Best Practices for Mystery Islands

You're spending 12, 000 Bells to go on each Nook Island Tour to a mystery island, so your goal should be to bring back as much as you possibly can to make the most of the trip! I learned to make the most of these tickets by sticking to the following routine:

1. Only bring your tools.

Before leaving your island, empty your pockets of everything except your tools (minus your watering can). Make sure you have an iron axe for chopping trees!

2. Run around the island shaking trees.

There's almost always a furniture item hiding in the trees on a mystery island tour, which is a huge bonus. But, it's also a good idea to shake trees before you chop them down in case there are wasps! So, remember to keep your net at hand.

3. Chop down all (or most) trees.

I like to use the iron axe for this so I have the ability to control how many trees/stumps I have laying around. Pro tip: get rid of all trees/stumps but one to force better bugs to spawn (Atlas moths, scorpions, stags, beetles).

4. If the fruit is a sister fruit, take it all.

Sister fruits will sell for 500 Bells EACH. You can stack them up to 10 in your pockets, meaning each slot is 5000 Bells.

5. Check the beach for a DIY Recipe in a bottle!

I can't remember the last time I didn't find a message bottle on a mystery island, so be sure to check the beach-- and learn the DIY Recipe so it doesn't take up a spot in your inventory.

6. Catch fish and bugs!

Initially, I like to fill my pockets with fish/bugs that can be sold for 1000 Bells or more (Check the Critterpedia Guide pages to verify what critters can be sold for). I then continue catching critters and swap the higher priced items for the lower priced ones that I already had in my inventory.

7. Look around for a fossil!

Occasionally, there will be a fossil on your mystery island! It could very well be the one your island's museum is missing...

8. Talk to the animal that might be on the mystery island with you!

Do some research on the animal and see if they are worth inviting to your island! Remember not to invite just anyone-- there is no limit to how many mystery islands you can go to in a day!