How to shoot down balloons in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

You might've noticed some flying presents on your island, here is how to get them
Nintendo

In New Horizons, it is incredibly frustrating when you see alluring presents gliding through the sky suspended by a balloon that you can't quite get to.

You might be wondering how to get your hands on whatever is inside, but to do that you need to complete a few starter tasks.

As you play Animal Crossing each day you'll have new things to do by the behest of Tom Nook, who lives in the Resident Services building.

The item you need to pop the balloons is a slingshot and it is sold by Timmy in the Resident Services tent at the start of the game for 900 bells, along with the DIY recipe.

If however, it isn't appearing for you, make sure that you've attended the campfire orientation with Tom Nook where he discusses a DIY workshop with you, which enables you to craft your own items.

After this, you should be able to purchase recipes and tools from Timmy.

If you decide to buy a slingshot, be warned that it will eventually break. So it makes more sense financially to buy the recipe itself to craft as many as you like!

All you need to craft one is four hardwood, which can be claimed by hitting trees with an axe.

How to pop balloons

Once you've got your slingshot, all you need to do is wait for a present to float on by and shoot at it.

Equipping the slingshot in your hand will let you use it with the A button, which you can hold in anticipation or press to instantly fire in a straight line.

The slingshot only shoots directly up in the sky, so you have to be behind the present before firing to hit it.

What is in the balloon presents?

Each present could be anything from a DIY recipe to 50,000 bells.

Some contain items to place around your home or island and sometimes you might even get some sweet clothing from them.

Make sure that when you're shooting the balloon that it's not over water or a patch of land that's occupied by items or plants as it was either fall into the water and be lost or not have any room to land and simply disappear.

If this does happen, however, you're rewarded with commiseration Nook Miles, so, swings and roundabouts, you know?

We've written a bunch of beginner-friendly guides to help get you started on Animal Crossing, which you can find here.

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