Look, we’ve all been there. You see that shady trawler docked at the secret beach, you walk into the dimly lit interior with high hopes, and you hand over 4,980 Bells for a painting that turns out to be a total hunk of junk. Jolly Redd is a jerk. He’s a cousin who treats you like a stranger and a fox who treats you like a mark. But if you want to finish that museum wing, you have to play his game. This Animal Crossing Redd Guide is basically your survival manual for dealing with the shadiest fox in Nintendo history.
I’ve spent hundreds of hours staring at the pixelated brushstrokes of the Academic Painting trying to figure out if that coffee stain in the corner is supposed to be there. It’s exhausting. Blathers is picky, your Bells are limited, and Redd only shows up once in a blue moon—unless you’re time traveling or you’ve unlocked his permanent stall on Harv’s Island. Even then, the inventory rotates slowly. You can’t afford to mess this up.
Most people think it’s just about comparing the game’s art to real-world masterpieces like the Mona Lisa or the Girl with a Pearl Earring. That’s a start, but Nintendo got clever. Some fakes are haunted. Some change at night. Some have subtle "tells" that have nothing to do with the original art and everything to do with how the developers wanted to mess with your head. Let's get into how you actually win this fight.
Finding the Treasure Trawler and Unlocking the Art Gallery
You can’t just walk into the museum on day one and expect to see a gallery. It’s a process. First, you need to have donated at least 60 different items to the museum—fish, bugs, or fossils. Once you hit that milestone, Blathers will mention his desire to open an art exhibit. This is your trigger.
The next day, Isabelle will warn you about a "shady character" wandering the island. That’s Redd. Find him. Talk to him. He’ll try to sell you a painting for some ridiculous price like 498,000 Bells. Tell him no. He’ll "discount" it down to 4,980 Bells. Buy it. This first piece is always genuine, thank goodness. Give it to Blathers, and the museum expansion begins.
Once the gallery is open, Redd’s boat will randomly appear at your North Beach. Look for the little grey icon on your map. If you’ve progressed far enough to have the DLC or you’re visiting Harv’s Island, you can pay 100,000 Bells to set up his permanent shop. Honestly, do this as soon as possible. Waiting for the boat is a sucker’s game. On Harv’s Island, his inventory refreshes every Monday, but if you buy a piece (even a fake one), he’ll replace that slot with a new item the following day. It’s the fastest way to farm the 43 pieces required for a full collection.
How to Spot the Most Common Fakes
This is the core of any Animal Crossing Redd Guide. You need to know exactly what to look for because some of these differences are microscopic.
Take the Academic Painting (Vitruvian Man). In the real sketch by Leonardo da Vinci, there’s no stain. If Redd’s version has a circular coffee ring in the top right corner, it’s a fake. Don’t buy it unless you like haunted trash. Then there’s the Amazing Painting. The man in the center should be wearing a black hat. If he’s hatless? Fake.
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The Statues are Even Trickier
Statues are often the pride of the museum, but Redd loves to forge them. The Ancient Statue (Dogū) is a fan favorite because the fake version actually floats when you interact with it and its eyes glow blue at night. It’s cool, but Blathers won’t take it. The real one doesn't have antennae.
The Gallant Statue (David) is a nightmare for some. Check his right hand. If he’s clutching a book? Fake. He should be empty-handed. For the Valiant Statue (Nike of Samothrace), look at which leg is forward. The real one has the right leg leading. If the left leg is stepping out, leave it on the boat.
Paintings That Are Always Real
Sometimes Redd is actually honest. There are several pieces of art that have no counterfeit version in New Horizons. If you see these, buy them immediately:
- Calm Painting (A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte)
- Flowery Painting (Sunflowers)
- Glowing Painting (The Fighting Temeraire)
- Moody Painting (The Sower)
- Mysterious Painting (Isle of the Dead)
- Nice Painting (The Young Flautist)
- Proper Painting (A Bar at the Folies-Bergère)
- Warm Painting (The Clothed Maja)
- Worthy Painting (Liberty Leading the People)
Seeing one of these in the shop is a massive relief. No squinting, no Google searches, just a straight-up transaction.
