Friendship

The player waving at Pango.

In the Animal Crossing series, friendship is a measurement of how friendly the player is with a villager. Friendship is measured in a scale where positive represents friendship and negative represents dislike. Having a high friendship level can result in the player obtaining a picture of that villager (Wild World, New Leaf, and New Horizons only).

Improving Friendship

The player's friendship level can be increased by doing things that make them feel better, such as sending them presents or doing favors for them. Conversely, acting rudely toward the villager, such as by insulting them or neglecting to do the favors they request lowers friendship. Contrary to popular belief, abusing villagers with a net and other means of abuse does not lower the player's friendship with the villager. Instead, they are placed on the friendship ladder, remaining stationary until an act of kindness or negativity is done upon them.

Measuring

In Wild World

In Wild World, the player will receive a photo once they have good friendship with a villager.

In City Folk

When the player waves at a villager in City Folk, the villager responds in a way that indicates their friendship level. In order to wave at a villager, the player taps them with the Wii remote when they are about five spaces away from them. A villager who dislikes the player will ignore them or scowl, and a villager who is friends with the player will wave or bow back.

In New Leaf

In New Leaf, there are various indicators as to the level of friendship between the player and a villager. For example, villagers with a medium to high level of friendship will send presents to the player spontaneously, or even give them in person. Villagers with a very high level of friendship will visit the player's house unannounced, bring presents to the players house, and may even ask the player to bring them rare fish or bugs. Furthermore, villagers who feel friendly with the player will wave or bow when called using the megaphone. When a player reaches good friendship with a villager, they will receive a photo of said villager.

In New Horizons

In New Horizons, the player will earn Nook Miles for becoming good friends with three villagers. When a player reaches good friendship with a villager and gives them a gift, they are able to receive a photo of said villager in return.

Gallery

The following is a fan-made guide for friendship in New Horizons based on data-mined information. There are some changes made in version 1.4 that are outlined below:

1. 0 - 249 bells gift = +points based on gift given, no return gift

2. 250 - 750 bells selling price gift = +points based on gift given, +1 additional friendship point, return gift but pool always excludes photo; no additional points on return gift based on friendship level.

3. 750+ selling price gift = +points based on gift given, return gift and can include photo, +points on return gift based on friendship level.

4. 250+ selling price gift but full inventory afterwards (Fruit Stack Trick) = +points based on gift given, return gift mailed to you next day and can include photo, +points on return gift based on friendship level

Players used to be able to farm infinite friendship points by constantly giving villagers wrapped bells, but this has been patched in the current version.

Villager photo

Trivia

• Wild World, New Leaf, and New Horizons are the only games to reward players for good friendship.