Can You Reroll Campsite Villagers in Animal Crossing?

Yes, you can “reroll” campsite villagers in Animal Crossing, but the methods and effectiveness vary depending on which game in the series you’re playing. In New Horizons, the process involves manipulating game saves and requires a degree of patience. Earlier games offer simpler, but not foolproof, methods for influencing who appears at your campsite. This article delves into the specifics of how campsite villagers work and how to best influence who visits.

Understanding Campsite Villagers

Campsite villagers are a fantastic way to add new residents to your island or town in Animal Crossing. They are temporary visitors who pitch a tent at your campsite and offer the opportunity to invite them to live permanently. This is especially appealing when trying to obtain your dream villagers. However, the appearance of specific villagers is largely random, leading players to explore methods of influencing the pool of potential visitors. Understanding the mechanics behind campsite appearances is key to effectively attempting any rerolling strategies.

How Campsite Villagers Are Selected

The selection process for campsite villagers is influenced by several factors, including:

• Villager Personality Types: The game strives to balance the personalities on your island/town. If you’re lacking a specific personality type (e.g., Snooty, Cranky), that type is more likely to appear at the campsite.
• Villagers Who Have Moved Out: Villagers who have recently moved off your island are less likely to reappear at the campsite in the near future. This mechanic is designed to introduce variety to the villager pool.
• Villagers You Already Have: You won’t encounter villagers currently residing on your island at the campsite.

Rerolling: What It Means

“Rerolling” in this context refers to the practice of attempting to get a different villager to appear at your campsite than the one that initially showed up. This typically involves actions like not saving the game, time traveling, or other manipulations to alter the villager selection process.

Rerolling Techniques in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

New Horizons offers the most advanced (and somewhat tedious) rerolling methods. While the selection of the first campsite villager after setting up your campsite is scripted, subsequent villagers are subject to manipulation, albeit with some limitations.

Save File Manipulation: The Most Common Method

The most reliable rerolling method in New Horizons involves carefully managing your save file. Here’s the process:

1. Check the Campsite Daily: Every day, check your campsite to see who has arrived.
2. If It’s Not Your Desired Villager, DO NOT SAVE. If you’re unhappy with the villager, immediately close the game without saving. This is crucial.
3. Time Travel Backwards: After closing the game, advance the system clock (not the in-game time) backwards to the previous day.
4. Restart the Game: Reopen Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
5. Check the Campsite Again: Visit the campsite. The villager should be different.
6. Repeat: Continue this process (checking, closing, time traveling backwards one day, reopening) until your desired villager appears.

Important Considerations:

• Patience Is Key: This method can be incredibly time-consuming. Be prepared to repeat the process many times.
• Avoid Saving: Saving at any point while an undesirable villager is at your campsite will lock them in, preventing you from rerolling for that particular day.
• Backup Your Save (If Possible): If you have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, regularly back up your save data to the cloud. This provides a safety net in case something goes wrong during the rerolling process.

Other Methods (Less Reliable)

Some players have reported success with less reliable methods, such as:

• Ignoring the Campsite: Avoid visiting the campsite for several days in a row. This may increase the chances of a desired villager appearing upon your next visit.
• Time Traveling Forward: Some players claim that time traveling forward several days, instead of backward, can also influence villager selection. However, this is less commonly reported as successful.

Rerolling in Earlier Animal Crossing Games

Rerolling in older Animal Crossing games is generally less effective than in New Horizons, but still possible to some extent.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf

In New Leaf, the campsite works similarly to New Horizons, but with fewer save file manipulation options. You can still influence the villager pool by:

• Avoiding Certain Villagers: If a villager you don’t want visits, avoid talking to them. They are more likely to leave if ignored.
• Talking to Villagers You Do Want: Conversing with villagers you’d like to move in increases the chances of them suggesting a move.

Animal Crossing: Wild World and City Folk

These games have even less control over campsite villagers. The appearance of villagers is largely random. The best you can do is:

• Check Frequently: Visit the campsite often to see who’s visiting.
• Be Patient: Wait for your desired villager to appear.

FAQs About Rerolling Campsite Villagers

1. Can I force a specific villager to appear at my campsite?

Not directly. While rerolling methods can influence the pool of potential visitors, you cannot guarantee that a specific villager will appear. It’s still based on chance.

2. Does having amiibo cards affect campsite villagers?

Yes! Scanning amiibo cards of villagers can invite them to your campsite in New Horizons. If you repeatedly invite an amiibo villager, you can eventually convince them to move to your island. This is a guaranteed way to get specific villagers.

3. How long does a villager stay at my campsite?

Typically, campsite villagers stay for one day. After that, they will pack up and leave.

4. Can villagers move into my town/island if I already have the maximum number of residents?

No. You need an open plot of land for a campsite villager to move in. If your island/town is full, you’ll need to convince one of your current residents to move out first.

5. Can I convince a campsite villager to replace a specific resident?

In New Horizons, when your island is full, the campsite villager will suggest a random resident to move out. You can reset the game (without saving) if you don’t want the suggested resident to leave and try again. The villager they suggest will be different. If you accidentally let them move out a villager, you can reset as soon as you notice.

6. Is rerolling considered cheating?

That’s a matter of personal opinion. Rerolling utilizes in-game mechanics (closing without saving) to influence random events. It doesn’t involve hacking or modifying the game’s code. Many players consider it a legitimate strategy.

7. Does the time of day affect campsite villager appearances?

No, the time of day does not affect who visits. However, time traveling to a new day is what triggers a new campsite villager.

8. What happens if I talk to a villager I don’t want at my campsite?

Talking to them doesn’t necessarily lock them in, but it can increase the chances of them sticking around. If you’re unsure, it’s best to avoid initiating conversation.

9. How many times can I ask a campsite villager to move in?

You can ask a campsite villager to move in multiple times in New Horizons. You may need to play games with them or complete tasks before they agree.

10. Are there any villagers that can’t appear at the campsite?

Generally, all standard villagers can appear at the campsite. Special characters (like Isabelle, Tom Nook, etc.) will not visit the campsite.

11. Does the friendship level with my current villagers affect campsite visitors?

No, your friendship level with existing villagers doesn’t directly impact who visits the campsite.

12. What’s the easiest way to get my dream villagers?

Using amiibo cards is by far the easiest and most reliable method. However, if you don’t have amiibo cards, campsite rerolling is your next best option.

13. Can I get a villager from another player’s campsite?

No, you can only invite villagers from your own campsite to move to your island. However, if another player has a villager in boxes (moving out of their island), you can invite that villager to move to your open plot.

14. Is there a limit to how often villagers visit the campsite?

There doesn’t appear to be a hard limit, but campsite villagers don’t appear every single day. Expect several days to pass between visits.

15. Does the rarity of a villager affect their campsite appearance rate?

While there’s no definitive confirmation, some players believe that “rarer” villagers (those considered more popular) may have a slightly lower chance of appearing at the campsite. However, this is largely anecdotal.

In conclusion, while the ability to directly control campsite villager appearances is limited, understanding the mechanics and employing rerolling techniques can significantly increase your chances of finding your dream villagers. Remember to be patient, manage your save file carefully, and consider using amiibo cards for guaranteed results.