How to Get the Shovel in Animal Crossing: A Comprehensive Guide to Digging Deeper into Your Island Life

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has captured the hearts of millions with its charming gameplay, relaxing atmosphere, and endless opportunities for creativity. One of the most essential tools in the game is the shovel, a versatile item that allows players to dig up fossils, plant trees, and even relocate entire trees. But how do you get your hands on this indispensable tool? In this article, we’ll explore the various methods to obtain a shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, along with some tips and tricks to make the most of your digging adventures.

1. Purchasing the Shovel from Nook’s Cranny

The most straightforward way to acquire a shovel is by purchasing it from Nook’s Cranny, the general store run by Timmy and Tommy. However, the shovel won’t be available right away. You’ll need to progress through the early stages of the game and unlock the store first. Here’s how:

• Step 1: Pay Off Your Tent Loan
  When you first arrive on the island, you’ll be living in a tent. To upgrade to a house, you’ll need to pay off your initial loan of 5,000 Nook Miles. You can earn Nook Miles by completing various tasks, such as catching fish, planting flowers, or talking to villagers.

• Step 2: Build Nook’s Cranny
  Once you’ve upgraded to a house, Tom Nook will ask you to gather materials to build Nook’s Cranny. You’ll need 30 pieces of wood, 30 pieces of softwood, 30 pieces of hardwood, and 30 iron nuggets. These materials can be obtained by hitting trees with an axe or a flimsy axe and by breaking rocks with a shovel or axe.

• Step 3: Purchase the Shovel
  After Nook’s Cranny is built, you can purchase a shovel for 800 Bells. The store’s inventory refreshes daily, so if you don’t see a shovel on your first visit, check back the next day.

2. Crafting Your Own Shovel

If you’re eager to get a shovel before Nook’s Cranny is built, you can craft one yourself. Crafting is a core mechanic in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and it allows you to create a variety of tools, furniture, and decorations. Here’s how to craft a shovel:

• Step 1: Obtain the DIY Recipe
  To craft a shovel, you’ll need the Flimsy Shovel DIY recipe. This recipe can be obtained in a few different ways:

  • From Blathers: Once you’ve donated five different creatures (fish, bugs, or fossils) to Tom Nook, he’ll call Blathers, the museum curator, to set up a tent on your island. After Blathers arrives, he’ll give you the Flimsy Shovel DIY recipe.
  • From Nook’s Cranny: After Nook’s Cranny is built, you can purchase the Flimsy Shovel DIY recipe from the cabinet inside the store for 280 Bells.

• Step 2: Gather the Required Materials
  To craft a Flimsy Shovel, you’ll need 5 pieces of hardwood. Hardwood can be obtained by hitting trees with an axe or a flimsy axe. Each tree can drop up to three pieces of wood, so you’ll need to hit a few trees to gather enough hardwood.

• Step 3: Craft the Shovel
  Once you have the DIY recipe and the required materials, head to a DIY workbench. You can find a workbench in Tom Nook’s tent, in your own house, or by crafting one yourself. Select the Flimsy Shovel recipe from your DIY recipes, and voila! You now have a shovel.

3. Upgrading to a Sturdy Shovel

While the Flimsy Shovel is a great starting tool, it has limited durability and will break after a certain number of uses. To avoid constantly crafting new shovels, you can upgrade to a Sturdy Shovel, which has increased durability. Here’s how:

• Step 1: Obtain the Sturdy Shovel DIY Recipe
  The Sturdy Shovel DIY recipe can be purchased from Nook’s Cranny for 2,500 Bells. It becomes available after you’ve upgraded the store to its second tier, which requires you to spend a certain amount of Bells and wait a few days.

• Step 2: Gather the Required Materials
  To craft a Sturdy Shovel, you’ll need 1 Flimsy Shovel and 1 Iron Nugget. Iron Nuggets can be obtained by hitting rocks with a shovel or axe. Each rock can drop up to 8 items, so make sure to hit them multiple times to maximize your yield.

• Step 3: Craft the Sturdy Shovel
  Once you have the DIY recipe and the required materials, head to a DIY workbench and craft your Sturdy Shovel. This upgraded shovel will last much longer than the Flimsy Shovel, making it a worthwhile investment.

4. Using the Shovel Effectively

Now that you have a shovel, it’s time to put it to good use! Here are some of the things you can do with your shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons:

• Digging Up Fossils: Every day, a few fossils will spawn on your island. Use your shovel to dig them up and donate them to Blathers at the museum. Fossils can also be sold for a decent amount of Bells, so they’re a great way to earn some extra cash.

• Planting Trees: You can use your shovel to dig holes and plant fruit trees, hardwood trees, or cedar trees. Planting trees is essential for creating a lush, vibrant island, and fruit trees can provide you with a steady supply of fruit to sell or eat.

• Relocating Trees: If you want to rearrange your island’s layout, you can use your shovel to dig up entire trees and replant them elsewhere. This is a great way to create orchards, forests, or decorative tree arrangements.

• Finding Buried Treasure: Occasionally, you’ll notice a glowing spot on the ground. Use your shovel to dig it up, and you’ll find a bag of Bells. You can then bury the Bells to grow a money tree, which will yield even more Bells in a few days.

5. Tips and Tricks for Shovel Mastery

• Carry Multiple Shovels: Since shovels have limited durability, it’s a good idea to carry multiple shovels with you, especially if you’re planning a long digging session. You can store extra shovels in your inventory or in your house’s storage.

• Upgrade to the Golden Shovel: Once you’ve achieved a 5-star island rating, you’ll receive the Golden Shovel DIY recipe from Isabelle. The Golden Shovel has the highest durability and can even increase the chances of finding rare items when digging.

• Use the Shovel for Terraforming: Once you’ve unlocked the Island Designer app, you can use your shovel to create or remove cliffs and rivers. This allows you to completely customize your island’s layout and create unique landscapes.

• Shovel Etiquette: When visiting other players’ islands, always ask for permission before digging up fossils or planting trees. Respecting other players’ islands is an important part of the Animal Crossing community.

FAQs

Q: Can I get a shovel on the first day of playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
A: No, you won’t be able to get a shovel on the first day. You’ll need to progress through the early stages of the game, including paying off your tent loan and building Nook’s Cranny, before you can purchase or craft a shovel.

Q: How long does a Flimsy Shovel last?
A: A Flimsy Shovel has a durability of 30 uses. After that, it will break, and you’ll need to craft or purchase a new one.

Q: Can I customize the color of my shovel?
A: Yes, you can customize the color of your shovel using customization kits, which can be purchased from Nook’s Cranny. Customizing your shovel is a fun way to personalize your tools and make them stand out.

Q: What’s the difference between a Flimsy Shovel and a Sturdy Shovel?
A: The main difference is durability. A Flimsy Shovel has a durability of 30 uses, while a Sturdy Shovel has a durability of 100 uses. The Sturdy Shovel is more cost-effective in the long run, as it lasts much longer than the Flimsy Shovel.

Q: Can I use the shovel to dig up flowers?
A: No, you cannot dig up flowers with a shovel. To move flowers, you’ll need to use a shovel to dig up the entire plant, including the roots. Once dug up, you can replant the flower elsewhere on your island.

With this guide, you should now have a solid understanding of how to get a shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and how to use it effectively. Whether you’re digging up fossils, planting trees, or customizing your island, the shovel is an essential tool that will help you make the most of your island life. Happy digging!