How to get a Shovel in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Finding a Shovel in Animal Crossing is key to thriving as you will spend a lot of time in the game digging. So, here’s a guide on how to obtain the regular Shovel, the Flimsy Shovel and the Golden Shovel in New Horizons.

Life on an Animal Crossing island involves a lot of digging, from unearthing fossils to finding other valuable materials. Here’s how you can secure your first shovel and eventually upgrade to a stronger version.

The Flimsy Shovel is the first shovel players will get in the game, but later they’ll use the regular Shovel which is also easy to obtain. Here’s how to get your hands on both the Flimsy Shovel and the standard Shovel in Animal Crossing.

Contents

• How to get the Flimsy Shovel in Animal Crossing
• How to get the standard Shovel in Animal Crossing
• How to get the Golden Shovel in Animal Crossing

How to get the Flimsy Shovel in Animal Crossing

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Shovels can be crafted or purchased in Animal Crossing New Horizons.

The Flimsy Shovel can be obtained in three different ways:

• The first is by purchasing it from Nook’s Cranny after unlocking the item in the game’s story. It will cost 800 Bells.
• You can also get it from Wilbur on Mystery Islands by parting with 100 Nook Miles.
• You can also craft it yourself after buying the recipe from Nook’s Cranny for 280 Bells. Or you can complete a side quest for Blathers and receive the recipe as a reward. Once you have it, you can craft the Flimsy Shovel out of  5× Hardwood.

How to get the standard Shovel in Animal Crossing

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You’ll need the Flimsy Shovel before you can get the regular Shovel.

In time, you’ll be able to make a sturdier shovel. The standard Shovel or the regular Shovel in Animal Crossing can be purchased from Nook’s Cranny for 500 Bells or it can be crafted.

To craft a Shovel you’ll need:

• 1× Flimsy Shovel
• 1× Iron Nugget

The recipe for the Shovel can be obtained from the Pretty Good Tools Recipes item. This can be purchased at the Nook Stop for 2,000 Nook Miles. However, you’ll need to have paid the initial 5,000 Nook Miles fee to Tom Nook first.

How to get the Golden Shovel in Animal Crossing

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The Golden Shovel is twice as durable as the regular Shovel.

The Golden Shovel which as the name suggests is a rare item in Animal Crossing. However, it’s not that hard to get. Here’s how you can get it:

• You will need the Golden Shovel crafting recipe to be able to craft the Golden Shovel.
• To unlock the recipe you will have to help Gulliver the seagull 30 times.
• Gulliver will appear on your island at random as you find him unconscious on the island’s shoreline.
• Once you find him, he will ask you to help him find five missing parts of his communication device.
• You can find these parts along the shoreline. Once you have helped him, wait for the next day to receive a gift.
• You will receive a gift in the form of a recipe or an item every time you help Gulliver.
• Once you’re done helping Gulliver 30 times, he will send you the Golden Shovel crafting recipe as a gift.