How To Add Amiibo To Nintendo Switch

Mario Amiibo Hero (Image credit: iMore)

You know amiibo, those adorable tiny statues that have upwards all that space on your bookshelf. Well, they're non just for looks! They serve a very useful purpose in Nintendo Switch games. Some of the best games on Nintendo's hybrid system make utilize of amiibo. They generate items, sometimes exclusive items, within a game that yous're playing. Want to dress your Skyrim character up like Link? Information technology's possible with the right amiibo! Here's how to apply your amiibo with Nintendo Switch.

How amiibo piece of work with Nintendo Switch

Amiibo have a tiny chip at their base of operations. The chip stores identifier data, such every bit what Nintendo Switch system the figurine is registered to, which rewards should be doled out in which games, and whether information technology'south already been used in a particular game that day.

The flake in the amiibo uses Almost Field Advice (NFC) to send this information to a modest NFC reader in your Switch's correct Joy-Con controller, or the Nintendo Switch logo at the height of the Pro Controller. When yous place the amiibo on the joystick on the correct Joy-Con, it'll send the information to your Switch.

What happens next depends on which game you lot're playing. In some games, you might go special powers. In others, similar The Legend of Zelda: Jiff of the Wild, players can receive exclusive weapons and armor. Players can train special AI fighters in Super Blast Bros. Ultimate, or cull which villagers they want to alive on their deserted island community in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There are tons of different ways that amiibo tin can be used, bringing life to the charming toys.

How to trigger the in-game rewards in dissimilar games

With all these absurd, sectional in-game items you can get, you might be wondering how to go virtually getting them. Unfortunately, it'due south non always as simple every bit just tapping your amiibo to your Joy-Con and something suddenly appears on the screen.

Nintendo wants to immerse you in the game you lot're playing, which means triggering an amiibo'due south action has to fit the game'south design. In some games, yous'll have to get through a couple of steps before your bag of loot appears in front of yous. Keep in mind that this is just a small-scale sample of games uniform with amiibo. Remember to check out the game'due south details to come across if information technology is amiibo-compatible.

How to use amiibo with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Before you can apply your amiibo in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you have to enable the amiibo Rune. It'south off past default in the game's settings.

Press the Plus (+) button on the right Joy-Con controller.
Press the R or 50 shoulder button to ringlet sideways until you get to the organisation settings.
Select Options from the system settings bill of fare.
Select amiibo.
Select Use amiibo.

After you've enabled the power to use amiibo, you can trigger the rewards whatever time.

Press and hold the Up button on the left Joy-Con D-Pad (the one that brings upwardly the Runes).
Scroll to the right on the correct Joy-Con joystick to select the amiibo Rune.
Press the Fifty shoulder button to trigger the amiibo.
Place your compatible amiibo on the right Joy-Con'due south joystick to scan the NFC flake.

The loot will autumn on the ground in front of y'all, so make sure you're non on a hillside or the edge of a river.

How to use amiibo with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. with amiibo (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)

Super Boom Bros. Ultimate is compatible with nearly every amiibo figure out there. Here'south how to arrive on the fun!

From the main menu, go to Games and More.
From Games and More, select amiibo.
Tap your amiibo effigy on the right stick.

Depending on the amiibo, one of 2 things will happen. Y'all will either unlock an in-game fighter that corresponds with the effigy or you will receive an amiibo spirit which can be a nifty boon as y'all are working your style through the Gamble mode.

How to apply amiibo with Fauna Crossing: New Horizons

Acnh Amiibo Cards (Paradigm credit: Rebecca Spear / iMore)

There are several ways to use amiibo in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Villagers tin can be invited to live on your island via the campsite, y'all tin can take java dates with villagers at The Roost Café, take pictures at Photopia on Harvey's Island, or invite villagers and NPCs to Paradise Planning so that they tin can decorate vacation homes in the Happy Habitation Paradise DLC.

How to invite villagers to your island with amiibo:

Animal Crossing New Horizons How To Use Amiibo: Go to Resident Services and interact with the kiosk (Prototype credit: iMore)

Upgrade Resident Services from a tent to a edifice.
Build the campsite and invite a villager to move to your island.
Interact with the NookStop kiosk at Resident Services to invite more villagers via amiibo and the campsite.

Remember that villagers invited to your island afterwards this point need to visit the campsite three times before they concur to movement in. Villagers can only be invited once per day, so you'll have to work for your favorite villager!

How to invite villagers to The Roost Café:

Upgrade Resident Services to a building. If you've unlocked the campsite already, skip this pace.
Donate one of each particular type to the museum. That ways at least 1 issues, one fish, one fossil, and one piece of art.
Heighten your island rating to 3 stars. Doing so involves planting trees and flowers, placing furniture around your island, and inviting more villagers to live on your island.
Find Brewster and build The Roost. This fiddling treasure hunt introduced in the two.0 update allows you to invite the stoic dove to your island.
Utilize the amiibo Call Center in the far left of the room. Here, you tin can scan in amiibo to call villagers and NPCs for coffee and a nice conversation. Phone call them often enough and they may bring a friend!

How to take pictures with villagers on Harvey's Isle:

Head to the airport and talk to Orville. Harvey lives on a separate island but that'southward okay because there's a seaplane.
Select "I want to fly! and then "Visit Harv's Island." You'll be there in a jiffy.
Head over to the building on the left. Information technology's got a wooden plaque on the door that looks like a camera.
Talk to Harvey almost taking photos. That's it! He'll explain everything you need to know.

