General Collecting Tips for Rocks and Plants
Collecting in The Sims 4 involves finding various items like Metals, Fossils, Crystals, and MySims Trophies, often by digging up rocks. Elements are harvested by sending off Metals and Crystals. For plants, some must be found in the wild and then introduced to your garden. These collections can be time-consuming due to the variety of items and the low chance of finding specific ones.
- Collecting Starts at Home: Check around homes in your own Neighborhood for spawners before exploring other areas. Items may respawn by the time you return.
- Pause the Game: When searching for collectibles, pause the game to prevent your Sim from aging. Scan the borders of an area, then the middle, and look from different angles to spot spawners hidden by trees, bushes, or houses. Spawners are typically around lots, not on them.
- Run a Pattern: Visit several Neighborhoods as your Sim's Energy permits. Pause the game to look for the sparkles of plants and the shapes of rocks, gathering items from each area.
- Day by Day: Spawners create items about once a day. Explore new Neighborhoods and visit Sylvan Glade and Forgotten Grotto (requires Level 10 Handiness), as these areas have a higher chance of rare items, and some items only spawn there.
- Visit the Parks: Oasis Springs' Park can have up to 8 dig spots during a visit.
The Curator aspiration heavily focuses on collecting, requiring Sims to obtain crystals, fossils, frogs, and elements.