Oh, so you really want the best of the best. While there are 417 villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there is certainly an elite group that many players want to seek out. These are known as the S-tier villagers.
What does S-tier mean?
In gaming, it is the highest classification in a ranking system, representing the “best of the best,” superior, or exceptional, sitting above A-tier. These are the unicorns of the game who everyone wants. I think almost every island has at least 1-2 of these villagers, just because they are too freaking cool or cute or awesome to not have. Even those who prefer the underrated villagers have felt the desire to at least encounter them. To be in their presence feels like an honor. Is this all dramatic enough for you? Okay, let’s get into it.
15 Most Popular Males
#1: Bob
How about we start from the very beginning with villager 001?! YES, if you didn’t know, Bob is the very first Animal Crossing villager created and he has been an S Tier villager for over two decades. Everyone knows and loves Bob. He’s a cool purple cat, for crying outloud. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are red and colorful, his catchphrase is “pthhpth,” and he has the play hobby.
He is a cat villager, which means he can be considered a rare villager, due to the fact that there are 23 total cats in the species. This mean you’d have a 1 in 23 chance to roll Bob on a hunt (AFTER first rolling for the species itself).
#2: Marshal
To know him is to love him. I know some people say Marshal is overrated and honestly… no. He’s not. He’s a fluffy little marshmallow bean and he has a heart of gold and deserves all the flowers and MORE. A few fun facts: he has a smug personality, his favorite colors are blue and aqua, his catchphrase is “sulky,” and he has the music hobby.
There are 21 total squirrel villagers (though Viche and Cece can only be added via amiibo), which means you have a 1 in 19 chance to roll Marshal.
#3: Stitches
Stitches is the mayor of kidcore (a highly popular theme) and is very much loved. He is equal parts creepy and cute and a fan favorite for those who love the colorful and bright villagers. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are colorful and white, his catchphrase is “stuffin’,” and he has the play hobby.
There are 17 total bear cub villagers (minus Marty because he can only be added via amiibo), which means you have a 1 in 16 chance to roll Stitches.
#4: Raymond
Raymond was a hot commodity for a long while when he was first released. People were dishing out a lot of bells and money for him. FUN FACT: He is the only smug cat villager! This always surprises me because cats are the very definition of smug. We need more of them. A few fun facts: he has a smug personality, his favorite colors are black and gray, his catchphrase is “crisp,” and he has the nature hobby (shocking.. I would picture education).
There are 23 total cat villagers, which means you have a 1 in 23 chance to roll Raymond.
#5: Lucky
The mummy design is so unique and specific that Lucky has been a long time favorite in this fandom. He is also such a freaking cutie once you meet him. It’s hard not to love him. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are beige and white, his catchphrase is “rrr-owch,” and he has the play hobby.
There are 17 total dog villagers, which means you have a 1 in 17 chance to roll Lucky.
#6: Sasha
Sasha is often mistaken to be female but nope! He is just a really awesome feminine male villager and we love him so much for it. This is what we call baby girl. Beautiful colors and design. He is the only male villager with the fashion hobby and he prefers the ~cute~ style. Zero notes. Perfection. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are blue and white, his catchphrase is “hoppity,” and he has the fashion hobby.
There are 22 total rabbit villagers, which means you have a 1 in 22 chance to roll Sasha.
#7: Sherb
Sherb always remains at the top of the popularity list due to his lazy and sweet personality and really soft and cutesy design. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are gray and blue, his catchphrase is “bawwww,” and he has the nature hobby.
And good news! Sherb isn’t too rare! There are only 8 total goat villagers, which means you have a 1 in 8 chance to roll Sherb.
#8: Zucker
I think Zucker might be the most popular octopus villager (aside from Marina in the female section). His unique and eye-catching design is what makes him a fan fave. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are blue and yellow, his catchphrase is “bloop,” and he has the nature hobby.
The octopus species is actually one of the “easiest” species to get exactly who you want. This is because there are only 4 in the species. Once you roll the species, you have a 1 in 4 chance of getting Zucker.
#9: Roald
When people want a penguin, they want Roald. He’s just that guy. He’s got the sweet large eyes and a nice color. A few fun facts: he has a jock personality, his favorite colors are red and yellow, his catchphrase is “b-b-buddy,” and he has the fitness hobby.
There are 14 total penguin villagers, which means you have a 1 in 14 chance to roll Roald.
