Animal Crossing:New Horizons is a whimsical world, where the player can fish, forage, hunt for fossils, and most importantly create bonds with the varied cast of villagers. Every island has its own unique set of inhabitants, but there is a group of them that are rarer to come by. 

When your island is fully expanded, you can have 10 villagers. And to get new neighbors, you have to wait for them to visit your campsite or automatically move in. That, or you go looking for them through visiting deserted islands one at a time.

With 413 villagers to choose from, you can imagine it would be quite tough to find the animals you want. This gets even tougher as you have more of your “dreamies” (what fans call their most desired villagers). Hunting for that last 1 out of 404 is going to be quite the feat!

This doesn’t even account for the fact you might see the same character twice while searching! You need Nook Miles Tickets to visit deserted islands. It will randomly choose an animal to be there if you have space for someone to move in.

Animal Crossing aficionados have worked out all the percentages for your hunting. Mystery islands choose villagers by first picking the species, then the villager. You’ll see Angus from the group of 6 bulls easier than Midge in the 14 birds there are.

Keeping it simple, all species are equal. But the bigger the group, the harder it is to find the specific one you want (like popular Raymond hunting).

While some fans may claim different villagers are more rare due to their popularity factor (or lack there or), it is commonly agreed which categories truly are the rarest.

Join us on a stroll through the world of Animal Crossing as we uncover the rarest and most coveted villagers - because who wouldn’t want to spice up their island by having these exclusive villagers there?

Octopi

Our four featured aquatic villagers posing together.

In the vast array of villagers, octopus villagers are considered the rarest ones. These eight-armed creatures aren't your usual neighbors; in fact, they're highly coveted and sought after. There are only 5 across the Animal Crossing franchise. New Horizons includes 4 of them.

Along with being such a small group in the sea of other villagers, you can never have them as your starting villagers! This is because all new islands start with two animals. They’ll always have a Jock or Sisterly personality - and none of the octopi fit that!

With their whimsical personalities and unique aesthetics, these residents stand out from the rest of the crowd quite a bit. Take a look!

Marina

Marina sitting pretty in pink for a picture.

When it comes to the octopi group, Marina is one of the most desired members. Marina is a bubbly pink octopus with an adorable outlook. This lands her as one of the most popular rare villagers, and the most popular octopus variation. 

Being the only girl octopus may seem lonely. But she’s got the perfect personality to have lots of friends!

With a normal personality, she gets along with most of her neighbors with ease. She’s sweet and well-mannered. You’ll find yourself warming up to her even more in time!

Zucker

Adorable Zucker having an emotional moment.

Another octopus from the group is Zucker. He's a takoyaki themed octopus with a lazy personality (fitting for someone made of fried dough. He's another one of fan favorite characters, partially having to do with his striking and unique visuals.

Due to his personality, Zucker is easy to get along with, for both the player and his neighbors. He’s fascinated with food and loves relaxing activities. He’ll bring his love for life to your island, along with his snacks.

You’ll also see him sporting watery eyes often due to his cute behavior. He might get emotional over his favorite snacks, or simply for your player being his friend!

Cephalobot

Robo octo welcoming the beautiful day with open arms.

Cephalobot is the not-so-average member of the octopus group. Sure, he’s an octopus, but his robot look sets him apart from his aquatic brethren. On top of this, his name is a play on words, combining cephalopod and robot. What name could be more fitting?

Some may consider him to be part of the non-animal “species” that includes robots, food-themed, or material animals. Even if non-animals counted, there are so few that they’re close by on the rarest groups.

We think he deserves to be part of the octopi still, since this is exactly how Nintendo groups them for your searching.

Cephalobot is sought after not only for his rarity, but also because he brings a completely different vibe to the island. His metallic sci-fi look might be exactly what your island needs to complete it thematically. 

Octavian

Octavian performing an evening song in the plaza.

Octavian is a gruff octopus that brings vibrance to your island. He’s rocking a black tee and red skin which helps him stand out from the mostly cute villagers.

Unlike other octopi, he has a cranky personality, which means that he’s more likely to be at odds with other villagers. You might have been able to guess, though, from the big frown plastered on his face. He’s really a sweetheart deep down and will share his special memories and advice with close friends.

