The Ultimate Guide to the Golden Rod in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The golden rod in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an upgraded version of the standard fishing rod, offering enhanced durability and a touch of golden flair. Primarily, the golden rod functions as a tool to catch fish from the various bodies of water around your island and on mystery islands. It is a coveted item due to its increased lifespan compared to regular fishing rods, allowing players to fish for longer before needing to craft a new one. Unlike regular fishing rods that break relatively quickly, the golden rod is designed for more dedicated angling. While it may be highly desirable, it is important to remember it can and will still break with use.
How to Obtain the Golden Fishing Rod
The path to crafting your own golden fishing rod is a bit of a challenge, but a worthy one. The recipe for the golden rod isn’t something you stumble upon; instead, it’s a reward for dedicated completionists. To unlock the DIY recipe for the golden rod, you need to complete the fish section of your Critterpedia. This means you must catch every single fish available in the game, a total of 80 different species. It’s crucial to note that donating the fish is not required; simply catching them and having them registered in your Critterpedia is enough. Once all 80 fish have been caught, the DIY recipe will be sent to you via mail, courtesy of your hard work and dedication.
Crafting the Golden Rod
Once you receive the DIY recipe, you will finally be able to craft the golden rod. The crafting materials are relatively simple, but they might require some farming. You will need:
- 1 regular Fishing Rod: This can be any standard fishing rod, such as a flimsy fishing rod, regular fishing rod, colorful fishing rod, or outdoorsy fishing rod.
- 1 Gold Nugget: A rare material that can be obtained by hitting rocks with a shovel.
Once you have these materials, head to any crafting workbench, and the golden rod will be ready to create.
How the Golden Rod Functions
The golden rod functions exactly like any other fishing rod in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You approach a body of water (sea, river, or pond), look for fish shadows, cast your line, and wait for a fish to bite. Once a fish bites the line, you engage the mini-game that consists of timing your button presses correctly to successfully reel it in.
Durability and Lifespan
The golden rod stands out primarily due to its durability, offering a 90-use lifespan before breaking. This is significantly more than the standard fishing rods that break after approximately 30 uses. While 90 uses may sound like a lot, remember each cast of the line, regardless of whether it catches a fish, counts as one use.
Although a 90 use lifespan is a lot, the golden fishing rod is not invincible. Like every other tool in the game, it will eventually break. Therefore, it is always important to be prepared and have a spare set of crafting materials just in case.
Additional Benefits of the Golden Rod
Aside from its durability, the golden rod does not offer any functional advantages over regular fishing rods in terms of catching fish. It will not increase the chances of finding rare fish. However, the increased durability gives players more time to spend on fishing and less time on crafting a new fishing pole. Additionally, the golden design of the rod can be a fun flex on your island.
Important Note
Do not confuse the Golden Rod with the Hotline Fishing Hook and similar lavaproof gear which is used in the very different game Terraria and is not related to the Animal Crossing series.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many times can the golden fishing rod be used before breaking?
The golden fishing rod has a lifespan of 90 uses before it breaks.
2. Can the golden fishing rod catch rare fish more easily?
No, the golden fishing rod does not increase your chances of catching rare fish. It has the same catch rates as other fishing rods.
3. Do I need to donate all the fish to unlock the golden rod recipe?
No, you only need to catch all 80 fish to unlock the recipe. Donating them to the museum is not a requirement.
4. What materials are needed to craft the golden rod?
You need 1 regular fishing rod and 1 gold nugget to craft the golden rod.
5. Where can I find the gold nugget for crafting?
Gold nuggets can be found by hitting rocks on your island or on mystery islands with a shovel. The appearance is random, so patience is key.
6. What is the best way to find all 80 fish?
The best way to catch all 80 fish is to be patient and check all the bodies of water, at different times of the day, and in different seasons. Fish spawn at different times of the day and some fish are only available during certain seasons.
7. Does the golden rod work the same way as a normal fishing rod?
Yes, the golden rod functions identically to a regular fishing rod in terms of gameplay mechanics. The only difference is its durability.
8. What is the point of having a golden rod if it will still break?
The golden rod significantly increases your fishing time before needing to craft a new fishing rod compared to regular ones.
9. Can I repair the golden fishing rod?
No, like other tools in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the golden rod cannot be repaired. Once broken, it is gone. You will need to craft a new one.
10. How do I know if I’ve caught all the fish for the Critterpedia?
You can confirm this by opening your Nook Phone, navigating to the Critterpedia app, and checking the fish section. If all the fish icons are filled in, then you have completed this section. You will receive the DIY recipe for the golden rod shortly after.
11. Are there other golden tools I can obtain in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
Yes, there are other golden tools, including the golden net, golden axe, golden shovel, golden watering can, and golden slingshot. Each requires their regular tool counterpart and one gold nugget for crafting.
12. What is the most expensive fish I can catch in the game?
There are several fish that sell for 15,000 bells each, including the Coelacanth, Stringfish, Dorado, Barreleye, Golden Trout, and the Great White Shark.
13. Do I need to time travel to find all the fish?
While time traveling can speed up the process, it is not required to find all the fish. All 80 fish species can be caught without manipulating the in-game time.
14. Where is the best place to fish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
The pier on your island is often considered the best spot, as some rare fish only spawn in that location. However, all bodies of water have their own unique fish that can be caught.
15. Can I get the golden rod recipe if I’m missing one fish?
No, you must catch every single fish to receive the golden rod recipe. You will need to catch all 80 fish.