There is just so much to do in Animal Crossing: New Horizons for Nintendo Switch that it is easy to come across something you just don’t know how to do.
That’s where this helpful tip and tricks guide comes in handy!
I’ve included over 100 Animal Crossing: New Horizons tips and tricks I learned during my 100 plus hours of gameplay to help you better navigate your village. From tool explanation to the Nook Mile reward system, everything is covered.
In this article, I will be going over 100 basic and advanced Animal Crossing: New Horizons tips and tricks.
100 Animal Crossing: New Horizon Tips And Tricks You Need To Know
Getting Started
1
You can’t rename your island, so pick wisely.
2
Choosing your hemisphere at the start of the game will change the seasons and what fish and insects you catch throughout the year.
3
You can only have one island save file on your Nintendo Switch.
4
All Switch users will share the same island.
5
New Horizons save file cannot be transferred to another console or backed up to the cloud (although, Nintendo may offer a way to do so in the future).
6
The game plays out in real time. So, whatever day and time it is in real life will be the same in the game.
Saving The Game
7
While playing, press the minus button to save your game and stop playing. Make sure you save your game after each play session to continue where you left off.
Animal Crossing Currency
8
The currency in this game is called Bells. The icon for it is a money bag icon.
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Bells are used to buy items, tools, furniture, and to pay off home loans.
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Bells can be earned by selling fruit, fish, insects, beach shells, and unwanted furniture (among other items).
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99,999 Bells can be stacked in one inventory slot/item.
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Bells can also be deposited into the ABD (Automatic Bell Dispenser) located in Resident Services.
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Each day, Bells can be found in one rock located around town.
Hit the rock with your shovel 8 times in a row and watch as the Bells come flying out.
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To be able to hit a rock 8 times, dig 2-3 strategic holes one space around the rock to prevent yourself from backing up.
15
Bells can also sometimes be found by shaking trees. 100 Bells may fall from a tree if you are lucky.
16
Branches can be found every day lying around trees.
Interacting With Trees
17
Repeatedly shaking trees will make an infinite amount of tree branches fall.
18
You can make infinite fishing rods and bug nets by using the infinite tree branches (find out how in this handy article I wrote that explains how to create infinite fishing rods).
19
Wasp nests may also fall from trees once a tree is shaken.
All About Wasps
20
How do you catch a wasp? Approach a tree’s front (the trunk facing the screen) while holding your net then shake the tree.
When the wasp nest drops, you will automatically face the wasp. Swing your net by pressing the A button to catch the wasp 99.99% of the time.
21
Wasps can and will sting you if you can’t catch it fast enough. Shake trees with your bug net equipped so you have the best chance of catching a wasp if it falls from the tree.
22
You can run away from the wasp. If you enter a building before the wasp catches you, you won’t be stung.
23
If you are stung, your face will show it!
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You can use medicine to heal your wasp stings.
25
Being stung twice without healing your wounds will cause you to faint. You will reappear at your home, but nothing else will be lost (expect your pride).
Tarantulas and Scorpions
26
Dangerous tarantulas can also be found wandering in town at night. They are worth 8,000 Bells and are worth catching.
27
Tarantulas move fast and will bite you if they touch you. If you are bitten you will pass out and return home.
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Dangerous scorpions can also be found wandering in town at night. They are worth 8,000 Bells and are worth catching.
29
Scorpions move fast and will sting you if one touches you. If you are stung, you will pass out and return home.
30
If you are in another island and get stung by a scorpion, you will return to the airplane.
All About Bug Nets
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Bug nets are used to catch insects, including spiders, moths, snails, and much more.
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There are bugs that live on river surfaces that can be caught with the net, too.
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Equip your bug net and hold the A button. If you move your character without letting the A button go, you will move very slowly. This will help you sneak up on hard-to-catch insects.
Inventory Upgrades
34
You can expand your inventory by buying an inventory upgrade with Nook Miles from the ABD machine located in Resident Services. This upgrade allows you to hold 30 items at a time.
35
A second inventory upgrade is made available at the ABD machine later in the game. This upgrade allows you to hold up to 40 items.
All About Nook Miles
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Nook Miles are a form of currency that can be traded for in-game rewards. Nook Miles look like a dollar with Tom Nook’s face printed on them.
37
You would need to pay the initial Tent loan of 5,000 miles to unlock Nook Miles+ feature. These Nook Miles quests are the fastest ways to earn miles.
