Let’s be real for a second. If you’re playing South Park: The Stick of Truth, you aren't just there to save the universe from underpants gnomes or Nazi zombies. You’re there to be popular. In a town where everyone is an asshole, your status is measured by one thing: your friend count on the in-game social media feed. It's funny because it's true.
The Stick of Truth friends system is basically a giant, foul-mouthed collectible hunt that actually dictates how powerful your character becomes. If you ignore the townspeople, you’re gimping your perks. It’s that simple. But finding all 120 of them? That is a nightmare if you don't know who is missable and who requires you to literally travel to another country.
Why the Friend Count Actually Matters for Your Build
Most RPGs give you talent points for hitting a new level. Obsidian did things differently here. In The Stick of Truth, your "Perks"—those passive buffs that make your bleeding damage stack or your magic (farts) hit harder—are tied directly to how many friends you have on your feed.
You need friends to unlock tiers. You might think you can breeze through the game as a lone wolf, but by the time you're facing off against the endgame bosses, you'll wish you'd stopped to talk to the Mayor or found those missing kindergarteners. Each milestone opens up a new slot. It's a clever way to force you to explore every nook and cranny of South Park, though it does get a bit tedious when you're hunting for that one specific animal in the woods.
The "Missable" Nightmare: Don't Close the Book Too Early
If you’re a completionist, this game is a minefield. You can't just go back and get everyone after the credits roll. Some Stick of Truth friends are locked behind specific quests or locations that disappear forever once you complete a story beat.
Take Clyde, for instance. If you don't talk to him right at the beginning in Kupa Keep before talking to Cartman, you’ve already failed the "More Popular than John Lennon" achievement. He deletes you from his friends list almost immediately because of, well, plot reasons. Then there’s the Bishop of Banff. You have to choose to spare him in Canada. If you kill him for his gear? Say goodbye to that friend slot.
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The Kindergarten Hide-and-Seek
This is arguably the most annoying quest in the game, but it's mandatory if you want those friend numbers to climb. You have to find six kids hiding around the map.
- One is behind a tree near Mr. Mackey’s storage unit.
- Another is behind the desk in the Post Office.
- Check the farm.
- Check behind the bushes near the pond.
- One is tucked away in the sewer entrance area.
- The last one is at the very edge of the screen near the path to the woods.
It feels like busy work, honestly. But once you find them all, the "Kindergartners" collectively add to your total, pushing you closer to those high-tier perks like "Bloodlust."
Complexity in the Sewers and the Woods
Not everyone is standing on the sidewalk waiting to meet you. Some of the most valuable Stick of Truth friends require a bit of "Environmental Puzzles" (which usually involves farting on something).
Mr. Hankey and his family live in the sewers. To get them, you have to complete a quest involving finding their lost kids. It’s gross, it’s dark, and the music is surprisingly upbeat. But once you finish "Dropping the Kids Off," you get the whole family on your feed.
Then there’s the Christmas Critters. This is where most players get stuck. You have to go into the Lost Forest (the woods) and follow a very specific path—usually Up, Right, Up, Right, Down, Right—to find them. If you have "accepted" the true path of the critters, they'll befriend you. If you haven't talked to them in the right order, you'll just keep wandering in circles getting mauled by wolves. It’s a classic South Park subversion of "cute animal" tropes that ends in something much darker.
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The Social Media Satire
The feed itself is a masterpiece of writing. Every time you add someone, they post a status update. These aren't just random strings of text; they react to what’s happening in the main story. If you befriend Al Gore, expect your feed to be absolutely spammed with ManBearPig warnings. It’s annoying on purpose.
Obsidian captured that mid-2010s Facebook anxiety perfectly. The way the characters interact on the wall gives you more lore than half the cutscenes. You see the petty squabbles between Tweek and Craig, or Cartman’s mom being overly supportive. It makes the world feel lived-in. It’s not just a stat tracker; it’s a narrative device.
The Hardest Friends to Secure
Aside from the missable ones, some require you to go way out of your way.
- Chinpokomon Toy Seller: You have to collect a massive amount of Chinpokomon before he’ll even acknowledge your existence.
- The Crab People: Deep in the sewers, behind a rock you have to break with the Nagasaki roar.
- Animal Friends: You actually have to go to the woods and just "wait" or interact with them after gaining the ability to speak to animals.
Honestly, the sheer volume of people you have to interact with is staggering. From Father Maxi on the bench to the Mayor in City Hall, the game rewards you for being a "yes man." You can’t be edgy and refuse to help people if you want the best build.
Strategy for a Perfect Run
If you want the "More Popular than John Lennon" trophy, you have to be meticulous.
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First, talk to everyone in Kupa Keep before you do anything. Every time you enter a new building for a quest—like the School or the Abortion Clinic—search every room. If there is an NPC with a name, click on them.
Second, don't ignore the side quests. Jimbo and Ned want you to hunt legendary animals. The Goth kids want you to look like a total douschebag. These aren't just for XP; they are the primary way to fill out that friends list.
Third, keep a save file before you go to the North Pole or enter the final tower. Once you start the endgame sequence, many areas become inaccessible. If you’re at 115 friends and you head to the final boss, you aren't getting those last 5.
Actionable Steps for Completion
- Check your total early: Open the menu and see how many perks you have unlocked. If you're level 10 and only have 2 perks, you've missed a ton of people.
- Prioritize the "Main 4": Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Butters join automatically, but their parents and relatives don't. Visit their houses.
- The Canada Trip: When you go to Canada, talk to everyone. The Duchess, the Prince, the Duke—everyone. It's the only time you're there.
- Don't kill unless necessary: In a game this ridiculous, your choices actually matter for the "Friends" mechanic. Sparing certain enemies often results in a friend request.
The Stick of Truth friends mechanic is more than just a checklist. It's a tour of the show's history. Every C-list character from the last twenty seasons is tucked away somewhere. Finding them is the best way to see everything the developers packed into this love letter to the series. Just remember to check the sewers; there's always someone weird hiding down there.
To finish your collection, go back to the Veryly Forest right now and make sure you didn't miss the animals. Then, head to the Post Office and check the P.O. boxes. Those small interactions are the difference between a standard playthrough and a 100% completion run. Be thorough, or the achievement will stay locked forever.