How To Unlock All Splatoon Amiibo Rewards in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Step-by-Step)

Hook: Still missing the Splatoon gear for your island? Fast-track every reward from Splatoon Amiibo after the Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update

Frustrated by scattered guides, unclear scanning steps, or not knowing which Amiibo unlock which Splatoon items? This walkthrough gives you a clear, tested path — which figures to use, exactly how to scan them, a complete furniture & clothing checklist (categories and example pieces), and island-shop strategies post-3.0 so you can decorate, sell, or display the full Splatoon line on your island.

Quick summary — Most important actions first (inverted pyramid)

1. Update New Horizons to 3.0+ and have your Switch’s NFC reader ready.
2. Use any official Splatoon-series Amiibo (Inkling / Octoling / Splatoon special characters) to unlock the Splatoon item pool.
3. Scan Amiibo through the in-game amiibo prompt (Nook Shopping / kiosks or Hotel kiosks) — items unlock for purchase afterward.
4. Buy one of each unlocked item (adds to your catalog) and use hotel guest rooms or your island shop rotations to display/sell copies.

What you need (hardware, software, and Amiibo)

• Game version: Animal Crossing: New Horizons updated to 3.0 or later (check Software Update in the HOME menu). 3.0 introduced the hotel and Splatoon furniture availability locked behind Amiibo.
• Switch NFC reader: Right Joy‑Con (NFC spot near the analog rail) or Pro Controller NFC area — needed to read Amiibo tags.
• Official Splatoon-series Amiibo: Inkling (boy/girl), Inkling Squid, Octoling figures and Splatoon character amiibo — any official Splatoon/Octoling Amiibo will unlock Splatoon-themed items. (If you only have one figure, you’ll still get access — scanning multiple Amiibo reveals the full pool faster.)
• Internet connection recommended for any behind-the-scenes downloads and to access Nook Shopping options; the core unlocks work offline after patch installation.

Step-by-step: How to scan Splatoon Amiibo in New Horizons (2026-tested)

The following steps reflect the 3.0 environment and community-tested methods current in early 2026. If you run into a prompt mismatch, retry after a soft-restart — the game’s amiibo prompt is explicit when the feature is active.

1. Prepare your island and controllers

• Make sure New Horizons is updated to the latest version (Nintendo released the 3.0 content in 2021; keep current patches installed through 2026 for any refinements).
• Ensure the right Joy‑Con or Pro Controller is connected and has NFC enabled (this is default for official controllers).

2. Open the in-game Amiibo interface

After 3.0, Splatoon furniture is gated behind Amiibo. Typically you’ll open the Nook Shopping kiosk in Resident Services or the Hotel’s item kiosk (Kapp’n family’s hotel added in 3.0) — look for an explicit “Use an amiibo” or “Scan amiibo” option. The game shows an on-screen prompt telling you when to tap your Amiibo.

3. Scan your Amiibo

1. When the prompt appears, place the Amiibo on the NFC spot of the right Joy‑Con (bottom-right) or Pro Controller.
2. Hold until you see visual confirmation on-screen. If the game fails to read the amiibo, remove and re-tap — occasional misreads happen; try a different controller if needed.
3. The game will confirm unlocking the associated Splatoon items. If the prompt lists character-specific items, note the item names (you’ll be able to purchase shortly).

4. Buying items and adding them to catalog

After scanning, new Splatoon furniture and clothing appear either immediately in the purchase menu at the kiosk or unlock as special items in Nook Shopping. Purchase one of each unlocked item to add it to your catalog — otherwise they won’t become available later through normal shop rotations.

Which Amiibo to use — compatibility and recommendations

Short answer: any official Splatoon-series Amiibo (Inkling, Inkling Squid, Octoling, and Splatoon character figures) will unlock Splatoon-themed rewards. You do not need a complete set to unlock the whole Splatoon pool, but scanning multiple Splatoon/Octoling Amiibo ensures you see every variant tied to different characters.

