If you’ve spent hours wandering the lush meadows and sparkling riverbanks of Infinity Nikki, you’ve probably already heard rumors of the elusive Tulletail. This fluffy, rainbow-tailed critter is one of the most sought-after rare spawns in the game, and many players hit walls trying to track it down without the right info. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I wasted 12 hours total running around random riverbanks before I figured out the right method, so you don’t have to. I spent three weekends testing every method I could find to figure out how to catch Tulletail in Infinity Nikki, so I’m breaking down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and what you can skip to save time. You don’t need high-level gear or premium items to get it, either—you just need to know when and where to look, and what to bring with you.
How to Catch Tulletail in Infinity Nikki: Pre-Catch Preparation
Before you even head out to look for Tulletail, you need to get a few key items and settings sorted first, otherwise you’ll be waiting around for nothing. Tulletail is extremely skittish, and it will only approach players who meet very specific conditions, so skip any of these steps and you’ll almost certainly leave empty-handed. I made the mistake of showing up with regular fruit bait the first two times, and I didn’t see a single Tulletail spawn even after waiting two in-game days.
Before you head out to hunt Tulletail, make sure you have these three items checked off your list:
- Whispering Lure, unlocked from the "River Wishes" side quest in Sunflower Plains (you can't catch Tulletail with standard bait, no matter how lucky you are)
- Silent Walk status, either from the Quiet Footwear accessory or the 10-minute buff you can buy from the forest merchant for 50 flower coins
- In-game time set to dusk or early dawn (between 6PM and 8AM), when Tulletail leaves its burrow to feed on riverbank berries
The "River Wishes" side quest is super simple, even for brand new players. All you have to do is collect three blue river lilies for the old lady NPC near the Sunflower Plains fast travel point, and she’ll hand you the lure as a reward. It takes 15 minutes max to complete, so don’t try to skip this step, it’s non-negotiable.
Top Tulletail Spawn Spots You Can Reach Early Game
Not all riverbanks are equal when it comes to Tulletail spawns, and some spots have way higher spawn rates than others, especially for players who haven’t unlocked late-game areas yet. I tested 11 different rumored spawn spots across the map, and these three had the highest consistent spawn rates by far.
The best spot for new players is the northern riverbank of Sunflower Plains, just east of the broken windmill. There are no high-level enemies around this area, and the Tulletail spawn rate sits around 30% per in-game hour, which is the highest of any early-game location. You’ll know the spot is active if you see small glowing blue berries growing along the edge of the water. If there are no berries, fast travel to the nearest waypoint and come back, or switch to a different server to reset the spawn.
The second best spot is the Crystal Lake shore in the Dewdrop Forest, but you have to clear the small goblin camp nearby first. The noise from their fighting will stop Tulletail from spawning entirely, so take two minutes to take them out before you set up to wait. The spawn rate here is a little higher than the Sunflower Plains spot, around 35% per hour, but you have to be at least level 15 to take on the goblins without struggling. The third spot is the hidden cove on the west coast, but that’s only for mid-game players since you need the glider to reach it, and it has a lot of aggressive water enemies nearby.
Step-by-Step Catch Process Once You Spot a Tulletail
Once you see a Tulletail pop up near the water, don’t make the mistake of running straight at it, that’s the easiest way to scare it off before you even get close. Crouch immediately (hold the left stick if you’re on console, press C on PC) and move slowly towards it, keeping at least 10 feet away until you’re ready to cast your lure. If you get any closer before casting, it will bolt back to its burrow, and you’ll have to wait 20 in-game minutes for it to come back out.
When you’re in position, cast the Whispering Lure 1 to 2 feet in front of the Tulletail, not directly on top of it. Casting too close will also scare it off, so take an extra second to aim your cast properly. Wait for the Tulletail to sniff the lure three times—you’ll see little pink heart emojis pop up above its head each time it sniffs, so you’ll know exactly when it’s interested. Once you see the third heart, press the interact button once, don’t spam it. Spamming will make you fumble the lure and scare it off, and you’ll have to start all over.
If you do it right, you’ll get a short cutscene of the Tulletail hopping into your collection pouch, and it will be added to your critter collection permanently. I messed up the button press three times when I first started, so take it slow, you have plenty of time once the hearts show up. If the Tulletail does run away, don’t chase it. Just hide behind a nearby bush, wait 10 minutes, and it’ll usually come back out to the same spot.
Common Mistakes That Stop Tulletail From Spawning
Even if you follow all the steps above, there are a few small mistakes that can make Tulletail spawn rates drop to zero, and most players don’t even realize they’re doing them. I ran into almost all of these when I first started hunting, so I’m laying them out so you don’t have to learn the hard way.
The first big mistake is wearing outfits with loud sound effects. I wore the Parade March costume once, and I sat at the spawn spot for an hour with nothing showing up. Any outfit that plays music or has loud jingles when you walk will block the spawn entirely, so switch to a basic casual outfit if you’re not sure if your current look is too loud. The second mistake is having other players in your spawn area. If you’re in a co-op session, other players running around will scare all small critters away, so switch to a solo server if you’re hunting Tulletail.
Third, a lot of old guides say Tulletail spawns all day, but that’s only for the limited-time event version that was available last spring. The permanent spawn only shows up at dusk and dawn, so don’t waste your time waiting around at noon. Fourth, don’t kill the small berry rabbits near the spawn spot. Those rabbits are Tulletail’s friends, if you kill them, the spawn rate drops to 0 for two in-game days. I learned that the hard way when I was farming rabbit fur for a craft recipe, and I didn’t see a Tulletail for three days after that.
Catching this cute fluffy critter doesn't have to be a frustrating grind if you follow the steps we laid out. Once you know how to catch Tulletail in Infinity Nikki, you can even farm extra ones to trade for rare clothing recipes and furniture items with the forest collector. I now have four Tulletails in my collection, and I still stop by the Sunflower Plains spot every few days to grab an extra one when I need to trade for materials. Take your time, double check your prep list before you head out, and you'll have your first Tulletail before you know it.