March, the brooding blacksmith in Fields of Mistria, has quickly become a fan favorite for players seeking a rivals-to-lovers storyline. To foster a connection with him, players will need to strategize their gift-giving and be aware of his specific heart events. The game's 1.0 launch on August 5 will introduce his ten-heart event and marriage options, with further details expected upon its release.
Winning March's Favor
Consistent interaction is key, as players can gain up to four hearts simply by talking to March daily throughout spring and summer. For those looking to expedite the process, strategic gifting is essential. March's birthday is on Spring 16, and a perfect ore or a beer from the inn are excellent choices. For ongoing friendship point gains, stockpiling perfect copper ore, obtainable from copper nodes in the mines levels 1-20, is the most efficient method. Regular copper ore is also an acceptable gift if perfect ores are scarce.
Meeting certain heart thresholds will unlock special interactions. Reaching four hearts by Summer 28 allows players to attend the Shooting Star Festival with March as their date. By Fall 10, this four-heart progression also enables an invitation to dance at the Harvest Festival. If a player has already achieved eight hearts with March, he may reciprocate the invitation.
Understanding March's Heart Events
March's character development unfolds through a series of heart events, each with specific requirements:
- Surprise Me (2 Blue Hearts): This initial event features March displaying his typical gruff attitude, challenging the player to prove their commitment to Mistria.
- Many Hands Make Light Work (4 Green Hearts): March reluctantly accepts the player's assistance with a substantial blacksmithing workload for the town.
- Shooting Star Festival (4 Green Hearts, Summer 28): March shows a subtle enjoyment of the player's company while observing the stars.
- Harvest Festival Dance (4 Green Hearts, Fall 10): The player invites March to dance, with the possibility of him inviting them if eight hearts are already established.
- Shield of the Realm (6 Yellow Hearts): The player and March collaborate on a time-sensitive, important commission.
- Confession (8 Orange Hearts, past mine level 60): This event, requiring players to have progressed beyond mine level 60, allows players to solidify their bond with March, potentially leading to a romantic relationship.
Clearing the mines and overcoming the fire seal on level 60 is a prerequisite for March's eight-heart scene, highlighting the importance of prioritizing mine exploration.
March's Gift Preferences
Beyond perfect copper ore, March has a range of liked and disliked gifts. His most disliked items include flowers and most forageables, while items like beer, copper ingot, and various cooked dishes fall into his liked category. Other loved gifts include dragon-forged bracelets, gold ingots, and meteorites, though these may be more challenging to acquire early in the game.
