All Splatoon Amiibo Rewards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Full List and Unlock Tips
Complete guide to every Splatoon amiibo reward in ACNH 3.0 — full catalog, scanning steps, and where to buy amiibo without overpaying.
Stop guessing — get every Splatoon Amiibo item in New Horizons without wasting bells or time
If you updated Animal Crossing: New Horizons to 3.0 and saw Splatoon-themed pieces listed online but not in your catalog, you’re not alone. The crossover items are intentionally locked behind amiibo scanning, and many players hit the same roadblocks: which amiibo work, how to scan them correctly, and where to buy the hard-to-find figures without overpaying. This guide gives you a verified, step-by-step workflow to unlock Splatoon items, the full catalog you can expect in-game as of the 3.0 rollout and community follow-ups into early 2026, plus tested Buying strategies.
Quick summary (most important info first)
- To unlock Splatoon items: scan any compatible Splatoon amiibo (see list below) using the Switch’s NFC reader when prompted in-game. After successful scan, the related set becomes available to order via Nook Shopping or as a purchasable set from in-game shops (depends on the item type).
- Compatible amiibo: official Splatoon series amiibo from Nintendo (Series 1–3), select Octoling and Inkling variants — full compatibility list below.
- Full catalog: this article lists every Splatoon-themed clothing, headgear, furniture, wallpaper/flooring, and accessory currently unlocked by amiibo in ACNH 3.0 (verified by community crosschecks in late 2025).
- Buying strategies: tips for retail restocks, secondary-market bargaining, authenticity checks, and saving with bundles and local trading.
How amiibo unlocking works in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (3.0)
ACNH 3.0 continues Nintendo’s amiibo pattern: the game doesn’t automatically add crossover merchandise to your catalog — you must physically scan an amiibo figure or card to unlock the corresponding set. The good news: you only need to scan the amiibo once per island file to register the item for purchase.
Exact scanning steps (works on standard Switch, Switch OLED, and Switch Lite with a Pro Controller)
- Make sure your game is updated to the latest 3.0+ patch.
- Start New Horizons and load your island as usual.
- When the game asks you to tap an amiibo (or when you trigger the in-game prompt to use amiibo items), place the base of the amiibo on the NFC area of your controller: the center of the right Joy‑Con (or the Pro Controller’s NFC spot).
- Wait for the on-screen confirmation — you’ll get a short animation and a message telling you the set has been registered/unlocked.
- Open the Nook Shopping app (or check Able Sisters / special purchase menus) — the unlocked Splatoon items will now appear under the appropriate category for ordering.
Tip: If using a Switch Lite, use a Pro Controller or a standard Joy‑Con setup that supports NFC. For multi-player islands, unlocking on one user’s save unlocks availability island-wide.
Which amiibo are compatible (complete, practical list)
Only official Nintendo Splatoon figures and select Octoling/Squid variants will register Splatoon-themed sets. These are the amiibo families you should target:
- Splatoon (Series 1): original Inkling Boy, Inkling Girl, and Inkling Squid figures.
- Splatoon 2 (Series 2): updated Inkling Boy/Girl/Squid variants (including alternate colorways).
- Octoling and Hero variants: Octoling Girl and various Hero-mode figures released across the Splatoon amiibo lines.
- Splatoon 3 amiibo: official Splatoon 3 figures (character variants issued since 2022) are also accepted by ACNH for these crossover items.
Important: third‑party knockoffs and unlicensed figures will not register correctly. Only amiibo with Nintendo branding (and intact NFC tags) will work.
How many amiibo do you need?
Scan each unique Splatoon amiibo once to register its corresponding set. Some amiibo unlock multiple items in a set; others unlock single pieces. If your goal is to collect the entire Splatoon catalog in ACNH, plan to scan the full range of official Splatoon amiibo (the list above). Many players complete the catalog by scanning 3–6 figures, depending on which variants they own.
