If you've been playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons for some time now you're probably set up with at least a few villagers (or should that be islanders?) and have a fairly cosy existence, but for a game that allows you to customise so much of your life, you might be feeling a bit miffed at some of the so-called residents that the game has decided you should have for one reason or another.
If that previous paragraph just about sums you up down to your trousers, we've got just the solution for you, because yes you can choose what islanders wander about your landscape using the series' range of amiibo Cards.
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons - How To Choose Your Villagers Guide
Using amiibo cards to get villagers to visit your island
First of all, you're going to need to own the amiibo card of the character you want to live on your island. Sadly, those special holographic cards (and associated figures) won't work as the characters on them aren't able to be islanders due to having key roles in the game already.
You'll also need to have the campsite unlocked and built on your island. If you don't, you just need to progress the main tasks with Tom Nook further until you reach that point.
Next, you'll need to head to the Nook Stop terminal in Resident Services and select 'Invite a Camper', with the 'a' being an amiibo logo, clever little touch. Once you've scanned the amiibo card you'll invite them to stay at your campsite and despite presumably never meeting you before they agree to come. Immediately.
Getting your new villagers to stay permanently
As soon as the call is over, they'll be at your campsite already pitched up. To make them a permanent resident however you'll need to pop in and have a word with them.
You may need to speak to them a few times, but soon enough they'll express an interest in something created by the island's inhabitants as a memento of their journey, and by 'island inhabitants' they, of course, mean you.
They'll ask for something specific to be made using the game's crafting system, and if you don't already have the relevant DIY recipe they'll hand it to you gratis. Nice.
Once you've cobbled it all together and presented it to them, they'll reward you with something you likely don't want, but the more interesting stuff happens when you talk to them again. After a few attempts (or potentially the first) of chatting with them again, they'll wonder if they shouldn't just move to your island as a permanent fixture, and you can encourage them to do so.
Unfortunately, they won't be entirely bedazzled by your offer and will instead ask you to invite them to camp again before they make any rash decisions. You'll then need to wait until the next day and repeat exactly the same process of inviting them with the amiibo, making their item of choice, and convincing them to stay once again.
They'll yet again ask you to invite them over for a third time, and so it's time to wait until the next day yet again and repeat the whole cycle. Thankfully this is the final hurdle, and once you've given them their third item and convinced them to stay, they'll pop off to Resident Services to speak to Tom Nook about doing just that.
This is where we'd recommend you have an empty plot of land already available as it'll make the whole process a lot easier. If you don't have any space you can kick out an existing resident, but that's not entirely moral.
Assuming all has gone to plan the very next day your character of choice will be living it up on your island in a sea of cardboard boxes, hoorah!
This article is part of our Animal Crossing: New Horizons walkthrough, which includes a Complete Fish List, Complete Bug List and Complete Sea Creatures List. If you're looking for specific fish or bugs, we can tell you how to catch the elusive Coelacanth, Mahi-Mahi, Giant Trevally, Stringfish, Golden Trout and all the Sharks and Beetles, along with a full list of critters leaving at the end of the month (unless you visit Kapp'n's Boat Tour islands, of course!).
We can also help with How to Spot Redd's Fake Paintings and Statues, How to Make Bells Fast, How to Breed Flowers, How to Get more DIY Recipes, How to Upgrade Nook's Cranny, where and when to find special characters like Gulliver, Sable, Label, Wisp, Celeste, Pirate Gulliver and Jack, plus tips on using the Star Wand, Tool Ring, Rock Trick, Cutting Down and Moving Trees, using amiibo on Harv's Island, How to Back Up Your Island Data, How to Time Travel, How to Get a 5-Star Island Rating and a whole lot more.
If it's new content you're looking for help with, we can help you find gyroids, unlock Brewster's café, use the new Pro Camera App for selfies, enact new ordinances, get the beloved Froggy Chair, and even learn How to Cook.
And finally, Where to Buy Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch, if for some reason you haven't yet picked up the game, and How To Buy The Happy Home Paradise DLC, too!
Comments (46)
Amiibo cards now selling at $100 dollars per card.
@Zach777 Smart people just buy cheap NFC chips off Amazon or get an NFC bank.
I bought chips and just added info to them. Single use but for $17 I got 28 chips. That's more than I'll probably need for years.
"If you don't have any space you can kick out an existing resident, but that's not entirely moral."
Says who, lol. My island my rules.
Question.
