Animal Crossing How to Get Shovel: Animal Crossing: How…

So, you’ve just landed on your very own deserted island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and you’re itching to start digging! But wait, where’s the shovel? It’s one of the most fundamental tools you’ll need for everything from planting flowers to unearthing fossils and burying your hard-earned Bells. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there, staring at the rich soil, wishing for that trusty digging implement.

Getting your hands on a shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a surprisingly straightforward process, but it does involve a little progression through the early game. This guide will walk you through exactly how to acquire your first shovel, and then how to upgrade to an even more durable version, ensuring you can get back to shaping your island paradise without delay.

Getting Your First Shovel: The Flimsy Shovel

Your island adventure begins with the basics, and that includes your first set of tools. In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, your initial shovel is the Flimsy Shovel. You won’t have it right away when you first arrive, but it’s unlocked very early in your island life.

Here’s the step-by-step process to get your hands on it:

1. Arrive on Your Island: Once you’ve completed the initial cutscenes and are free to roam your new island, Tom Nook will guide you through some introductory tasks.
2. Gather Wood: Tom Nook will ask you to gather resources to craft your first tent. You’ll need to find trees and shake them to get Branches. You’ll also need to find rocks and hit them with a tool (you’ll get a temporary axe for this) to get Iron Nuggets.
3. Craft the Flimsy Shovel DIY Recipe: After gathering the necessary materials for your tent, Tom Nook will give you the DIY Recipe for the Flimsy Shovel. This is a crucial step!
4. Craft the Flimsy Shovel: You’ll need a Workbench to craft items. Your first workbench will likely be at Resident Services. To craft the Flimsy Shovel, you’ll need 3 Iron Nuggets and 1 Hardwood.

Once crafted, you’ll have your very first shovel! This tool is essential for digging up buried treasures, planting saplings and flowers, and even for moving trees (though it takes multiple uses).

Understanding the Flimsy Shovel

The Flimsy Shovel, while incredibly useful, has a limited durability. This means it will break after a certain number of uses. Don’t be discouraged when it eventually snaps; it’s a natural part of the game’s progression, encouraging you to craft and upgrade your tools. (See Also: how to get flimsy shovel animal crossing)

What Can You Do with a Flimsy Shovel?

• Digging Up Fossils: Look for the tell-tale star-shaped cracks on the ground. These indicate buried fossils that you can dig up and donate to the museum.
• Finding Gyroids: Occasionally, you’ll find a glowing spot on the ground. Digging it up will yield 1,000 Bells, but if you re-bury the Bells in the same spot, it has a chance to grow into a Money Tree.
• Planting Flowers and Saplings: Use the shovel to dig holes where you want to plant your seeds, saplings, or even move existing plants.
• Finding Clams: When you see little spouts of water appearing on the beach, use your shovel to dig them up. These are Manila Clams, which can be used for crafting or sold.

Upgrading Your Shovel: The Shovel Diy Recipe

As mentioned, the Flimsy Shovel won’t last forever. To continue your island development efficiently, you’ll want to get your hands on a more durable shovel. This is the standard Shovel, which is significantly more robust than its flimsy counterpart.

To craft the regular Shovel, you’ll first need its DIY Recipe. Here’s how to obtain it:

1. Progress Through the Game: The Shovel DIY Recipe is typically unlocked after you’ve established your island a bit further. This usually means after you’ve helped Tom Nook set up Resident Services and have begun inviting new villagers.
2. Talk to Tom Nook: Tom Nook often provides new DIY recipes as you progress. He might give you the Shovel DIY Recipe directly, especially after you’ve completed certain tasks related to island development or museum contributions.
3. Purchase from Nook’s Cranny: Once Nook’s Cranny opens on your island, you can purchase DIY recipes from the cabinet next to the register. The Shovel DIY Recipe is sometimes available there. Keep checking back regularly, as the stock changes daily.
4. Message in a Bottle: Keep an eye out for message bottles that wash ashore on your island’s beaches. These bottles often contain random DIY recipes, and the Shovel DIY Recipe can sometimes be found this way.
5. Visit Mystery Islands: When you use Nook Miles Tickets to visit Mystery Islands, you might find DIY recipes scattered around.

