amiibo
amiibo[nb 1] is a line of toys-to-life figures and cards made by Nintendo based on characters from its games. They use near-field communication (NFC) to send and receive information from a game and are used primarily to unlock content or features within games. All console entries in the Animal Crossing series since Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer have amiibo compatibility.
amiibo can be scanned on the Wii U via a labeled sensor on the GamePad, on the Nintendo 3DS via the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer or a sensor under the touch screen on New Nintendo 3DS models, and on the Nintendo Switch via a sensor under the analog stick on the right Joy-Con or the right analog stick on the Pro Controller.
A line of Animal Crossing amiibo figures and cards was released for Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer and Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival from 2015 to 2016, and additional card series were later released for Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo in 2016 and Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2021. Additionally, Villager and Isabelle received amiibo in the Super Smash Bros. line as fighters from the games.
Animal Crossing amiibo
Figures
- For a list of Animal Crossing amiibo figures, see list of amiibo figures.
Three waves of Animal Crossing amiibo—containing a total of 16 figures based on special characters—were released from 2015 to 2016. Additionally, two amiibo in the Super Smash Bros. line were released for Animal Crossing fighters in the games.
Wave 1
The first wave of Animal Crossing amiibo figures was released alongside Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival on November 13, 2015 in North America,[nb 2] November 20, 2015 in Europe, and November 21, 2015 in Japan and Australia.[2] It consists of eight figures:
Isabelle - Winter Outfit
The Isabelle - Winter Outfit and Digby amiibo were bundled with all copies of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival. In North America, these two figures were initially exclusive to the bundle, but they were eventually released separately on June 10, 2016 and March 18, 2016, respectively.[3][4] In the United States, the Lottie amiibo was initially sold exclusively sold at Target stores, and in Canada, it was initially exclusively sold at Best Buy stores.[1]
Wave 2
The second wave of Animal Crossing amiibo figures was released on December 17, 2015 in Japan, January 22, 2016 in North America, January 29, 2016 in Europe, and January 30, 2016 in Australia.[5][6][7][8] It consists of four figures:
Wave 3
The third wave of Animal Crossing amiibo figures was released on March 18, 2016 in North America[nb 3] and Europe, March 19, 2016 in Australia, and March 24, 2016 in Japan.[9][10][11][12] It consists of four figures:
Isabelle - Summer Outfit
Super Smash Bros. amiibo
A Super Smash Bros. amiibo figure for Villager based on their appearance as a fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U was released alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U on November 21, 2014 in North America, November 28, 2014 in Europe, November 29, 2014 in Australia, and December 6, 2014 in Japan.[13] Additionally, a Super Smash Bros. figure for Isabelle based on her appearance as a fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released on July 19, 2019 in Japan, Europe, and Australia, and July 26, 2019 in North America.[14]
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Cards
- For a list of Animal Crossing amiibo cards, see list of amiibo cards.
A total of five numbered series of Animal Crossing amiibo cards, alongside special series for Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo and a Sanrio collaboration, were released from 2015 to 2021. Each card is based on a villager or special character and contains artwork of the character, their birthday, and, only in Series 1–4, a dice value and rock-paper-scissors sign. Including five promotional cards, there are a total of 509 Animal Crossing amiibo cards.
The numbered and Welcome amiibo series are sold in blind booster packs, with packs sold in North America containing six cards, and packs sold elsewhere containing three cards. Each pack contains one special character card, with the rest being villagers. After their initial release and discontinuation, Series 1–4 were re-released in November 2020 to promote Animal Crossing: New Horizons.[15]
The line of Animal Crossing amiibo cards is a spiritual successor to the e-Reader cards for the first-generation Animal Crossing games.