What is the difference by getting villagers with Normal Way (recruit them from different island or campsite) and by Amiibo Card Way ?
Will the villagers thinking about Moving Out if i get them by Normal Way ?
@Kalmaro “My island my rules” Fidel Castro, dat u?
Does that guliver guy come back? He was washed up and said come back in five minutes and I forgot about him. Then he was gone 🤷🏻♂️
Please sell more Amiibo cards Nintendo. They cost way too much now. And more Animal Crossing Amiibo. Thanks you.
I bought NTAG215 nfc cards ages ago, still using them to get myself the amiibo i need.
@sandman89 Keep talking to him until he wakes up, then he should ask you to help him.
Yeah, I am not spending money on those cards.
@Anti-Matter
It takes about 3 days to convince amiibo card villagers to move into your island, instead of the asking the normal way..... But other than that, nothing. They act the same.... Maybe more friendly to you?
@nessisonett Rude, how dare you say that.
I dress way better than he did.
@DanTheSausage That's what I ended up using.
@sandman89 I'd say he drops by every week, random days of course. I've seen him on 3 different days so far since launch.
I got my 3 AC card amiibo to visit once each, didn't think to invite them again.
NONE of my 9 toy amiibo - which cost more than the cards - would visit..3 said they were busy, the other 6 nothing.
There aren't THAT many AC toy amiibo, it's annoying. Hence my "wall of campsite shame".

A few questions -
How many people are we supposed to have move onto the island? Will Nook keep selling us 10,000 bell plots or will he eventually say the island is full? I noticed the map screen only has room for 10 characters so I stopped after that.
How many rooms can I add onto my house? I just ordered the 2nd room for 500,000 bells after paying off the 348,000 first room this morning. B/c of the house upgrades my island is only half inhabited as I can't afford bridges or stairs. I have the first free bridge and 6 houses on the other side of that.
I've rescued Guliver at least 3x, probably 4. I paid 5,000 bells for the lighthouse just to help him out. 😎
this is why i am gonna buy 6 specific cards later this month
@rjejr it’s three extra rooms, then a big upstairs room and lastly a big basement. The last loan is like 2.5 million bells. I just paid mine off this morning and now I can do exterior changes to my house free of charge. Also when you put the basement in your storage raises to 1600 items.
@adh56 Dang. That's great to hear. Was wondering how far the upgrades went. Only just got my second.
@rjejr 10 is the max number of animal villagers. As you purchase the tenth plot Nook will say that it’s the last plot you can purchase.
As stated, there’s three additional rooms on the first floor, a big room on the second floor, and a basement. Second to last loan is around 1.25 mil and final is about 2.5 mil. When you pay off the final loan, you can do one free exterior change to your house every day.
You will need another bridge or an incline to get KK Slider to visit and unlock terraforming, and you will not get another free one, so it’s worth building one earlier if you can.
And I don’t think the lighthouse changes Gulliver’s visits but you wouldn’t want it to considering there’s a tool DIY that you can only get if you rescue him 30 times.
@ShadJV hmm, I think it was 10 w/ me so I must have 9 now. Guess I'll buy that last plot after dinner and see what's what..I was also planning on buying a bridge tomorrow when I have the bells. Only opens up about another 15% of land but gotta start somewhere.
We have to rescue Gulliver THIRTY TIMES!!! How does that bird not drown? 😂
@adh56 "We're going to need a bigger island." 😉
Does KK Slider only show up to do his concert after you finish your house, b/c I think it might take me years to get that many extra rooms. I've played about 70 hours in 3 weeks but spring has arrived so I think that will go down a lot.
I was so happy getting that first room and having storage go up from 120 to 240. Last night I filled it up, so I had to buy the next room.
Thank you both for helping the noob out. 😁
@rjejr I just got the cheapest slope I could to hurry along the “plot”, as it’ll be irrelevant once I start terraforming (you can’t move bridges or slopes so you have to demolish them and pay for new ones if you wanna change their locations).
Gulliver shows up a lot, I think I’ve rescued him like 6 times now since launch? Maybe more.
And you don’t need to upgrade your house to get KK, all that matters is town progression. You should have enough villagers for that, so you just gotta get to a 3 star rating with Isabelle, which requires (as mentioned) another bridge or a slope, along with enough outdoor furniture, flowers, and trees (she’ll tell you what you need when you have the town rated). Personally stuff like your house is irrelevant. I haven’t even gotten my basement yet but I had his concert yesterday.
