Shovels are a very important tool in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They are used for digging up fossils, planting trees and flowers, and clearing paths. If you don’t have a shovel, you can buy one from Nook’s Cranny or get one as a gift from Tom Nook. However, there is a way to get a shovel for free. In this article, we will guide you through the steps on how to get a shovel in Animal Crossing without spending any Bells. So, continue reading!
The first step is to talk to Tom Nook. He will ask you to run some errands for him. These errands can include things like gathering materials or catching fish. Once you have completed the errands, Tom Nook will reward you with a shovel. Your next option is to check the beach. There is a chance that you will find a shovel washed up on the shore. If you do, you can pick it up and keep it for yourself. Lastly, you can try to get a shovel from a friend. If you have a friend who plays Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can ask them if they have a spare shovel that they can give you. If they do, you can trade them something in return or simply ask them for it as a gift.
We hope this article has been helpful. If you have any other questions about Animal Crossing: New Horizons, please feel free to leave a comment below. We will be happy to help you out. Thank you for reading!
Digging Up the Tools You Need
Acquiring a shovel in Animal Crossing requires a bit of patience and some initial exploration. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting yourself a shovel:
1. Talk to Tom Nook
Begin by visiting Tom Nook at Resident Services and ask him about tools. He will provide you with a DIY recipe for a flimsy shovel, which is the first shovel you can craft in the game.
2. Gather Materials for the Flimsy Shovel
To craft the flimsy shovel, you’ll need the following materials:
| Material | Amount |
|---|---|
| Wood | 5 |
| Iron Nugget | 1 |
3. Craft the Flimsy Shovel at a Workbench
Once you have the necessary materials, locate a workbench (usually found in your house or at Resident Services). Interact with the workbench and select "DIY", then choose the flimsy shovel recipe and craft it.
4. Digging for Fossils and Money
With your newly acquired flimsy shovel, you can uncover buried fossils and hidden money bags. These can be located by looking for cracks in the ground. Walk up to the crack and press "A" to dig. Fossils and money bags will be added to your inventory.
5. Upgrading Your Shovel
The flimsy shovel has limited durability and can only be used 40 times before breaking. To upgrade to a more durable shovel, you can craft the following:
- Stone shovel (requires Sturdy Shovel DIY recipe)
- Metal shovel (requires Golden Shovel DIY recipe)
Take the Earth to the Earth Store
After you’ve unlocked the Resident Services building, you’ll be able to purchase a shovel from the Nook Stop in the back of the building. The shovel costs 2,500 Bells, and you can use it to dig up dirt, fossils, and other items that are buried underground.
To dig up a spot, simply equip the shovel and press the A button while facing the spot. If there is something buried underground, you will dig it up and add it to your inventory.
Here are some tips for using the shovel:
- You can only dig up one spot at a time.
- You cannot dig up spots that are covered by trees, flowers, or other objects.
- If you dig up a spot that has nothing buried in it, you will simply create a hole.
- You can fill in holes by pressing the A button while facing the hole.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Shovel | 2,500 Bells |
Tools Required for Building a Shovel
Before you can embark on your shovel-crafting journey, you’ll need to gather the necessary tools and materials. Here’s what you’ll require:
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Workbench | Crafting station for creating the shovel |
| Shovel Recipe Card | Blueprint for building the shovel |
| Iron Nuggets (x2) | Raw materials for crafting the shovel |
| Wood (x3) | Additional raw materials for crafting the shovel |
It’s Time for a DIY
With your tools and materials ready, it’s time to get your hands dirty and build your very own shovel. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Access the Workbench: Head to a workbench located inside your home or at the Resident Services building. Interact with the workbench to open the crafting menu.
- Find the Shovel Recipe: Navigate through the crafting menu until you find the shovel recipe. Select it and confirm that you have the necessary materials.
- Crafting the Shovel: Once you’ve confirmed you have the materials, press the "Craft" button. The workbench will churn out your brand-new shovel, ready to be used for digging and landscaping.
Breaking the Ice
If you’re playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the winter months, you’ll notice that the rivers and ponds on your island are frozen over. This can be a bit of a pain if you want to cross over to the other side, or if you need to fish in a specific spot, but don’t worry, there’s a way to break the ice and get around freely.