How to invite villagers to Paradise Planning in the DLC:

Animal Crossing Paid Dlc Lottie — Beast Crossing Paid Dlc Lottie (Image credit: Nintendo)

Build seven vacation homes. You don't demand to flesh out each habitation, equally clients will be satisfied every bit long as you apply whatsoever mandatory items they provide.
Speak to Lottie. She will mention someone who offers to transport her some new technology that will amend the business. This is the amiibo scanner.
Interact with the amiibo scanner. While you won't be able to blueprint homes for NPCs like Isabelle just yet, they're gratuitous game after 20 homes.

How to use amiibo with Super Mario Odyssey

You'll have to consummate the first two kingdoms in Super Mario Odyssey before yous can start using amiibo. In the Sand Kingdom, after you've browbeaten the Broodals, head back to your send. A new object will be nearby. It looks like a little satellite with a Toad hovering over information technology. That piddling satellite is Uncle Amiibo and one time you speak to him, you'll be able to trigger your amiibo anywhere in the kingdom at any time.

Press the right pointer on the D-pad on the left Joy-Con.
Identify your uniform amiibo on the right Joy-Con's joystick to scan the NFC chip.

Boodle will pop up from Mario's head and automatically be added to your inventory.

Note: It's a good idea to check in with Uncle Amiibo whenever you come across him. He provides some bonus help by locating Moons that you haven't already found. Nice bonus!

How to utilise amiibo with Kirby Star Allies

While the Kirby series of amiibo isn't as big as the Zelda serial, you can still use them in Kirby Star Allies.

Start your game in Story Mode.
While in a level, press the Plus push on the right Joy-Con controller.
Select amiibo.
Select Yes when prompted to confirm that you desire to utilise an amiibo to get healing items and motion picture pieces.

You tin can only activate the amiibo function while you're in a stage. Then, make sure yous're able to play through the unabridged level or you'll lose your puzzle pieces and healing items.

How to use amiibo with Splatoon 2

To unlock photograph mode in Splatoon 2, or get some absurd sectional gear, you can find the amiibo trigger in your amiibo Box in the back of Inkopolis Square.

Scan the front of the amiibo box
Press the A push to start the process.
Identify your compatible amiibo on the correct Joy-Con's joystick to browse the NFC chip.
Select Do it for me!
Scan the amiibo one more than time to befriend the amiibo in your game.

While in that location are no challenges locked backside amiibo like the starting time game on the Wii U, the sectional amiibo gear is nonetheless super fresh.

How to use amiibo with Mario Kart viii Deluxe

super mario kart 8 deluxe (Image credit: Nintendo)

With Mario Kart viii Deluxe, you can unlock some sweetness new outfits to match the amiibo you're using.

Navigate to the game's card screen (the screen that shows up between games when you quit a race).
Scroll downward and select amiibo.
Place your compatible amiibo on the right Joy-Con'due south joystick to scan the NFC scrap.

As you browse compatible amiibo, new suits will appear. To wear one, select your Mii Avatar when choosing a commuter. Then, select the outfit you lot desire to wear.

How to use amiibo with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, your amiibo will drib a boodle crate that will provide some helpful armor, gear, and noms. Some amiibo, especially the ones from The Legend of Zelda series, will reward exclusive items that are difficult to find in the game.

Press the B push button on the correct Joy-Con controller.
Select Magic from your menu.
Select Powers.
Select amiibo.
Press the ZL or ZR trigger button to equip amiibo every bit a power.
Exit the magic bill of fare.
Press the trigger button you mapped to amiibo.
Place your compatible amiibo on the correct Joy-Con's joystick to scan the NFC chip.

A loot chest will drib in front of you and so make certain you're not on a hillside or near a deep body of h2o.

How to use amiibo with Bayonetta two

Yous tin unlock some standard in-game loot, plus some seriously wacky costumes that would otherwise cost a truckload of Halos to get by using amiibo in Bayonetta 2. The absurd thing is that at that place are lots of compatible amiibo with this game.

Navigate to your menu screen
Select amiibo.
Place your compatible amiibo on the correct Joy-Con's joystick to browse the NFC chip.

You can use different amiibo 32 times per mean solar day. Each one unlocks in-game loot in Rodin's Treasures, plus special outfits (and I mean special!).

At that place are many other games that make use of amiibo functionality, all in very different ways. Some of the best games on the Nintendo Switch similar Hyrule Warriors: Age of Cataclysm and The Legend of Zelda: Link'southward Awakening, all make use of amiibo in very dissimilar ways. Refer to the game's details in the eShop or the back of the game'due south case to confirm amiibo functionality.

Though amiibo aren't necessary to accept a skillful fourth dimension playing Nintendo games, they certainly add a chip of flair for anyone interested in collecting the figurines. Lots of games utilize amiibo for extra cosmetics or quality-of-life features that make the games more than enjoyable — though some rare amiibo are notoriously hard to get. Nintendo is a toy company at heart and it shows in their implementation of toys-to-life in their games. Should your amiibo drove grow to greater heights, brand sure you can show them off properly when you display them in your gaming setup.

Nadine Dornieden is a Nintendo freelance writer who has been a gaming fan ever since she got to pet her very offset Nintendog. She loves Animal Crossing, platformers and rhythm games. Writing almost video games helps her pay off her debt to the infamous tanuki, Tom Nook. You can find her at @stopthenadness on Twitter.