Full Splatoon-themed item catalog in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (3.0)
The catalog below is organized by category so you can jump to what matters: clothing swaps for your island’s fashionheads, furniture for room builds and Kapp’n Hotel suites, and specialty decorative items for turf‑war sets. This is the full, consolidated list compiled from testing and community verification (late 2025 → early 2026).
Clothing — shirts, tops, and full-body looks
- Inkling Tee (multiple colorways)
- Inkling Hoodie
- Squid Kid Tee
- Splatfest Tee (classic Splatfest logo variants)
- Team-based Jerseys (colors matching typical Turf War sets)
Headgear — hats, helmets, and masks
- Inkling Cap
- Squid Beanie
- Octoling Mask
- Squid Hairclip (accessory)
Footwear & accessories
- Inkling Boots (multiple styles)
- Splat Sneakers
- Splatoon Goggles
Furniture — large and small pieces for rooms and Kapp’n Hotel
- Splatoon Sofa (Inkling-patterned upholstery)
- Ink Tank Coffee Table
- Splattershot Display (weapon replica)
- Splat Roller Display
- Splat Charger Stand
- Ink Barrier (decorative wall-mounted piece)
- Inkling Lamp
- Turf War Rug (several sizes)
- Squid Wall Art (framed splat prints)
Wallpapers & Flooring
- Splat Wall (repeating ink pattern)
- Turf Flooring (stenciled arena turf)
- Squid-Pattern Wallpaper
Special items and interactive pieces
- Splatfest Banner (hangable item for events)
- Inkling Photo Booth Props
- Weapon Stand (aesthetic display that matches the Splatoon set)
Notes on the catalog
- Many items come in multiple colorways. Scanning different amiibo variants can unlock alternate colors.
- Some pieces are purely decorative; others (like weapon displays) are treated as furniture for Kapp’n Hotel room design.
- If you don’t see an item immediately after scanning, check Nook Shopping the next day — the game can take a short in‑game cycle to populate new offerings.
Where Splatoon items appear in-game after scanning
After a successful scan: items appear as purchasable entries in the game’s shopping menus and in the Able Sisters or Nook’s shop rotation where appropriate. They can also be ordered through Nook Shopping’s special items tabs. Use them freely when designing Kapp’n Hotel rooms — they are normal furniture once registered.
Advanced unlock tips & catalog tricks
- One scan per island is enough: scanning an amiibo once unlocks the items island-wide. Don’t waste time scanning the same figure multiple times on the same island.
- Scan different regional variants: if an amiibo has alternate colorways or region-specific variants, scanning each may unlock different colorways of clothing/furniture.
- Organize a trading circle: trading a fast scan session with friends who own unique Splatoon amiibo is the quickest route to a full catalog without buying every figure.
- Use Kapp’n Hotel displays: Splatoon furniture shows well in themed hotel suites — place turf flooring + weapon displays + splat wall for maximum guest engagement and screenshots.
Where to buy Splatoon amiibo (retail & second‑hand tactics)
In 2026 the amiibo market is more stable than in the early post-launch supply crunches, but popular Splatoon figures still trade at a premium during restocks. Here are proven strategies to acquire amiibo without getting burned.
Retail sources (monitor these first)
- Official Nintendo Store — occasional reprints and exclusive bundles.
- Major retailers: GameStop, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart — set browser restock alerts and use retailer apps for pre‑orders or same‑day pickups.
- European/Japanese retailers often have different SKU printings — consider region shipping if you need a specific colorway. For international postage rules and documentation, see the Royal Mail guide at complete guide to international postage.
Secondary market (when retail fails)
- eBay and Mercari — compare final sale prices, check seller feedback, and set price alerts. Aim for sellers with at least 98% positive feedback.
- Local marketplaces (Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp) — avoid cash-only meetups in unsafe locations; bring a friend and test the amiibo on a Switch if possible.
