Not only are they required to craft some of the more durable tools, but they are necessary to progress in the game.
Unfortunately for players, Iron Nuggets are not easy to come by unless you perform what is now being called the “Rock Trick” to farm this resource. This guide will lay out what Iron Nuggets are used for in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and how to farm them.
WHY YOU NEED IRON NUGGETS IN ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS
Iron Nuggets are used in a variety of ways. They are used to strengthen certain tools like an axe and shovel.
The following tools use Iron Nuggets in crafting:
NetFishing RodWatering CanAxeShovel
The Shovel is unlocked once you bring Blathers—the museum curator—onto your island after showing Tom Nook five different species of bugs or fish.
The other four tools and their DIY Recipes are unlocked once players purchase the Pretty Good Tools for 3,000 Nook Miles. These tools will give players more time to fish, water their plants, chop wood and catch bugs before they break.
Later on, you’ll be given the opportunity to make the shop even larger, giving players more items to purchase. Players will be tasked to obtain and donate 30 pieces of softwood, wood, hardwood and iron nuggets.
While the various woods can be found by hitting trees on your island with an axe, iron nuggets are only obtained by striking large rocks, and even then iron nuggets aren’t guaranteed.
Small stones and clay are also found in these rocks so players will need to constantly try and knock them out when possible.
HOW TO FARM IRON NUGGETS IN ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS
To increase the odds of obtaining Iron Nuggets, players should use the “Rock Trick” to farm this resource.
The “Rock Trick” enables players to strike rocks up to eight times before it “dries” up as opposed to three. To do this, players can’t have any stamina—the number at the top left corner that goes up when eating—because the rocks will break after one strike.
Secondly, players should use their shovel to dig one or two holes behind their character so that they are between the hole and the rock. Once that’s done, push the A button with your shovel or axe to strike the rock as many times as resources pop out.
More likely than not, you’ll get more than two Iron Nuggets at once. It should be noted this can only be done on your own island or a deserted one that’s accessed via the Nook Miles Ticket. You can’t use shovels on your friend’s island.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available now for Nintendo Switch.
Have you had luck using the “Rock Trick” to farm Iron Nuggets? Let us know in the comments section.