Common Splatoon Amiibo that players already have

• Splatoon (Series) Inkling Girl
• Splatoon Inkling Boy
• Splatoon Inkling Squid
• Octoling Amiibo (from Octo Expansion and Splatoon 2/3 era releases)
• Special Splatoon character amiibo (variants released across 2015–2023)

If you don’t own Amiibo yet: check official retailers, Nintendo store restocks, or trusted secondhand marketplaces. Splatoon Amiibo remain relatively common compared with rare franchise figures; 2024–2025 trading trends show steady availability and occasional reprints — but availability can shift when vendors change distribution policies (see coverage on how brand exits affect product access).

What furniture and items unlock (categories + representative list)

Scanning Splatoon Amiibo typically unlocks a themed item pool across furniture, clothing, wallpaper/floor, props, and mannequins. Below are the categories and representative examples you can expect. Exact in-game item names can vary by region — always check the in-game purchase dialog for the canonical name.

Furniture & Props (examples)

• Splatoon weapon replicas: Splattershot display, Splat Roller prop, Charger stand
• Squid/Ink lamps & lighting: Squid lamp, Inkling street lamp
• Large décor: Turf War poster, Inkopolis mural, Splat decor centerpiece
• Small items: Ink Rug / Turf rug, Splatoon poster, Small splat-themed side tables

Clothing & Accessories

• Splatoon tees & jackets
• Splatoon hats, helmets, and shoes
• Inking/Octoling masks and themed umbrellas

Wallpaper / Flooring

• Inklot Floor / Turf floor
• Inkopolis Wall / Splatter wallpaper

Special items

• Splatoon mannequins (for Able Sisters display or hotel rooms)
• Photo-ready backdrops for the hotel guest rooms

Note: Item names and availability can be region-specific. After scanning, purchase one of each item you want so it’s added to your catalog. The in-game catalog is the final authority.

How scanning maps to unlocks — tips from community testing

Players in 2022–2026 have converged on the following patterns (useful when you want everything quickly):

• Single-scan broad unlock: Scanning any Splatoon Amiibo typically unlocks a base Splatoon pool. If an Amiibo has a distinct character design, it may unlock a few exclusive color variants.
• Scan all variants: To guarantee 100% of Splatoon-themed variants (color swaps, character-specific clothing), scan multiple different Splatoon/Octoling Amiibo. This is the fastest route to “complete” status for collectors.
• Buy one copy per item: Purchasing a single copy adds it to your catalog. If you want extra copies to place/sell, buy them before cataloging or order additional copies via Nook Shopping after the first purchase is in your catalog.

Island shop strategies after the Hotel (3.0) update

The hotel introduced by the Kapp’n family is one of the best places to show off and leverage new Splatoon content. Here’s how to use the hotel and island shops to maximize your Splatoon haul.

1. Use hotel guest rooms as a showroom and trade hub

• Decorate multiple guest rooms with different Splatoon themes — Turf War room, Octoling lair, and Weapon gallery. Hotel rooms make it easy to photograph and showcase items for trading or posting on social communities.
• Invite friends or set up visiting events; hotel market days are an efficient way to show off rare color variants you collected by scanning different Amiibo.

2. Rotate island shop displays to clue villagers & visitors

• Nook’s Cranny and Able Sisters won't permanently carry all Splatoon items. Use shop rotations to surface complementary non-Amiibo Splatoon apparel or to sell duplicates to visiting players.
• Host a market day: place the items you want to trade near the plaza or use the Hotel rooms as “purchase booths.” Many players in the community prefer trading face-to-face in the hotel lobby area. If you’re thinking about monetizing events, the Micro-Event Monetization Playbook has practical tips.

3. Catalog & resale workflow

1. Scan Amiibo and buy one of each unlocked item to catalog them.
2. Order extra copies or craft displays with those items for guests to screenshot or purchase via trade.
3. Use turnip/tariff days (if you run player shops) to attract visitors who might buy Splatoon pieces — cross-promote on social channels and schedules (Discord, Reddit’s r/ACTrade, Twitter/X threads).

Troubleshooting & common questions

My Amiibo didn’t register — what now?