Once you have the DIY Recipe for the Shovel, you’ll need the following materials to craft it:

• 1 Iron Nugget
• 1 Hardwood

This might seem like a small upgrade in materials, but the Shovel’s durability is significantly higher than the Flimsy Shovel, making it a much more reliable tool for daily island tasks.

Understanding the Shovel’s Durability

The standard Shovel offers a much better lifespan. While it will eventually break, it allows you to perform many more actions before needing a replacement. This makes it the go-to shovel for most of your island activities. (See Also: how much to shovel a driveway)

When to Upgrade to the Golden Shovel

For those who want the ultimate digging tool, the Golden Shovel is the pinnacle. This shovel boasts incredible durability and is the last shovel you’ll ever need to craft. However, it requires a bit more effort and game progression to obtain.

To get the Golden Shovel DIY Recipe:

1. Collect 100 Museum Donations: You need to donate at least 100 different items (fish, bugs, fossils, art) to Blathers for the museum.
2. Wait for the Museum to Upgrade: Once the museum has been upgraded from a tent to a full building, you’re on the right track.
3. Dig Up a Fossil Every Day: For 30 consecutive days, you must dig up at least one fossil. It doesn’t matter if you donate it, sell it, or just keep it; the act of digging it up is what counts.
4. Receive the DIY Recipe: After fulfilling the 30-day fossil-digging requirement, talk to Blathers. He will be so impressed with your dedication that he will give you the DIY Recipe for the Golden Shovel.

The materials needed for the Golden Shovel are:

• 1 Golden Nugget
• 1 Shovel

Note that you need a regular Shovel already crafted to make the Golden Shovel. The Golden Shovel is exceptionally durable and will last you a very long time, making it the ultimate investment for serious islanders.

Tool Durability and Crafting

It’s important to remember that all crafted tools in Animal Crossing: New Horizons have durability. This is a core mechanic that encourages resource gathering and crafting. You can check the durability of your tools by looking at them in your inventory or by pressing ‘A’ when you have the tool selected. When a tool is about to break, it will often show cracks. (See Also: how to keep snow from sticking to your shovel)

Here’s a quick comparison of shovel durability:

What If My Shovel Breaks?

If your shovel breaks, don’t panic! You can simply craft another one if you have the materials and the DIY recipe. If you’ve lost your recipe or don’t have the materials, you can often buy a replacement flimsy shovel directly from Nook’s Cranny or from Timmy and Tommy at Resident Services for a small number of Bells.

The Flimsy Shovel can be purchased for 800 Bells, and the regular Shovel can be purchased for 2,500 Bells. The Golden Shovel cannot be purchased and must be crafted.

Tips for Efficient Shovel Use

• Carry Extra Materials: Always try to have Iron Nuggets and Hardwood on hand so you can craft a new shovel quickly if yours breaks.
• Prioritize the Shovel Upgrade: Getting the regular Shovel as soon as possible will save you a lot of frustration with the Flimsy Shovel breaking constantly.
• Save the Golden Shovel for Last: While exciting, focus on getting the regular Shovel first. The Golden Shovel is a long-term reward.
• Use the Shovel for Terraforming: Once you unlock terraforming with the Island Designer app, your shovel becomes even more indispensable for shaping cliffs and digging paths.

The shovel is more than just a tool; it’s your key to unlocking the secrets of your island. From unearthing ancient history to cultivating a beautiful garden, your shovel is your constant companion. Mastering how to acquire and maintain your shovels will significantly enhance your Animal Crossing experience.

Conclusion

Acquiring a shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a fundamental step in your island-building journey. You’ll start with the Flimsy Shovel, easily crafted early on, and then progress to the more durable Shovel. For the ultimate longevity, aim for the Golden Shovel by meeting Blathers’ criteria. Remember to always keep an eye on your tool’s durability and have materials ready for crafting.

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