Can You Have a Five-Star Island with Too Many Trees in Animal Crossing?
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The short answer is no, you cannot achieve a five-star island rating in Animal Crossing: New Horizons if you have too many trees. While trees are an essential part of a beautiful island and contribute significantly to your scenery score, there’s a limit. Exceeding this limit will prevent you from reaching the coveted five-star status, even if the rest of your island is perfectly crafted. Isabelle, your island evaluation expert, will specifically point out that you have “too many trees” and advise you to remove some. It’s all about finding the right balance between natural beauty and manageable development.
Understanding the Tree Limit
Animal Crossing: New Horizons uses a system where every tree counts towards a specific cap. This cap isn’t some arbitrary number; it’s a carefully designed mechanism that influences your island’s overall rating. The widely accepted maximum number of trees you can have on your island before Isabelle flags it as “too many” is 220. This includes all types of trees:
- Hardwood Trees: The standard, non-fruit bearing trees.
- Cedar Trees: The evergreen trees that grow in the upper parts of your island.
- Fruit Trees: Any trees bearing fruit, including coconuts.
- Bamboo: The distinctive stalks of bamboo you can grow.
It’s crucial to note that baby, non-adult trees do not count toward this limit. Only fully grown trees are factored into the total. Keeping track of the mature trees is key to avoiding the dreaded “too many” message from Isabelle.
The Impact of Too Many Trees
When you exceed the 220-tree limit, it directly impacts your island rating. Even if your development score is excellent with enough furniture and infrastructure, and your scenery score is already high, the excessive amount of trees will hold you back. Isabelle will make it clear during her island evaluations that your island is overcrowded with trees, forcing you to remove them if you want that five-star status.
The game’s algorithm evaluates your island holistically. This means, even if you have a lot of nice furniture and flowers, the excess of trees will drag your score down, stopping you from reaching the required scores in the Development and Scenery categories for the perfect five-star rating.
Finding the Right Balance
The key is moderation. It’s not about having no trees; it’s about having the right amount. While 220 is the absolute maximum, aiming for around 190 to 210 mature trees often yields the best results. This allows you to maintain a lush, natural feel without triggering the “too many trees” warning.
Remember that it’s not just about quantity, but about the placement of your trees as well. A well-designed island will have trees placed thoughtfully to create visually appealing landscapes and comfortable paths. Scattering trees around your island, instead of clumped together, is usually more visually pleasing and will still contribute to your overall scenery score.
More Than Just Trees for a 5-Star Rating
While trees play a crucial role, they are only one component of a five-star island rating. Here are other vital elements:
- Development Score: This involves having enough furniture, buildings, and infrastructure.
- Scenery Score: This includes the overall natural aesthetic of your island, and the strategic placement of flowers, bushes, and furniture, not just trees.
- Villager Count: You need to have 10 villagers living on your island.
- Clutter Control: Avoid leaving too many items lying around. Weeds, dropped items, and unplaced furniture will all negatively impact your score.
- Flower Variety: While trees are important, flowers are necessary for a five-star island as well. A good mix of basic and hybrid flowers will help significantly.
FAQs: Understanding Trees and Island Ratings
1. What are the exact requirements for a five-star island rating?
To achieve a five-star rating, you need a score of at least 665 in the Development category and 450 in the Scenery category. Additionally, you need to have 10 villagers and maintain a balanced environment without too much clutter or too many trees.
2. Do tree branches and other dropped items affect my island rating?
Tree branches, stones, seashells, star fragments, mushrooms, and message bottles do not affect your island rating score. They are considered naturally occurring items. However, other dropped items, especially an excessive number of them, will harm your rating.
3. How many trees should I plant for optimal bell and furniture harvesting?
Ideally, you want 17 regular trees on your island for maximum harvesting. Out of these, approximately 10 will drop bells and 5 will drop beehives. Keep in mind that these are not the only trees needed, but a good amount to ensure you can get a decent amount of bells and resources.
4. What constitutes clutter and how can I avoid it?
Clutter refers to any item lying on the ground that isn’t naturally occurring. This includes weeds, fruits, wood, iron, stones, bells, and unplaced furniture. Clean up regularly and store items you aren’t actively using to avoid clutter. Categorize items for efficient storage.
5. What reward do I get for achieving a five-star island?
Once you reach a five-star rating, Isabelle will give you the DIY recipe for the Golden Watering Can. The Golden Watering Can is required to grow gold roses.
6. What happens if I cut down all my trees?
Cut down trees will not regrow in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They remain as stumps until you dig them up. Digging up a stump will give you some wood.
7. How do I terraform my island?
Terraforming unlocks after you reach a three-star island rating. Tom Nook will provide you with the Island Designer app on your NookPhone the day after you achieve the three-star rating.
8. Can I get a five-star island with weeds?
Having too many weeds will lower your island rating. While some weeds are aesthetically pleasing, it’s best to keep them to a minimum if you are aiming for that five-star rating.
9. What happens after getting a five-star island?
After getting a five-star island, you can continue to improve your island with terraforming, hunt for rare villagers, and focus on perfecting your DIY crafting collection.
10. Do I need a specific ratio of trees to flowers to get a five-star rating?
While there isn’t a strict ratio, having a good balance between the two is key. A lush environment with both trees and plenty of flowers contributes significantly to your scenery score. If you do not have enough trees, flowers can help make up for it.
11. Is there any advantage to having an excessive amount of fruit trees?
While fruit trees can be a good source of income, having too many will count towards the tree limit and negatively impact your five-star goal. Having an orchard of fruit trees is ok, as long as you do not exceed the 220 tree limit.
12. Do I need all the different types of trees for a five-star island?
No, you don’t need every type of tree for a five-star rating, but a good variety will make your island look much nicer and contribute to a higher scenery score.
13. Does planting more than 10,000 bells guarantee a return of 99,000 bells?
No, there is no guarantee that planting 99,000 bells will return 99,000 bells. Some players have had it work; however, many others have had it return only 10,000 bells.
14. How does the game calculate the scenery and development scores?
The game calculates these scores based on a system that divides your island into 8×8 grids. The amount and placement of furniture, buildings, flowers, and trees within those grids influence your score.
15. How many villagers can you have on your island at a time?
The maximum number of villagers you can have on your island is 10. Having all of the slots filled is a requirement for getting to a five-star rating.
In conclusion, while trees are fundamental to creating a beautiful and natural island, it’s crucial to keep their numbers in check. Exceeding the 220 tree limit will block your path to a five-star rating. Focus on finding the right balance and implementing other rating factors to get your perfect island rating in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.