests and tasks can make traveling there easier. There are portions of the cliffside where a combination of jumping and resting on flat surfaces make scaling it possible even without extra
stamina.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | 1x |
Best value and usually affordable unless low on | ||
| 7 | 1x |
Somewhat expensive to craft, but the | ||
| 3x |
Obtainable early on, but difficult to craft enough for 3 gifts daily because of the limited | |||
| 5 | Alternative option. Available with | |||
| 4 | Cheap option. Can be caught in the Crystal Caves during the | |||
| Cheap option. Can be caught in the off-map side rooms of the Crystal Caves during the | ||||
| 3 | A basic option, but use them to craft | |||
- *Tip: It is possible to get to
Pekkle and
Pompompurin directly after the "Power Up the Gate" quest, though other quests can make traveling there easier. There are portions of the cliffside where a combination of jumping and resting on flat surfaces make climbing possible even without extra
stamina.
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Pompompurin Gifts
Pompompurin likes the tags:
He can be reached in
Gemstone Mountain's Oasis after the "Power Up the Gate" quest, though other quests and tasks can make traveling there easier. There are portions of the cliffside where a combination of jumping and resting on flat surfaces make scaling it possible even without extra
stamina.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | Best option. Available with the | |||
| 7 | Great option. Requires having the | |||
| Great option if not saving | ||||
| 6 | Good option with easy-to-obtain ingredients. Available with the | |||
| 4 | 3 recipes: | Best early option. Requires reaching | ||
Examples: |
Examples: |
Early options after the | ||
| 3 | Basic starting option, but may be better used for | |||
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Retsuko Gifts
Retsuko likes the tags:
She can be reached near
Mount Hothead's Red Hot Ruins after the "Power Up the Gate" quest, though other quests and tasks can make traveling to
Mount Hothead easier. There is a portion of the volcanic slope, near the bridge to
Gemstone Mountain, that can be walked up without extra
stamina.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 9 | 2x |
Most valuable option, but | ||
| 8 | 1x |
Valuable but extremely expensive option. Not recommended to craft, but | ||
| 7 | 1x |
Good value for cost. Finding enough | ||
| 1x |
Expensive to craft, and the plans are not obtained until very late-game. However, it can also be won from Mini Games. | |||
| 5 | Regional Music Boxes
Examples: |
1x Example: |
Expensive to craft but easier to access than more valuable options. | |
| 4 | An option if low on | |||
| A cheaper but late option if low on | ||||
| 3 | 3x |
An option, but crafting something better is preferable. | ||
| 2 | An option, but crafting something better is preferable. | |||
| 1 | An option, but crafting something better is preferable. | |||
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Hangyodon Gifts
Hangyodon likes the tags:
He can be reached with the
Snorkel from
Kuromi's level 6 quest.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 8 | 3x |
Best option but expensive. | ||
| 6 | 3x |
A more expensive starting option, but an option if fishing is not an option. The | ||
| 5 | Examples: |
Cheap to obtain and good value; best starting option. (As a bonus, clamfish come with nearly-guaranteed | ||
| 3 | 3 plans: | Best starting option if fishing is not an option. The | ||
| 2 | Alternative starting option if fishing is not an option. | |||
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Unlocked through Quests
Cogimyun Gifts
This content requires
Wheatflour Wonderland.
It is available with the Wheatflour Wonderland DLC or as part of
Apple Arcade.
Cogimyun likes the tags:
Wheatflour (+1)
Wand (+2)
Glass (+1)
She can only be found in
Wheatflour Wonderland.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 9 | 1x |
Best option and quite cheap but requires 'Wanderful' quest which only unlocks at Cogimyum level 25. | ||
| 6 | Magical Potions
Examples: |
1x Examples:
|
Requires the upgraded | |
| 4 | Good early gift. Can be caught in the Wheatflower Fields only during | |||
| 5x |
Good early gift but requires | |||
| 1x |
Good early gift but requires | |||
3 options:
|
Good early gift but requires upgraded | |||
| 3 | Can be picked in the Wheatflower Fields early and are abundant. Easy starting gift. | |||
Examples: |
Possible starting gifts. | |||
| 1x |
Possible starting gifts, though the | |||
| 1x | ||||
| 1x | ||||
| 1x | ||||
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Usahana Gifts
This content requires
City Town.
It is currently available only on
Apple Arcade.
City Town DLC will be released on other platforms in 2026.
