Ever found yourself staring at a stubborn patch of ground in Animal Crossing, wishing you had the right tool to dig up that buried fossil or plant that perfect flower? You’re not alone! The humble shovel is an indispensable item for any island resident, unlocking a world of possibilities from gardening to treasure hunting.
But how exactly do you get your hands on this essential tool? Crafting a shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a fundamental skill that every player needs to master early on. Don’t worry, it’s a straightforward process, and we’re here to guide you step-by-step. Let’s get digging!
Unearthing the Shovel: Your First Steps
The journey to crafting your first shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons begins with Tom Nook and the early stages of island development. Unlike some other tools that can be purchased or obtained later, the shovel recipe is usually one of the first you’ll unlock, paving the way for significant island progression.
Getting the Diy Recipe
Your initial shovel recipe is typically given to you by Tom Nook as part of the introductory island setup. After you’ve settled into your tent and received your NookPhone, Tom Nook will guide you through various tasks. One of these involves gathering resources to craft essential items for your new island life. The shovel DIY recipe is usually part of this starter pack. If you somehow missed it or are playing a version where it’s unlocked differently, keep an eye out for Nook’s Nook Miles redemption options or potential DIY card messages from villagers.
The First Shovel: A Sturdy Companion
The very first shovel you craft will be the Flimsy Shovel. While not the most durable, it’s perfect for your initial digging needs. It allows you to unearth fossils, plant saplings, and dig up buried items. Think of it as your trusty sidekick during the early game. Its recipe is simple, requiring only basic materials that you’ll quickly gather.
Materials Needed for the Flimsy Shovel
To craft the Flimsy Shovel, you’ll need the following:
- 3 x Iron Nuggets
- 1 x Hardwood
Iron Nuggets are a common resource found by hitting rocks on your island with a stone axe or shovel. You’ll typically find one to three nuggets per rock. Hardwood is obtained by chopping down trees with a stone axe or axe. Remember, you can only get resources from a rock if it hasn’t been depleted recently and if you’re not standing too close to it when you hit it.
Crafting Your Flimsy Shovel
Once you have the required materials, you can craft the Flimsy Shovel at a DIY workbench. If you don’t have one yet, Tom Nook will often provide you with the recipe for a basic workbench early on, which you can then build using 30 x Wood, 30 x Softwood, and 30 x Clump of Weeds. Place your workbench somewhere accessible, interact with it, and select the Flimsy Shovel recipe. Your new tool will be ready in no time! (See Also: how to get flimsy shovel animal crossing)
Upgrading Your Digging Power: Beyond the Flimsy Shovel
As you progress in Animal Crossing, you’ll quickly realize that the Flimsy Shovel has a limited lifespan. It breaks after a certain number of uses, prompting the need for an upgrade. Fortunately, there are several more durable and specialized shovels to craft, each offering distinct advantages.
The Standard Shovel: Durability and Reliability
The next step up from the Flimsy Shovel is the Shovel. This is your workhorse tool, offering significantly more durability. It’s the go-to for everyday digging tasks and will serve you well for a long time before it eventually breaks.
Materials Needed for the Shovel
To craft the standard Shovel, you’ll need:
- 1 x Shovel Head (DIY)
- 1 x Iron Nugget
The Shovel Head DIY is a separate recipe that you’ll also need to acquire. This recipe is usually obtained from the Nook’s Cranny shop once it’s upgraded. You can purchase it for Bells. The single Iron Nugget is easy enough to find. Once you have both the DIY recipe for the Shovel Head and the materials, head to your workbench.
Crafting the Shovel
With the Shovel Head DIY recipe learned and the materials in hand, you can craft the standard Shovel at any DIY workbench. This is a significant upgrade in terms of longevity and a worthwhile investment of your resources.
The Golden Shovel: The Ultimate Digging Tool
For the truly dedicated islanders, the Golden Shovel is the ultimate prize. This tool boasts incredible durability, meaning it will last for an exceptionally long time, and it even has a special bonus: it can grow money trees!
How to Obtain the Golden Shovel Diy Recipe
The Golden Shovel DIY recipe is not obtained through simple material gathering. It requires a bit more dedication and a specific achievement within the game: (See Also: how much to shovel a driveway)
- Achieve the ‘Excellent’ Rating for Your Island: This is the primary requirement. To get an ‘Excellent’ island rating, you need to focus on attracting villagers, decorating your island with furniture and items, planting plenty of flowers and trees, and keeping your island clean (no weeds!). Isabella will give you feedback on your island rating during her daily announcements or when you speak to her at Resident Services.