Series 1
Series 1 of Animal Crossing amiibo cards consists of 100 cards and was released alongside Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer on July 30, 2015 in Japan, September 25, 2015 in North America, October 2, 2015 in Europe, and October 3, 2015 in Australia.[16]
Series 2
Series 2 of Animal Crossing amiibo cards consists of 100 cards and was released on October 29, 2015 in Japan, November 20, 2015 in Europe, November 21, 2015 in Australia, and January 22, 2016 in North America.[17]
Series 3
Series 3 of Animal Crossing amiibo cards consists of 100 cards and was released on January 14, 2016 in Japan, March 18, 2016 in North America and Europe, and March 19, 2016 in Australia.[18]
Series 4
Series 4 of Animal Crossing amiibo cards consists of 100 cards and was released on March 24, 2016 in Japan, June 1, 2016 in Europe, June 10, 2016 in North America, and June 18, 2016 in Australia.[19]
Series 5
Series 5 of Animal Crossing amiibo cards consists of 48 cards and was released shortly after the 2.0 for Animal Crossing: New Horizons on November 5, 2021 worldwide.[20]
Welcome amiibo series
A special series of 50 amiibo cards for the characters added in Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo was released around shortly after the update on November 3, 2016 in Japan, November 10, 2016 in Australia, November 11, 2016 in Europe, and December 2, 2016 in North America.[21]
Sanrio series
A special series of six cards for the Sanrio crossover villagers in Welcome amiibo was released shortly after the update on November 3, 2016 in Japan[nb 4] and November 25, 2016 in Europe.[nb 5][24] The Sanrio series was not released in North America until March 26, 2021, shortly after the release of the 1.9.0 for New Horizons.[24]
The Sanrio cards are distributed in different ways in each region:
- Japan — sold exclusively at 7-Eleven stores in blind booster packs of two cards.[24]
- Europe — sold in booster packs containing all six cards.[24]
- North America — sold in booster packs containing all six cards. In the United States, they are sold exclusively at Target stores.[24]
Promotional cards
Five promotional cards were distributed from 2015 to 2016:
- しずえ (Isabelle) — included in the September/October 2015 issue of the Japanese magazine Character Parfait.[25]
- Goldie — included with all copies of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival.
- Stitches — included with all copies of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival.
- Rosie — included with all copies of Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival.
- とたけけ (K.K. Slider) — included in the April–June 2016 issue of the Japanese magazine Pikopuri.[26]
amiibo functionality in the Animal Crossing series
In Happy Home Designer
In Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, amiibo can be scanned at the amiibo phone in Nook's Homes, which is unlocked after the player designs houses for a few[how many?] clients. Any Series 1–4 card or any Animal Crossing figure can be scanned at the amiibo phone to recruit that character at any time to design a house for. This is the only way to design houses for special characters.
amiibo can also be scanned while in a client's house or facility to invite the character to that location. Villagers can have their clothing and headgear customized, and special characters have a limited selection of clothing that they can be changed between. Invited characters will remain in that location indefinitely unless asked to leave, and a maximum of five characters can exist in a single location at once. Scanning the amiibo again after inviting a character will save all furniture in the room to the amiibo, which can then be scanned in a different copy of the game in order to transfer furniture to other players to help fill their catalog.
Scanning the Super Smash Bros. Villager amiibo figure will unlock a Villager Statue item in the catalog, and scanning the Isabelle amiibo unlocks the Isabelle Scooter item. Scanning these amiibo are the only way to acquire these items for use in the game.
In amiibo Festival
amiibo are required for all game modes in Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival. To play the Board Game, at least one player must scan an Animal Crossing amiibo figure and will play as that character. During the game, any players who used an amiibo must scan it each turn to role the die. After the game is over, the figure can be scanned again to save the earned Happy Points to the amiibo.
Each minigame requires the player to scan one or more amiibo cards to play. The dice values and rock-paper-scissors signs on each card are used in the amiibo Card Battle and Resetti Bop minigames, respectively. amiibo cards with saved houses from Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer can be scanned during the Board Game to have the saved house appear in the Board Game town.
If the Super Smash Bros. Villager amiibo figure is scanned, a golden statue of the Villager appears in the center of the plaza.
In Welcome amiibo
In Animal Crossing: New Leaf - Welcome amiibo, the player must first locate an Empty Lamp in their town. Once placed in a house the lamp can be interacted with to summon Wisp, who provides access to most amiibo functionality in the game. Villagers can be invited to move into town by scanning their corresponding amiibo card. Special characters (using their figurines only) and villagers from the Welcome amiibo series will instead appear in their RV in the campground when scanned, from which furniture can be purchased in exchange for MEOW Coupons. The villagers can be spoken to and invited to move into town. The Super Smash Bros. Villager amiibo will also invite Wisp himself to the campground.