• Reseat the Amiibo and try another controller (readers can be picky).
• Make sure the game is at the screen that prompts for Amiibo — simply powering the Switch and tapping an amiibo won’t do anything outside a prompt.
• Restart the game and try again; if persistent, check the amiibo on another Switch (or test another amiibo on your controller) to isolate hardware issues.

Do I need multiple Amiibo to get everything?

No — a single Splatoon Amiibo unlocks a substantial portion of the Splatoon item pool. However, scanning multiple different figures reveals color variants and character-specific pieces faster.

Can I trade these items or order them via Nook Shopping later?

Once an item is in your catalog, you can order it through Nook Shopping. To trade copies, either sell duplicates in-person or host trades via hotel room showcases and visitor markets. For pricing and vendor strategies when selling duplicates, see the TradeBaze vendor playbook.

Advanced strategies for completionists and sellers (2026 trends)

By 2026 the ACNH community has refined a few advanced tactics worth using whether you’re completing a museum of merch or running a boutique island shop.

• Batch scanning sessions: Reserve a single session to scan all your Splatoon/Octoling amiibo back-to-back. This prevents missing a variant and makes cataloging efficient.
• Event-driven drops: Align your hotel market days with major Splatoon community events (SplatFests nostalgia streams, speedrun/discussion streams) — community cohesion improves traffic to your island and helps you find trades faster. If you stream or coordinate events, tools from the Streamer Toolkit can help amplify your schedule.
• Leverage 2025–26 amiibo market behavior: The last two years have seen periodic restocks of popular Splatoon amiibo; keep watch on official Nintendo announcements and set alerts with reputable retailers to restock your collection affordably.
• Document everything: Keep a spreadsheet or use Nookipedia/Discord collections to track which Amiibo unlocked which color variants — this saves repeat scanning later and helps you guide other players. For coordinating calendars and public schedules, consider using community calendars (see Neighborhood Discovery: Community Calendars).

Community sources & further reading (for verification)

For the most up-to-date item names, regional names, and full item lists, rely on these community and official resources:

• Nookipedia (community-maintained ACNH item lists and amiibo unlock documentation)
• Official Nintendo patch notes (check Nintendo News for 3.0 related announcements and any post-2021 refinements)
• Discord trading servers and subreddits (r/AnimalCrossing, r/ACTrade) for live trading and community scanning reports

Example walkthrough: My recommended 30-minute Splatoon unlock session

1. Update New Horizons and connect to the internet (5 min).
2. Gather your Splatoon/Octoling amiibo on a flat surface near your Switch (2 min).
3. Open Resident Services → Nook Shopping or Hotel kiosk → choose “Scan amiibo” prompt (3 min).
4. Scan each amiibo one-by-one and note on-screen item confirmations (8–10 min).
5. Purchase one of each unlocked item (5–7 min) to add them to catalog.
6. Set up one hotel guest room with your favorite items and announce a mini market/preview for friends (remaining time).

Final checklist — Don’t leave the island without these 5 actions

1. Confirm game is updated to 3.0+
2. Have at least one official Splatoon-series Amiibo
3. Scan at the kiosk when prompted and watch item confirmations
4. Buy one of each unlocked item to catalog it
5. Use hotel guest rooms to display and trade duplicates

Closing notes: Why this matters in 2026

Animal Crossing remains a social canvas in 2026, and Splatoon cross-content is a perfect blend of competitive color and collectible design language. Amiibo-driven unlock mechanics keep the game evolving — and community-driven markets/hotel showrooms let you monetize or trade your curation. Whether you’re a completionist, seller, or just want a Turf War room on your island, following this step-by-step will get you the items quickly and reliably.

Call to action

Ready to unlock your full Splatoon set? Update to 3.0, round up your Amiibo, and run the 30-minute session above. Want a ready-made checklist and printable market sign for hotel showings? Download our free Splatoon ACNH checklist and market templates at videogaming.store/guides (link), and join our community trading channel to schedule trades and guest-room showcases. Happy decorating — see you in the Turf War!

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