To break the ice, you’ll need to craft an axe. You can get the DIY recipe for an axe from Tom Nook, or you can find it in a message bottle on the beach. Once you have the recipe, you’ll need to gather the following materials:
- 5 wood
- 1 iron nugget
Once you have all of the materials, go to your workbench and select the "Craft" option. Find the axe recipe and select it, then press the "A" button to craft the axe.
Once you have your axe, equip it and head to the river or pond that you want to cross. Stand in front of the ice and press the "A" button to swing your axe. After a few swings, the ice will break and the bridge will appear, and you’ll have successfully thawed the bridge.
The Nook Miles Mission
After settling into your new home on the island, you’ll be greeted by Tom Nook, the amiable raccoon who manages the Nook Miles program. This program offers various rewards for completing specific tasks in the game, including obtaining a shovel.
To earn the shovel, you must complete the following Nook Miles mission:
Dig up 10 buried bells
To complete this mission, follow these steps:
- Look for suspicious cracks in the ground that emit a light sparkle.
- Stand next to the crack and press the “Dig” button (A by default).
- Examine the hole to unearth a money bag.
- Repeat steps 1-3 until you have dug up 10 buried bells.
- Return to Tom Nook at the Resident Services building to claim your reward.
| Reward | Nook Miles |
|---|---|
| Shovel | 300 |
Note: You may also find a DIY recipe for a shovel while exploring the island or talking to villagers.
Shake the Trees
One of the most basic methods for obtaining a shovel in Animal Crossing is to vigorously shake the various trees scattered throughout your island. By doing so, you have a chance of dislodging hidden items, including the coveted shovel. However, it’s important to note that shaking trees does not guarantee a shovel drop. You may need to shake multiple trees before you stumble upon one.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to shake trees:
- Approach a tree and stand facing it.
- Hold down the “A” button on your controller.
- Shake the tree vigorously by tilting the left analog stick up and down repeatedly.
- Repeat this process until an item falls out of the tree.
- If the item that falls out is a shovel, pick it up by pressing the “A” button.
- If no item falls out, try shaking another tree.
Remember, the chances of obtaining a shovel from a tree shake are fairly low. Therefore, it’s recommended to shake multiple trees in different locations around your island to increase your odds of success.
Fly to the Rescue
If you’ve lost your shovel or simply haven’t obtained one yet, the simplest and most reliable way to acquire one is by contacting Timmy or Tommy Nook at Resident Services. They offer a Rescue Service, which allows you to retrieve lost tools or items that have been accidentally buried in the ground. By accessing the Rescue Service from the Nook Stop terminal inside Resident Services, you can request an item recovery for a fee of 500 bells. Once the recovery process is initiated, your lost shovel will be delivered to your mailbox within a short period of time.
Here’s a detailed guide on how to retrieve your shovel through the Rescue Service:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit Resident Services and interact with the Nook Stop terminal. |
| 2 | Select “Nook Shopping” from the menu. |
| 3 | Scroll down to the “Other” tab. |
| 4 | Find the “Rescue Service” option and select it. |
| 5 | Choose the “Lost Item Recovery” option. |
| 6 | Pay the 500-bell fee. |
| 7 | Wait for your lost shovel to be delivered to your mailbox. This usually takes a few minutes. |
Talk to Blathers
In order to get a shovel in Animal Crossing, you must first talk to Blathers, the curator of the museum. He will give you a task to complete, which will involve collecting five different fossils. Once you have collected all five fossils, return them to Blathers and he will reward you with a shovel.
Here are the steps on how to get a shovel in Animal Crossing:
- Talk to Blathers: Talk to Blathers in the museum and he will give you a task to complete.
- Collect five fossils: You can find fossils by digging up the ground with a shovel. There are five different types of fossils: fish, insect, plant, dinosaur, and trilobite.
- Return the fossils to Blathers: Once you have collected all five fossils, return them to Blathers.
- Receive a shovel: Blathers will reward you with a shovel.
