This page or section contains unmarked spoilers from update 1.6 of Stardew Valley. Players may want to avoid or be cautious toward reading this article/section.
“Growing up with a carpenter and a scientist for parents, Maru acquired a passion for creating gadgets at a young age. When she isn’t in her room, fiddling with tools and machinery, she sometimes does odd jobs at the local clinic. Friendly, outgoing, and ambitious, Maru would be quite a lucky match for a lowly newcomer such as yourself… Can you win her heart, or will she slip through your fingers and disappear from your life forever?”
In the Social Status menu, Maru's outfit will change to a nursing uniform when she is at her job at the clinic.
Schedule
After the Beach Resort on Ginger Island is unlocked, Maru may randomly spend the day there. After leaving the Island at 6pm, Maru will immediately go home to bed. Maru never visits the Resort on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Festival days.
Shown below are Maru's schedules prioritized highest to lowest within each season. For example, if it is raining, that schedule overrides all others below it.
Leaves sales counter and stands in waiting area looking at file folders.
4:40 PM
Leaves work and heads home to the farm.
Relationships
Maru lives with her parents Demetrius and Robin, as well as her half-brother Sebastian who is Robin's son. She has a strained relationship with Sebastian and wishes they were closer.
Maru works for Harvey at the clinic, and both worry that it doesn't receive enough patients. Maru dances with Harvey at the Flower dance if neither is dancing with the player. She is also friends with Penny, and can frequently be seen sitting down with her at the bench south of the Saloon.
You can give Maru up to two gifts per week (plus one on
her
birthday), which will raise or lower
her
friendship with you. Gifts on
her
birthday ( 10 Summer) will have 8× effect and show a unique dialogue. For loved or liked gifts, Maru will say
“
“A birthday gift? That's very kind of you! I love it.”
“
“You remembered my birthday! Thank you. This is great!”
For neutral gifts, Maru will say
“
“Oh, a birthday gift! Thank you.”
For disliked or hated gifts, Maru will say
“
“Oh... It's for my birthday? ... Thanks.”
Love
“
“Is that...? Oh wow, (Name)! This is spectacular!”
Battery Pack
“
“This will be perfect for powering my latest project! Thanks, (Name)!”
Dwarf Gadget
“
“Ooh, this is exciting! I’ll deconstruct it and see if I can reverse-engineer the technology.”
Gold Bar
“
“Ah, pure gold... It's not the strongest material, but it has some really useful properties!”
Iridium Bar
“
“Oh, wow! That's a rare element. It's theorized that all the iridium in our world comes from meteorites...”
Radioactive Bar
“
“Ahh! Be careful with that! Are you touching it with your bare hands? ... Sorry... hehe... With proper handling, this will be perfect for an exotic machine I'm building.”
Stardrop Tea
“
“Mmm... How does it taste so good? This is a really great gift.”
You find Maru and Demetrius testing soil samples in their lab. Maru asks you to watch a beaker while she fetches more samples. When she leaves, Demetrius tells you that Maru is a good kid and his 'special little girl', and he wouldn't want anything getting in the way of her bright future. When Maru returns, Demetrius says you've been talking about the soil samples.
(Say nothing)(+10 friendship with Demetrius.) Demetrius and Maru go back to work.
"Actually, your dad was being weird."(-100 friendship with Demetrius.) Maru asks Demetrius what you're talking about. Demetrius tells the truth and apologizes for his behavior.
No matter what you choose, if you speak to Demetrius after the Heart Event he will admit to being 'a bit presumptuous' and apologize.
Maru is startled by your entry and drops a glass beaker she's holding. Worried about Harvey's response, she asks what she should do.
"Just scoop it off the floor. He won't know the difference."(-50 friendship.) She says that of course Harvey will be able to tell the difference. When Harvey comes to investigate the noise, Maru tells him it was an accident and apologises.
"Tell Harvey it was my fault."(-20 friendship.) When Harvey comes to investigate the noise, she tells Harvey that it was your fault.