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With Nook Miles+ quests, Nook Miles can be earned by performing various daily activities such as planting flowers, chopping trees, fishing, hitting rocks, catching bugs, watering plants, talking to neighbors, popping balloons, and more.
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You can check which Nook Miles quests are currently available by opening up your Nook Phone, clicking on the Nook Miles app, and looking at the row of quests at the top of the screen.
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The Nook Miles quest description shows the amount of Nook Miles earnable from completing the quest as well as what you must do.
41
Once a Nook Miles quest is completed, you will automatically receive the Nook Miles and a new quest will replace the quest you just finished.
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These “top row” Nook Miles quests are endless.
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There are also long-term Nook Miles quests at the bottom portion of the Nook Miles app screen concerning longer term tasks or for finishing big objectives.
Redeeming Nook Miles For Rewards
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You can redeem Nook Miles by visiting the ABD machine in Resident Services.
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Redeemable rewards include clothing, furniture, fences, island fixtures, and more.
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Exclusive Nook Mile rewards can be unlocked for free by playing Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp for smartphones. The game and rewards are both free.
Exclusive Nook Mile Rewards
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To get the exclusive rewards
- Download Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp to your smartphone
- Link the same Nintendo Account that is connected to your Nintendo Switch to Pocket Camp
- Head to settings in Pocket Camp
- Go to My Nintendo Rewards section
- Select the Animal Crossing: New Horizons bonus option.
- You will get a code that you must enter on your Nintendo Switch in the Nintendo Switch eShop app.
- Turn on your Nintendo Switch and close and save Animal Crossing: New Horizons if its open.
- Enter the code on the Nintendo Switch eshop, wait for the content to download, and then return to your Animal Crossing game.
48
The exclusive Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Nook Mile rewards will appear in the Nook Mile Reward menu through the ABD machine.
Nifty Shovel Secret
49
You can cover up a hole you dug with your shovel by filling it in with dirt (instead of using your shovel) by pressing the Y button while next to a hole.
Inventory Lessons
50
You can move an item around in your inventory by pressing and holding the A button when selecting an item.
Your cursor will pick up the item.
Continue holding the A button and move the direction buttons/analog stick to where you want the item to go then release the A button.
Tool Ring and Tools
51
The “tool ring” Nook Mile reward can be found in the ABD machine located in Resident Services.
52
The tool ring allows you to press up on the direction button to obtain quick access to the tools you are carrying.
53
You can “favorite” a tool and add it to your tool ring by selecting a tool in your inventory, pressing A, and then by selecting the “favorite” menu option.
54
You can switch between quipped tools by pressing the left and right direction buttons.
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You can put away the tool you’re holding by pressing the down direction button.
How To Take Screenshots And Videos
56
You can press the Nintendo Switch screenshot button to take screenshots or hold the Nintendo Switch screenshot button for a second to take videos.
These media files can be uploaded to Twitter through the Nintendo Switch album application.
Perks Of Eating Fruit
57
You can eat a fruit by selecting a fruit in your inventory, pressing A, and then by selecting “eat”.
You can only eat up to 10 fruits at a time.
58
Eating fruit allows you to dig up larger trees with your shovel.
Each large tree you dig up will use one fruit you have eaten.
59
Eating fruit will allow you to shatter rocks with your shovel. Each rock you shatter will use one fruit you have eaten.
Decorating And Crafting
60
You are able to decorate your island however you please by placing objects (nearly) anywhere you like.
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Eventually, you will be able to craft workbenches. Create multiple workbenches and place them around your island for easy crafting access.
Native Fruit Secrets
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Your local fruit will sell for less money when compared to fruit from other islands.
Fruit trees not native to your island will sell for more.
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Once you receive non-native fruit, plant them in your town to grow fruit trees.
These non-native fruits (even when grown in your town) will sell for more than your native fruit.
Coconut Trees
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Coconut trees can only be planted in sand terrain.
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Coconuts only grow 2 fruits instead of 3.
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Trees re-grow their fruit every few days.
Flower Power
67
Flowers will not wilt if you run through them; instead, their blossom will be removed.
68
Rainfall counts as watering flowers.
69
Flowers don’t need to be watered after they have grown unless you want to increase the chance that two or more nearby flowers will create a new one.
70
Flowers must be watered every day in order to grow hybrids.
71
Flowers will often attract insects so it is wise to plant flowers and water them if you want a variety of insects to catch, sell, or donate to the Museum.
