How Long Do Animal Crossing Villagers Stay in Boxes? A Comprehensive Guide
The world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is filled with adorable villagers, each with their unique personalities and quirky habits. But sometimes, you need to shake things up on your island paradise. Whether you’re seeking a new personality type or just want to make room for a dreamie, the “boxes” stage is a crucial part of the villager-moving process.
So, how long do villagers stay in boxes? The simple answer is one day. A villager will only be in boxes on your island from 5 AM to 5 AM the next day. After that, they’re off to new adventures!
Let’s dive deeper into the process and explore some frequently asked questions about this aspect of Animal Crossing life.
Understanding the “Boxes” Phase in Animal Crossing
The “boxes” phase is the final step before a villager officially leaves your island. It’s when their house is filled with cardboard boxes containing all their belongings. This phase happens the day before they disappear from your island entirely.
Here’s a breakdown of the timeline that leads to a villager being in boxes:
- The Request to Leave: A villager will randomly approach you and ask about moving off the island. You have the option to encourage them to stay or let them go.
- The Decision: If you tell them it’s okay to leave, they’ll start preparing to move.
- Packing Day: The day before they move out, they’ll be in their house packing boxes. This is the key day for inviting other players to come and adopt them.
- Moving Day: The next day (after 5 AM), they’re gone! Their house becomes an empty plot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Villagers in Boxes
These FAQs will provide additional valuable information about Animal Crossing villagers in boxes:
Can I stop a villager from leaving once they’re in boxes?
No, once a villager is in boxes, there’s no turning back. They will be gone the next day at 5 AM. You can’t convince them to stay at this point.
What happens if I time travel when a villager is in boxes?
Time-traveling forward is safe. The villager will simply be gone after 5 AM on the date you’ve travelled to. You can also safely time-travel backwards as well.
How do I get a villager into boxes quickly?
The fastest method involves using Amiibo cards. Scan an Amiibo card at the Nook Stop in Resident Services, invite the villager to your campsite, and fulfill their crafting requests for three consecutive days. On the third day, they’ll agree to move in, and you can choose which of your current villagers they’ll replace. This immediately puts the chosen villager in boxes.
How long does it take for a villager to pack up and leave naturally (without Amiibo)?
Without Amiibo, the process takes longer. Once a villager asks to move out and you agree, they will pack up their furniture in boxes five days later and move out two days after that.
Can I invite a villager from another player’s island if they’re in boxes?
Yes! This is a popular way to acquire specific villagers. Visit your friend’s island while the villager is in boxes, talk to them inside their house, and you’ll be given the option to invite them to move to your island if you have an open plot of land.
Does a villager in boxes count as an empty plot for inviting new villagers?
No, a villager in boxes doesn’t count as an empty plot. You can’t invite new villagers to your island from mystery islands or the campsite until the day after the villager in boxes has moved out and their plot becomes empty.
Who are considered the rarest villagers in Animal Crossing?
Villager rarity is often discussed, but it truly comes down to personal taste. Here are the villager species with the fewest members, making them rarer to encounter randomly:
- Octopus (5)
- Non-Animal Villagers (6)
- Tiger (7)
- Cow (8)
- Bull (9)
- Lion (9)
- Rhinoceros (9)
- Alligator (9)
Why are there no villagers appearing on mystery islands?
This usually happens when you already have ten villagers living on your island, which is the maximum. Also, once you invite a villager from a mystery island, no more will appear until that plot is filled or a villager moves out again.
Can I change my mind and make a villager stay after telling them they can leave?
Unfortunately, no. Once you’ve told a villager they can leave, their fate is sealed. They’ll be in boxes on the designated day, and there’s no way to change their mind.
Can Isabelle help me get rid of a villager I don’t want?
Isabelle can’t directly remove villagers. Complaining to her about a villager only resets their clothing and catchphrase. However, some players believe that consistently complaining about a villager might indirectly increase their chances of wanting to move out, but this is unconfirmed.
Is it possible to have two villagers in boxes at the same time?
Yes, it’s possible! This usually happens when using an Amiibo card to invite a villager while another villager is already planning to move out. The Amiibo villager allows you to select which villager to replace, and then both will move out.
Will Tom Nook automatically fill empty plots if I don’t invite anyone?
Yes, Tom Nook will fill empty plots if you don’t invite anyone to move in. This typically happens the day after a villager moves out. Be warned: you might end up with a villager you don’t particularly like, so it’s generally better to find your own villagers through mystery islands or the campsite.
What if I time travel backwards and have an empty plot?
If you time travel backwards with an empty plot, another random villager will move in! Be careful! It’s always recommended to have a villager lined up before creating the plot of land.
Are the villagers I find on mystery islands completely random?
No, they are not completely random. The game rolls for the species first, and then it chooses a villager from that species that isn’t already on your island. This means some species are less likely to appear on the islands, which can make finding certain villager types harder.
What happens if I visit my friend’s island, invite the villager to move into my village but I didn’t prepare a plot of land beforehand?
You must have a plot of land ready and available for the villager to move into, or it will not allow you to invite them.
The Importance of Community and Information Sharing
The Animal Crossing community is vibrant and always willing to share tips and tricks. Understanding the mechanics of the game, like how long villagers stay in boxes, helps players make informed decisions and build the island of their dreams. Sharing this information is crucial for fostering a positive and collaborative gaming environment.
Learning more about the dynamics of games and player behavior can extend beyond just playing. Organizations like the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) study how games can be used for education and positive social change.
The information discussed can be used for good in game development, game user research, and even education.
Understanding the nuances of the “boxes” phase empowers players to actively manage their island communities and curate their ideal roster of villagers. So, happy villager hunting, and may your island always be filled with joy and friendship!