How to Become Best Friends with Villagers in Animal…

The animals that serve as players' neighbors have always been an important part of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Animal Crossing as a whole. Because of their presence, players have grown very attached to these adorable animals and may find themselves considering these virtual neighbors as friends.

Inside Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a hidden friendship mechanic within all villagers residing on players' islands. This is measured through Friendship Points and Favor Levels. Villagers start out with 25 friendship points after they are completely moved into players' islands and they max out at 255.

There are six favor levels that are based on the number of friendship points players have with their villager. They are:

Favor Level 1 (Friends) - 0-29 Points
Favor Level 2 (Friends) - 30-59 Points
Favor Level 3 (Good Friends) - 60-99 Points
Favor Level 4 (Good Friends) - 100-149 Points
Favor Level 5 (Best Friends) - 150-199 Points
Favor Level 6 (Best Friends) - 200-255 Points

Animal Crossing Agnes and Teddy — Animal Crossing New Horizons Agnes and Teddy

The different favor levels determine what players are able to do with that specific villager. Level 1 villagers can give players presents, but that's about it. Level 2 villagers allow players to give villagers in-person gifts once per day. Level 3 villagers can sell an item to players and give players a nickname. Level 4 villagers can have their catchphrase changed by the player. Level 5 villagers will give players their portrait as well as give players the ability to change their greeting. Level 6 villagers can buy expensive items off players or trade rare items.

How to Increase Friendship Points

Greeting the villager once per day (1 Point)
Selling an item to a villager when asked to (1 Point)
Catching a flea off of a villager (5 Points)
Daily Gifts (Variable)
Birthday Gifts (Variable)
Quests (3 Points if completed successfully)
Mood Conversations (3 Points if answered correctly)

Players should not push villagers or hit them with a net until they are angry, as this will take away 3 points.

Daily Gifts

Flowers, Fish, Insects, Tools, Love Crystals, Favorite Music, Umbrellas (except for frog villagers), and clothing of favorite color or style (2 Points)
Furniture (3 Points)
Umbrellas (for frog villagers), non-preferred clothing, etc items (1 Point)
Trash (-2 Points)

Players should note that wrapping gifts automatically increases the gift's friendship points by 1.

Birthday Gifts

Every villager has their own unique birthday. When it is upcoming, players will see an announcement on the island's bulletin board about it. There are multiple levels of birthday gift and how many friendship points it will give.

Level 0 - Trash, Lost Items, Weeds, and Spoiled Turnips (-5 Points)
Level 1 - Mushrooms, Shells, Bugs, Fish, and Fossils that sell for 500 bells or less and any other items that sell for 125 bells or less. (3 Points + 1 if wrapped)
Level 2 - Mushrooms, Shells, Bugs, Fish, and Fossils that sell for 501-1999 bells and other items that sell for 126-499 bells. (4 Points + 2 if wrapped)
Level 3 - Mushrooms, Shells, Bugs, Fish, and Fossils that sell for 2000 bells or more, any other item that sells for 500 bells or more, Cake, Turnips, Fruits, Items already owned or worn by the villager, and clothes currently being worn by the player when the gift is given. (5 Points + 3 if wrapped)

After becoming best friends with a villager, players will get a picture of the villager that can be displayed as a furniture item.