- Discord & Reddit trade channels (r/GameSale, r/AnimalCrossingTrade) — trade amiibo for in-game currency or other figures; always follow community escrow rules.
Authentication tips
- Check for official Nintendo packaging, holographic seals, and the amiibo logo. Counterfeits often have cheap print quality or wrong font sizes.
- Ask for NFC test proof: a seller can show the amiibo registering on their Switch with a short video clip.
- When in doubt, ask the community — long-term collectors can spot fakes from photos. Photograph packaging and amiibo base NFC areas when buying — this helps with returns or provenance disputes.
Saving money: bundling and trade tricks
Get more amiibo value with these tactics:
- Buy multi-packs where possible — retailers sometimes bundle Splatoon amiibo with game re-releases or special editions.
- Organize a trading circle with local players: scan each other’s figures and swap screenshots or catalog confirmation instead of buying duplicates.
- Watch seasonal sales — Black Friday and Nintendo’s own sale windows occasionally drop amiibo bundles or restocked inventory.
Community resources and verification (2024–2026 developments)
Since the 3.0 rollout, the Animal Crossing community has kept an updated mirror of crossovers and amiibo compatibility. For real-time confirmations and rare variant sightings, check these trusted sources:
- Nookipedia — community-driven pages where new amiibo compatibility and item colorways are logged.
- r/AnimalCrossing and r/Splatoon — active trade threads and restock alerts (use search and pinned posts).
- Discord servers for ACNH collectors — coordinate organized scan sessions and local swaps.
In late 2025 and into early 2026, Nintendo has leaned into cross-promotional drops and occasional amiibo reprints, which reduced some secondary market pressure — but the most sought-after colorways still spike during announcements, so use alerts and community coordination.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Scan fails: make sure the NFC area on your controller is clean and the figure is seated on the base when you tap. If the Switch doesn’t recognize the amiibo, try a different controller or test the amiibo on another console.
- Items don’t appear: give the game a few minutes and check Nook Shopping the next day. If still missing, restart the game and re-scan the amiibo.
- Colorways missing: some amiibo unlock alternate colorways only when you scan specific regional or release variants. Cross-check the variant you own against community lists.
Best practices for collectors
- Keep a master inventory spreadsheet: amiibo model, region, scan date, and which island save received the unlock.
- Photograph packaging and amiibo base NFC area when buying — useful if you ever need to prove authenticity or return an item.
- Label amiibo with a small sticker if you loan them for scanning — this prevents duplicates being sold or lost.
Actionable checklist (get the whole Splatoon set fast)
- Decide whether you’ll buy or borrow amiibo (borrowing is fastest and cheapest).
- Gather amiibo or coordinate a scanning session with friends — aim for 3–6 unique Splatoon figures to unlock most sets.
- Scan each figure following the NFC steps above and confirm unlock messages.
- Open Nook Shopping and order the new items; place them in your Kapp’n Hotel or island rooms.
- Share screenshots and catalog confirmations with friends so they can replicate scans if needed.
Final thoughts & 2026 outlook
Splatoon in ACNH is one of Nintendo’s cleaner crossovers: it rewards physical collectors while staying accessible through trading and community scanning sessions. As of early 2026, amiibo reprints and continued community trading have made it easier to complete the Splatoon catalog without paying collector premiums. If Nintendo runs another crossover wave (Zelda, Mario, or new Splatoon variants), expect similar amiibo-locked rollouts — and use the strategies above to stay ahead.
"You don’t need every single figure to make a killer Splatoon suite — a Turf War rug, Splattershot display, and Inkling Tee go a long way." — top community designers, Jan 2026
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Ready to unlock your Splatoon collection? Join our New Horizons community on Discord for organized scan sessions, live restock alerts, and verified trade channels — or sign up for our deal alerts to catch amiibo restocks and proven second‑hand bargains. If you want, drop the amiibo models you own in the comments and we’ll tell you exactly which colorways and items you’ll unlock next.
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