Villager hunting in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is practically an Olympic sport for dedicated players. It’s the art of searching for your dream residents, hoping to find the perfect personality, look, and house decor to complete your island paradise. While it might sound a little intense, it’s a fun and rewarding process! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about villager hunting, from preparing your island to the nitty-gritty of finding and inviting your desired villagers.
Why Villager Hunt?
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s explore why villager hunting is so popular:
- Curated Island: You get to hand-pick every resident on your island, ensuring a harmonious community that matches your aesthetic and preferences. No more unexpected arrivals of villagers you don’t vibe with!
- Specific Personalities: Different personalities offer unique dialogue and interactions. Hunting allows you to assemble a cast of characters that complements your play style.
- Dreamy Aesthetics: Some players are particular about the visual appeal of their island. Villager hunting helps you find villagers whose houses and appearances fit your overall theme.
- The Thrill of the Hunt: Let’s be honest, there’s a certain excitement to traveling to mystery islands, meeting new faces, and hoping to find your dreamie.
Preparing for the Hunt: Setting the Stage for Success
Proper preparation is key to a smooth and efficient villager hunt. Here’s what you need to do before you start racking up those Nook Miles Tickets:
1. Create an Open Plot
This is the most crucial step. You need an empty plot of land on your island for your new villager to move into. There are a few ways to achieve this:
- The Initial 10 Villagers: When you first start your island, Tom Nook will guide you through inviting your first few residents. After you’ve reached the maximum of 10 villagers, this method no longer applies.
- Moving Out an Existing Villager: This is the most common way to create an open plot. You’ll need to convince one of your current residents to move out. Here’s how:
- Ignoring: While sometimes effective, ignoring a villager completely isn’t a guaranteed method and can take a long time. It may also make you feel a bit guilty!
- Complaining to Isabelle: Complaining to Isabelle at Resident Services about a villager will only reset their clothing and catchphrases. It doesn’t encourage them to move out.
- Hitting with Net: Repeatedly hitting a villager with your net will not make them move out. It will only temporarily upset them.
- Waiting for the Thought Bubble: The most reliable method is to wait for a villager to have a thought bubble over their head. This thought bubble could indicate various things, but sometimes it means they’re considering moving away. Talk to them when they have the thought bubble.
- Time Travel (Use with Caution): If you’re comfortable with time travel, you can advance the game a day at a time until a villager has a thought bubble. However, be aware of the potential consequences of time travel, such as weeds appearing, villagers moving out without your consent (if you skip too far ahead), and spoiled turnips.
- Amiibo Cards: If you have Amiibo cards of villagers you want to invite, you can scan them at the Resident Services terminal. After inviting the same villager three times on separate days and completing their requests, they’ll agree to move in and ask you who you want to move out to make space. This is the most controlled method.
- Campsite Villagers: When a villager visits your campsite, you can talk to them repeatedly and eventually convince them to move in. If your island is full, they’ll suggest a current resident to replace. This can be a good option, but you don’t get to choose which villager moves out (unless you quit the game immediately when they suggest a villager you want to keep, and keep trying again).
Important Note: Once a villager has asked to move out and the next day comes where their house is empty (only a plot of land is left), the plot is considered “open”. This is when other villagers can move in. If you don’t find a villager within that day, the game will randomly assign a new villager to move in the next day. So, timing is critical!
2. Stock Up on Nook Miles Tickets
Nook Miles Tickets (NMTs) are your currency for traveling to mystery islands. You’ll need a substantial supply of them for villager hunting, as the odds of finding your dream villager on a single island are low.
- Earning Nook Miles: Complete various tasks and challenges to earn Nook Miles. Check your Nook Miles app on your NookPhone for daily and ongoing missions.
- Converting Nook Miles to Tickets: Head to the Resident Services terminal and exchange 2,000 Nook Miles for one Nook Miles Ticket.
- Estimate Your Needs: Realistically, you should aim to have at least 20-30 NMTs for a decent villager hunt. Some players go through hundreds before finding their desired villager.
