How to get hardwood in Animal Crossing

In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, hardwood is a valuable resource used to craft various furniture types or your very own, do-it-yourself bench for your home. As the game progresses, more and more items require hardwood, so all in all, it’s useful to have it in your back pocket. Here’s how to obtain Hardwood in Animal Crossing.

First things first, you’ll need to obtain an Axe. The Axe is a craftable item, and the recipe is accessible from Tom Nook. He’s the founder and owner of Nook Inc. and acts as the leader and developer of the island. He’s typically found in the Resident Services tent. The first time you speak with Tom, you’ll end up crafting a Bug Net and Fishing Pole. He is essentially on the hunt for various insects, fish, items, and other specimens. You’ll need to be on the lookout for the different things he’s asking for and then show him accordingly.

Additionally, he’s looking for two different kinds of the same thing each, so be sure to capture two of everything. As a reward, he’ll hand over recipes. Eventually, one of the recipes he gives you is the Flimsy Axe recipe.

Once you’ve acquired the recipe, you’ll discover that you’ll need five Tree Branch and one Stone to craft the Flimsy Axe. Tree branches can be nabbed from finding the closest tree and giving it a shake, while stones are typically found near large boulders all over the place.

With your axe equipped, head over to the nearest tree, and start swinging. Doing so will drop Hard Wood, Soft Wood, and Normal Wood from the tree. There is no way to increase your chances of getting hardwood; it’s pure luck. The Flimsy Axe can’t completely knock down trees, so no need to worry about those precious Fruit Trees.