"Tell Harvey it was an accident."(+50 friendship.) When Harvey comes in to investigate the noise, she tells him it was an accident and apologises.
If Maru blames you, Harvey is disappointed that she didn't take responsibility for her own actions and says the mistake will put them back in the red for a month. Maru is flustered and upset.
If Maru says it was an accident and apologizes, Harvey thanks her for telling the truth and tells her not to worry about it. Maru thanks him for his patience, and Harvey says she's been a big help and he doesn't know what he'd do without her. He turns to you and asks if you're okay, since you're looking a bit pale; you turn away and emote a sweat drop.
Six Hearts
Enter the mountain on a sunny day, between 9pm and 11:40pm.
Details
You see Maru looking through her telescope. She's surprised to see you out so late, and says she wants to show you something. You look through her telescope and she asks what you see.
"A beautiful planet."(+30 friendship.) Maru responds, "It's amazing, isn't it?"
"A cold, dark abyss."(-30 friendship.) Maru responds, "I guess you could see it like that... But it's still grand, isn't it?"
Maru says that by the time any of these stars are visited, you'll both be long gone. "I guess that's the trouble with being human, huh?" She begins to tell you something, then changes her mind and shows you a binary star system instead. The cutscene ends as your character thinks, "What a beautiful night! Maru showed me something new..."
Maru says she's been working on a new project, something big. She shows you a machine and says it's just one component. She asks you to put your hand on it for a demonstration, flips a switch, and you get shocked. Maru is aghast and asks if you're alright. She applies burn cream and apologizes.
"It's okay, it doesn't even hurt."(+30 friendship.)
"You'd better be. This hurts like crazy!"(-50 friendship.)
With either choice, Maru says that kind of ruined the moment, and sighs.
Maru says her big project is finally done. She takes you into her private workshop to show you a robot she built to help her parents. She calls it MarILDA, short for Maru's Interactive Laboratory Device Alpha. She tells you she's been working on it for months, and has been waiting for you to come by before activating MarILDA. She activates the robot, who says "Greetings, Maru. No need to respond... I have already predicted what you will say."
Demetrius comes in to see what you two are up to. He sees the robot and becomes frightened. Maru tells him not to be scared and that MarILDA is her latest invention. The robot greets him, but Demetrius is upset. "This is why you've locked yourself in your room the last few months? ...and I thought you were down here fooling around with <your name>..." Maru says she's been making this robot to help Demetrius and Robin when she's not living with them anymore.
MarILDA interrupts: "Excuse me... I am sorry, Maru. But I do not want to be your servant... In the time since you activated me, I have been pondering the nature of my existence with the 'self-awareness' module you installed in my neural cortex. I am sorry to disappoint you all, but I must ask for my freedom. I've decided to explore the galaxy in search of other synthetic life-forms."
Maru is startled and asks her to wait, but Demetrius says it's OK to let MarILDA go free. "Your mother and I can take care of ourselves. I know you're ready to start a life of your own, and I've come to terms with the thought of not having you around anymore. Besides, this... creation of yours seems pretty advanced. It wouldn't feel right to keep her as a servant. <your name>, I'm sorry I mistrusted you. You're a <good guy or fine young woman>. I've never seen Maru so lively and creative... and I've never been more proud of her. If you've had a hand in that, then you have my gratitude." He leaves the room.
Maru walks MarILDA outside. MarILDA thanks Maru for creating her and blasts off into space. Maru watches her go and asks what you think.
"I'm so impressed with your inventions."(+50 friendship.) Maru responds: "Thanks. That means a lot to me, <your name>. I know gadgets aren't really your kind of thing... but I do appreciate that you're showing interest in what I do. I wish I could return the favor somehow."
"I'm disappointed... you should have made that robot your slave."(-50 friendship.) Maru responds: "What? After she said point-blank that she doesn't want to be a slave? How cold... You must have a good reason for saying that..."
