Table of Contents

What Tools Do Not Break in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

Quick answer

This page answers What tools do not break in Animal Crossing? quickly.

Fast answer first. Then use the tabs or video for more detail.

Watch the video explanation below for a faster overview.
Game mechanics may change with updates or patches.
Use this block to get the short answer without scrolling the whole page.

Read the FAQ section if the article has one.
Use the table of contents to jump straight to the detailed section you need.
Watch the video first, then skim the article for specifics.

▶

The short answer, and perhaps a disappointing one for many dedicated islanders, is: no tools in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) are truly unbreakable. Unlike some previous iterations of the game, tools in ACNH, regardless of their material or rarity, have a limited number of uses before they will break and disappear from your inventory. This includes even the coveted golden tools, which, while significantly more durable than their standard counterparts, are still subject to the wear and tear of island life.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. While complete tool permanence isn’t an option, the game offers several mechanics to mitigate the frustration of constantly crafting or buying new tools, and even a quirky loophole that involves multiplayer. Let’s delve deeper into the world of ACNH tools and explore how to make the best of their limited lifespans.

Tool Durability: A Breakdown

Flimsy vs. Standard vs. Golden

The core tool system in ACNH revolves around three basic tiers: flimsy tools, standard tools, and golden tools.

Flimsy tools are typically the first tools you obtain, crafted from basic materials. They have the lowest durability, breaking relatively quickly.
Standard tools are an upgrade from flimsy versions. They are crafted using iron nuggets and offer significantly more uses before breaking.
Golden tools are the pinnacle of tool craftsmanship. They are crafted using a standard tool and a gold nugget after the player obtains the corresponding DIY recipe. While not unbreakable, they last the longest before they break.

Each type of tool has different durability based on its type. For example:

Flimsy Shovels last for approximately 40 uses.
Standard Shovels and Colorful Shovels last for around 100 uses.
Golden Shovels last much longer, for 200 uses.
Slingshots come in various forms: the standard, colorful, and outdoorsy slingshot all share the same 20 uses, while the Golden Slingshot lasts for about 60 uses.
Fishing Rods can break after a certain number of uses.
Axes will break at different rates depending on whether it is a flimsy axe, a stone axe, a standard axe, or a golden axe.

Customization: A Temporary Fix

Interestingly, customizing a tool with a customization kit will completely reset its durability. This essentially provides a ‘free’ repair. So, if you have a tool about to break, customizing it will make it brand new again. This only works if you customize a tool before it breaks; you cannot bring a broken tool back to life with a customization kit.

The Multiplayer Loophole

The only exception to the rule about tools breaking lies in a unique multiplayer mechanic. By mapping Joy-cons to control two characters simultaneously, players can have one character acting as a “leader” and the second as a “follower”. The follower character’s tools will not break, even when used. This is the closest you get to truly permanent tools, but it requires a second player to be active.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the most common questions regarding tool durability in Animal Crossing: New Horizons:

Can you get tools that never break in ACNH?
No, there is no method to acquire tools that will not break, in the traditional sense. All tools have a limited lifespan, with the exception of tools used by a follower in a multiplayer session.
Do golden tools last forever?
No, golden tools do not last forever. While they are significantly more durable than standard or flimsy tools, they do eventually break after a considerable number of uses.
Are the outdoorsy tools more durable?
No, outdoorsy tools have the same durability as their standard counterparts. The primary difference lies in their aesthetic and the fact they cannot be used as a substitute for the standard tool in DIY recipes.
Do colorful tools last longer?
Colorful versions of tools like the shovel and slingshot have the same durability as their standard counterparts. The Colorful Shovel has the same 100 uses as a standard shovel, and the Colorful Slingshot has 20 uses, just like the standard slingshot.
How many uses does a golden watering can have?
The golden watering can can water up to 200 times before breaking and can water up to 9 squares at once.
How do you get golden tools in ACNH?
Each golden tool recipe is unlocked by completing a specific achievement in the game. For instance, you get the Golden Axe recipe after breaking 100 axes, and the Golden Slingshot recipe after shooting down 300 balloons.
Can you repair a broken tool in Animal Crossing?
You cannot repair a broken tool that has already disappeared, but you can reset a tool’s durability to full by customizing it before it breaks.
What are the six golden tools in Animal Crossing?
The six golden tools include the axe, fishing rod, net, shovel, slingshot, and watering can.
Does the toolbox do anything special?
The toolbox is not a tool itself; rather it is the method by which players obtain more tools over the course of the first few days. This collection of tools allows for gathering materials and progressing through the game.
Does a fishing rod break during a Fishing Tourney?
While fishing rods will not break during the Fishing Tourney, they still degrade as normal and may break once the Tourney is finished.
How many uses does a golden axe have?
The exact number of uses for the golden axe is not revealed by the game, but it lasts significantly longer than the standard axe, which in turn lasts longer than a flimsy axe.
Why do tools break in ACNH?
The system of breakable tools adds a layer of resource management and crafting to the game, which encourages players to continue collecting materials and engaging with crafting mechanics.
What is the hardest creature to catch in Animal Crossing?
There are many challenging fish to catch, such as the Coelacanth, Golden Trout, and Oarfish, with some varying in difficulty based on season and location.
What is the hardest villager to get in Animal Crossing?
Octopus villagers, with only five of them in the game, are considered the rarest and hardest to acquire.
What is the most expensive item in Animal Crossing?
The Royal Crown, costing 1,200,000 bells at the Able Sisters shop, is known as the rarest and most expensive item in the game.

Conclusion

While the lack of truly unbreakable tools in Animal Crossing: New Horizons might be frustrating, understanding the game’s mechanics allows players to mitigate the impact. By utilizing the customization feature to effectively “repair” tools and opting for the more durable golden tools when possible, players can extend the life of their essential equipment. Furthermore, the unique multiplayer loophole offers a temporary workaround for those who desire completely permanent tools, albeit with a few stipulations. Embracing the system, despite its drawbacks, encourages active participation with the game’s core mechanics and makes tool management just another aspect of island life in ACNH.