Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a popular life simulation video game that allows players to create their own virtual island paradise. One of the key tools players will need to progress in the game is the shovel. With the shovel, players can dig up fossils, plant trees, and even discover buried treasure. However, unlocking the shovel can be a bit tricky if you’re new to the game. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to unlock the shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Firstly, in order to unlock the shovel, players must progress through the initial stages of the game. You’ll need to complete various tasks and objectives set by the game’s main character, Tom Nook. These tasks may include gathering resources, building furniture, and inviting new residents to your island. It’s important to complete these tasks as they will gradually unlock new features and tools.
Once you have successfully completed the initial tasks, Tom Nook will reward you with the recipe for the shovel. The recipe will be added to your crafting inventory, and you’ll be able to create your very own shovel. To craft the shovel, you’ll need to gather the necessary materials, such as wood and iron nuggets, which can be found by hitting rocks with a regular or stone axe.
After crafting the shovel, it’s time to put it to good use! Use the shovel to dig up the sparkling holes you may come across on your island. These sparkling holes indicate the presence of buried items such as fossils or tree saplings. Simply stand in front of the hole and press the ‘A’ button to dig it up. You can also use the shovel to dig up trees and move them to different locations on your island, allowing for optimal placement and island design.
So, there you have it – the shovel is an essential tool for any Animal Crossing: New Horizons player. By following these steps, you’ll be able to unlock the shovel and discover the many possibilities it brings to your island life. Happy digging!
How to Unlock Shovel in Animal Crossing New Horizons
The shovel is a crucial tool in Animal Crossing New Horizons, as it allows players to dig up fossils, plant trees, and find hidden treasures.
To unlock the shovel, you will first need to progress through the game’s main storyline and establish a residential service in your island. Once the residential service is set up, Tom Nook will give you the DIY Workshop recipe, which is necessary to craft the shovel.
After receiving the DIY Workshop recipe, you will need to collect 5 tree branches and 1 iron nugget to craft the shovel. Tree branches can be found by shaking trees or collecting sticks on the ground, while iron nuggets can be obtained by hitting rocks with a shovel or an axe.
Once you have gathered the required materials, head over to a DIY workbench and select the shovel from the crafting menu. Craft the shovel, and it will be added to your inventory.
Note: It is advisable to craft multiple shovels as they have limited durability and may break after a certain number of uses.
With the shovel in hand, you can now start digging up fossils, planting trees, and acquiring buried treasures. It’s also worth noting that the shovel can be upgraded later in the game to become more durable and efficient.
In conclusion, unlocking the shovel in Animal Crossing New Horizons requires progressing through the main storyline, setting up the residential service, obtaining the DIY Workshop recipe, and crafting the shovel using 5 tree branches and 1 iron nugget.
Nook’s Cranny Building
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, one of the main attractions in your island is the Nook’s Cranny building. This store is run by the lovable raccoon brothers, Timmy and Tommy Nook. It is an essential part of developing and expanding your island.
To unlock the Nook’s Cranny building, you must first complete several tasks. At the beginning of the game, you will have a tent as your temporary store. To upgrade from the tent to the building, you need to have completed these steps:
Gather Materials
You need to collect a certain number of materials to build the store. The required materials include:
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- 30 pieces of wood
- 30 pieces of softwood
- 30 pieces of hardwood
- 30 iron nuggets
Complete Resident Services Upgrade
Once you have gathered the necessary materials, you must also complete the upgrade of the Resident Services building. This will entail completing various tasks for Tom Nook, the island’s main representative. Some of these tasks may include inviting new villagers, gathering specific items, or completing specific milestones.
Once the Resident Services building upgrade is complete, Tom Nook and his nephews, Timmy and Tommy, will announce the construction of Nook’s Cranny. The building will take a day to construct, and the next day you will have a fully functioning store on your island.
Nook’s Cranny is an important part of island life in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It sells various items, including tools, furniture, DIY recipes, and more. It also has a recycling bin where you can dispose of unwanted items and a special cabinet that offers rare items every day. Make sure to visit the store regularly to find new and exciting items for your island.
Blathers’ Museum
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, one of the key features of the game is the ability to collect and donate various items to Blathers’ Museum. Blathers is an owl who runs the museum on your island, and he is always eager to accept new donations.
Once you have unlocked Blathers’ Museum, you can start donating items to the different sections of the museum, including fish, bugs, fossils, and artwork. The museum has three levels: the main hall, the second level, and the basement. Each section will have its own unique displays for the items you donate.
Donating Items
To donate an item to the museum, simply talk to Blathers and select the option to donate. You can then choose the item from your inventory that you wish to donate. If it is a new item that you have not donated before, Blathers will give you a little description and add it to the collection. If it is a duplicate item, you can choose to sell it or keep it.
Collection Catalog
Blathers’ Museum also includes a collection catalog where you can view all the items you have donated. This catalog is a great way to keep track of your progress in filling the museum and completing your collection. You can access the catalog by talking to Blathers and selecting the option to view your collection.
- Fish: This section displays all the different types of fish you have donated. You can see their names, sizes, and even some interesting facts about them.
- Bugs: In this section, you can see all the bugs you have donated. Similar to the fish section, you can view their names, sizes, and facts.
- Fossils: The fossil section is where you can view all the fossils you have donated. Each fossil has a unique name and can be found in the corresponding display.
- Artwork: The newest addition to Blathers’ Museum is the artwork section. Here, you can view all the paintings and sculptures you have donated. Make sure to look for the genuine pieces!