- Speak to Isabelle: Once your island reaches an ‘Excellent’ rating, Isabelle will announce that you’ve achieved it. She will then reveal the Golden Shovel DIY recipe during her announcement or, if you miss it, you can usually find it by talking to her directly.
Materials Needed for the Golden Shovel
The Golden Shovel is a premium tool, and its crafting materials reflect that:
- 1 x Shovel Head (DIY)
- 1 x Gold Nugget
You’ll need the Shovel Head DIY again, along with a Gold Nugget. Gold Nuggets are rarer than Iron Nuggets and are typically found by hitting a special ‘money rock’ that appears on your island once a day, or through other rarer island events and villager gifts.
Crafting the Golden Shovel
With the Golden Shovel DIY recipe learned and the materials gathered, you can craft this legendary tool at your DIY workbench. The satisfaction of crafting and using the Golden Shovel is immense, and its durability makes it an invaluable asset for all your future island endeavors.
Tools and Techniques: Maximizing Your Shovel’s Potential
Understanding how to craft shovels is just the beginning. To truly master your island life, you’ll want to know how to use them effectively and how to deal with their eventual demise.
Using Your Shovel
Your shovel can be used for a variety of tasks:
- Digging Up Fossils: Look for spots on the ground with a star-shaped crack. Use your shovel to dig them up. These are crucial for completing your museum collection.
- Planting Flowers and Trees: Dig holes with your shovel to prepare planting spots. You can then plant flower seeds, saplings, or even trees.
- Burying Items: You can bury items in the ground, including Bell bags to grow money trees (with the Golden Shovel), or to hide items for later.
- Moving Trees and Flowers: If you hold down the ‘A’ button while standing next to a tree or flower and have your shovel equipped, you can dig it up and replant it elsewhere.
- Digging Up Buried Treasure: Occasionally, you’ll see a sparkle on the ground. Digging this up with your shovel will reveal a bag of Bells, or sometimes a buried item.
When Your Shovel Breaks
All shovels, except for the Golden Shovel (which has incredibly high durability), will eventually break. When this happens, you’ll need to craft a new one. This is why having a steady supply of crafting materials like Iron Nuggets and Hardwood is essential. Keep an eye on your tool durability indicator, and when a tool is close to breaking, consider crafting a replacement before it does.
Tool Durability and Maintenance
The lifespan of your tools is a key consideration in Animal Crossing. Here’s a quick rundown: (See Also: how to keep snow from sticking to your shovel)
| Tool | Approximate Uses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flimsy Shovel | ~20-30 uses | Good for early game. |
| Shovel | ~100 uses | Reliable workhorse. |
| Golden Shovel | ~200+ uses (very high) | Can grow money trees. |
To ensure you always have a working shovel, it’s wise to keep a small stockpile of materials or even a few spare shovels in your inventory or home storage. This way, you’re never caught off guard when a tool breaks mid-dig.
Customizing Your Shovel
Once you’ve unlocked the Customization Workshop at Resident Services (after upgrading from a tent to a house), you can customize the color of your shovels (and other tools) using Customization Kits. This is a purely cosmetic feature, but it allows you to personalize your tools to match your island’s aesthetic or your personal preferences. You can buy Customization Kits from Nook’s Cranny.
Where to Find More Shovel Recipes
While the Flimsy Shovel and standard Shovel recipes are typically given to you or easily found, the Golden Shovel recipe is tied to an achievement. Keep playing, focusing on island development and villager interaction, and you’ll naturally progress towards unlocking more advanced DIY recipes. Sometimes, villagers will teach you new recipes directly, so chat with them often!
The Importance of Tools in Island Progression
Tools like the shovel are not just for convenience; they are integral to your island’s development. Without the ability to dig up fossils, you can’t complete the museum. Without the ability to dig holes, you can’t plant the flowers and trees that beautify your island and attract certain bugs and birds. The shovel is a gateway to so many activities that make Animal Crossing a rich and engaging experience. Mastering how to craft and maintain them ensures smooth sailing on your island paradise.
Conclusion
Crafting a shovel in Animal Crossing is a fundamental skill that unlocks a vast amount of gameplay. From the basic Flimsy Shovel to the ultimate Golden Shovel, each tool offers unique benefits and durability. By understanding the recipes, gathering the necessary materials, and utilizing your DIY workbench, you’ll be well-equipped to dig, plant, and unearth all the treasures your island has to offer.
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