Ah, the humble watering can. In the charming world of Animal Crossing, this simple tool is your gateway to a thriving island paradise. From nurturing delicate flowers to ensuring your fruit trees bear bountiful harvests, the watering can is an indispensable companion for any aspiring island decorator and farmer.
But if you’re just starting out or perhaps you’ve misplaced yours (it happens to the best of us!), you might be wondering: how exactly do you get your hands on one of these essential items? Fear not, fellow islander! This guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you’re watering your way to success in no time.
The Journey to Your First Watering Can
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, your very first watering can isn’t something you stumble upon or buy. It’s a reward for progressing through the early stages of your island’s development. Tom Nook, your ever-present guide and financier, will eventually present you with the recipe for a DIY watering can. This usually happens after you’ve completed a few of his initial tasks, such as collecting resources for Nook’s Cranny or setting up your first bridge.
Unlocking the Diy Recipe
The key to obtaining your first watering can lies in completing the early-game objectives set by Tom Nook. He’ll guide you through the basics of island life, and as a reward for your efforts, he’ll teach you how to craft essential tools. Keep an eye on your NookPhone; often, he’ll communicate new recipes or tasks through it. Once you’ve reached a certain point in the main storyline, Tom Nook will either gift you the recipe directly or guide you to a DIY workbench where you can learn it.
What You’ll Need to Craft It
The recipe for the most basic watering can is straightforward. You’ll typically need:
- 3 Iron Nuggets: These are found by hitting rocks on your island with a shovel or axe. Be sure to hit each rock multiple times a day, as they reset!
- 1 Wild Sapling: These are the small, green sprouts you can dig up from the ground, usually found in various spots around your island.
Once you have these materials, head to a DIY workbench. You can find one in Resident Services, or you can craft your own later in the game. Interact with the workbench, select the watering can recipe, and voilà! You’ll have your very own tool to start tending to your island’s flora.
Upgrading Your Watering Arsenal
Once you have the basic watering can, you’ll likely want to upgrade to a more durable and efficient model. This is where Nook’s Cranny and the upgraded DIY recipes come into play. (See Also: how to stop watering eyes)
The Sturdy Watering Can
The first significant upgrade is the Sturdy Watering Can. This version lasts much longer than the flimsy initial one. To get this recipe, you’ll need to have upgraded Nook’s Cranny from the initial tent to a full store. Once the store is established, Timmy and Tommy Nook will eventually offer new DIY recipes for sale, including the Sturdy Watering Can. Keep checking their shelves!
Materials for the Sturdy Watering Can
The Sturdy Watering Can requires:
- 5 Iron Nuggets: Again, hit those rocks!
- 1 Can of Watering Can (DIY): This refers to the basic watering can you crafted earlier. You’ll need to have that one in your inventory to craft the upgrade.
The process is the same: gather the materials, head to a DIY workbench, and craft the upgrade. This will significantly extend the lifespan of your watering tool, saving you time and resources in the long run.
The Golden Watering Can
For the ultimate in floral cultivation, the Golden Watering Can is your prize. This legendary tool has a near-indestructible durability and, more importantly, can water up to five flowers in a 3×3 grid simultaneously. This makes hybrid flower breeding and mass watering incredibly efficient.
How to Obtain the Golden Watering Can Recipe
The Golden Watering Can recipe is a special reward for achieving a high level of floral success on your island. Specifically, you need to earn the ‘Brilliant Flower Breeder’ Nook Miles+ achievement. This achievement is awarded after you have successfully cultivated 100 hybrid flowers. Hybrid flowers are those created by breeding two different colored flowers of the same species (e.g., a red rose and a yellow rose to create an orange rose).
Once you’ve earned the ‘Brilliant Flower Breeder’ achievement, you’ll receive a notification on your NookPhone, and the Golden Watering Can DIY recipe will be added to your collection. This is a testament to your dedication and skill as an island gardener! (See Also: how does self watering planter work)
Materials for the Golden Watering Can
The materials for this prestigious tool are:
- 1 Gold Nugget: These are much rarer than iron nuggets and are found by hitting rocks (less frequently) or by shooting down gold balloons.
- 1 Watering Can (DIY): You’ll need the basic watering can for this recipe as well.
As always, gather your materials and use a DIY workbench to craft this ultimate gardening tool.
Purchasing Watering Cans
While crafting is the primary way to acquire watering cans, there are instances where you might be able to purchase them, especially if you’re in a pinch or want a specific aesthetic.
Nook’s Cranny
The most consistent place to buy watering cans is at Nook’s Cranny. Once it’s upgraded from its initial tent form, the shop will regularly stock various tools, including basic watering cans. They might not always have them available, as the stock rotates daily, but it’s a reliable option if you need a quick replacement or want a spare.
Special Events and Visitors
Occasionally, special visitors to your island might sell tools. For instance, Pascal, the sea-loving walrus, sometimes offers unique items. While he doesn’t typically sell watering cans, other visiting merchants or special event stalls could potentially have them. Always check with any visiting NPCs you encounter, especially during seasonal events.
Trading with Other Players
If you play with friends or are part of an online Animal Crossing community, you can often trade items. If someone has a spare watering can or the recipe, they might be willing to trade it with you for bells, other items, or even just as a friendly gesture. Online trading is a fantastic way to acquire items you might be struggling to find on your own island. (See Also: how to stop eyes from watering)
Watering Can Durability and Maintenance
It’s important to remember that watering cans, like most tools in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, have a durability limit. They will eventually break after a certain number of uses. This is why upgrading to the Sturdy and Golden Watering Cans is so beneficial. The basic watering can breaks relatively quickly, while the sturdy version lasts considerably longer.
The Golden Watering Can is essentially indestructible for practical purposes, making it the ultimate investment for any serious gardener. If your watering can breaks and you don’t have a replacement or the materials to craft a new one, you’ll be unable to water your flowers, which can hinder your hybrid breeding efforts and the growth of your produce.
Tips for Efficient Watering
To make the most of your watering can:
- Prioritize Upgrades: As soon as you can, aim for the Sturdy Watering Can.
- Hybrid Breeding: Once you’ve unlocked the Golden Watering Can, use it to water your hybrid breeding plots. Its wide spray pattern is perfect for maximizing your chances of creating rare flower colors.
- Fruit Trees: Water your fruit trees daily to ensure they produce fruit.
- Seasonal Flowers: Water any special flowers that appear during events or that you’ve planted for aesthetic purposes.
- Keep Spares: Consider crafting or buying a spare basic or sturdy watering can to keep in your home or storage, just in case your primary one breaks unexpectedly.
Mastering the art of obtaining and using your watering can is a fundamental skill for any player looking to create a beautiful and productive island. From the first DIY recipe to the coveted Golden Watering Can, each step brings you closer to becoming a true horticultural master in the world of Animal Crossing.
Conclusion
Acquiring a watering can in Animal Crossing is a journey that begins with crafting the basic DIY version, typically as a reward from Tom Nook for early island progress. You’ll need iron nuggets and wild saplings for this initial tool. As you advance, upgrade to the Sturdy Watering Can by purchasing its recipe from Nook’s Cranny after its expansion. For the ultimate gardening tool, aim to earn the ‘Brilliant Flower Breeder’ achievement to unlock the Golden Watering Can recipe, requiring gold nuggets and a standard watering can. While Nook’s Cranny offers purchasable cans, crafting remains the most consistent and rewarding method for obtaining these essential tools for your flourishing island paradise.
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