If you’re playing #AnimalCrossing
& hunting for rare cherry blossom recipes before the event ends, I figured out how exploiting the “reset balloon” game mechanic can spawn non-egg balloons on a schedule every 5 minutes. Nerdy data thread & steps follow. #ACNH


Balloons spawn on one side of your island on a set schedule (mine are on the west side until 6pm). Regular balloons spawn over the ocean at the xx:x4 and XX:x9 times on your game clock. Without doing the reset, you’re only guaranteed 2 balloons per hour at 5-20 minute intervals.
However, the game has a mechanic that when you enter a building & interact, it resets the balloon spawn. This is to prevent you exiting the building just to watch a balloon you missed while indoors float out to sea beyond your reach.
However, after the latest patch, merely entering a building only resets the spawn - it doesn’t guarantee a balloon within the first five minutes. BUT, I discovered how to guarantee the spawn every 5 minutes even with the new patch! Here are the steps:
Step 1: enter the Nook shop and start the dialogue to buy an item (you can cancel the transaction)
#ACNH
#ACNH

Step 2: (IMPORTANT) - exit the building BEFORE the clock switches over to a xx:x4 or xx:x9 minute on the clock. The spawn won’t happen on schedule if you’re in the building at the spawn time, due to the game mechanics. #ACNH

Step 3: Hang out on beach until spawn time. Though the spawn happens at xx:x4 or xx:x9, it takes 1 minute to float from ocean to beach. Run up & down the beach listening for the “whoosh” sound of the balloon, since it will grow louder & tell you where the spawn point is.
Step 4: BALLOOONS. Make sure to run the entire length of your beach to catch it!
After popping, run back to the store & repeat steps 1-3. Rinse, repeat.
I’m on balloon 26ish.
#ACNH
After popping, run back to the store & repeat steps 1-3. Rinse, repeat.
I’m on balloon 26ish.
#ACNH

Apologies to all of you who don’t play #AnimalCrossingNewHorizons
for the thread spam - figuring out game mechanics, min-maxing and defeating the RNG are some of my favorite things to do when playing a game.
I get excited when I figure out how something works.


It’s still working! One of these held recipe 13/14, so one more to go.
I’m pretty sure these were *not* meant to be all collected in one year. Without this trick I’m not even sure it would have been possible. #AnimalCrossing
I’m pretty sure these were *not* meant to be all collected in one year. Without this trick I’m not even sure it would have been possible. #AnimalCrossing

Challenge: hire me to write your #AnimalCrossing
articles
IGN’s article still can’t figure out how to get the golden slingshot when I’ve had it for a week

IGN’s article still can’t figure out how to get the golden slingshot when I’ve had it for a week