#10: Beau
Beau is as baby as it gets. That, or people consider him the “deer that looks high.” Whatever way you think of him, he had made a big impression on players and many of us want him! I’ve had him on and off throughout the years and I always gift him a tie-dye shirt and make him the resident hippie who grows vegetables. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are beige and orange, his catchphrase is “saltlick,” and he has the nature hobby.
There are 13 total deer villagers (but you can only roll 11 since Chelsea and Mineru are amiibo only) which means you have a 1 in 11 chance to roll Beau.
#11: Punchy
Punchy has been popular since the very beginning. He just has that classic nostalgia feel! His design is really cute and lazy is a popular personality, especially for a cat. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are blue and aqua, his catchphrase is “mrmpht,” and he has the play hobby.
There are 23 total cat villagers, which means you have a 1 in 23 chance to roll Punchy.
#12: Henry
Smug little Henry. People love him so much. I would say he is the most popular male frog (while Lily would be the most popular female). A few fun facts: he has a smug personality, his favorite colors are aqua and blue, his catchphrase is “snoozit,” and he has the music hobby.
There are 18 total frog villagers, which means you have a 1 in 18 chance to roll Henry.
#13: Julian
He is the unicorn of the game and that alone is why he makes the S tier list. We all freaking love unicorns, especially ones as fabulous as Julian. A few fun facts: he has a smug personality, his favorite colors are purple and blue, his catchphrase is “glitter,” and he has the music hobby.
There are 15 total horse villagers, which means you have a 1 in 15 chance to roll Julian.
#14: Apollo
Apollo is THAT eagle villager. The one that everyone loves and yells about. He is regal and cranky and awesome. A few fun facts: he has a cranky personality, his favorite color is black, his catchphrase is “pah,” and he has the music hobby.
There are 10 total eagle villagers, which means you have a 1 in 10 chance to roll Apollo. Not too bad.
#15: Erik
This is a deer villager who is a MOOSE, so if you are wondering why he is on the S tier list, just read the start of this sentence again. Erik is a hugely popular villager due to his unique and warm design. He also fits perfectly on forestcore and cottagecore island themes, which are two of the most popular themes. He’s got a lot going for himself. A few fun facts: he has a lazy personality, his favorite colors are beige and red, his catchphrase is “chow down,” and he has the nature hobby.
There are 13 total deer villagers (but you can only roll 11 since Chelsea and Mineru are amiibo only) which means you have a 1 in 11 chance to roll Erik.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to a Cottagecore Island
15 Most Popular Females
#1: Molly
Molly is THAT duck. The one that everyone is always talking about and wanting to find on their villager hunts. Let’s be honest… she is a perfectly classic duck with beautiful warm coloring, a kind face, and gentle nature. She is actually my favorite villager (along with Bea) and I can say with certainty that you’ll fall in love immediately. She’s also a cottagecore queen. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are yellow and brown, her catchphrase is “quackidee,” and she has the nature hobby.
There are 17 total duck villagers, which means you have a 1 in 17 chance to roll Molly. If you find her, TAKE her.
#2: Lolly
Lolly is one of the most popular cat villagers in the game and I highly suspect that is due to her soft coloring, normal personality, and sweet face. She also sings soooo sweetly! A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are gray and pink, her catchphrase is “bonbon,” and she has the music hobby.
There are 23 total cat villagers, which means you have a 1 in 23 chance to roll Lolly. If you come across Lolly on a villager hunt, consider her a unicorn.
#3: Maple
Maple is probably the most classically sweet and cute villager design in the game. She is perfection with her bangs, rosy cheeks, gorgeous coloring, and kind eyes. She is also the queen of cottagecore and forestcore, which gives her a big edge. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are green and white, her catchphrase is “honey,” and she has the education hobby.
There are 17 total bear cub villagers (minus Marty because he can only be added via amiibo), which means you have a 1 in 16 chance to roll Maple.
#4: Fauna
Fauna is the prettiest deer in all the lands. Her natural and warm design is so aesthetically pleasing! Like Maple and Molly, she is also a big cottagecore fan favorite, so you will find her on may of those islands. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are beige and white, her catchphrase is “dearie,” and she has the nature hobby.
There are 13 total deer villagers (but you can only roll 11 since Chelsea and Mineru are amiibo only) which means you have a 1 in 11 chance to roll Fauna.