Edit: also no problem, I’m in a community of AC fans so we’ve traded a lot of info by now haha
@ShadJV Wow this game is kinda - we make the rules so there are no rules - nuts huh?
I only even knew about KK Slider really showing up b/c Bill "Trintran" Trinnen - he of Nintendo Treehouse fame - posted a vid of him playing and the credits on Twitter yesterday.
So I'm basically playing the whole game wrong/backwards - spending all my time and money on my house - I had 54,000 points, an S rank and a bronze trophy yesterday - and letting my island do what it wants. I'm always amazed at the pics on twitter - roads, walkways, fences - people make like cities. I have trees and houses scattered between them. I finally started a "park' by airport w/ a port-a-pottie, jungle gym, pool and lifeguard station. No kids though so I'm nto exactly sure who that's all for? Timmy & Tommy maybe? I hate those rats.
Anyway thanks for all the info. Can't believe KK shows up if you only have a 3 star rating, what's the point of even having it go to 5 then? Concert here we come.
@rjejr yeah sounds like some other folks answered the questions. I was focused on the house and got a little behind on the town stuff. I barely put my second bridge yesterday and started my first incline today. I end up spending tons of time on the Nook miles+ tasks to get the miles and, until it kinda nerfed this month with the giant water bugs I was doing tarantula island for bells.
I just need a guide to kick this ugly Hippo out of my town. For now I've just been wacking her with my net until she gets angry every day and never talking to her otherwise.
@rjejr maintaining a 5 star rating for a certain number of days gets you a DIY for a fairly useless tool. 😂 but for completion it is a goal.
Otherwise yeah. Better to prioritize town development over your house until you get KK. Then you get a lot of freedom.
@Heavyarms55 sounds like you’re on the right track. Have you talked to Isabelle about it?
I’m still smarting that the Sanrio villagers are not in the game (yet). My Amiibo cards are all in storage and not accessible so I’ve got the likes of Pietro to keep me company for the foreseeable.
@Ttimer5
In New Leaf, Amiibo villagers would not leave your village unless you forced em out. I’m guessing it’ll be the same.
@Heavyarms55 hitting townies with nets doesn’t actually get them to leave. It’s more effective to refuse to interact entirely (though still doesn’t guarantee them leaving).
@adh56 You say I'm doing it right (and yes, I did talk to her a couple times.)
@ShadJV And you say I am doing it wrong.
That's the problem I'm having. There's a lot of inconsistent information on how to do this.
@Heavyarms55 if you talk to any time travelers and data miners, no, hitting them doesn’t do anything. I have a friend who have tried that over quite a few months of in game time with one of their starting townies. Bug net and reporting. They still won’t go. Reporting to Isabelle simply resets their clothes and/or catchphrase (it’s to get rid of something offensive another player may have done). Nets put them in a bad mood but that doesn’t affect whether they leave. There’s no actual way to boot them off or increase their odds of leaving, just a way to increase their odds of staying: interaction. Interaction of any kind makes them more likely to stay. By not interacting, you simply are not raising those odds. Time travelers have tried all kinds of tricks to get rid of townies, but ultimately there’s nothing surefire. Though you could get an Amiibo and force them out that way.
I really just want a restock of thr Sanrio pack and series 1. I have most of the others, and I have enough spare cards to trade in order to complete my collection.
@ShadJV Does the amiibo method allow you to choose who you replace?
@Heavyarms55 that I do not know, I assumed it did but that’s a good point. I have no Amiibos to test it with, sorry.
@Heavyarms55 I tried hitting them and complaining, both didn't work. End up follow SonicMos advice and invite them thru amiibo card 3 time and get the option of who to swap.
@UnknownReader So the Amiibo cards do allow you to choose who leaves?
yes they do. but you have to invite them 3 time and fulfill their "wish" ( they will ask you to make them something ) and then you can ask them to stay. They will go talk to Nook and come back telling you it's full, then they wonder if they can swap place that is when the option pops up for you to pick which you want to swap.
@adh56 "tarantula island for bells"
I've seen I think 3 tarantulas, all of which bit me in the face. Which is fine by me as I suffer form arachnophobia a bit so the less spiders the better. The ones in the trees are bad enough.
Speaking of things in trees, any idea what a fast moving orange this hiding in trees is? I've only briefly glimpsed it twice, my brain sees monkey but it's probably a giant coconut crab or something.
