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Balloons are something you will notice floating around your island fairly regularly in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. They have a present attached, and you can use your slingshot to shoot them out of the sky. They drop clothing, furniture, bells, and rare DIY recipes, which is why you might want to seek them out.
These balloons are the only way to obtain unique DIY recipes during some events, and this leads to the question of how to farm balloons. There are a few tips and tricks, as well as a tried and true method that pros often use to collect numerous balloons.
Updated on April 21, 2023: If you've got your eye on some particular DIY recipes and the only reliable way to get them is to shoot down balloons, you'll want to know where and when balloons appear. To help you with that, we've updated this guide for readability.
Where Do Balloons Spawn?
Balloons can spawn from anywhere down the left and right sides of the island, and they'll float across to the opposite side.
Balloons will always travel in the same direction until 6am or 6pm in-game time when the switch is made, and they'll go the opposite way. Once you've worked out the direction, you will know which side they spawn on.
The spawns change every sundown and sunset, so in a single day, you will only have to watch one direction at a time.
How Often Do Balloons Spawn?
A new balloon will spawn every fourth and ninth minute, but you might not see them until the fifth and tenth.
For example, the balloons will spawn at 3:14 and 3:19, but you might not see them until 3:15 and 3:20.
How To Get More Balloons
Take A Stroll Along The Beach
Once you know from which direction the balloons are coming from, then you can take a stroll along the beach.
The best way to find them is by listening for them as there is a tell-tale whistle that signifies that one is close by.
If you know one should be spawning soon, then run up and down the beach from its spawn side in order to find it.
Check The Current Wind Direction
You need to take the wind direction into effect, as this could change the course of the balloon as it travels across your island.
It is worth your time to watch one balloon for a minute in order to know where the wind will be taking them.
This is the line you will want to follow if you happen to be across the island during a spawn and want to discover where it will probably end up.
Try The Tall Wall Trick
Using a tall wall can change the direction of a balloon, as they will change course upon encountering a building.
Once you know where they are spawning, create a wall along the length of your island to stop them from vanishing into the sea on the opposite side of the island.
Most people use jail bars or a climbing wall for this.
The balloon will hit this wall and change its course to head directly south, so all you have to do is stand at the end and wait to shoot it down.
What's New With Balloons In Version 2.0?
Balloons drop the same items as before as well as a few new items. This means that you can still shoot them down for bells, furniture, clothing, and DIY recipes, but now there is also a chance that they will drop cooking recipes.
Another thing that will also change balloons (temporarily) is Katrina's fortunes. Receiving an improved money fortune means you will earn more bells from balloons you shoot down. Unfortunately, the same applies if you receive a bad money fortune.