3. Clear Your Inventory (Optional, but Recommended)
While not strictly necessary, clearing your inventory before you start villager hunting is a good idea. This allows you to quickly collect any resources you might need on the mystery islands, such as wood, stone, or iron nuggets. These resources can be useful for crafting tools or fulfilling villager requests later on.
4. Prepare Mentally (Seriously!)
Villager hunting can be a long and potentially frustrating process. It’s important to go in with realistic expectations and a positive attitude. Remember that it’s a game, and the goal is to have fun! Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find your dream villager right away. Take breaks, listen to music, and enjoy the experience.
The Hunt Begins: Step-by-Step Villager Hunting Guide
With your open plot secured, your Nook Miles Tickets in hand, and your inventory cleared, it’s time to embark on your villager hunt! Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Head to the Airport
Go to the airport and talk to Orville. Tell him you want to use a Nook Miles Ticket to fly to a mystery island.
Step 2: Explore the Mystery Island
Once you arrive on the island, take a look around. Gather any resources you need and explore the layout. The most important thing is to find the villager who is visiting the island.
Step 3: Meet the Villager
Every mystery island will have one random villager wandering around. Talk to them! This is your chance to assess whether they’re a good fit for your island.
- Assess Their Personality: Pay attention to their dialogue and mannerisms. Do they seem like a villager you’d enjoy interacting with regularly?
- Evaluate Their Appearance: Do you like their design and color scheme? Do they fit the aesthetic of your island?
- Consider Their House: While you can’t see their actual house interior on the mystery island, you can get a sense of their style based on their appearance and personality.
Step 4: Make a Decision
After talking to the villager, you need to decide whether you want to invite them to live on your island.
- If You Want Them: Talk to them repeatedly until they mention moving to your island. They’ll ask if there’s space, and you can confirm that there is. They’ll then contact Tom Nook, and the plot will be reserved for them. Congratulations!
- If You Don’t Want Them: Simply leave the island without inviting them. Don’t worry, you won’t hurt their feelings. They’ll just continue their island adventure.
Step 5: Repeat the Process
If you didn’t find a villager you liked on the first island, head back to the airport and use another Nook Miles Ticket to fly to a different mystery island. Repeat steps 2-4 until you find your dream villager or the plot gets filled.
Tips and Tricks for Efficient Villager Hunting
Here are some tips and tricks to make your villager hunt more efficient and enjoyable:
- Know Your Dreamies: Make a list of your favorite villagers beforehand. This will help you stay focused and avoid getting distracted by villagers you don’t really want.
- Be Prepared to Compromise: Finding your exact dream villager can be challenging. Be open to considering villagers who are close to what you’re looking for.
- Don’t Settle: On the other hand, don’t feel pressured to invite a villager just because you’ve used a lot of Nook Miles Tickets. It’s better to wait for a villager you truly love.
- Time Management: Remember that you only have one day to fill the open plot. Start your villager hunt early in the morning to give yourself plenty of time.
- Take Breaks: Villager hunting can be mentally draining. Take breaks to avoid burnout. Go for a walk, watch a movie, or do something else you enjoy.
- Consider Personality Types: Each villager has a specific personality type (Normal, Peppy, Snooty, Big Brother/Jock, Lazy, and Cranky). Having a variety of personalities on your island will make for more diverse and interesting interactions.
- Look for Unique Features: Pay attention to details like their catchphrases, clothing styles, and house designs. These little things can make a big difference in how much you enjoy having them on your island.
- Use Online Resources: There are many online resources available that can help you with villager hunting. Websites like Nookipedia and Animal Crossing World provide detailed information about every villager in the game.
- Be Patient: Villager hunting is a game of chance. It may take a while to find your dream villager. Don’t give up!
Understanding Villager Personalities
As mentioned earlier, villagers have different personality types. Here’s a brief overview of each one:
- Normal: These villagers are sweet, kind, and easy to get along with. They often talk about their hobbies and interests.
- Peppy: These villagers are energetic, cheerful, and always excited. They love fashion and pop culture.
