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How Often Does Redd Sell Real Art in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

The burning question for many Animal Crossing: New Horizons players is: How often can you actually snag a genuine piece of art from the ever-so-shady Redd the Fox? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward, but it’s crucial for those looking to complete their museum’s art wing. Redd’s inventory is random, and while he always sells four pieces of art on his boat, there’s no guarantee that any of them will be real. You could find yourself with one, two, or even zero legitimate pieces on any given visit. The odds of getting real art are completely dependent on luck. While this is disappointing for eager art collectors, it adds an element of chance and challenge to acquiring these coveted items. There’s no set frequency or guarantee of a specific number of real art pieces appearing in his inventory. The best strategy is to thoroughly check every piece and be well-versed in identifying forgeries.

Redd’s Randomized Inventory: The Challenge of Authentic Art

The Mystery of Redd’s Stock

Redd’s inventory isn’t determined by a pre-set schedule. You won’t find that on Tuesdays there’s always one real painting and on Wednesdays two. Instead, each of Redd’s visits presents a fresh, entirely randomized selection of four pieces. These could range from all forgeries to a mix of both fakes and authentic artworks. This lack of predictability is what keeps players on their toes and makes the search for genuine art pieces a constant quest.

The Art of Spotting Fakes

Because the chances of getting real art are so inconsistent, learning how to differentiate real from fake is essential. You need to meticulously examine each piece of art that Redd offers, as the forgeries are often very convincing and the differences can be minute. Some variations, such as a slightly different expression or a missing detail, are subtle and easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention. Online guides and resources can be very useful for knowing what details to look for before making your purchase.

One-Purchase-Per-Day Limitation

To add to the complexity, you can only buy one piece of art from Redd each day, no matter how many real items are in his stock. Even if all four were legitimate, you’d need to patiently wait for his return to potentially acquire another. This limitation encourages players to carefully consider their purchase, especially when multiple real pieces might be present. Visiting friends’ islands to buy art from Redd does NOT circumvent the one-per-day rule; you are limited to one purchase no matter which island you are on.

How To Maximize Your Chances

Frequent Check-ins

Since Redd’s appearance is random, checking your island each day is essential. Isabelle will sometimes announce his arrival as a “suspicious character” in the daily announcements, but not always! He might just appear without any kind of warning. When he does arrive, be sure to head to the “secret beach” on the north side of your island to find his trawler.

Utilizing Resources and Guides

As mentioned, the art of spotting the differences between real and fake paintings is a skill you need to cultivate. Numerous online resources, visual guides, and communities are dedicated to documenting the differences between real and fake art. These can be essential tools in identifying genuine pieces of art and avoiding costly mistakes. Familiarizing yourself with these guides will significantly reduce the chances of purchasing a forgery.

The Harve’s Island Alternative

If you’re lucky enough to have progressed far enough in the game, you can visit Redd at Harv’s Island. On Harv’s Island, Redd only presents two pieces of art at a time, and you still only get to purchase one per day. However, this gives you a smaller number of options to analyze at a time, and potentially offers a better chance at getting real art, depending on Redd’s mood.

Frequently Asked Questions About Redd and His Art

Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to further help you in your art collecting journey:

Is the first piece of art Redd sells always real? Yes, the very first piece of art that Redd sells when he initially visits your island is always genuine. This purchase is necessary to trigger the museum upgrade.
Can Redd sell the same piece of art multiple times? Yes, Redd can absolutely sell the same piece of art multiple times, both real and fake. There is no limit to which art he can offer during each visit.
How do I unlock Redd? To unlock Redd you need to upgrade your museum and donate at least 60 items. After that, Blathers mentions the potential addition of an art gallery, which triggers Redd’s arrival.
What happens if I donate a fake painting to Blathers? Blathers will not accept forgeries. He’ll be shocked and tell you that the piece is a fake. Fake art cannot be displayed in the museum.
Can I sell fake art at Nook’s Cranny? No, the twins at Nook’s Cranny will not purchase forged art. You will need to discard, display, or otherwise handle them on your own.
How can I tell if the Mona Lisa is real? The fake Mona Lisa has prominent eyebrows, while the real one does not have visible eyebrows. This is one of the easier forgeries to spot.
Is it possible for all four pieces of art Redd sells to be fake? Yes, it is entirely possible that all four pieces of art that Redd sells in a given visit will be forgeries.
Does time traveling affect Redd’s visits? Time traveling can affect Redd’s appearance but it doesn’t provide a predictable pattern, which means you cannot force him to come more or less often by traveling through time.
Does Redd sell real sculptures? Yes, Redd sells both paintings and sculptures. Just like the paintings, the sculptures also have real and fake versions, and you need to check their details carefully before purchasing.
How long does it take to get art from Redd? Once purchased, art from Redd will arrive in your mail the next day, unless you buy art at Harve’s Island, in which case it will arrive immediately.
Why is Redd’s boat referred to as a “trawler”? Redd’s boat is a smaller-sized ship and is often referred to as the “treasure trawler” because it’s used for hauling goods, in this case, art, which can be fake or real.
What do I do with fake art? You can discard fake art in the trash, use it to decorate your home, or leave it on your island as quirky lawn art.
Is there a way to get Redd to visit more frequently? No, unfortunately, there’s no proven method to make Redd visit more frequently. His appearances are based on a random system.
How much does it cost to buy art from Redd? All pieces of art, real or fake, cost 4,980 Bells to purchase from Redd.
Do real art pieces sell for more than fake ones? The Nook brothers will not buy real art from you. Only Blathers will take them for display in the museum.

By understanding the random nature of Redd’s inventory and arming yourself with the knowledge to spot fakes, you’ll increase your chances of acquiring genuine art. While frustrating at times, the unpredictable nature of Redd’s wares is part of the charm of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Happy art hunting!

How often does Redd sell real art?