While touring a player's island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players will notice that occasionally, balloons will float overhead. These balloons have presents attached, which contain different items. Although it's not entirely clear how to predict what a player can get from the balloons, the colors do present a bit of a pattern. Based on the balloon color, players will be able to sort of predict what items may be hiding in the presents.
However, knowing what each color represents can be a little tricky. Sometimes, the balloons seemed a little random and difficult to predict. Finding the patterns to what color balloons carry which items can be easier than players think.
Flying Overhead in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
In order for a player to even reach these balloons, players will need to have the slingshot item. Early on in the game, players can get a slingshot from Timmy's tent store. The slingshot will even be available before the official Nook's Cranny store opens. Players can also receive one after taking Tom Nook's DIY class, which occurs during the first few days of the game.
Balloons can be heard flying overhead. Generally, while exploring the island, players will hear a sudden wind noise that is persistent. As players get closer to the balloon, the sound will get louder. If players tilt the right joystick up, the character will look up and give players a better idea of where the balloon is floating.
Once the balloon is located, simply equip the slingshot, press and hold (A) until the balloon is directly above the character, then let go. The slingshot will shoot one shot and, hopefully, pop the balloon and drop a prize. When doing this, please try to avoid being near water or patches of flowers. Balloons are impossible to retrieve from the river and can get lost in flower patches.
Balloon Facts
Balloons only float over player's islands from one direction during each time of the day. During the daytime (roughly 5 AM until 6 PM) balloons will spawn from one side of the island. During the night (6 PM until 5 AM), they only come from the opposite side of the island. Balloons will appear on the player's island every 5 to 10 minutes but may take a moment to float in from the ocean. There is also a way to force balloons to spawn if players want more chances at those sweet presents.
There are four colors of balloons that will float past player's island: Yellow, Blue, Red, and Green. Although there is no way to guarantee knowing what each balloon color will drop, there are a few consistencies that make guessing a little bit easier.
Yellow balloons tend to carry bells. The number of bells will vary from 1,000 to 10,000 (and possibly more). Blue balloons tend to carry crafting materials. Blue balloons more often drop items such as clay, iron nuggets, wood, etc.
Red and Green balloons are still a little varying in what they will drop. Thus far, Red balloons have seemed to drop more furniture than the other colors. However, Red balloons also have been the only ones that have also dropped DIYs more frequently than other colors as well. Green balloons, by contrast, are a total mixed bag. Although some players claim to get clothing more often from green balloons than any other color, the overall count for Green balloons has been a bit all over the place.
There is a Nook Miles reward for players who shot down 300 balloons. Once this milestone is achieved, players should wonder their island and keep an eye on the sky. After a while, players will notice a golden balloon floating overhead. Shoot the balloon down and players will be rewarded with a DIY card for the Golden Slingshot. This item requires nugget and one regular slingshot to craft. The golden tools have additional benefits, so it's definitely worth trying to get!
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is now available on Nintendo Switch.