Amiibo Compatibility Cheatsheet: Which Figures Unlock What in New Horizons

Hook: Stop hunting blind — here’s the definitive Amiibo compatibility cheatsheet for ACNH 3.0

If you’re frustrated by fragmented storefronts, inconsistent item lists, and guessing which Amiibo actually unlocks what in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) 3.0, this guide is for you. We consolidate every major Amiibo family (Splatoon, Zelda, Sanrio, Smash, Animal Crossing cards, and more), explain exactly what each type unlocks in 3.0, and give practical steps so scanning actually turns into items, villagers, or wardrobe pieces — fast.

Executive summary — most important facts first

In ACNH 3.0 (Jan 2026 rollouts), Nintendo expanded Amiibo unlocks. Broadly, Amiibo interactions now fall into three practical categories:

• Furniture & sets unlocked for purchase: Scan a compatible figure/card and the themed set becomes available to buy through Nook Shopping or shows up in the Nook Stop terminal’s catalog within 24 hours.
• Villager invites and campsite interactions: Animal Crossing-series Amiibo cards and many Animal Crossing figures still invite villagers and can trigger campsite visits.
• Photo/novelty interactions: Some figures (notably from Smash or crossovers) cause special greetings, photo poses in Photopia, or one-off gifts on scan.

Below you’ll find a series-by-series compatibility list, step-by-step scanning best practices, 2026 trends impacting Amiibo availability, and advanced strategies for collectors and buyers.

How to use this cheatsheet

1. Locate the Amiibo family (e.g., Splatoon, Zelda, Sanrio, Smash, AC cards).
2. Read the short compatibility note for that family below — it tells you whether the Amiibo unlocks purchasable items, invites villagers, or just gives a one-off interaction.
3. Follow the Quick scan checklist to make sure your unlock registers in-game.

Quick scan checklist (actionable steps)

• Update ACNH to the latest version (3.0.x) — check the main menu footer for version number. Nintendo pushed important fixes in late 2025 and Jan 2026.
• Approach the Resident Services terminal and choose the Amiibo option (top-right NFC reader icon).
• Scan the figure/card slowly until the game confirms the scan. Wait for on-screen confirmation, then exit the menu.
• Check Nook Shopping / Nook Stop within 24 hours for new set listings. For campsite invites, go to the Campsite the next day or use the invite flow immediately if prompted.
• If nothing appears after 24 hours: reboot the game, rescan, and double-check the Amiibo series compatibility below. Some unlocks only appear after a full day cycle.

Compatibility index — at-a-glance by Amiibo family (ACNH 3.0)

The lists below cover the major Amiibo families that ACNH 3.0 recognizes. For each family we note the typical unlock type, examples of notable figures / cards, and quick tips.

1) Splatoon Amiibo (Figures & cards)

Typical unlock: Splatoon-themed furniture and apparel sets (purchasable after scanning). Nintendo’s 3.0 update introduced a curated Splatoon furniture line. Scanning any official Splatoon figure or compatible Splatoon-series card unlocks the ability to buy the Splatoon set via Nook Shopping (it may take up to 24 hours to appear).

• Examples: Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, Inkling Squid, Octoling figures.
• Tip: You only need to scan one Splatoon Amiibo once to unlock the set. Scanning additional Splatoon Amiibo won’t add new Splatoon items beyond the set unless Nintendo releases more DLC drops.

2) The Legend of Zelda Amiibo

Typical unlock: Zelda-themed furniture and display items (master sword models, shields, decorative sets). Zelda Amiibo historically unlock themed decor in ACNH. After 3.0, these remain purchasable through Nook Shopping after a successful scan.

• Examples: Link (various releases), Zelda, Ganondorf, and special Smash-series Zelda figures.
• Tip: Multiple Zelda Amiibo scans don’t typically stack new items — one scan unlocks the set. If you want every variant (some reprints include unique small extras), check resale listings and official restock alerts.