- Snooty: These villagers are fashionable, sophisticated, and sometimes a bit condescending. They often talk about their appearances and social lives.
- Big Brother/Jock: These villagers are athletic, competitive, and always eager to work out. They often talk about sports and fitness.
- Lazy: These villagers are relaxed, easygoing, and always hungry. They often talk about food, bugs, and napping.
- Cranky: These villagers are grumpy, cynical, and sometimes a bit rude. However, they can also be surprisingly kind and caring.
Having a mix of these personalities on your island will create a more dynamic and interesting community. Consider which personalities you prefer and try to find villagers that fit your ideal island dynamic.
The Campsite Method: An Alternative to Mystery Islands
While mystery island hopping is the most common villager hunting method, you can also find villagers at your campsite. When a villager visits your campsite, you can talk to them repeatedly and eventually convince them to move in.
Here’s how the campsite method works:
- Wait for a Campsite Visitor: A random villager will visit your campsite periodically. There’s no way to control when this happens.
- Talk to the Villager: Go to your campsite and talk to the visitor. They’ll usually have a request for you, such as crafting an item or playing a game.
- Convince Them to Move In: After completing their request, talk to them repeatedly. Eventually, they’ll express interest in moving to your island. If your island is full, they’ll suggest replacing one of your current residents.
The campsite method can be a good option if you’re patient and don’t mind waiting for a specific villager to visit. However, it’s less controlled than mystery island hopping, as you can’t choose which villager visits your campsite.
Using Amiibo Cards for Targeted Villager Hunting
Amiibo cards offer the most control over who moves to your island. If you have an Amiibo card for a specific villager, you can invite them to your campsite using the following steps:
- Go to the Resident Services Terminal: Interact with the green ATM-like terminal in Resident Services.
- Select “Invite Amiibo Camper”: Choose this option from the menu.
- Scan Your Amiibo Card: Follow the on-screen instructions to scan your Amiibo card using your Joy-Con or Pro Controller.
- Talk to the Villager at the Campsite: The villager will now be at your campsite. Talk to them, and they’ll ask you to craft something for them.
- Fulfill Their Request: Craft the item they request and give it to them.
- Repeat for Three Days: You need to repeat this process (inviting them, fulfilling their request) on three separate days.
- Invite Them to Move In: On the third day, after fulfilling their request, they’ll agree to move to your island. If your island is full, they’ll let you choose which villager to replace.
Amiibo cards are a great way to guarantee that your dream villagers move to your island. However, they can be expensive to collect, especially if you’re looking for specific villagers.
Dealing with Unwanted Villagers Moving In
Despite your best efforts, sometimes an unwanted villager will move into your open plot before you can find your dreamie. This can be frustrating, but there are a few things you can do:
- Ignore Them: Similar to trying to get a villager to move out, ignoring them can sometimes work. However, it’s not a guaranteed method.
- Be Kind to Them: Ironically, being overly kind to an unwanted villager can sometimes encourage them to move out. This is because the game prioritizes moving out villagers who have reached a certain level of friendship.
- Wait for the Thought Bubble: The best approach is to wait for them to have a thought bubble and see if they’re considering moving out.
- Use Amiibo Cards: If you have an Amiibo card of a villager you want to move in, you can use it to replace the unwanted villager.
The Ethics of Villager Hunting
While villager hunting is a popular activity, it’s important to be mindful of the potential impact it can have on the game. Some players believe that certain villager hunting methods, such as ignoring villagers or time traveling, are unethical or unfair.
Ultimately, it’s up to each individual player to decide what methods they’re comfortable with. However, it’s important to be respectful of other players and to avoid harassing or bullying villagers. Remember, it’s just a game, and the goal is to have fun!
Conclusion: The Joy of Finding Your Dream Villagers
Villager hunting in Animal Crossing: New Horizons can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can increase your chances of finding your dream villagers and creating the perfect island paradise. Remember to be patient, have fun, and enjoy the process!
Good luck, and happy hunting!
