How Many Creatures Does Tom Nook Want? A Complete Guide to Getting Blathers
You’ve landed on your deserted island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, eager to explore and build your dream paradise. But before you can truly dive into island life, you’ll need to convince a certain owl, Blathers, to set up his museum. And to do that, you’ll need to appease the ever-ambitious Tom Nook. So, the burning question is: How many creatures does Tom Nook want?
The short and definitive answer is: Tom Nook requires you to donate five creatures—either bugs or fish—to unlock the arrival of Blathers. This is a crucial first step in establishing your island’s cultural and educational hub. Once you’ve met this initial requirement, Blathers will arrive and set up his tent, eventually leading to the construction of the museum.
The Path to the Museum: More Than Just Donations
While the five creature donation is the critical step, it’s important to understand the broader context of how to get Blathers and the museum to your island. It’s not just a matter of finding any old creature and handing it to Tom Nook.
The First Steps
When you first start the game, you will be introduced to the basic mechanics, including fishing and catching bugs. After crafting your first Fishing Rod and Net, and speaking to Tom Nook, he will mention he’s curious about the local fauna. This is your cue to start collecting. He doesn’t explicitly ask for creatures at first, but it’s a clear hint to what’s coming. This is where the five Bugs and/or Fish come into play.
Making the Donations
Once you have your five critters, approach Tom Nook inside Resident Services. If he hasn’t mentioned his friend Blathers yet, he will once he’s ready to accept donations. He’ll then start accepting them, with dialogue suggesting that he has a friend who is interested in the island’s creatures. It doesn’t matter which five you donate first as long as they are different, as you can’t donate multiples of the same creature. Once the fifth creature is donated, he will tell you about Blathers. He’ll give you a kit to place on the island for Blathers to set up his tent. This triggers Blathers’ arrival on the following day.
Blathers’ Arrival and Beyond
After Tom Nook gives you the kit for Blathers’ tent, choose a suitable location on your island and place it. The following day, Blathers will arrive and set up his tent. He’ll need you to donate another 15 creatures, including fossils, before he upgrades his tent into a proper museum. After this, the museum will be under construction and will be open in two days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the process and address common player questions, here are 15 FAQs about donating creatures to Tom Nook and getting Blathers:
1. Why can’t I donate bugs to Tom Nook?
If Tom Nook isn’t accepting your donations, it’s likely because you haven’t triggered the conversation where he mentions his interest in the local fauna and that he has a friend, Blathers, who might be interested in a museum. Craft the basic tools and catch some bugs and fish. Speak to Nook again, and he will start taking donations once he’s ready.
2. Do I have to give Tom Nook only fish?
No, you can give Tom Nook either bugs or fish, or a combination of both. The requirement is five creatures, regardless of their type.
3. What happens after I give Tom Nook five creatures?
Once you donate five creatures to Tom Nook, he will tell you about Blathers and give you a kit to place on your island, marking the spot for Blathers to set up his tent. The next day, Blathers will arrive.
4. How many creatures do I have to give to Blathers initially?
After setting up his tent, Blathers will ask for 15 donations. These can be a mixture of fish, bugs, or fossils. Once you give him these 15 donations, the museum construction will start.
5. What is Blathers afraid of?
Ironically, given his role as a museum curator, Blathers is afraid of bugs. He will often express his disgust when you donate a bug to him.
6. Should I sell bugs or donate them?
It’s generally recommended that you donate one of each new species to Blathers for the museum before selling duplicates. Complete the museum first. You can always sell duplicates to Nook’s Cranny or to Flick for a higher price when he visits.
7. Who is Flick and why should I sell bugs to him?
Flick is a visitor who pays 1.5x the normal price for bugs. He is also an artist that can make bug models for you.
8. What is the rarest fish in Animal Crossing?
The Coelacanth is considered one of the rarest fish, costing 15,000 Bells. It can only be caught when it is raining.
9. What are some good fish to keep in the beginning?
Koi, Saddled Bichir, and Ocean Sunfish are all relatively easy to catch and sell for 4,000 Bells each, making them good choices for early income.
10. What happens when you finish the museum?
When you donate everything in one specific section (fish, bugs, sea creatures, fossils, or art) Blathers will congratulate you for completing it. When you donate everything from every exhibit, you’ll get a Museum Model.
11. Is it better to sell or donate fossils?
Always donate fossils before selling them, to complete the museum. If you have duplicates you’ve already donated, they can be traded online for better prices.
12. Is there an end to Animal Crossing?
No, Animal Crossing doesn’t have a definitive end. After paying off your loan you can continue to play. You can always keep developing your island.
13. What is the highest paying bug in Animal Crossing?
Several bugs are worth 12,000 bells each: Golden Stag, Giraffe Stag, and Horned Hercules.
14. What is the most valuable item to sell in Animal Crossing?
The Trophy Case is the most expensive item that players can sell.
15. How do I unlock other villagers?
After upgrading Resident Services, talk to Tom Nook about developing your island. He’ll then provide you with a campground. Random villagers will start visiting your island, and you will be able to invite them to live on your island.
Conclusion
Donating five creatures to Tom Nook is your ticket to unlocking Blathers and the museum in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It’s a small but crucial step that opens up a wealth of in-game content and collections. So, get out there, grab your net and fishing rod, and start exploring the diverse fauna of your island. Happy collecting!