If you're looking for a fun and sassy villager who's a bit of a troublemaker, Octavian is the perfect fit for you - that is, if you can find him!

Sanrio Characters

Roll call for Sanrio characters in ACNH!

Some of the villagers in Animal Crossing:New Horizons aren't readily available - you need to scan their amiibo cards, which are purchased separately. One of these card packs is a collaboration with Sanrio and the villagers you can get from it are themed after some of the most popular Sanrio characters.

With this information, it's understandable why villagers obtained from amiibo cards would be rare - they are simply not part of the base game and you need a physical product to incorporate them into your experience.
Below we’ll go through all of the villagers that are obtainable from Sanrio amiibo card packs and see why they are so popular and sought after by the fans.

Marty

This cute yellow bear loves his pudding theme.

Marty is a bear villager, based on the design of Pompompurin. Aside from his clothes and home, even his base appearance is most similar to the character he's based off: a yellow dog with brown accents and beret. Just to make extra sure you don’t forget who it is, his shirt also features the character's face.

His home features Pompompurin’s love of pudding particularly, with furniture painted to resemble it. You'll get hungry from the chocolate everywhere and the checkerboard biscuit floor. But you might lose that hunger once you realize what rug you’re stepping on!

Chelsea

Have you heard of Chelsea, the deer in bunny's clothing?

Chelsea is a deer villager who is based on My Melody. Because of this, her main color scheme is beautiful pastel pink and white, accentuated by a head of green hair. Funnily enough, since she’s a deer based on a bunny, she’s got a bunny-ear headband on top of her real ears!

Chelsea's house is even more pink and features the image of My Melody prominently. Some of the most liked pieces of furniture you can get from her are the rocking chair with bunny ears and large pink My Melody rug!

Toby

Toby using his showmanship to show off his home.

Toby is a rabbit villager based off of Keroppi. This can be seen through his catchphrase, “ribbit,” and the prominence of color green in his design. He even wears the same tank top as him.

Toby's house is very green, starting with the walls ending with the furniture and tiny details of the interior, but also features beautiful tones that work wonderfully to contrast green.

While you can see Keroppi’s cartoonish eyes peeking everywhere in his house, his furniture is some of the most toned-down and loved. With a red zen bridge over a pond, backdrop hallways, and stone lantern, they’re the most widely used pieces for a Japanese themed island.

Etoile

The starry sheep Etoile in full pastel power.

Etoile is a sheep villager, whose appearance and design is based on Sanrio characters Kiki and Lala. She is a pink and purple sheep with small stars and gold accents. She loves to sing and get along with other villagers quite well.

Like others in this group, she also arrives in a home themed after the Little Twin Stars. Visiting her house may feel like any normally attainable villager at first. 

Besides the large rug with a picture of the actual Kiki and Lala. Everything is soft pastels with stars and stripes. It’s the perfect place to relax in a big, soft bed!

It’s also said that she has a twin to match with her inspiration. Who knows when we’ll get to see him?

Chai

The cutest blend of Dumbo and Sanrio in ACNH.

Chai is an adorable elephant villager with a pink teacup on her head. This is exactly where her name comes from. She’s got baby blue porcelain skin and white hair that truly makes her look delicate.

Chai is themed after Cinnamoroll. This means that in her house you’ll also find designs with his face. It’s a soft compliment to her matching colors. It even gives you the feeling of being in a simple cafe.

If she couldn’t get any more cute, she loves to say, “flap flap.” It’s a reference to the big-eared inspiration Cinnamoroll, who uses his ears to fly!

Rilla

Say hello to this kitty-cosplaying gorilla!

Rilla is the less popular villager of the bunch, even though she's based on Sanrio’s most popular and recognized character - Hello Kitty. She is a gorilla with a hello kitty shirt and a red bow. She has a peppy personality and is a wonderful villager to brighten your island.

Her home interior is more referential than others, featuring furniture that's quite straightforwardly copying the silhouette of Hello Kitty to make it more iconic. She also has a twin sister like Hello Kitty. I’m still waiting to see the full Sanrio gang come out for me to fill my island!

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