Tips for completing the fossil task
Here are some tips for completing the fossil task:
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Use a shovel to dig up the ground. | You can find fossils by digging up the ground with a shovel. |
| Look for small cracks in the ground. | Fossils are often hidden under small cracks in the ground. |
| Listen for a digging sound. | When you are near a fossil, you will hear a digging sound. |
| Dig up the ground around the fossil. | Once you have found a fossil, dig up the ground around it to extract it. |
| Return the fossils to Blathers. | Once you have collected all five fossils, return them to Blathers. |
Collect the Bells
To purchase a shovel in Animal Crossing, you’ll need to collect enough Bells, the in-game currency. There are various ways to earn Bells, including:
Selling Items
Gather items such as weeds, stones, or shells, and sell them to Timmy and Tommy at the Resident Services building. More valuable items, like furniture or rare fish, will fetch higher prices.
Fishing
Cast your line in rivers, ponds, or the ocean to catch fish. Different fish species have varying values, with rarer or larger fish earning more Bells.
Bug-Catching
Use your net to capture bugs and insects around your island. Like fish, different bug species have different values, with rarer or larger bugs fetching higher prices.
Planting and Harvesting
Plant fruits or vegetables in your garden and wait for them to grow. Once ripe, you can harvest and sell them for a profit. Fruit prices fluctuate depending on the season, so you can earn more by selling fruit that’s in high demand.
Diving
Swim into the ocean and dive to collect sea creatures. Some sea creatures, such as sea stars or giant clams, can be sold for a hefty price.
Visiting Other Islands
Travel to other players’ islands to gather materials and resources that may not be available on your own island. You can sell these items for Bells or use them to craft valuable items to sell.
Participate in Events
Seasonal events, such as the Bunny Day or Halloween events, often offer opportunities to earn extra Bells by participating in special activities or selling unique items.
Complete Nook Miles Goals
The Nook Miles+ program rewards you with Bells for completing various tasks and challenges. These tasks can include anything from catching specific bugs or talking to villagers.
The Time Traveling Trick
The Time Traveling Trick allows you to obtain the shovel in Animal Crossing before it’s normally available by manipulating the game’s internal clock. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Set your Nintendo Switch’s date to March 20th. This is the day when the shovel’s recipe becomes available.
- Start Animal Crossing and visit the Able Sisters shop. The shovel’s recipe will be displayed on the chalkboard near the counter.
- Purchase the shovel’s recipe for 480 Bells.
- Craft the shovel at your workbench.
- Return your Nintendo Switch’s date to the current date.
Note: Time traveling can have negative consequences in Animal Crossing, such as stunting the growth of your turnips or causing weeds to spread rapidly. Use this trick at your own discretion.
Additional Details:
- To craft the shovel, you will need 5 iron nuggets and 1 wooden plank.
- Iron nuggets can be obtained by hitting rocks with your ax.
- A wooden plank can be obtained by chopping down a tree with your ax.
- If you do not have enough iron nuggets or a wooden plank, you can purchase them from the Nooklings at Nook’s Cranny.
How to Get a Shovel in Animal Crossing
In Animal Crossing, a shovel is an essential tool for digging up buried items, moving trees and rocks, and creating new paths. You can get your first shovel early in the game by following these steps:
- Talk to Tom Nook in Resident Services and agree to set up your tent.
- Find Timmy and Tommy in Resident Services and buy a shovel for 250 bells.
Once you have a shovel, you can use it to dig up any buried items you find by pressing the A button while standing on top of the buried item. You can also use your shovel to move trees and rocks by pressing the A button while standing next to the object you want to move. To create a new path, simply dig a line of holes in the ground with your shovel.
People Also Ask
How to get a golden shovel in Animal Crossing?
To get a golden shovel, you need to bury 1,000 bells in a hole and then water it with a golden watering can. The next day, you will be able to dig up a golden shovel.
How to get a shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can get your first shovel by talking to Tom Nook after you have set up your tent. He will give you a shovel as part of the tutorial.
Can you get a shovel before you get Resident Services?
No, you cannot get a shovel before you get Resident Services. This is because you need to buy the shovel from Timmy and Tommy in Resident Services.
