To make a pond in The Sims 4, go to Build Mode, dig a hole with the terrain tool (Lower Terrain), then use the Water Tool to fill the hole with water. Ponds are free for everyone: they came to the base game with the July 20, 2021 update (patch 1.77), so you do not need any pack. Below you find every step, how to stock the pond with fish, and the decorations that bring it to life.
How to make a pond: quick steps
- Open Build Mode on a lot with outdoor space.
- Pick the terrain tools and choose Lower Terrain. Click and drag to dig the shape of your pond.
- Choose the Water Tool and click inside the hole. The water fills the hole up to the level you set.
- Pick a water style (for example Mossy Water or Pond Scum) for a natural look.
- Add plants, rocks and pond objects from Outdoor Water Décor.
- Place a Fishing Allowed Sign if your Sims should be able to fish there.
Water only stays in a hole. You cannot paint water onto flat ground, so always dig first.
Step 1: dig the shape
The same update that added ponds gave the terrain tools more brush sizes. Use a big brush to dig the main hole fast, then a small one for the edges, small bays and islands. Natural ponds rarely have straight lines, so let the edge curve. If the bank looks rough, smooth it with the smoothing brush in the same menu.
You can make several ponds on one lot and at different heights. A pond higher up on a raised part of the lot, with a lower pond below it, looks like a small stream. The water does not flow between them, but waterfall and rock decor sells the effect.
Step 2: fill it with water
Pick the Water Tool and click inside the hole. You choose how high the water goes, and you can lower or remove it again with the same tool. Sims can wade into a pond about knee deep, but they cannot swim in it. If you want your Sims to swim, build a pool instead.
Ponds have their own water styles. Besides the classic crystal blue and magenta, the update added natural styles such as Mossy Water and Pond Scum. Mossy Water fits a garden or forest pond best.
Step 3: decorate the pond
Open Outdoor Water Décor in Build Mode. Here you find the pond objects:
- Pond effects: animals that make the pond look alive, from ducks and swans to mosquitoes. There is even an alligator.
- Bog Log and Colorful Lily Pads: these have interactions in Live Mode that bring out turtles and frogs.
- Plants: the Shrubs category got new plants that suit ponds, such as Green Fern and Leaning Not-Grass Grass.
- Terrain paint: paint dirt or mud along the bank with a small brush, so the edge does not look cut out.
Want to place rocks and plants half in the water or very close together? Turn on the move objects cheat (bb.moveobjects) first. In this video, fantasims shows how to landscape around a pond and even build inside one:
How to fish in your pond and stock it
A new pond is just for looks until you add a Fishing Allowed Sign from Outdoor Water Décor. Place it at the edge of the pond. Then your Sims can fish there, and you can stock the pond with any type of fish your Sims have caught before. A Sim who has never caught a fish has nothing to stock with, so take them fishing in town first.
Sims can also look for frogs in a pond. Fishing in your own backyard is an easy way to train the Fishing skill; see our guide to maxing skills in The Sims 4 for faster ways.
Common problems
- The Water Tool does nothing: the ground is flat. Dig a hole with Lower Terrain first.
- The water spills over the edge: the water level is higher than the lowest point of the bank. Lower the water or raise the bank.
- My Sims cannot fish: add a Fishing Allowed Sign at the edge of the pond.
- I cannot stock fish: the Sim needs to have caught that type of fish before.
FAQ
Do you need a pack to make a pond in The Sims 4?
No. Ponds and the Water Tool are part of the base game since the free update on July 20, 2021. Before that, players faked ponds with oddly shaped pools and rocks.
Can Sims swim in a pond?
No. Sims can wade in a pond up to about their knees, fish and look for frogs, but they cannot swim. Use a pool for swimming.
How do you put fish in a pond in The Sims 4?
Place a Fishing Allowed Sign next to the pond and use it to stock the pond. You can only add fish that your Sims have caught before.
Can you change the color of pond water?
Yes. Ponds use water styles, including the classic blue and magenta and natural ones like Mossy Water and Pond Scum.
Can you make a pond on a console?
Yes. The same update reached PlayStation and Xbox (console version 1.44), so the Water Tool works there too.
Building the rest of the lot? Read our guide on how to build a house in The Sims 4, or see all Sims 4 packs if you want more garden and nature items.
Sources: EA patch notes for the July 20, 2021 update (as kept on The Sims Wiki, patch 115) and The Sims Wiki page on ponds.