Although unnecessary to play Stardew Valley, raising friendship levels with characters will trigger heart events and earn players great rewards in the form of recipes, gifts, or the chance to date and marry a resident. Alex, the grandson of George and Evelyn, is one character players can befriend and possibly marry. Through Alex's heart events, players can help him deal with the struggles of trying to be a professional gridball player and cope with the loss of his mother.

Raising a friendship level with Alex is achievable by completing any quests he posts on the Help Wanted board or giving him gifts, especially on his birthday. However, Alex has no story-specific quests, just randomly generated requests for items. It can be time-consuming to wait for him to request items, so gifting him objects is the quickest way to advance his friendship.

Updated on January 10, 2023, by Andrea Sandoval: While Alex can be rude at the beginning of the game, he becomes really sweet as he warms up to the player, making him a fan-favorite love interest in Stardew Valley. This guide has been updated to include more information about Alex's Heart Events and how players may trigger them.

Every Alex Heart Event

Best Gifts to Advance Friendship With Stardew Valley's Alex

When it comes to the best gifts players can give to Alex to advance their friendship, they can be somewhat more difficult to obtain and heavily involve cooking. Under the Love category, which scores players the most friendship points (80), there are only two options: a Complete Breakfast or a Salmon Dinner. If players have any of the Universal Loves, such as a Golden Pumpkin, these can also be gifted. Alex also likes anything on the Universal Likes list, but any of these are only worth 45 friendship points, a large drop in points, and a slower friendship process.

The easiest gifts to obtain are flowers (except Poppies), any Fruit Tree Fruits, or all Artisan Goods. Players need to be especially careful not to gift Alex one of his hated or disliked gifts, as it can decrease a lot of friendship points. In fact, a hated gift will lose the player 40 friendship points on a normal day, 200 on Winter Star, and 320 if it's Alex's birthday.

Find Alex Playing Gridball At the Beach

Alex's Two Heart Event

When players reach a two-heart friendship with Alex, they can head to the beach on a sunny summer day when he is there. They'll find him playing with his gridball. He greets the player and tosses them the ball. After the player fails to catch it, Alex laughs and says it was a good attempt.

Then Alex reveals he wants to become the first professional gridball player from Stardew Valley and asks what the player thinks his chances are. Neither of the dialogue options ''I Believe in you!'' or ''Wow, you're really arrogant'' affects friendship or any further heart events.

Learn Alex's Family Hardship

Alex's Four Heart Event

Upon reaching a four-heart friendship with Alex, enter the town any day between 9 am and 4 pm. Player's will find Alex next to the dog pen near his house, and he speaks to the dog, revealing its name as Dusty. Overhearing how he and the dog have been through a lot and feel misunderstood, the player appears from behind the Saloon, and Alex asks what the player heard.

Neither of the dialogue options affects the player's friendship, and Alex goes on to explain how he ended up living with his grandparents. He'll also tell the player that his dad was an alcoholic and his mother had passed away. Trying to lighten the mood, the scene ends with Alex showing the player what trick Dusty will do for some barbecued steak.

Be Genuine and Encouraging With Stardew Valley's Alex

Alex's Five Heart Event

Continually working on their friendship with Alex and reaching five hearts will trigger an event the next time players enter Alex's house and he's there. The player finds him staring at his bookcase, and he disappointingly says he hasn't read a single book in it. He also seems worried he won't get far in life without being knowledgeable, and that he feels worthless.

Selecting the dialogue, ''That's Crazy. You're a genius!'' will not affect friendship, but selecting ''We all have our strengths and weaknesses'' will earn players 50 friendship points. The dialogue option ''Worthless?'' will lose players 50 points, but Alex asks players to have dinner to discuss philosophy after any of the options.

Alex Apologizes For Being Rude

Alex's Six Heart Event

While Alex is a fan-favorite character in Stardew Valley, the character can be hard to befriend in the beginning. Alex can be found in most places, and he values a lot of gifts, but he's constantly being rude to the player, which may deter people from trying to befriend him. However, this changes once Alex warms up the player.

When players reach six hearts with Alex, they can enter his house when he's there. He seems disheartened about his future and doubts about going pro as a gridball player. However, he thanks the player for sticking by him and apologizes if he was rude. Players can provide some words of encouragement for him, which he appreciates, and he begins working out harder.

Alex Opens Up About His Mother

Alex's 8 Heart Event

The eight-heart event with Alex can be triggered either by visiting the beach on a sunny summer day or visiting the Ginger Island resort when he is there. If the player sits next to him on the beach, they'll find Alex is crying. Alex will tell the player that this is the day his mother died 12 years ago. He's upset he could never thank her properly for her care and plays a music box that belonged to her.

As the music plays, a scene plays where Alex's mother is cradling him. Alex asks the player what they're thinking, but none of the dialogue options affect the relationship. The scene ends with the player and Alex walking back to town, and he nervously asks the player to keep it a secret that he was crying.

Meet Alex At The Saloon

Alex's 10 Heart Event

After giving Alex a bouquet, reaching a 10-heart status will trigger a heart event where he sends players a letter to meet him at the Saloon after dark. If the player enters the Saloon between 7 pm and 10 pm any day, they'll find that Alex has reserved a private room for a date.

Depending on whether the player character is male or female, it will change Alex's dialogue, but it has the same premise: he's had feelings for you since the day you met but didn't know how to confess them. In the dialogue that follows, the player can either return Alex's feelings or reject them, but neither option affects the friendship, and players can still technically progress to the 14-heart event.

Alex Will Include You In His Favorite Hobby

Alex's 14 Heart Event

The 14-heart event with Alex will only trigger under certain conditions. Exit the farmhouse when married between 6 am and 8:20 am on any day but Sunday. If players are in their second year or later, they must have 5000g available to give Alex.

Alex will ask the player to fund a special project that will be available to view on Sunday. Enter the Saloon on Sunday to find Alex and a few of the town's residents watching gridball in the backroom, which has now been decorated. Alex realizes he may never go pro at gridball, but is happy that the town can now enjoy the sport the way he does. The event ends with the characters talking about their new tradition. This will be the last major cutscene with Alex.