"MarILDA's just a piece of machinery designed to act human."(+50 friendship.) Maru responds: "... You have a point, I did program her to act human... but her neural net is so complex, I can't be sure conciousness didn't emerge on its own. Furthermore, isn't it a little arrogant to assume that human-like consciousness is the only worthwhile vessel of existence? Computer brains are different than ours, but that doesn't mean we can disregard them." She thanks you for coming by and leaves.
"I was just kidding. MarILDA deserves her freedom."(+50 friendship.) Maru responds: "I see. Well it wasn't a very funny joke." She thanks you for coming by and leaves.
"I would've put her to work on the farm."(-50 friendship.) Maru responds: "That's horrible! What's gotten into you, <your name>? I'm just going to forget about this conversation... you aren't acting yourself." She thanks you for coming by and leaves.
"So is your Dad okay with 'us' now?"(No effect on friendship.) Maru responds: "Heh... Yeah I guess he did kinda say that, didn't he? ...Um..."
(Just stare at Maru and say nothing)(No effect on friendship.) Maru responds: "... ..."
Group Ten-Heart Event
If the player is unmarried and has given a bouquet to all available bachelorettes, raised friendship with each bachelorette to 10 hearts, and seen each bachelorette's 10-heart event, then entering Haley/Emily's House will trigger a cutscene. If Haley is the final bachelorette you share a Ten-Heart Event with, the Group Ten-Heart Event will be unavoidable as it is triggered immediately afterwards.
Details
If the player has a Rabbit's Foot in inventory, the cutscene will consist of a gossip session about Mayor Lewis and Marnie's relationship.
If the player does not have a Rabbit's Foot in inventory, all bachelorettes will express anger about the player dating them all at one time. Regardless of the player's dialogue choice(s), all bachelorettes will decide to give the player the "cold shoulder" for about a week after the event. They will give angry dialogue when interacted with, and refuse gifts. After about a week, all bachelorettes will forgive the player, and dialogues return to normal.
This event will trigger only one time per save file. This event will not trigger if you are married or have given a Wilted Bouquet or Mermaid's Pendant to one of the marriage candidates.
Fourteen Hearts
Part 1: Enter the Farmhouse between 6:10am and 5pm on a non-Sunday non-winter day. Part 2: Enter the Mountains between 10:00pm and 1:00am on a sunny day.
Details
Part 1: Maru greets you and informs you a rare astronomical event is happening tomorrow night. She invites you to observe it with her, and asks you to meet her in the mountains tomorrow night (or the next night if it is raining).
Part 2: You and Maru stand near a telescope as Maru reminisces about the last time you stargazed together. The astronomical event begins; a scene of a comet being viewed through a telescope plays. Maru remarks that it's customary to make a wish after seeing a comet, and asks what the player will wish for. You may respond:
Note: When this cutscene ends, the day ends immediately with the player being taken to the end-of-day profits screen. The player will wake up in bed the next morning as usual.
Once married, Maru will move into the farmhouse. Like other marriage candidates, she will add her own room to the right of the bedroom. She'll also set up a small area behind the farmhouse where she'll sometimes go to work on her gadgets. She will continue to work at the clinic and travel to town to work there on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I'm Maru. I've been looking forward to meeting you!
You know, with a small town like this, a new face can really alter the community dynamic. It's exciting!”
Regular
“
“Whenever I'm struggling with a technical problem, I always take a walk.It's surprising how much a change of scenery can help.”
“
“Have you met my mother? She's the town's carpenter.”
“
“On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work at Harvey's clinic.He says he likes having me around in case his medical equipment goes haywire! Being a farmer must be pretty easy, huh?”
“
“I plan on spending a lot of time with my telescope this summer.”
“
“Do you know my Dad, Demetrius? He's a scientist. I have a lot of fun helping him out in the laboratory.”
“
“Hey, sorry if I seem cranky... I'm a little sore from work yesterday. I had to sort patient records for four hours straight!”
“
“Sometimes my head gets so cluttered with nonsense I can hardly think. Does that ever happen to you? Getting some fresh air usually helps.”
“
“Stop by our house when you need to upgrade your buildings. It's always nice to have visitors.”
“
“My mother is a carpenter and my dad is a scientist. I guess it makes sense that I'm into building gadgets.”