3) Sanrio / Sanrio x Animal Crossing crossovers

Typical unlock: Sanrio furniture and character-themed items (purchasable after scanning). The Sanrio crossover set (introduced earlier and supported in 3.0) follows the same flow as Splatoon and Zelda: scan a compatible Sanrio-specific card or figure and the themed set becomes available for purchase.

• Examples: Hello Kitty partner figures / specially produced Sanrio cards used in the original crossover promotions.
• Tip: Sanrio items in ACNH are highly sought-after. Use the storefront index to find legitimate sellers who list region and condition.

4) Animal Crossing Amiibo cards & figures (villagers)

Typical unlock: Villager invites, campsite visits, and the ability to call villagers to your island. These remain the most functional Amiibo in ACNH. Scanning a villager card/figure usually launches an invite workflow — either allowing that villager to visit your campsite or appear at Resident Services for recruitment.

• Examples: Series 1–5 AC cards (Isabelle, K.K. Slider cards, and hundreds of villager cards).
• Tip: If you’re trying to get a particular villager, always scan at Resident Services when prompted. Some villagers need the campsite interaction completed before they’ll move in.

5) Smash Series Amiibo (Super Smash Bros.)

Typical unlock: One-off interactions, special photo poses, or small gifts; occasionally furniture linked to crossover promos. Smash Amiibo are mixed — while some Smash figures that represent AC characters (e.g., Isabelle) behave like AC-series Amiibo, most Smash figures will generate a one-off event or cosmetic reward in ACNH.

• Examples: Isabelle Amiibo (Smash) behaves like an AC card in many cases; others (Mario, Link) may trigger themed furniture availability if tied to a campaign.
• Tip: Treat Smash Amiibo as “check and scan” — many yield small surprises rather than full sets.

6) Mario / Nintendo Series & other crossovers

Typical unlock: Themed items and apparel tied to specific crossover drops. ACNH 3.0 kept a flexible model: if Nintendo runs a crossover event or adds a theme, associated Amiibo (Mario series, select series figures) can unlock items for purchase.

• Examples: Mario, Peach, Bowser figures — appearances depend on campaign tie-ins.
• Tip: Keep an eye on Nintendo’s official update notes — new unlocks between late 2025 and early 2026 have followed short promotional windows.

Full compatibility checklist (practical shortcuts)

Use this checklist for quick decisions while buying, trading, or scanning:

• If you want items/furniture, target Splatoon, Zelda, and Sanrio Amiibo first.
• If you want specific villagers, buy Animal Crossing-series Amiibo cards/figures (they’re the only guaranteed way to directly invite specific villagers).
• If you want rare photo poses or novelty interactions, scan Smash amiibo and keep an eye on one-off gifts.
• Always check Nook Shopping the next day — most unlocks aren’t instant — patience pays off. Use price and deal tools like the where to score guides if you’re buying on the secondary market.

Troubleshooting common Amiibo problems (actionable fixes)

Game says "not compatible" or nothing happens

• Confirm ACNH is updated to the latest patch (v3.0.x). Nintendo issued small fixes in late 2025 and Jan 2026 that altered unlock timing.
• Make sure you scanned while in the Resident Services Amiibo menu (the dedicated portal).
• Try scanning with a Joy-Con (NFC) directly over the right stick or use the NFC reader accessory if you have an older Switch model.

Scan succeeded but no items in Nook Shopping

• Wait 24 in-game hours — many unlocks are queued to appear in Nook Shopping the following day.
• Reboot the game and check the Nook Stop terminal. Some sets display there under special offers.