The Haunted Art Mystery
This is where things get weird. Nintendo added "haunted" versions of certain fakes. These aren't just incorrect; they're possessed.
The Wistful Painting is the most famous example. The fake version has the girl’s eyes closed. But here’s the kicker: at night (usually around 6:00 PM), her eyes open. In the Scary Painting, the fake version features a man with eyebrows that curve up in a "mean" way. At night, his expression shifts, and he looks like he’s smiling.
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Even the Graceful Painting gets in on the action. The fake has a much larger woman occupying the frame, but at night, her silhouette appears on the back of the canvas if you display it as an item. It’s creepy. It’s weird. It’s exactly why people love this game. If you’re a completionist, you might actually want to buy these fakes just to decorate a "cursed" room in your house.
Dealing with the RNG and Inventory Grinds
Redd’s inventory is a mess of randomness. He brings four pieces of art and two pieces of furniture. Usually, at least one piece of art is genuine, but that’s not a hard rule. Sometimes all four are fakes. Sometimes—though it’s rare—you might get two or even three real pieces at once.
Since you can only buy one item per day, this creates a dilemma if you find multiple real items. This is where having a second player profile on your Switch becomes a tactical advantage. Log in as your secondary character, walk to the boat, and buy the second real piece. Boom. You just saved yourself weeks of waiting.
If you’re using the Harv’s Island method, remember the "trash" strategy. If Redd is displaying two fakes that you already know are fake, buy one anyway. It costs 4,980 Bells, which is pocket change by the time you're hitting the mid-game. By clearing that slot, you force the game to generate a new item for the next day. If you don't buy anything, those two fakes will sit there staring at you until the Monday reset. Don’t let them.
Spotting Fakes in the 2.0 Update
The 2.0 update didn’t just add the Harv’s Island plaza; it also made people realize just how many pieces they were missing. If you're looking for the Great Statue or the Wild Painting Right Half, prepare for a long haul. These seem to have lower spawn rates than the Common Painting.
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For the Wild Painting (the folding screens), look at the color of the creature. On the Left Half, the creature should be white. If it's green, it's fake. On the Right Half, the creature should be green. If it's white, it's fake. It’s a simple swap, but in the dim lighting of the trawler, it’s remarkably easy to mix them up.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
Don't just walk onto the boat blindly. Follow this checklist to make sure you aren't wasting your time or currency:
- Zoom in. Use the "Take a closer look" option. The camera will pan in tight. Use this to check for the small stuff—like whether the Moving Painting has trees in the background (it should) or if the Famous Painting has eyebrows that are way too arched (it shouldn't).
- Check the hands and eyes. These are the two places where the "fakers" in the Animal Crossing world mess up the most. If a statue is holding something it shouldn't, or a person’s eyes look "off," trust your gut.
- Buy the fakes you like. Not all fakes are bad. The fake Ancient Statue floats. The fake Informative Statue glows blue. These make incredible decorations for an island with a "space" or "supernatural" theme.
- Donate immediately. Don't let art sit in your storage. Take it straight to Blathers. If it’s real, he’ll take it. If it’s fake, he’ll give it back with a polite "I’m sorry, but this is a forgery."
- Use the "Trash" method on Harv's Island. Buy one junk item every day if you have to, just to cycle the inventory. It's the only way to beat the RNG.
Managing Redd is a marathon, not a sprint. You’re going to get burned eventually—everyone does. You’ll buy a Serene Painting thinking the ermine is the right color, only to realize its fur is gray instead of white. It happens. Just toss the fake in a trash can item (or give it to a villager you don't like) and wait for the next boat. Eventually, that gold trophy for the museum will be yours.