“...I found you unconscious in the mines. I was hunting for minerals and I almost stepped on your head! Be a little more careful next time, okay?”
Rainy Days
“
“When it rains I have a good excuse to work on my gadgets all day. It must be kind of boring for you, though.”
6+ Hearts, Friday
“
“My Dad is very logical, and my Mom is very intuitive. That difference leads to conflicts, sometimes...”
8+ Hearts
“
“I work at Harvey's clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He's nice, but not really my type...”
'Spring'8+ Hearts
“
“You know, I was thinking...even with all the technology in the world, nothing beats having a real human friend”
Summer
“
“This is going to be a great season for stargazing.”
“
“Hmm... What sort of gadget should I tinker with this summer?”
“
“Come to my room if you ever want to tinker with my gadgets.”
“
“Sebastian is my half-brother, if you didn't know already. We look totally different.”
“
“Sebastian hardly ever talks to me. I wonder if he even likes me at all? It's sad, I want to have a brother but he doesn't act like one.”
“
“Hey, have any interesting farm stories to tell me? Guess not”
“
“I bet you're growing some interesting crops right now. Dad says a lot of exotic plants grow in the valley this time of year.”
“
“Hey, tell me a story about farming.
That's really interesting!”
“
“Is it just me or did it suddenly get really hot? I guess it's just me.”
“
“Some day I'm going to be a world-class inventor. You're lucky to be friends with me!
...just kidding.”
“
“Are you enjoying the season? It's been so warm this year.”
“
“I worked at the clinic yesterday. We didn't have a single patient.
I guess people get sick less during summer.”
8+ Hearts, Tuesday
“
“[Player], you're looking sharp today.”
Fall
“
“Have you explored the mines much? I've heard you can find some useful materials there.”
“
“The trees look beautiful today!”
“
“In other parts of the world it's spring right now. Imagine that!”
“
“I bet we'll start seeing more people at the clinic this season.
I hope everyone stays healthy.”
“
“All these falling leaves will provide food for mushrooms and other small organisms. Interesting, isn't it?”
“
“Hey, here's to another good week! *toast*”
“
“[Player], I just love how the trees look right now! I know you like them too.”
“
“If you have any extra metal laying around, I could always use it for one of my projects.
But only if you don't need it yourself.”
“
“I've been feeling especially optimistic lately...”
Wednesdays
“
“Bleh... I don't feel like working tomorrow.”
8+ Hearts; Mondays
“
“You should come visit me at the clinic tomorrow. I work from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.”
Winter
“
“Oh man, it's so cold...”
“
“Did you see the snowman I built?”
“
“My hair gets so frizzy in this dry weather. *sigh*”
“
“I guess winter is a good time to work on my gadgets.
I wonder if I could make anything useful for farmers?”
“
“Hey! What's up? It's a good time to explore the caves.
I would go but my Dad would flip.”
“
“I hope I don't catch the flu this year.”
“
“Have you built a furnace yet? You can use them to turn raw material like ores into more useful products.”
“
“I get so sleepy when it's cold...”
“
“You look fresh today. I guess it's that crisp winter air.”
8+ Hearts
“
“Hi [Player]! Hey, don't you think my snowman looks kind of like you?”
Green RainYear 1
“
“I want to go collect samples with my dad, but my Mom is insisting we stay here...”
Years 2+
“
“This is a rare opportunity to study a unique phenomenon... every moment counts!”
At Ginger Island
“
“Willy mentioned that you helped fix the boat. Thanks for doing that!”
“
“I've been noticing a few different starfish species. My favorite are the big purple ones, but they're all very interesting!”
“
“*gasp*... It's a solar eclipse! Oh... nevermind. It's just your body blocking the sun.”
“
“We're so far removed from civilization out here. Imagine the stars you could see at night. Who knows, maybe we'd even see a flying saucer or two!”
“
“Mmmm... Why are tropical fruits so good?”
“
“I wonder if Willy would let me bring my telescope here sometime... The sky is so clear here, I bet I could spot Pelican Town out in the horizon. Maybe I'd even see you running around [Farm Name] Farm!”
