Dave the Diver: In the Jungle - Complete Friendship Rewards Guide (Prioritize These Villagers First)

How the Friendship System Works in Utara

The In the Jungle DLC introduces a 4-heart relationship meter for every villager in Utara. The moment you meet someone, that first heart automatically fills. From there, you build affinity through four main actions: talking to villagers daily (a simple conversation yields a small but consistent boost), completing their submission requests and quests (these often come with large affinity spikes), giving gifts (preferred gifts provide a significantly larger boost than generic ones), and serving their favorite foods at Bancho Grill in the evening.

The critical threshold is two hearts. Once a villager reaches that level, they begin visiting Bancho Grill for evening meals. This is not optional. Without two hearts from a significant number of adults, your restaurant sits empty, your revenue flatlines, and the story refuses to advance. You can track everyone’s progress by pressing up on the d-pad to open the Resident Note menu. Over time, interactions reveal each villager’s likes and dislikes, a vital clue for optimizing gift-giving and menu planning.

The Best Rewards to Unlock First

Not all villagers are created equal. A handful offer rewards so transformative that they should be your first targets, even if you are a completionist who wants to eventually woo everyone.

Perak the Blacksmith, Top Priority

Perak is the single most important villager in Utara. At three hearts, he offers a 20% discount on all equipment upgrades. At four hearts, that discount jumps to 50%. Given that weapon and gear upgrades in the jungle can cost thousands of coins, Perak’s friendship effectively pays for itself. Save him for last and you will spend far more time grinding ingredients and money. Befriend him first and every subsequent upgrade becomes a bargain. Start talking to him on day one, give him his favorite gifts as soon as you learn them, and serve his preferred dishes at the grill the moment he reaches two hearts.

Marone the Material Collector, Passive Income

Marone might not have the flashiest reward, but she offers something arguably more valuable: passive resource generation. At three hearts, she begins delivering common materials and ingredients to your doorstep daily. At four hearts, those deliveries include rarer items. This eliminates the need to manually hunt down crafting components for cooking and upgrades. For players who want to spend more time diving and less time farming basics, Marone is a must.

Muna and Bonita, Survivability Charms

Diving in Utara’s freshwater lake is dangerous. New creatures, deeper environments, and longer oxygen-depleting sessions can turn a routine dive into a disaster. Muna’s Anti-Gravity Device (four hearts) lets Dave save two items if he dies while diving, a clutch safety net that preserves progress. Bonita’s Air Resonance Necklace (four hearts) grants 30% extra oxygen recovery, giving you more time underwater to explore and collect. Both charms dramatically reduce the risk of losing costly gear or rare catches. Focus on Muna if you play aggressively; focus on Bonita if you prefer long, methodical dives.

Rimbo, Mobility Upgrade

Rimbo’s Electric Scooter is a simple quality-of-life upgrade, but do not underestimate its impact. The base Kick Scooter in Utara is slow. Rimbo’s reward cuts travel time between zones significantly, making daily errands, quest tracking, and village navigation much faster. Unlock him early and you will save hours over the course of the DLC.

Other Valuable Villager Rewards You Shouldn’t Ignore

Once you have secured the top-tier rewards, a second tier of villagers offers strong utility for specific playstyles.

Basu the Fisherman rewards the Utara Fishing Rod at four hearts, an improved tool that makes catching the lake’s toughest fish far easier. His three-heart reward, the Redtail Catfish Taxidermy, is a wall decoration, but it is also a sign that you are on the right track. Harta’s Gold Necklace of Sloth (four hearts) slows nearby fish, giving you a significant edge in combat and capture. This charm is especially useful for players who struggle with the more aggressive aquatic predators in the deeper zones.

Diving charms and utility items are sprinkled throughout the villager list. Some reduce damage, others boost resource detection, and a few grant breathing extensions. Prioritize those that align with your weaknesses. If you die often, chase Muna’s Anti-Gravity Device. If you constantly run out of oxygen, go for Bonita. And if fishing feels like a chore, Basu’s rod is the solution.

Furniture and cosmetic rewards, decorations, new outfits, and furniture sets, are not mechanically essential, but they enhance the village atmosphere and are important for players aiming for 100% completion. They are best tackled after you have secured the gameplay-critical rewards.

Quick-Reference Table: Priority Villagers at a Glance

Tips for Efficiently Raising Friendship

Time in Utara flows continuously, adding pressure to daily planning. Every interaction matters, so optimize your routine.

Talk to every villager you encounter each day. The simple conversational boost adds up quickly. When submission requests appear, complete them as soon as possible. These often grant large affinity gains and can unlock new gift options that accelerate further progress.

Learn each villager’s preferred gifts by reading their disposition meter notes. Experiment by giving them different items; once you find a favorite, stock up. Serving their favorite foods at Bancho Grill also yields a significant friendship boost, and since you are running a restaurant anyway, this is a natural way to earn hearts while making money.

Use the Resident Note menu to track which villagers are close to the next heart threshold. Focus your daily efforts on the ones just a few interactions away from unlocking a reward. Once a villager reaches two hearts and starts visiting the restaurant, their favorite dish orders become a new and reliable source of friendship points, so keep an eye on what they request.

For a visual walkthrough of all villager favorites and rewards, check out this video guide: Dave the Diver In the Jungle All Villager Favorites and Rewards

Mastering Utara’s Social Scene

The friendship system in Dave the Diver: In the Jungle is not a side activity. It is the engine that drives the entire DLC. Without it, your restaurant sits idle, your upgrades remain expensive, and your dives become riskier than they need to be. By prioritizing the right villagers, Perak for discounts, Marone for passive resources, Muna and Bonita for survival, and Rimbo for mobility, you will shortcut the grind and enjoy the jungle’s best content sooner. Keep talking, keep gifting, and keep cooking. Utara’s villagers are waiting to reward you for your effort, and once they do, the jungle truly opens up.