Why Won’t My Amiibo Villager Move to My Island?
You’ve meticulously planned your island getaway in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and you’re ready to welcome a specific villager using your Amiibo card or coin. But, despite your best efforts, they simply won’t move in! This can be frustrating, but the reasons are usually straightforward. The most common culprit is that the game requires a specific process to be followed, and one key step may be missing.
Essentially, an Amiibo villager won’t move to your island immediately upon their first visit. Instead, they require three separate visits to your campsite before agreeing to relocate permanently. Each visit involves a conversation and the fulfilling of a special request. Let’s explore this process and other possible roadblocks in greater detail.
Understanding the Amiibo Invitation Process
The Three-Visit Rule
The primary reason your Amiibo villager isn’t packing their bags immediately is that they need to visit your campsite three times. Each time you scan the Amiibo, the villager will appear as a camper. You’ll need to chat with them, and they’ll typically ask for you to craft an item for them. After fulfilling their request, you need to invite them back again on the next day. You must go through this entire process for three different days before the villager will discuss moving in.
The Nook Stop and Amiibo Functionality
To initiate the process, you must use the Nook Stop terminal located in Resident Services. Selecting the “Invite a Camper” option prompts you to tap your Amiibo card or coin on the NFC touchpoint of your right Joy-Con or Pro Controller. Once your scanned villager appears at the campsite, your journey to get them to move in begins.
The Crafting Component
During each visit, the camper will request a specific item, which you’ll need to craft using your DIY recipes. Make sure you have the necessary materials in your inventory or storage! Once you’ve crafted the requested item, give it to the villager. They’ll be very appreciative and the process moves forward. This process is a key factor in showing your willingness to invite them to live on your island.
The Final Invitation
After the third time completing this process (three separate days with one request each day), the Amiibo villager will finally be ready to discuss moving to your island. At this point, when you talk to them you should have the dialogue option to invite them to move to your island.
Other Possible Reasons for Amiibo Villager Issues
While the three-visit rule is the most common reason, other factors might be preventing your Amiibo villager from moving in. These are equally important to consider when troubleshooting.
Island Infrastructure Requirements
- Resident Services Building: You must have upgraded from the tent to a building, meaning you are no longer in the initial tutorial phase of the game.
- Campsite: The campsite must be constructed and available on your island.
- First Camper: You have invited a villager to your campsite who has subsequently moved onto your island.
Full Island Limit
Your island can only house a maximum of 10 villagers. If you already have ten residents, you’ll need to convince an existing villager to move out before inviting an Amiibo villager to move in. The game will offer you the option of replacing a current villager during the third visit if you have ten residents already.
Potential Amiibo Malfunction
- Amiibo Data Issues: Try resetting the amiibo data. To do this go to Settings, then “amiibo”, and select “Delete amiibo Data” and then scan the amiibo again.
- NFC Reader Problems: Try registering a different amiibo. If that works, the original amiibo may be faulty. Alternatively, try scanning the Amiibo with a different controller. If other Amiibo cards/coins work on the console, then the issue is likely with the Amiibo being used.
Dialogue Issues
- Forgetting to Invite Them on Each Visit: Be sure that you have invited the camper to visit on the next day before finishing your dialogue.
- Accidental Dialogue Skipping: Make sure you have gone through the correct dialogue options. Sometimes players can accidentally skip past important invitations to move to their island by pressing buttons too quickly.
Game Update Issues
- Outdated Game Version: Ensure your Nintendo Switch console and the Animal Crossing: New Horizons software are updated to the latest version. Outdated software can often lead to various glitches or issues.
Troubleshooting Your Amiibo Experience
If you’ve tried all the solutions above and are still facing trouble, try these additional steps:
- Restart Your Console: Completely turn off and restart your Nintendo Switch.
- Try a Different Amiibo: If you have another Amiibo card or coin, try using it to rule out any card-specific issues.
- Consult Online Forums: Check dedicated Animal Crossing online communities. You may find that others have encountered the same issue and have a solution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need to talk to the Amiibo villager each day, or can I just scan the Amiibo daily?
You must both scan the Amiibo and speak to the villager at the campsite to progress their move-in process. Scanning is just the beginning.
2. What if I fail a minigame the villager wants to play?
Amiibo villagers do not play minigames. That dialogue only occurs with randomly visiting campers. However if you fail to win a minigame, you will need to wait until they return another day.
3. Can Amiibo villagers replace any villager on my island?
Yes, if your island is full, you can choose to replace one of your current villagers with the Amiibo villager when they agree to move in after the third visit.
4. Are all villagers available through Amiibo?
No, most villagers are available through normal gameplay. However, there are several villagers that are exclusively obtainable via Amiibo, most notably the Sanrio collaboration villagers like Marty, Rilla, and others.
5. How do I know if my Amiibo is working properly?
Your Amiibo is likely working properly if it is being recognized by the Nintendo Switch’s NFC sensor and a villager appears at the campsite when it’s scanned. The most common issues are related to the steps you need to complete before they agree to move in.
6. What happens if I cancel the move-in process?
The villager will return to their Amiibo card and you will need to begin the process from the first visit.
7. Can I use an Amiibo on multiple islands?
Yes, you can use an Amiibo on different islands, however, the villager can only live on one island at a time. You will need to start the process over again on any other islands you play on.
8. Do I have to give the Amiibo camper the requested item?
Yes, you must craft and provide the item they request in order to invite them back the next day. This is part of the required process.
9. What do I do if my Amiibo card is damaged or not working?
If your Amiibo card appears to be damaged or not working properly, you may need to replace it. Ensure you have done all troubleshooting steps to ensure the problem is not with your console, before replacement.
10. Can I use Amiibo cards for villagers I already have?
Yes, you can use Amiibo cards for villagers you already have, but it will not force that villager to move or do anything else.
11. Is there any way to speed up the three-day Amiibo process?
No, the three-day process is required. You need to complete the invitation process on three separate in-game days.
12. Will villagers on Nook Miles Islands affect my Amiibo villagers?
No, villagers on Nook Miles islands are not related to the Amiibo process. You can still invite any villager you find on Nook Miles islands without interfering with the Amiibo invite process.
13. What are Nook Miles, and how do they help with villagers?
Nook Miles are a reward currency you earn by completing various activities in Animal Crossing. They do not directly influence the Amiibo move-in process, however they can be used to buy Nook Miles tickets to visit mystery islands where you can find villagers to invite.
14. How do I get an empty plot for my Amiibo villager if my island is full?
You need to wait for one of your current villagers to express their desire to move away or use a specific process to attempt to initiate a villager move. Then the villager moving out will take several days before moving off of your island and the plot will be open. Once an empty plot is available, you can then try inviting your Amiibo camper.
15. Do I need to build specific buildings or do other special activities before inviting amiibo villagers?
Yes, you must have completed specific activities such as upgrading Resident Services to a building, and building the campsite, and inviting the first villager. Without these key pieces of island infrastructure, you will not be able to invite your Amiibo camper.
By understanding the required three-visit process, infrastructure requirements, and other common issues, you can successfully invite your favorite Amiibo villagers to your island paradise. Happy gaming!