Other features include the amiibo Camera available on the title screen, which places characters in augmented reality using the 3DS camera. It is compatible with all Animal Crossing series amiibo but not any others, even those that yield crossover villagers with Wisp. However, these villagers and any others can be used in this feature if they are a resident in the player's town. as well as players themselves. Also, in Animal Crossing Puzzle League, each figurine grants a different special ability, and crewmembers can be chosen for Desert Island Escape.
The game is compatible with all Animal Crossing series amiibo figurines and cards from Series 1-4, the Welcome amiibo and Sanrio series, and promotional cards. Series 5 cards will only work if the character had an amiibo card in a prior series. The Super Smash Bros. series Villager and Isabelle figurines are also compatible.
A total of eight unique crossover villagers from other series and six Sanrio-themed villagers are available only by scanning their amiibo and inviting them to move into the player's town:
The Legend of Zelda series
W. Link, obtained through Link, Zelda, and Young Link from the Super Smash Bros. series, Wolf Link, Link (Archer), Link (Twilight Princess), Link (Skyward Sword), or Link (Link's Awakening) from The Legend of Zelda series.
Medli, obtained through Toon Link from the Super Smash Bros. series, Toon Link (The Wind Waker), Zelda (The Wind Waker), Zelda (Breath of the Wild), or Zelda and Loftwing from The Legend of Zelda series.
Epona, obtained through Sheik from the Super Smash Bros. series, Link (Ocarina of Time), Link (Rider), or Link (Majora's Mask) from The Legend of Zelda series.
Ganon, obtained through Ganondorf from the Super Smash Bros. series, Link (The Legend of Zelda), Guardian, or Bokoblin from The Legend of Zelda series.
Splatoon series
Inkwell, obtained through any variant of the Inkling Boy, Girl, or Squid amiibo from the Splatoon series. (The Octoling amiibo are not compatible.)
Cece, obtained through the Callie amiibo from the Splatoon series.
Viché, obtained through the Marie amiibo from the Splatoon series.
Monster Hunter series
Felyne, obtained through any of the six amiibo from the Monster Hunter Stories series. (Monster Hunter Stories 2 or Monster Hunter Rise amiibo are not compatible.)
Sanrio series
The following villagers are based on characters and series created by Sanrio and will never move into town unless their card from the limited edition Sanrio series of amiibo is scanned and they are invited to move:
In New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is compatible with all current Animal Crossing series amiibo. Unlike New Leaf, amiibo from other video game series cannot be used. amiibo have three main functions in New Horizons: spawning characters for photo shoots at Photopia; unlocking their respective posters; and bringing villagers to the campsite with the opportunity to have them move in as residents.
Photopia
At Photopia, scanning any Animal Crossing series amiibo will unlock the character's respective poster that will be available for purchase in the Nook Shopping Catalog. For characters who appear in New Horizons, scanning their respective amiibo also allows the player to spawn the character as a model for a photo shoot. Models cannot be spoken to, but interacting with them makes them face the player.
These characters from previous Animal Crossing series games cannot be spawned as models, but their corresponding posters may be unlocked:
The following amiibo can only be summoned as models if the update they are introduced to the game with is installed:
| v1.1.0 |
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| v1.2.0 |
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| v1.3.0 |
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| v1.4.0 |
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| v1.5.0 |
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| v1.6.0 |
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| v1.7.0 |
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| v1.9.0 |
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| v2.0.0 |
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Camping
Villager amiibo can also be read once per day from the Nook Stop. The scanned villager will appear and speak to the player, during which they may be invited to put up a tent at the town's campsite. When visiting the Campsite, the camper will give the player a DIY recipe for a specific item and ask the player to craft it for them. If the player gives the camper the item, they will thank the player by giving them clothing in return and hint that they would like to be invited again.