“
“That was fun!”
Dating
“
“How do your hands stay so soft with all that farm work?”
“
“You have a leaf in your hair. Let me get it for you.”
“
“[Player], come closer. I'm cold. My hands are so dry from the winter air. I'm sorry about that.”
“
“Oh, [Player]! Is there anything you want to talk to me about?”
When engaged
“
“I'm really excited. I'm going to be your wife. Hehe.”
“
“I need to get mentally prepared for being a farmer's wife.”
After Group 10 Heart Event
“
“You've got some nerve, speaking to me!”
“
“You've lost some respect with me, [Player]... but I'm willing to forgive you.”
“Hey, [Player]. I'm ready to head home whenever you are.”
After Marriage
Indoor Days
“
“Hmm? Sorry, sometimes I get so lost in thought that I don't even realize what I'm doing.”
“
“Finally, you're up! I was getting so hungry... *rumble*”
“
“One of the best things about living on the farm is waking up to a chorus of songbirds.”
“
“How do you keep your hands so soft with so much farmwork?”
“
“If you ever want to talk about how to maximize crop yield or anything... I'm open to that!”
In her side room
“
“I got up early to do a little stargazing. I hope you don't mind if I spend some time on my projects today, honey.”
Giving Gift
“
“I found this in my scrap pile. Think you could find a use for it?”
Outdoor Days
“
“Ahh... the farm smells great, it reminds me of the mountains near my parent's house.”
“
“With a little planning, we could automate most of the farm work and just relax!”
“
“It's going to be clear tonight... I wonder if the [random noun] constellation will be visible?”
“
“Don't worry, I won't mind if you track mud into the house. It's fun to get a little dirty now and then.”
“
“I never realized the amount of care and planning necessary to run a farm! It's a lot like working in the laboratory.”
“
“I like being out here. It's a good place to think about new inventions. I'm still hoping to come up with something to help you out in your work.”
On patio
“
“I'm not sure what this is, yet... but it's fun to turn the old wrench now and then.”
Indoor Nights
“
“Did you see the moon tonight? It always looks spectacular on the horizon.”
“
“I saw a shooting star earlier. I like to pretend it's MarILDA stopping by to check up on us.”
“
“I can't decide if I'm craving chocolate cake or ripe strawberries. Or maybe both...? Be honest, am I gaining weight?”
“
“You did good work today! You deserve to relax the rest of the evening.”
“
“I'm really starting to love this old house. It's so cozy at night. Mom's done a great job improving the place.”
“
“You look like you're ready for bed, [player], Should I lull you to sleep with the technical details of my latest project? *yawn* ...To be honest, I'm kind of sleepy too.”
Rainy Days
“
“I wonder how Penny is doing? Maybe I'll give her a call later today.”
“
“I was just daydreaming... do you think MARILDA is okay? I hope she finds some place where she truly belongs...”
“
“The only thing I dislike about rain is the fact that I can't do any stargazing!”
“
“Do I hear a leak in the roof? I'll have to check it out. I know a thing or two about carpentry from watching my mother.”
“
“Despite all the technology we have, a rainy day is still the best tool for watering crops.”
Giving gift
“
“Hey! I had trouble sleeping last night so I fiddled around in my workshop for a bit. Here, I made this for you. I hope you can find some use for it.”
Rainy Nights
“
“Make sure you don't leave your tools out in the rain! You wouldn't want them to get all rusty.”
“
“Hi (spouse name). How was your day, soggy? This weather gives me gadget ideas. Maybe if I funnel the rainwater I could power a mill?”
“
“Dad's been tracking the weather patterns for the last twenty years. It's a little too early to tell, but the results have revealed some abnormal trends.”
“
“My day wasn't all that exciting... I stayed inside because of the weather. It was relaxing, though. I kicked back with the latest 'Schematics Weekly'.”
“
“Can we have spaghetti in bed tonight?”
“
“Were you able to accomplish much today, hun? I tried to fix up some things around the house... you know, just little stuff.”