Usahana likes the tags:
Imagination (+1)
Mochi (+2)
Rainbow (+2)
She is unlocked through quests that becomes available after reaching level 7 with
Badtz-maru,
Keroppi,
Kuromi,
Chococat, and
Cinnamoroll and also requires at least level 4 with
Pochacco.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | Best value. Requires unlocking | |||
| 7 | Great value for the cost. Access requires completing a quest at | |||
| Good value, but using | ||||
| 6 | 2 plans: | Expensive option and only able to be crafted late in the game.
| ||
| 5 | Cheap option with good value. Best starting option. | |||
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Wish me mell Gifts
Wish me mell likes the tags:
The quests that unlock her are first available after picking up a
Lost Doll. It can be found in an area first accessible through a quest the day after
My Melody's level 11 quest.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 8 | 5x |
Best value. 4 per day available from the | ||
| 5 | Examples: |
Great option and cheap to obtain. | ||
Any Rare-tagged Fish Examples: |
Great option and cheap to obtain. (As a bonus, clamfish come with nearly-guaranteed | |||
| 5x |
Good value but more expensive to obtain. 2 per day available from the | |||
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My Sweet Piano Gifts
My Sweet Piano likes the tags:
The quests to invite her can be started after reaching friendship level 15 with
My Melody.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | 2 plans: | Best option but can be expensive to craft.
| ||
| 7 | Regional Lamb Plushes
Examples: |
Examples: |
Good options but somewhat costly. The | |
| 6 | Of the non-Lamb Plush options, this will usually be the easiest to afford. Requires access to | |||
| 1x |
Good option. Unlocked at | |||
| 5 | Best cheaper option. Available with the upgraded | |||
| 4 | Other Examples: |
Examples: |
Good cheaper option. Requires access to the | |
| 1x |
Expensive but likely to be the best gift available at the start. Unlocked at | |||
| 3 | Regional Souvenir Dolls
Examples: |
1x Example: |
Expensive option but possibly available at the start. | |
| Color |
5x |
Expensive option but possibly available at the start. | ||
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Big Challenges Gifts
Big Challenges likes the tags:
Resilience (+2)
Volcanic (+1)
Book (+2)
To befriend him, progress through the story enough to unlock and climb
Icy Peak.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | 2x |
Best gift but very expensive in terms of materials used. May need to save it for | ||
| 7 | 1x |
Very affordable gift after getting | ||
| 5 | 1x |
An acceptable starting option. | ||
| 4 | Examples: |
Cheap to obtain; good starter option. (As a bonus, clamfish come with nearly-guaranteed | ||
Examples: |
Cheap to obtain; good starter option. | |||
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TOPHAT Gifts
TOPHAT likes the tags:
To befriend him, progress through the story enough to unlock and climb
Icy Peak.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 12 | 2x |
Best value but very expensive to craft. | ||
| 8 | 1x |
Great value but somewhat expensive to craft. Unlocked at | ||
| 6 | Good starting option with easy-to-obtain ingredients. | |||
| Other good starting options. | ||||
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Kiki Gifts
Kiki likes the tags:
He can be befriended after quests that become available after climbing
Icy Peak and reaching friendship level 17 with
Hello Kitty.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 12 | Best value. Access to more | |||
| 8 | 1x |
Not recommended to craft, but | ||
| 7 | 3x |
Not recommended to craft, but | ||
| 6 | Best starting option. Good option if low on | |||
| Okay option with the | ||||
| 5 | Okay option but uses | |||
| Starting option. | ||||
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Lala Gifts
Lala likes the tags:
She can be befriended after quests that become available after climbing
Icy Peak and reaching friendship level 17 with
Hello Kitty.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 12 | Great value. Finding enough | |||
| 8 | Great value, but only use if low on | |||
| Great value, but only use if low on | ||||
| 1x |
Not recommended to craft, but | |||
| 6 | Best starting option. Good option if low on | |||
| Good option if low on | ||||
| 5 | Okay option but uses | |||
| Okay option with the | ||||
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Moppu Gifts
This content is not yet available on all platforms.
It was released with
version 2.12 and is currently available only on
Apple Arcade. It is part of Content Update 5.
Content usually releases on different platforms at different times. Check "Updates" for version information.
Moppu likes the tags:
He can be befriended after quests that become available after having 5x
Spirit Hearts and repairing the
Arctifier.
| High Heart Gifts | |
|---|---|
| Hearts | Items |
| Friendship Raising Recommendations | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Item | Hearts | Source or Ingredients | Comments |
| 10 | 2x |
Best option. The | ||
| 7 | Good options if out of | |||
| 6 | Cheap option. Available with the | |||
| Best starting options. Available with the | ||||
| Good starting option with the | ||||
| 5 | Holograms (All)
Example: |
1x Example: |
Expensive starting options but usable if low on | |
| 4 | 1x |
Cheap option if out of materials for better gifts. The | ||
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Gallery
Guide Images
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