Overall, Blathers’ Museum is a central part of the Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience. It gives you a reason to explore and collect different items, and it’s always rewarding to see your collection grow.
Tom Nook’s DIY Workshop
Unlocking the shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons requires the completion of Tom Nook’s DIY Workshop.
Once you have arrived on your deserted island, Tom Nook will give you various tasks to complete in order to establish your new home. One of the first tasks he will assign is the DIY Workshop. This workshop is where you’ll learn the basics of crafting and gather the necessary supplies.
Gathering Materials
To complete the workshop, you will need to collect a set of specific materials:
- 5 tree branches
- 5 stones
- 1 iron nugget
- 1 shovel recipe
You can find tree branches by shaking trees, stones by hitting rocks with your shovel, and an iron nugget by hitting rocks multiple times. The shovel recipe can be obtained by talking to Tom Nook or other island residents.
Once you have gathered all the necessary materials, return to Tom Nook to begin the DIY Workshop.
Completing the Workshop
During the workshop, Tom Nook will guide you through the process of crafting your own tools. He will provide step-by-step instructions on how to craft the shovel using the obtained recipe and materials.
After successfully crafting the shovel, Tom Nook will congratulate you on completing the DIY Workshop. The shovel will be added to your inventory, allowing you to dig up fossils, plant flowers, and unearth various treasures around your island.
Remember to speak with Tom Nook regularly to unlock new recipes and expand your DIY crafting abilities. The workshop is merely the beginning of your journey in Animal Crossing: New Horizons!
Gulliver’s Communication Device
Gulliver’s Communication Device is a special item that can be unlocked in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It is used to communicate with Gulliver, a seagull character who occasionally washes up on your island’s beach.
Once you have unlocked the shovel and have access to the beach, you may start encountering Gulliver from time to time. He will be washed up on the shore, unconscious and in need of assistance. To wake him up, you will need to find the five communicator parts that are scattered around your island.
After collecting all five communicator parts, you can then assemble them into Gulliver’s Communication Device. To do this, access your inventory and select the parts, then choose the “assemble” option. Once the device is assembled, return to Gulliver and interact with him to wake him up.
Once he wakes up, Gulliver will thank you for your help and reward you with special items from his travels. These items can include furniture, clothing, and even exclusive DIY recipes. Gulliver will also send the player a letter the next day with a gift attached as a token of his appreciation.
Note: Gulliver will only appear on your island once a week, so be sure to keep an eye out for him and help him whenever he washes up!
Amassing Fossils
Unlocking the shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons allows you to dig up fossils, which can be a great way to earn bells and complete your museum collection. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you amass fossils:
- Check for Dig Spots: Look for small, star-shaped cracks in the ground that indicate a fossil is buried beneath. Simply equip your shovel and dig in that spot to unearth the fossil.
- Using Blathers’ Knowledge: After unlocking the museum, take any unidentified fossils to Blathers. He will evaluate them and identify them for you, giving you the option to either donate the fossil or sell it for bells.
- Communicate with Other Players: If you are looking to complete your fossil collection quickly, consider trading fossils with other players. You can visit other islands or use online trading platforms to connect with other players and exchange fossils.
- Daily Fossil Spawns: Fossils will respawn on your island every day, so be sure to check for new fossils. You can use this opportunity to stock up on fossils to sell or donate.
- Time Traveling: If you are eager to find rare fossils or complete your collection faster, you can consider time traveling. Note that this method involves adjusting your console’s system clock, which may have unintended consequences. Use it at your own discretion.
By following these tips, you will be able to amass a large collection of fossils in no time. Happy digging!
Donating 15 Unique Specimens
Once you have unlocked the shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you can start collecting unique specimens to donate to the museum. Donating these specimens will not only help expand the museum’s collection, but also unlock various features and exhibits.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to donate 15 unique specimens:
- Start by gathering materials and crafting a shovel using DIY recipes or purchasing one from the shop.
- With your shovel in hand, explore your island or visit mystery islands to search for fossils, bugs, fish, and deep-sea creatures.
- Dig up fossils using your shovel. Fossils can be identified by the star symbol on the ground and will need to be assessed by Blathers at the museum.
- Catch bugs with your net. Approach them slowly and release the net when close enough to capture them.
- Fish in rivers, ponds, or the ocean using your fishing rod. Wait for a fish to bite and quickly press the A button to reel it in.
- Suit up in a wet suit and dive into the ocean to find and catch various deep-sea creatures. Swim close to them and press the Y button to catch them.
- Once you have gathered 15 unique specimens, make your way to the museum.
- Go inside the museum and talk to Blathers at the front desk.
- Select the option to “Make a Donation” and choose the specimens you want to donate from your inventory.
- Hand over the specimens to Blathers, who will express excitement and gratitude for your contribution to the museum’s collection.
- Repeat the process of collecting and donating unique specimens until you have donated a total of 15 items.
- With each donation, the museum will expand its exhibits and unlock new areas for you to explore.
- Keep in mind that some creatures, like fossils, need to be assessed by Blathers before you can donate them.
- Donating multiple specimens at once will save you time, as Blathers will assess and accept them all in one go.
- Enjoy the satisfaction of contributing to the museum and the rewards that come with it.
By following these steps and donating 15 unique specimens, you will not only enrich the museum’s collection but also unlock new features and exhibits for you to enjoy in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