The Museum
72
A museum will eventually come to your island after donating a few specimens to Blathers via Tom Nook in the early game.
Donate insects, bugs, fossils, and artwork to complete your collection.
Resource Islands
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You can visit resource islands (islands filled with fruit tress, rocks, flowers, and more) by redeeming Nook Miles for a Nook Mile Ticket at the ABD machine in Resident Services.
Island tickets costs 2,000 Nook Miles.
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Take the ticket to the airport
- give it to the employee
- tell him you want to fly
- pick the option to use your ticket
- then head to an island full of resources.
75
Sometimes, you’ll land on a rare island covered with bamboo trees.
Eat fruit to pick up bamboo trees with your shovel and dig up bamboo seeds for later planting on your island within grass terrain.
76
Sometimes, you will land on a rare hybrid island. Rare flowers are grown here.
Mini Map Settings
77
You can change your minimap settings by accessing the Map app in your Nook Phone.
You can have your map always off, always on, or have it off only when you are moving.
Villagers
78
You can have up to 10 villagers living on your island at once.
79
Talking to villagers and giving them gifts will make you best friends with them.
Amiibo
80
You can also scan Animal Crossing amiibo cards (sold separately) to summon specific animals in the campsite area.
Once the campsite area is unlocked, head to the ABD machine in Resident Services to use the amiibo functionality.
Tools Are Breakable
81
Many of your tools can break after a certain amount of uses (from an average of 10 uses per flimsy tool and upward for stronger tool forms).
Slingshots Usage
82
The slingshot can be used to shoot balloons.
83
Balloons will occasionally float by with a present attached.
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Contents of the present included Bells, furniture, recipes, crafting materials and other items.
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Equip your slingshot and position yourself beneath a balloon and press the A button to shoot a rock upward
If you are lined up correctly, you will pop the balloon and the present will fall to the ground.
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Be careful–if you pop a balloon near water, the present will fall into the water and you won’t be able to get it.
Vaulting Pole Usage
87
The vaulting pole will allow you to cross streams.
Ladder Usage
88
The ladder allows you to climb cliffs.
Fishing Rod Usage
89
The fishing rod allows you to catch fish in streams, ponds, and the ocean.
Catching Fish
90
Running while close to a fish will cause it to get scared and swim away.
91
Approach fish without running and equip your rod. To cast, press A to send your bobber into the body of water in the direction you are facing.
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Make sure to cast your bobber and aim for the fish’s mouth.
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If a fish sees your bobber, it will eventually nibble.
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A big splash, rumble of the controller, and audio clue will let you know when the fish has bitten.
When the fish bites, press the A button once to reel it in.
95
If your inventory is too full to hold a fish or any other item in the game, you will be given an option to release the fish or insect or swap and drop an item on the ground.
Erasing Your Character
96
You can erase your character by pressing the minus button on the title screen. Tom Nook will appear and give you the option of doing so.
BONUS: Unlocking The Island Designer App (Terraforming)
97
You can redesign your island’s rivers, lands, and waterfalls once you get the Island Designer App.
98
To get the Island Designer App, you must have upgraded your Residents Services.
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Upgrade your Resident Services building by
- paying off your tent with 5,000 Nook Miles
- have Nook Cranny’s shop built
- construct your first bridge
- and then help 3 additional villagers move to your town
100
You will need to boost your island’s population and have around 8-10 villagers.
101
The simplest way to get more villagers is by buying the Campsite kit from Tom Nook, building it on your island, and then waiting for villagers to show up.
102
You will also need at least a 3-Star Island rating to unlock the Designer App.
103
Increase your rating by inviting more villagers, planting tress and flowers, and decorating your town. Also, pick up any items that are lying around your island.
104
To check your Island Rating, talk to Isabelle at Resident Services.
105
Hold the K.K. Slider concert once you have a 3-Star Island or higher.
106
Tom Nook will go to your house the day after the concert to give you the Island Designer App and Terraforming abilities. Rejoice!
Conclusion
And there you have it!
100+ tips and tricks for Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch at your disposal, making your playtime more fun and productive than ever before.
Whether you learned one tip from the list or over 100, you will spend the rest of your days in Animal Crossing: New Horizons better informed and knowledgeable of the most important aspects of the popular social relaxing game.
Come back here if you ever need a refresher on the dozens of tips and tricks laid out in this guide.
By Wally
(Screenshots taken by me. Images sourced from product pages on the Nintendo website. Logos, characters, and images are owned by their respective owners)
