How to Get Gold Ornaments in Animal Crossing – Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to captivate players with its charming gameplay and seasonal events. Among the many seasonal items in the game, Gold Ornaments stand out as a key crafting material for creating festive and rare DIY items. However, getting your hands on Gold Ornaments isn’t as straightforward as picking them up off the ground. It requires strategy, patience, and an understanding of the game’s seasonal mechanics.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about obtaining Gold Ornaments in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, including when and where to find them, crafting recipes, and tips to maximize your chances of success.
What Are Gold Ornaments in Animal Crossing?
Gold Ornaments are a seasonal crafting material introduced during the festive season in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They are used to craft various holiday-themed DIY recipes that can add a decorative and cheerful touch to your island. Gold Ornaments are rare compared to other materials, such as Wood or Iron Nuggets, and are only available during a specific time of year.
Key Features of Gold Ornaments
- Seasonal Availability: Found only during the festive season (December in the Northern Hemisphere, June in the Southern Hemisphere).
- Used in Holiday DIY Recipes: Essential for crafting items like the Illuminated Tree, Big Festive Tree, and Ornament Wreath.
- Shiny and Rare: Compared to Red and Blue Ornaments, Gold Ornaments are the rarest of the three.
When Are Gold Ornaments Available?
Gold Ornaments can be collected during the Festive Season, which occurs from December 15 to January 6 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 15 to July 6 in the Southern Hemisphere. During this time, decorated cedar trees on your island will sparkle with lights, signaling that they hold ornaments waiting to be shaken loose.
Key Dates to Remember
- Northern Hemisphere: December 15 – January 6
- Southern Hemisphere: June 15 – July 6
To make the most of this limited-time event, you’ll need to act fast and prioritize collecting ornaments during these weeks.
How to Find Gold Ornaments
Gold Ornaments aren’t found lying around—they must be shaken from specially decorated cedar trees. Follow these steps to collect them:
Step 1: Identify Decorated Cedar Trees
During the festive season, some of the cedar trees on your island will be adorned with colorful lights. These are the trees you’ll need to target. Look for:
- Cedar trees sparkling with multicolored lights.
- Trees that stand out from regular non-decorated ones.
Step 2: Shake the Trees
Once you’ve located a decorated cedar tree, press the A button near the tree to shake it. Shaking the tree will cause ornaments to fall to the ground. Ornaments come in three types: Gold, Red, and Blue.
Step 3: Pick Up the Ornaments
Walk over to the fallen ornaments and press Y to pick them up. Gold Ornaments are rarer, so you may need to shake several trees multiple times to gather a good number of them.
Tips for Maximizing Ornament Collection
- Shake Multiple Trees: The more decorated trees you shake, the better your chances of finding Gold Ornaments.
- Clear the Ground: Make sure the area around the tree is clear so ornaments don’t get lost among other items or decorations.
- Shake Trees Repeatedly: Trees regenerate ornaments over time, so revisit them regularly throughout the day.
How to Use Gold Ornaments in DIY Crafting
Once you’ve collected Gold Ornaments, you can use them to craft festive DIY items. These recipes are often given out by villagers, found in balloons, or learned during the festive season. Here’s how you can put your Gold Ornaments to good use.
1. Collect Festive DIY Recipes
To craft items using Gold Ornaments, you’ll first need to acquire festive DIY recipes. These can be obtained in the following ways:
- Balloon Presents: Pop floating presents during the festive season to find DIY recipes.
- Villagers Crafting: Check your villagers’ homes; they may be crafting festive items and will share the recipe with you.
- Message Bottles: Look for bottles washed up on your beach; they may contain festive recipes.
2. Festive DIY Items Requiring Gold Ornaments
Some of the most popular DIY items you can craft with Gold Ornaments include:
- Illuminated Tree: Adds a glowing festive touch to your island.
- Requires: 6 Gold Ornaments, 8 Wood, 4 Iron Nuggets.
- Big Festive Tree: A centerpiece decoration perfect for the season.
- Requires: 8 Gold Ornaments, 6 Red Ornaments, 6 Blue Ornaments, 5 Wood.
- Ornament Wreath: A stylish door decoration.
- Requires: 1 Gold Ornament, 2 Red Ornaments, 2 Blue Ornaments.
Keep collecting ornaments to craft multiple items and decorate your island in style!
Tips and Tricks for Getting More Gold Ornaments
Gold Ornaments can be elusive, but with the right strategies, you can maximize your haul. Here are some expert tips:
1. Focus on Cedar Trees
Decorated cedar trees are the only source of Gold Ornaments. If you don’t have enough cedar trees on your island, consider planting more ahead of the festive season.
2. Time Travel (Optional)
If you miss the festive season or want to speed up the process, you can use the time travel mechanic by adjusting your Nintendo Switch’s date settings. Set the date within the festive season window to revisit decorated trees and collect ornaments.
3. Share with Friends
If you’re struggling to find enough Gold Ornaments, consider visiting friends’ islands. They may have decorated trees you can shake, and you can share materials to craft festive items together.
4. Be Persistent
Since Gold Ornaments are rare, it may take multiple attempts to gather a sufficient amount. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t appear right away—keep shaking trees and collecting ornaments.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When collecting Gold Ornaments, avoid these common pitfalls:
1. Ignoring Decorated Trees
Don’t assume all trees will drop ornaments. Only decorated cedar trees will yield ornaments during the festive season.
2. Forgetting to Clear Inventory Space
Make sure you have enough space in your inventory to collect ornaments. If your pockets are full, you may lose out on valuable materials.
3. Not Utilizing Balloon Presents
Balloon presents often contain rare DIY recipes. If you’re ignoring them, you’re missing out on opportunities to craft festive items.
Why Gold Ornaments Are Worth Collecting
Gold Ornaments aren’t just another crafting material—they’re a symbol of the festive season in Animal Crossing. Collecting and using them allows you to:
- Create Stunning Decorations: Festive items crafted with Gold Ornaments can transform your island into a winter wonderland.
- Engage with Seasonal Content: Participating in the festive season events adds variety and fun to your gameplay.
- Trade with Friends: If you have extra Gold Ornaments, you can trade them with friends for other rare items or materials.
Conclusion
Gold Ornaments in Animal Crossing: New Horizons are a valuable and festive resource that can elevate your island’s holiday decor. While they may be rare, with patience, persistence, and the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to collect enough to craft all your favorite festive items.
Remember, the festive season only comes around once a year (unless you time travel), so make the most of it while it lasts. Happy ornament hunting, and enjoy decking out your island in holiday cheer!