@ShadJV "prioritize town development over your house"
OK, that's the plan, don't worry about paying off the 500,000 for the 2nd add-on room, just build bridges and stairs until I can get to more of the island. My 10th villager is moving in tomorrow, blue mouse named Brocolo or something. That will give me 6 males and 4 females, I think. Do you think I need to worry about running 1 of the guys out of town to get another female? Will there be Pokemon breeding? So far all of my villagers are fine, no complaints from me, so I haven't thought about evictions. The fat lazy insect affection pig Sporky asked me if I wanted him to leave but he amuses me so I asked him to stay. I guess at some point the idea is rotate them in and out though huh?
@rjejr For me partly is to get DIY from them. They tend to give repeat DIY. So switching them, I get newer DIY beside from bottle and balloon. And partly cos I want cute villagers.
If they leave on their own, I get to see new one on mystery island when I travel there, so it nice.
@UnknownReader I'd be fine if they leave on their own, but unless they really annoy me I'm not going to to go out of my way trying to evict villagers, I'm too busy trying to get them to like me.
@rjejr I haven’t seen any orange things in trees, I wonder what you’re seeing. Is it something that comes out when you shake them or is it from a distance?
I have arachnophobia and went to tarantula island. It’s... not fun. Profitable (I made over 300k bells) but not fun.
My two cents on slopes and bridges is only build the one extra until you have KK over, since you might wanna heavily change your island’s landscape and they’re not cheap (and can’t be moved). Once you hit the KK milestone, the game really opens up and then you can decide your biggest priorities, whether it’s upgrading your house or reshaping the island. I’m spending some time farming bells from turnips and, if I’m lucky, will pay off the rest of my house loans this week so I can focus on the island (I invest 4 million in turnips so fingers crossed - I have a lot of friends with the game so I’m counting on someone to come through for me).
And as for villagers, you can’t really actively evict anyone but yeah, occasionally they’ll ask if they should move and you’ll get to decide if you want them around. It’s mostly a matter of taste - you’ll likely never get back anyone who leaves (there’s over 400 of the little buggers) so don’t cycle them for the sake of cycling them, do it based on who you want on your island. You’re essentially the king.
@HADAA ah right. Thanks
@nessisonett 👍😁
@ShadJV There's a tarantula island?!?!?! Yeah if my plane lands there I'm outta there before I even leave the dock, they can keep the bells.
400 you say? That's a lot. Guess I'll let my 10 go if they ask nice.
You on Twitter? Here's a tweet about the orange "atlas moth". Which I only saw last night after asking on here, otherwise I wouldn't have asked on here and wasted everyone's time.
https://twitter.com/Stealth40k/status/1247346185347588096
I'm still figuring out the bridge thing, I'll figure it out and do my best, was just curious how wrongly I was doing stuff. I think I'm doing ok enough though. Getting a 3/5 should be a lot easier than 5/5, and my island was getting crowded, glad 10 is the max.
@rjejr yeah, tarantula island is super rare but it spawns a lot of tarantulas (or scorpions depending on the time of year) and, if you’re lucky enough to find it, it’s very lucrative. There’s also exploits to make artificial tarantula islands due to how the code handles their spawning, but it’s time consuming.
Ohhh, Atlas moths, yeah I’ve caught plenty of those, they’re worth a few thousand bells so they’re a good catch, you gotta move slow at night.
No worries, there’s no wrong ways to play Animal Crossing as long as you’re enjoying it, but most players do want terraforming as soon as they can and it’s easier than paying off the house. Play how you enjoy!
@ShadJV "but most players do want terraforming"
That would be me, since those bridges and slopes are so expensive I'll probably never have too many of those.
Now that the weather is finally warm enough to go outside I am spending a lot of time living my best AC IRL so I can lay off the AC obsession a little bit.
@rjejr oh enjoy that weather and stay safe!
@ShadJV 6' distance at all times. My yard is probably safer than my house w/ my wife and 2 teenage sons home all the time. Not b/c any of them are sick, none of them have had contact with anyone other than me and each other in 3 weeks and a day, but tempers tend to flare during a shut-in. Rarely though, we're mostly good.
@rjejr true. I miss my family (and my dog even more so), but my roommate and I actually somehow interact even less now that we’re both home constantly. I suppose it keeps either of us from irritating each other though. I thankfully still have work though, even if it’s working from home. 😅 hopefully things will be back to normal before we know it...
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