Can You Use Amiibo Cards If Your Island Is Full in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Yes, absolutely! Using Amiibo cards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a fantastic way to bring specific villagers to your island, even if you’ve already reached the maximum villager capacity of ten. However, the process is slightly different than if you have an open plot. When your island is full, inviting a villager via Amiibo cards involves a bit of strategic villager swapping.

How Amiibo Cards Work on a Full Island

Here’s a breakdown of how to bring your desired Amiibo villager to a packed island:

• Invite the Camper: Head to the Resident Services building and interact with the Nook Stop terminal. Select “Invite a Camper” and scan your Amiibo card. This will bring the villager to your campsite.

• Fulfill Their Requests: This is the key to the whole process. Each day, for three consecutive days, you must invite the Amiibo villager to your campsite by scanning their card. Each day, they will request you to craft them an item. Once you craft the item, you’ll be able to talk to them again.

• The Big Ask: After successfully fulfilling their requests for three days, the Amiibo villager will finally agree to move to your island.

• The Replacement Offer: If your island is full, the Amiibo villager will propose replacing one of your current residents. They will randomly suggest a villager. If you like their offer, that villager will pack their boxes and move out to make way for the Amiibo villager. If you don’t like who they suggest, close the game entirely without saving, and repeat the dialogue with the Amiibo villager. Note that if you save, the choice of who they chose to move out will be locked in, and there is no way to change the villager without using another Amiibo or other method.

Why Use Amiibo Cards?

Amiibo cards offer a level of control over your island’s residents that you simply can’t achieve through random encounters or campsite visits. They allow you to:

• Target Specific Villagers: Tired of waiting for your favorite villager to randomly appear? Amiibo cards let you invite them directly.
• Control Your Island’s Aesthetic: Create a themed island with specific personalities or animal types.
• Evict Unwanted Residents (Strategically): While it might sound a bit harsh, Amiibo cards provide a reliable way to replace villagers you’re not particularly fond of.
• Guaranteed Results: Unlike random campsite encounters, Amiibo cards guarantee that the villager will eventually move in if you follow the steps correctly.

Tips for a Smooth Amiibo Transition

• Patience is Key: Remember that the process takes three in-game days. Don’t rush it!
• Prepare for Crafting: Before you start, make sure you have access to the resources needed for any potential crafting requests. Stock up on wood, iron nuggets, clay, and stone. Some of the craft requests are quite obscure, so be prepared for anything!
• Don’t Save Until You’re Happy: As mentioned earlier, if the Amiibo villager suggests replacing a villager you want to keep, immediately close the game without saving. This allows you to try again until they suggest a different villager.
• Time Travel (Optional): If you’re impatient, you can use time travel to speed up the process. However, be aware of the potential consequences of time travel, such as weeds and villager dialogue changes.
• Consider Villager Personalities: Think about the personalities of the villagers you’re replacing and how they might affect your island’s overall vibe.

The Broader World of Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing isn’t just about collecting villagers and decorating your island; it’s a game about community, creativity, and connection. Organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org explore the educational and social impact of games like Animal Crossing, recognizing their potential for fostering collaboration, problem-solving, and creative expression. Understanding these broader contexts can enrich your experience with the game and help you appreciate its deeper value.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about using Amiibo cards on a full island, covering all the bases:

1. Can I use Amiibo cards to move in special characters like Isabelle or Tom Nook?

No, Amiibo cards only work for regular villagers. Special characters like Isabelle, Tom Nook, and Blathers are not eligible to move into residential houses on your island.

2. What happens if I don’t have the materials to craft the item the Amiibo villager requests?

If you don’t have the materials, you won’t be able to complete the request for that day. You’ll need to gather the necessary materials and try again the next day. You can find ways to get more materials by hitting rocks, chopping trees, and by purchasing from Nook’s Cranny.

3. Can I invite another campsite villager while I’m working on inviting an Amiibo villager?

No, you cannot. You must complete the three-day process of inviting the Amiibo villager before another random villager can appear at your campsite.

4. Is there a limit to how many times I can use an Amiibo card?

You can use each Amiibo card once per day. After you use the card for the day, you can’t scan the same card again until the next real-world day.

5. If I accidentally save after the Amiibo villager suggests the wrong villager to move out, am I stuck with that decision?

Unfortunately, yes. Once you save the game after the Amiibo villager suggests a resident to move out, that decision is final. The villager who was suggested will begin packing the next day.

6. Can I choose which villager the Amiibo villager replaces?

While you can’t directly choose, you can influence the outcome by closing the game without saving if you don’t like the initial suggestion. Keep trying until the Amiibo villager suggests the villager you want to move out.

7. Do all Amiibo cards work in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Only the Amiibo cards from the Animal Crossing series will bring villagers to your campsite in New Horizons. Amiibo figures from other series may provide different in-game items or benefits but won’t invite villagers.

8. How many villagers can live on my island?

The maximum number of villagers you can have living on your island is 10.

9. What if I have an open plot, and I invite an Amiibo villager?

If you have an open plot, the Amiibo villager will simply agree to move into that plot without needing to replace anyone.

10. Do I need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to use Amiibo cards?

No, you do not need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to use Amiibo cards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

11. Can a villager who recently moved in be asked to move out by an Amiibo camper?

Yes, even recently moved-in villagers can be asked to move out by an Amiibo camper. The game doesn’t discriminate based on how long a villager has been on your island.

12. Are Amiibo cards reusable, or can they only be used once?

Amiibo cards are reusable indefinitely. The game tracks the progress of your invitations, not the card itself.

13. Can I use Amiibo figures instead of Amiibo cards?

Yes, you can use Amiibo figures in the same way as Amiibo cards to invite villagers to your campsite.

14. What is the rarest villager type in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Based on the number of villagers in each species, the rarest villager types are the Octopus, Tiger, Cow, Bull, Lion, Rhinoceros, and Alligator.

15. Can I invite a campsite villager to move in if my island is full, without using an Amiibo card?

Yes, it is possible to convince a campsite villager to move in without Amiibo cards, even if your island is full. If you have a full island, they will randomly offer to replace an existing villager, like when they are invited via Amiibo. The randomness of who they choose can be managed by closing the game before saving.

Using Amiibo cards is a really good way to customize your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and bring your dream community to life. With a little planning and a lot of patience, you can curate the perfect set of villagers to share your island paradise.