Can Your Newest Villager Really Never Leave? Debunking the Move-Out Myth in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The question has plagued many a seasoned island representative: can the last villager to move onto your island ever pack their bags and bid you adieu? The short and definitive answer is: no, the most recent villager cannot request to move out. This is a hardcoded mechanic within Animal Crossing: New Horizons and one that is intended to prevent accidental loss of a newly acquired resident. This rule extends to preventing them from even asking to move out. They are essentially locked in for a little while! This mechanism ensures you have a chance to connect with your new islander and settle into a rhythm with them before worrying about them potentially leaving.
However, the intricacies of villager move-outs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons can be confusing. Let’s dive into the details and address some common questions to help you navigate the complexities of resident turnover on your island paradise.
Understanding the Villager Move-Out System
The move-out system in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is primarily random, with certain safeguards in place to prevent the islander population from fluctuating wildly. The game uses a hidden timer to determine when a villager will consider moving out. This timer is not explicitly visible to the player, which contributes to the mystery and sometimes frustration surrounding villager departures. Here’s a brief breakdown of the key mechanics at play:
- Random Selection: The game selects a villager to ask to move out randomly, with no real way to truly influence who will be chosen. Factors such as friendship levels or how long a villager has lived on your island do not directly impact the decision-making process.
- Move-Out Cooldowns: Once a villager moves out, or asks to move and is convinced to stay, there’s a cooldown period. No other villagers can ask to move for 15 days after a villager moves out completely. If a villager asks to move but you persuade them to stay, this cooldown is reduced to 5 days.
- The Newest Villager Exception: As mentioned, your newest resident is always exempt from the random selection, cannot ask to move out and are safe from any departure risks for a while.
- Other Exemptions: In addition to the newest villager, a villager is unable to ask to move out if they are: the last to ask to move out, have a birthday in the next seven days, or are in the process of relocating their house.
Frequently Asked Questions About Villager Move-Outs
To further clarify how the villager move-out system works and dispel some common misconceptions, here are fifteen frequently asked questions with detailed answers:
1. Can a campsite villager replace the newest villager?
No, a campsite villager cannot directly replace your newest resident unless you are using an amiibo. If you invite a camper to move in when your island is full, the camper will randomly choose one of your current residents to replace – however, never the most recently moved-in villager. The only way to potentially get a specific villager replaced through a campsite invitation is to force quit the game before accepting the camper’s decision. This allows you to try again, with the camper making a fresh random selection for replacement. You must force quit and reload before moving further in the dialogue! Once the game has saved, the villager chosen is locked in.
2. Can you get a villager that moved out back?
Yes, you can get a villager back after they have moved out, but it will be a completely reset version. Whether you invite them back with amiibo cards, find them on mystery islands, or encounter them at the campsite, they will return with their original house, phrases, and friendship levels. They will not remember you!
3. How do I reset my campsite villager replacement?
As touched upon above, to reset a campsite villager’s replacement choice, you must force quit the game before saving after the camper’s dialogue is over and they chose a replacement. If you exit the tent or finish the conversation, the game saves the choice. Reload the game and invite the camper again to retrigger the random replacement choice.
4. Can your first campsite villager move out?
Your first campsite villager, who is always a smug villager, can move out after their house has been placed by the player. However, they cannot leave until that house is placed. This first camper is unique, as they are forced to move in and cannot be rejected by the player.
5. How often will villagers ask to move out?
The frequency of villagers asking to move out is tied to the aforementioned cooldown period. Once a villager has moved out, or you’ve convinced one to stay, other villagers will not ask to move for 15 days and 5 days respectively. This can vary by some days, as the system isn’t perfect, but that’s a good guideline!
6. Will I lose a new villager if I time travel back?
No, you will not lose a new villager by time-traveling back. If a villager is moving in or in boxes, time-traveling back to the present, by syncing your switch clock, will not cause them to disappear. However, time-traveling backwards with an empty plot can cause a random villager to move in, potentially ruining your chances at getting a specific islander.
7. Can you get the same villager twice?
Yes, you can get the same villager twice, but as previously stated, they will be completely reset. If you want a villager to be exactly the same, you cannot bring them back after they’ve moved out.
8. Why won’t any of my villagers move out?
If none of your villagers seem inclined to leave, it’s likely due to the random nature of the game’s selection process and the cooldown timers. The game will randomly select a villager to ask to move out after a certain period, but these timers are invisible to the player. You can potentially speed things up using time travel, but this has its own set of risks.
9. How long until a villager wants to move out?
A villager will consider moving out approximately two weeks after another villager has completely moved in, or one week after another villager considered moving out but was persuaded to stay. This is simply a rule of thumb, as the game can vary slightly from this timeframe.
10. Does complaining to Isabelle make villagers leave?
Complaining to Isabelle has no impact on whether or not a villager will ask to move out. This action only resets the villager’s clothing and catchphrases and is used to address inappropriate behavior, not to influence move-outs. Hitting with nets or other ways to decrease friendship also have no impact!
11. Does Animal Crossing punish you for time travel?
While there aren’t direct penalties for time travel, it can cause inconveniences such as an overgrowth of weeds or spoiled turnips. The most obvious punishment for time travel is an increase in the amount of work required to maintain a clean island.
12. What happens if you time travel backwards in Animal Crossing?
Time-traveling backwards will set your game to the earlier date. The main things affected will be turnips, and you could miss out on events or visitors, since they may not align with the adjusted date. However, villager moving in or moving out won’t be changed.
13. Who are rare villagers in Animal Crossing?
The rarity of villagers can often depend on species. For example, octopus villagers, such as Octavian and Marina, are among the rarest, as there are only five of them. Non-animal villagers, such as the robot villagers, are also rare, since there are only six of them.
14. Why does my villager want to leave?
Villagers may want to leave for various random reasons and not due to poor friendship or a town in bad condition. Even with max friendship, they can still randomly want to move on. While a town in rough shape can discourage new residents from moving in, it is not the main cause of existing villagers leaving.
15. Can you invite campers without amiibo?
Yes, you can absolutely invite campers without amiibo. These random campsite visitors can be invited to move to your island, and, if your island is full, they will pick a random villager to replace (except for your newest resident unless amiibo is used). It may take a few tries for them to agree to move in though!
Conclusion
In summary, while the newest villager is indeed protected from moving out, the rest of your island’s population is subject to the game’s random move-out system. Understanding the cooldowns, exemptions, and other related mechanics can help you manage your villager community with greater ease. Remember, while you can influence some aspects, ultimately, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is designed to have a natural flow of residents, and it’s important to enjoy the time you have with each villager, no matter how long they stay. Happy island life!