Mastering High-Level Friendships: The Ultimate Palia Gift Guide for Jina, Zeki, and Reth

Forging deep connections in Kilima Village is one of the most rewarding aspects of Palia. While the early stages of friendship rely on simple conversations and common forageables, reaching Level 4 and beyond requires a more nuanced understanding of each villager's personality and tastes. At this stage, you aren't just an acquaintance; you are a trusted confidant.

To solidify these bonds and unlock the unique quests that come with maximum friendship, you must provide gifts that reflect their professional ambitions and personal struggles. If you want to impress the studious Jina, the industrious Zeki, or the rebellious Reth, you need more than just standard Weekly Wants. You need a strategy.

Jina: The Diligent Scholar of Human History

Jina is often found lost in thought amidst the ruins of Mirror Fields. As an apprentice scholar, her entire life revolves around uncovering the mysteries of the Silverwing and the ancient humans who preceded the Majiri. To reach Level 4 friendship with her, you must support her academic rigor while acknowledging the intense pressure she puts on herself.

The Key to Jina’s Heart: Academic Essentials

Jina’s preferences lean heavily toward items that aid her research or provide much-needed sustenance during long nights of study. While she appreciates basic artifacts, high-level players should focus on rare finds that prove their own dedication to exploration.

• Ancient Fish: This is perhaps her most coveted gift. Catching an Ancient Fish requires a glow worm and a specific location at the Mirror Pond Ruins. It represents the pinnacle of her research interests.
• Quality Fertilizers: Jina often requests various fertilizers for her botanical studies. Providing Glow Worm Fertilizer is a sophisticated choice that shows you understand the biological side of her archaeological pursuits.
• High-Tier Mushrooms: While she accepts common fungi, gifting her a Brightshroom is a much more effective way to boost friendship points. These glow in the dark and are found exclusively around ruins.

Why Detail Matters to Jina

When you hand a gift to Jina, the dialogue often reflects her anxiety about her thesis. By providing items like Silver Ore or Gold Bars, you are essentially funding her research. She values utility over sentimentality. If you are looking for a deeper dive into the lore of the ruins she studies, checking out the official Palia Wiki can provide additional context on her backstory and the specific artifacts she craves.

Zeki: The Ambitious Underground Mogul

Zeki is the only Grimalkin in Kilima, and his motivations are as complex as the mechanical wonders he sells. He is driven by profit, but at Level 4, you begin to see the loneliness that comes with being an outsider. Gifting Zeki is about more than just giving him items; it is about showing him that you respect his hustle and his heritage.

Luxury Goods for the Grimalkin Elite

Zeki has expensive taste. To maintain a high-level friendship, you cannot simply hand him a piece of flint. He wants things that are shiny, rare, or strictly "off the record."

• Gold Bars and Pearls: Zeki loves wealth. A Gold Bar is a significant investment for a player, but the friendship boost is massive. Similarly, Pearls found in Unopened Oysters at Bahari Bay appeal to his love for luxury.
• Rare Fish from the Underground: Since Zeki runs the Black Market, he has a penchant for the exotic. Gifting him a Void Ray caught in the underground pond shows him that you are part of the "inner circle."
• Sashimi and Sushi: Zeki appreciates fine dining that reminds him of more cosmopolitan areas. High-quality Sashimi is a fantastic choice, especially if it is made with star-quality fish.

Navigating the Black Market Connection

Zeki’s friendship quests often involve the "Underground." By the time you reach Level 4, you should be a regular at his late-night shop. He values players who aren't afraid to get their hands dirty. If you find yourself struggling to catch the rare fish he desires, visiting Palia Tracker can help you time your fishing trips to coincide with the specific spawns he prefers.

Reth: The Culinary Rebel with a Heart of Gold

Reth is arguably the most charismatic villager, but his upbeat demeanor hides a heavy burden involving his sister, Tish, and a debt to the cartel. When you reach Level 4 friendship with Reth, the gifts you provide should serve two purposes: helping him refine his craft and offering him a bit of comfort in a stressful life.

The Ingredients of a Deep Bond

Reth is a chef at heart, even if he feels forced into his profession. He appreciates ingredients that are difficult to source and dishes that challenge the palate.

Heat Root: This is his gold standard. Found on the cliffside of Bahari Bay, Heat Root is a rare forageable that Reth uses to spice up his signature dishes. It is a dangerous climb to get it, which makes the gift even more meaningful.

Dari Cloves: Another extremely rare ingredient found in Northern Bahari. Gifting a Dari Clove signals to Reth that you are willing to traverse the most dangerous parts of the map for his sake.

Star-Quality Meals: Reth loves to see what you can do in the kitchen. Providing him with a Star-Quality Petit Fives or Chapaa Masala shows that his mentorship is paying off.

Supporting the Cook’s Secret Life

Reth’s story is one of sacrifice. He often feels unappreciated by the village elders because of his association with Zeki’s illicit activities. When you give him Dari Cloves or Heat Root, you aren't just giving him cooking supplies; you are validating his identity as a master chef. He doesn't want pity; he wants professional respect.

Optimizing Your Daily Gift Routine

To maximize your efficiency in Palia, you should plan your gifting routes based on where these three characters spend their time. Jina is almost always near the ruins during the day, while Reth splits his time between Ormuu's Horn Inn and the storeroom. Zeki is the most mobile, moving between his shop and the Underground.

The Importance of Star-Quality Items

At Level 4, the "multiplier" for star-quality items becomes your best friend. A regular Heat Root is good, but a star-quality one provides a significantly higher boost to the friendship bar. This is crucial because the experience required to move from Level 4 to Level 5 is substantial.

Weekly Wants vs. Constant Gifts

While you can give one gift every real-world day, the Weekly Wants reset every Monday. Always prioritize these first. However, once those are exhausted, falling back on the "Loved" items listed above is the only way to maintain momentum.

Check the Weekly Wants: Talk to other villagers to find out what Jina, Zeki, and Reth are currently craving.

Stockpile Rares: Don't sell your Heat Roots or Ancient Fish if you are aiming for Max Friendship.

Timing is Everything: Deliver gifts during their "happy" dialogue windows, usually when they are at their workstations or relaxing, to fully immerse yourself in the roleplay experience.

The journey to becoming a "Best Friend" in Palia is a marathon, not a sprint. Jina needs your intellectual support, Zeki needs your loyalty, and Reth needs your empathy. By focusing on these high-tier gift ideas, you will not only unlock the best furniture recipes and room expansions but also experience the heart of Palia’s narrative.

Focus on the rare forageables of Bahari Bay and the deep-sea treasures of the coast. Your efforts will be rewarded with some of the most touching storylines the game has to offer.