2026 trends you should know (market & development)

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw a clear resurgence in Amiibo interest driven by ACNH’s 3.0 content. Key trends:

• Reprints & restocks: Nintendo has occasionally restocked popular Amiibo lines in response to demand. Bookmark official store pages and use store alerts on aggregator sites to catch restocks.
• Secondary market price spikes: Sanrio and Splatoon Amiibo-related items saw higher resale values after 3.0 launched. If you’re buying solely for unlocks, remember one scan unlocks a set — you don’t need a mint-condition figure to unlock items in-game. Read collector market notes in our collector spotlight to understand price drivers.
• Cross-promo windows: Nintendo has been experimenting with short-term promotions (holiday drops, partnership items). These can change which Amiibo unlocks what — follow Nintendo’s official update notes and trusted outlets.

Advanced strategies for collectors, completionists, and store hunters

• Buy for function, not condition: If your goal is to unlock ACNH items, a used Amiibo that scans is the fastest and cheapest route — check local classifieds or certified reseller platforms indexed in storefront indexes.
• Track unlocks in a small spreadsheet: columns: Amiibo family, figure/card name, scan date, unlocked set name, Nook Shopping appearance date. This helps track which scans actually produced in-game results (useful in troubleshooting). For pricing and display tactics when buying in person, review data-led stallcraft techniques.
• Region and language filters: Amiibo are not region-locked, but packaging and accessory availability can vary by region. Search storefront indexes by region to find the best pricing and shipping options — browser tools and extensions can speed this up (top browser extensions for fast research).
• Bundle watch: Sellers sometimes bundle AC cards with merchandise — if you want a fast villager, look for verified bundles that explicitly list usable cards. Check fulfillment and listing reviews in our storefront index for seller reliability and fulfillment notes.

Sample complete unlock scenarios (real-world examples)

These represent common player journeys after the 3.0 update:

• Splatoon collector: Buys an Inkling figure, scans at Resident Services, waits 24 hours — Splatoon furniture shows in Nook Shopping, purchases the set, decorates a turf-war themed room.
• Villager hunter: Buys Series 3 Animal Crossing card (village favorite), scans at the Resident Services Amiibo portal — villager visits the campsite the same day and can be persuaded to move in after fulfilling the usual dialog boxes.
• Smash surprise: Scans a Smash Kirby figure and receives a unique Photopia pose and a small collectible item that appears in their mailbox the following morning.

"Scan once, check Nook Shopping the next day. Most unlocks aren’t instant — patience pays off." — Thegames.directory editorial

What we recommend right now (actionable takeaways)

• If you want ACNH decor: prioritize Splatoon, Zelda, and Sanrio Amiibo — one scan unlocks full sets for purchase.
• If you want villagers: buy Animal Crossing-series Amiibo cards/figures — they’re the only guaranteed way to invite specific villagers directly.
• Use the storefront index to search by platform, genre, region and find verified sellers with transparent pricing.
• Document every scan. If something doesn’t appear within 24 hours, rescan and contact Nintendo Support with your save-file timestamp and Amiibo SKU for faster troubleshooting. For building simple documentation and repeatable processes, see modular publishing workflows.

Keeping your catalog clean — a quick maintenance checklist

1. After each successful scan, add the unlocked set to your in-island catalog folder or spreadsheet.
2. Mark which items are buy-only vs. craftable so you don’t double-spend Bells.
3. When trading Amiibo, always confirm the buyer understands that only physical scanning unlocks in-game content — digital photos are not sufficient. If you trade frequently, review marketplace safety best practices in the Marketplace Safety & Fraud Playbook.

Final notes & resources

This cheatsheet reflects ACNH’s Amiibo model as of the 3.0 update and the surrounding ecosystem activity from late 2025 into early 2026. Nintendo’s approach has been intentionally flexible: when new crossover promotions drop, Amiibo families may gain new unlocks. For verified restock alerts, price comparisons, and a searchable index organized by region and seller reputation, use the storefront listings.

Call to action

Ready to unlock that Splatoon set or nab a specific villager? Use our searchable Amiibo storefront index to find the exact figure or card by region and seller rating — then come back and tell us which unlocks you landed. Spot a compatibility mismatch or new unlock? Submit a correction to our database and help the community stay current.

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