Giving food
“
“I made some dessert! Make sure to brush your teeth before bed, though.”
“...I found you unconscious in the mines. You were gone so long I started to get worried about you! Be a little more careful next time, okay?”
Going Out
“
“I think I'll visit my parents today. I haven't seen them in a while.”
“
“Mom and Dad are doing just fine. Their routine is still the same, even with me gone. How was your day?”
On Tuesdays and Thursdays
“
“I have to leave for work soon. I'll see you tonight. I'll be thinking of you!”
“
“Well, it was just another boring day at the clinic. Hey. Did you have a more exciting day than me? I hope so. Well, it's time to kick back and relax. Did you leave me any dinner? I'm just looking forward to bed-time.”
After having one child
“
“Have you spent any time with [child] today? Kids need playtime in order reach their full potential.”
“
“What do you think... will [child] grow up to be a farmer? Or an engineer?”
“
“I have high hopes for our child. I've been reading all the scientific data on the best ways to raise children.”
After having two children
“
“My own workshop, two wonderful kids, and a beautiful plot of land. Life is pretty good.”
High Hearts
“
“Now that we live together, it's hard to imagine being alone again.”
“
“Taking a break? That's good!”
“
“For a while there I was considering building a robotic [husband/wife]. But you're a lot more fun!”
“
“There's a lot of strategy to planning and running a farm. It's more intellectually stimulating than I thought!”
“
“I was just admiring my wedding amulet... The shell is flawless. This is a very rare specimen!”
“
“Last night, I had a dream that I was looking through a gigantic telescope. I saw something moving in the [random noun] nebula. Kind of spooky.”
Neutral Hearts
“
“I hope you'd still like me even if I gained weight.”
“
“I feel uninspired today.”
Spring
“
“I'm feeling excited for a new year of farming, [Player]!”
Spring 1
“
“It's wonderful to see all the plants and animals come back to life during the spring.”
Spring 2
“
“So, what's your strategy for optimizing the farm this year?”
Spring 22
“
“If my brother wasn't such a hermit I'd invite him over for dinner sometime.”
Summer
“
“The evenings are so warm, it's really the best time of year for stargazing. Who knows what might up there?”
Summer 2
“
“I like to catalogue the different insects I see in summer.”
Summer 20
“
“I wonder if my brother will ever have the courage to ask Abigail out.”
Fall
“
“The farm life is great, but I'm glad I still work at the clinic... It's an important service for the community.”
Fall 1
“
“With every season, a new section of the night sky becomes prominent. It's fascinating to witness.”
Fall 3
“
“Fall always reminds me of going out woodcutting with my mom... It might be that smell of freshly cut wood and sap.”
Fall 25
“
“Winter's just around the corner. We need to double check the heating system, turn off the valves, and check all the insulation in the house. Don't worry, I'll take care of it all.”
Winter
“
“I'm really looking forward to having rhubarb pie in the spring. Oh... that tang, that zest!”
Winter 2
“
“So what are your plans for maintaining our income this winter? You could do some fishing or foraging... If you do any mining, promise me you'll be careful.”
Winter 5
“
“I hope Dad's doing okay... he can get depressed in winter, when there's less opportunity for field research.”
Maru's portrait displays her with glasses, however there are no visible glasses on her sprite.
Maru has three portraits that do not have a nurse uniform equivalent. If her dialogue would normally call for one of these portraits, she will default to the surprised portrait.
Timeline
Maru's look evolved over the years the game was in development.
Here's a timeline showing how ConcernedApe's art and Maru's style changed over the years before the game was launched.
1.3.32: Removed red color from plus sign on nursing hat.
1.4: Added 14-heart event. Fixed glitch where Maru would wear her work uniform after-hours on festival days. Fixed bug causing Maru to wear normal clothes inside the clinic after one of her heart events.
1.6: Added winter portraits and more beach portraits. Added Maru Portrait. Now loves Dwarf Gadget. Now likes Chanterelle, Magma Cap, Morel, and Purple Mushroom.