How to Get Hardwood in Animal Crossing: A Complete Guide – Animal Crossing: New Horizons is beloved for its relaxing gameplay, charming characters, and opportunities to craft and create. One essential material you’ll find yourself needing time and again is hardwood. Hardwood is a versatile resource used for crafting furniture, tools, and other in-game necessities. However, if you’re new to the game or trying to stockpile materials for a major crafting project, you may be wondering how to efficiently gather hardwood. This guide will cover everything you need to know about getting hardwood in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, from basic steps to advanced tips.
What Is Hardwood and Why Is It Important?
Hardwood is one of three types of wood you can collect in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, alongside softwood and regular wood. It has a distinctive dark brown color, setting it apart from the lighter shades of other wood types. This material is essential for crafting items such as:
- Furniture pieces
- Advanced tools (like the shovel or fishing rod)
- DIY recipes for seasonal events
- Decorations for your island
Without a good supply of hardwood, progressing through the game or customizing your island may become difficult.
How to Get Hardwood in Animal Crossing
The process of obtaining hardwood in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is straightforward but requires a few tools and strategies to maximize your efforts.
1. Craft or Purchase an Axe
Before you can gather hardwood, you’ll need an axe. There are a few different types of axes available in the game:
- Flimsy Axe: This is the most basic axe and is crafted using a DIY recipe from Tom Nook early in the game. It requires five tree branches and one stone.
- Stone Axe: An upgraded, slightly more powerful Flimsy Axe.
- Regular Axe: The most durable option, crafted with iron nuggets and wood.
2. Locate Trees on Your Island
Trees are your primary source of hardwood. Every tree on your island, including fruit trees, hardwood trees, and cedar trees, has the potential to yield hardwood when struck with an axe.
3. Use the Axe to Hit Trees
Equip your axe and approach a tree. Press the A button to swing the axe and strike the tree. Each tree can be hit up to three times per day without being chopped down, and each hit will yield one piece of wood, softwood, or hardwood.
4. Gather the Dropped Wood
After hitting the tree, the wood will fall to the ground. Walk over the pieces to collect them. Pay close attention to the dark brown pieces, as these are hardwood.
How to Maximize Hardwood Collection
While the process of gathering hardwood is simple, it can take time if you’re aiming to collect large quantities. Here are some tips to make the process more efficient:
1. Plant More Trees
The more trees you have on your island, the more opportunities you’ll have to collect hardwood. Plant saplings around your island to increase the number of trees available for harvesting. Fruit trees, hardwood trees, and cedar trees all drop hardwood, so diversify your tree population.
2. Visit Mystery Islands
You can visit a Mystery Island by using a Nook Miles ticket. These randomly generated islands are filled with resources, including trees. Mystery Islands allow you to gather additional hardwood without depleting the resources on your home island.
3. Invite Friends to Help
If you have friends who play Animal Crossing, consider visiting their islands or inviting them to yours. Working together can help you collect hardwood more quickly.
4. Rotate Your Tools
To ensure you don’t run out of tools while collecting hardwood, always carry extra axes in your inventory. If you’re low on materials to craft new tools, visit Timmy and Tommy’s shop to purchase pre-made axes.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Collecting hardwood may seem straightforward, but some obstacles can slow you down. Here’s how to handle common challenges:
1. Running Out of Trees
If you’ve already harvested wood from every tree on your island for the day, use a Nook Miles Ticket to access more trees on a Mystery Island. Alternatively, wait until the next day when trees replenish their resources.
2. Breaking Tools
A Flimsy Axe has limited durability and may break after hitting several trees. To avoid this, upgrade to a Stone Axe or Regular Axe, which lasts longer. Keep a stockpile of crafting materials like iron nuggets, tree branches, and wood to make replacements as needed.
3. Avoiding Chopping Down Trees
If you’re using a Regular Axe and don’t want to chop down trees, switch to a Flimsy Axe or Stone Axe. These tools will collect wood without cutting the tree down.
What to Do with Hardwood
Once you’ve gathered enough hardwood, you can use it to craft a variety of items and tools. Here are a few examples:
1. Crafting Tools
Hardwood is required to craft more durable tools, such as the Shovel and Fishing Rod. Upgrading your tools allows you to complete tasks more efficiently.
2. Building Furniture
Many DIY furniture recipes call for hardwood. These items can be used to decorate your home or island, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
3. Completing DIY Projects
Hardwood is often required for seasonal and event-related DIY recipes. For example, during certain events like the Bunny Day celebration, you may need hardwood to craft themed decorations.
Advanced Tips for Hardwood Collection
For players who want to streamline their hardwood collection even further, here are some advanced strategies:
1. Use a Tool Ring
The Tool Ring allows you to quickly switch between tools without opening your inventory. This can save time when alternating between gathering hardwood and performing other tasks.
2. Upgrade Your Inventory
As you progress in the game, upgrade your inventory space using Nook Miles. More inventory slots mean you can carry more hardwood before needing to return to your storage.
3. Focus on Non-Fruit Trees
While fruit trees do drop hardwood, it’s more efficient to focus on hardwood trees and cedar trees if you’re looking to maximize wood collection. Fruit trees serve multiple purposes, so preserving them for fruit harvesting can be beneficial.
4. Keep Your Island Organized
Planting trees in organized rows or clusters makes it easier to move from one tree to the next while gathering hardwood. This can save time and make the process more enjoyable.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I Buy Hardwood?
No, hardwood cannot be purchased directly in the game. You must gather it by hitting trees with an axe. - Do Palm Trees Drop Hardwood?
No, palm trees only grow coconuts and do not drop hardwood, softwood, or regular wood when struck. - What Happens If I Chop Down a Tree?
If you chop down a tree completely, it will no longer produce wood. However, you can plant a new tree by burying a sapling or fruit.
Conclusion
Hardwood is a crucial resource in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and learning how to gather it efficiently can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. By following the steps and tips outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to stockpile hardwood for crafting tools, furniture, and decorations. Whether you’re customizing your island or completing DIY recipes, having a steady supply of hardwood ensures you’ll always be ready to tackle your next project.