From the camper's third consecutive visit, the player may ask the camper to move onto their island as a resident. A camper can only be invited to move in if there is a vacant plot, or a maximum of ten villagers already live on the island. In the latter case the player will be prompted to choose a resident to move out so that the camper may move in.
Scanning an amiibo for a special character (until version 2.0) or a villager already living on the player's island will result in a special dialogue explaining why they can't come. The special characters would have been available to speak with are the same as those that can be invited to Photopia in each update (see above). If the player scans the amiibo for a villager that is in the process of moving in, they will get a special "answering machine" message.
The Roost
The Roost is added to the museum with the 2.0. An amiibo phone is located on the back wall, it can be used to scan amiibo to make the scanned character visit the café. The scanned character may bring additional characters with them, for example scanning Mable may prompt her to bring Sable and Label along with her. Villagers who previously lived on the player's island will remark their life living there.
Happy Home Paradise
amiibo can be scanned in the Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Happy Home Paradise expansion to prompt the scanned character to visit the archipelago, allowing the player to design a vacation home for them. Scanning amiibo is the only way to be able to create designs for certain special characters, such as Isabelle or Timmy and Tommy.
Other games with Animal Crossing amiibo support
The following games, listed in order of release date, have unique compatibility with Animal Crossing amiibo:
Taiko no Tatsujin: Atsumete★Tomodachi Daisakusen!
Scanning a compatible amiibo in Taiko no Tatsujin: Atsumete★Tomodachi Daisakusen! will unlock the "New Leaf Medley" and extra content in Kisekae Shoot Mode.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
The Villager amiibo can be used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as a customizable fighter, who can be trained up and given alternate moves.
Super Mario Maker
Scanning a compatible Animal Crossing series amiibo in Super Mario Maker will unlock them as a Mystery Mushroom costume. These costumes can also be unlocked through the 100 Mario Challenge. The and Mystery Mushroom and costumes are only available in the original game, and are not present in Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS or Super Mario Maker 2.
Blathers
Celeste
Cyrus
Digby
Isabelle (Summer outfit)
Isabelle (Winter outfit)
Kapp'n
Kicks
K.K. Slider
Lottie
Mabel
Resse
Resetti
Rover
Nooklings
Tom Nook
Villager
Mario Kart 8
Scanning a compatible Animal Crossing series amiibo in Mario Kart 8 (Wii U) or Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch) will unlock an Animal Crossing-themed Mii racing suit.
Yoshi's Woolly World
Scanning the Villager amiibo in Yoshi's Woolly World will unlock a Villager-themed pattern for Yoshi. Additionally, in the game's 3DS port, Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World, Animal Crossing series amiibo figures or their corresponding cards can be scanned to unlock the following Animal Crossing-themed patterns for Yoshi:
Villager Yoshi
Blathers Yoshi
Celeste Yoshi
Cyrus Yoshi
Digby Yoshi
K.K. Yoshi
Kapp'n Yoshi
Kicks Yoshi
Lottie Yoshi
Mabel Yoshi
Reese Yoshi
Resetti Yoshi
Rover Yoshi
Summer Isabelle Yoshi
Timmy & Tommy Yoshi
Tom Nook Yoshi
Winter Isabelle Yoshi
Kirby: Planet Robobot
In Kirby: Planet Robobot, scanning different characters' amiibo will give Kirby a Copy Ability relevant to that character or series. All Animal Crossing series give Kirby the Leaf ability, a reference to how a leaf represents furniture in the player's pockets, and the series icon.
Miitopia
In Miitopia, scanning an Isabelle, Tom Nook, K.K. Slider or Mr. Resetti amiibo will unlock a corresponding costume that can be worn by the cast of Mii's in the game.
WarioWare Gold
Animal Crossing series amiibo can be read in WarioWare Gold by using Wario's amiibo Sketch toy in the arcade. Once the amiibo has been read, Wario will paint the corresponding character in his signature style.
Blathers
Celeste
Cyrus
Digby
Isabelle
Kapp'n
Kicks
K.K. Slider
Lottie
Mabel
Reese
Mr. Resetti
Rover
Timmy & Tommy
Tom Nook
Villager
Hey! Pikmin
Scanning a compatible Animal Crossing series amiibo in Hey! Pikmin will unlock bonus treasure stages in the game.