#5: Ankha
Ankha is a love letter to all the ancient history buffs. Her design is simply AWESOME and she feels highly exclusive and a little intimidating, right? And as a cat villager, she can be hard to come by. A few fun facts: she has a snooty personality, her favorite colors are colorful and brown, her catchphrase is “me meow,” and she has the nature hobby.
There are 23 total cat villagers, which means you have a 1 in 23 chance to roll Ankha.
#6: Rosie
Rosie is nostalgia. As a original Animal Crossing villager, she was one of the very first popular cats and continues to be! Her bubbly and bright design is really popular with young players and the girlies. A few fun facts: she has a peppy personality, her favorite colors are red and pink, her catchphrase is “silly,” and she has the music hobby.
There are 23 total cat villagers, which means you have a 1 in 23 chance to roll Rosie.
#7: Ione
Ione is one of the most popular newer villagers, most likely due to her unique celestial design. Her tail is so eye-catching and her coloring is really soft. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are white and black, her catchphrase is “gleam,” and she has the fashion hobby.
There are 21 total squirrel villagers (though Viche and Cece can only be added via amiibo), which means you have a 1 in 19 chance to roll Ione.
#8: Shino
Shino entered the chat and people lost their minds. For a deer, her design is highly unique and the horns are a big draw for players. She feels fresh and chic. She works so well on zen islands, which is a popular theme! A few fun facts: she has a peppy personality, her favorite colors are red and black, her catchphrase is “okaaay,” and she has the education hobby.
There are 13 total deer villagers (but you can only roll 11 since Chelsea and Mineru are amiibo only) which means you have a 1 in 11 chance to roll Shino.
9: Coco
Coco!! Her design is based on a gyroid (queen of all gyroids) and feels equal parts creepy and endearing. You either love her or you hate her. I am very much in the LOE YOU SO MUCH camp. Her coloring is so earthy and aesthetic. She’s very popular on cottagecore island. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are green and beige, her catchphrase is “doyoing,” and she has the education hobby.
There are 22 total rabbit villagers, which means you have a 1 in 22 chance to roll Coco.
#10: Judy
People are so drawn to her unique celestial design, cutesy eyes, and beautiful coloring. I can see why! She is very dreamy! For fans of a dreamy/pastel island vibe, she is a must-have. This is one snooty villager who has a kind face, which is important to some players who may not like that personality. A few fun facts: she has a snooty personality, her favorite colors are pink and white, her catchphrase is “myohmy,” and she has the music hobby.
There are 17 total bear cub villagers (minus Marty because he can only be added via amiibo), which means you have a 1 in 16 chance to roll Judy.
#11: Audie
Audie is the only peppy wolf and people are crazy about her. The sunglasses on her head are unique, which may be one feature players are drawn to and her design is also very bold and beautiful, especially for tropical or beachy themes. A few fun facts: she has a peppy personality, her favorite colors are green and white, her catchphrase is “foxtrot,” and she has the fitness hobby.
There are 11 total wolf villagers, which means you have a 1 in 11 chance to roll Audie.
#12: Goldie
Goldie is an iconic dog villager who could be the face of the game. That’s how well-known and loved she is. I think a lot of people love her because they love their golden retrievers. What a joy to have around. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are yellow and orange, her catchphrase is “woof,” and she has the nature hobby.
There are 17 total dog villagers, which means you have a 1 in 17 chance to roll Goldie.
#13: Merry
Merry is absolutely one of the most popular peppy villagers. I think she is very loved by younger players or fans who love her for nostalgia. She is so cutesy and twee. A few fun facts: she has a peppy personality, her favorite colors are pink and aqua, her catchphrase is “mweee,” and she has the fashion hobby.
There are 23 total cat villagers, which means you have a 1 in 23 chance to roll Merry.
#14: Marina
She is a cutesy pink octopus and if that alone isn’t reason for her to be popular, I don’t know what to tell you. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are pink and red, her catchphrase is “blurp,” and she has the music hobby.
Like Zucker, Marina is also considered “easier” to find. This is because there are only 4 in the species. Once you roll the species, you have a 1 in 4 chance of getting Marina.
#15: Merengue
Merengue has such a unique and creative design as a strawberry shortcake rhino. For this reason alone, players are absolutely smitten with her. A few fun facts: she has a normal personality, her favorite colors are white and red, her catchphrase is “shortcake,” and she has the nature hobby.
She may not be too hard to find. There are 7 total rhino villagers, which means you have a 1 in 7 chance to roll Merengue.