Style Savvy: Fashion Forward
Scanning any Isabelle amiibo or amiibo card in Style Savvy: Fashion Forward will unlock clothing based on her summer outfit for use in the game. Any other amiibo card will unlock Star Hairpin.
Style Savvy: Styling Star
Scanning an Animal Crossing series amiibo in Style Savvy: Styling Star will unlock three Animal Crossing-themed shirts for use in the game.
Conga Master Party
In Conga Master Party, a compatible Animal Crossing series amiibo can be read to unlock Animal Crossing-themed costumes for use in the game as well as unlock specific characters.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Scanning a compatible Animal Crossing series amiibo in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will unlock that character's spirit. Scanning the Timmy and Tommy amiibo will also unlock their in-game shop, Timmy and Tommy's, who sells item-related spirits in World of Light. As with Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the Villager and Isabelle amiibo can be used as special AI-controlled fighters, though the custom moves from the previous installment are not present. If transferring the Villager amiibo data from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the amiibo will be leveled down to a set level (e.g. level 50 amiibo is lowered to level 12) and it will no longer work with Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.
Gallery
The original three amiibo cards that were revealed during Nintendo's Nintendo Direct on April 1, 2015.
The four Animal Crossing amiibo that were leaked prior to the E3 unveiling.
A promo image of the initial eight Animal Crossing amiibo.
Four amiibo shown during the Nintendo Live event on June 17, 2015.
The card collector's album for series one of the amiibo cards.
An official promotional image for the winter holiday season.
Another official promotional image for the winter holiday season.
An official promotional image for spring.
An official promotional image for the fall season.
The back of a standard Animal Crossing amiibo card.
The back of an amiibo Festival amiibo card.
The back of a Welcome amiibo Animal Crossing amiibo card.
The back of a Sanrio Animal Crossing amiibo card.
A promotional image featuring some cards and figures.
Some cards are being advertised.
Three of the five initial amiibo cards revealed for release with the Welcome amiibo update for Animal Crossing: New Leaf.
Artwork of the player using the amiibo phone in Happy Home Designer.
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Trivia
- On October 28, 2015, Nintendo revealed that Series 1 of the Animal Crossing amiibo cards were the best-selling amiibo product in Japan and the 6th best-selling product in North America.[27]
Notes
- ↑ Officially stylized in all lowercase; plural is amiibo.
- ↑ The Lottie amiibo was not released alongside the rest of the wave in North America and was instead released on November 22, 2015.[1]
- ↑ The Isabelle - Summer Outfit amiibo was not released alongside the rest of the wave in North America and was instead released on June 10, 2016.
- ↑ Re-released on March 26, 2021.[22]
- ↑ Re-released on April 8, 2021.[23]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lottie (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Animal Crossing series". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Isabelle - Winter Outfit (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Digby (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Resetti (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Blathers (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Celeste (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Kicks (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Timmy & Tommy (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Rover (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Kapp'n (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". The amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Isabelle - Summer Outfit (Animal Crossing) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Villager (Super Smash Bros.) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Isabelle (Super Smash Bros.) amiibo figure". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ @Nintendo of America on X (formerly Twitter) (September 25, 2020). Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ↑ "Animal Crossing Cards - Series 1". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Animal Crossing Cards - Series 2". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Animal Crossing Cards - Series 3". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Animal Crossing Cards - Series 4". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Animal Crossing Cards - Series 5". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Animal Crossing Cards - New Leaf Welcome amiibo series". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ @Nintendo on X (formerly Twitter). Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
- ↑ @tulipbayluke on X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 "Animal Crossing x Sanrio Cards series". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "Isabelle (Character Parfait) (Animal Crossing Cards - Promo) amiibo card". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ "K.K. Slider (Pikopuri) (Animal Crossing Cards - Promo) amiibo card". amiibo life. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
- ↑ [1]. amiibo Alerts. Retrieved December 25, 2015. (dead link)
External links
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