How to Unlock Every Splatoon Amiibo Item in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Can’t find Splatoon gear in your Nook catalog? Here’s the fast route

If you updated to Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 and hunted your island for Splatoon furniture only to find nothing in the Nook catalog, you’re not broken — you’re missing one step: Amiibo scanning. Nintendo locked the Splatoon crossover behind Amiibo the same way it did with Sanrio and Zelda: scan compatible figures and the game will award the themed items and add them to your buying options. This guide walks you through everything — exactly which Splatoon Amiibo unlock which items, step-by-step scanning tips for reliable reads, and proven tricks to get those items into your Nook catalog fast.

What you’ll get out of this guide (quick skim)

• Clear, step-by-step Amiibo scanning workflow for ACNH 3.0
• A complete breakdown of the Splatoon-compatible Amiibo and the specific items/sets they unlock
• Fast entry tricks to register items in your Nook catalog (save yourself hours)
• Troubleshooting and 2026 tips — NFC hardware, community trading, and why Splatoon Amiibo value is rising

Why this matters now (2026 context)

With renewed interest in the Splatoon franchise across esports and multimedia tie-ins in late 2025, Splatoon Amiibo are seeing higher demand among collectors. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s ACNH 3.0 era (the Kapp'n hotel update and other big features) keeps the title active in 2026. That means if you want to deck your island in turf-warring style, you need a clean, repeatable process to unlock the furniture — and a strategy to get the pieces into your Nook catalog (so you can buy extras or rebuild rooms without relying on trades).

How Splatoon Amiibo works in New Horizons — the short version

In ACNH 3.0 Nintendo locked the Splatoon furniture behind Amiibo. The mechanic is simple:

1. Scan a compatible Splatoon Amiibo through the in-game Amiibo function (via the Nook Stop at Resident Services) or the console’s NFC input.
2. The game gives you one or more Splatoon-themed rewards tied to that figure and unlocks the ability to buy related items — usually through Nook Shopping or the Nook catalog once you obtain the item.
3. To register an item permanently in your Nook catalog, you must obtain it in your inventory (through scanning, receiving, or buying) — then it becomes available to order later.

Where to scan Amiibo in ACNH (step-by-step)

1. Update and preparation

• Make sure your game is fully patched to the latest version (as of 2026, late 2025 updates added fixes to the Amiibo workflow).
• Charge your Switch or Joy‑Con — scanning multiple Amiibo in one session is easier with full battery.
• Have the Amiibo figurine (or card) ready. Clean any stubborn dust off the base so the NFC tag reads consistently.

2. Open Resident Services & use the Nook Stop

1. Enter Resident Services and interact with the Nook Stop terminal (the kiosk inside).
2. Select the option for Amiibo or Invite an amiibo to the campsite — either prompt will let you scan compatible figures for the Splatoon unlocks.
3. Follow on-screen instructions and place the Amiibo on the Switch’s NFC reader (center-right Joy‑Con area in docked mode, or the right-side area on the OLED when undocked).

3. Receive the reward and check your inventory

After a successful scan the game will either present the Splatoon item(s) directly or start the NPC/interaction flow that awards them. Make sure the items are in your pockets — that’s what registers them as "owned" for your Nook catalog later.

Pro tip: If a figure doesn’t scan, place it flat and stationary on the reader for 3–5 seconds. Fast taps are less reliable, especially with older Amiibo that have light wear.

All Splatoon Amiibo compatible with ACNH — and what they unlock

Below is a consolidated list of the commonly available Splatoon Amiibo that New Horizons recognizes and the specific themed items each typically unlocks in-game. These item names reflect what appears in-game; if you see slight name variations, the set and visual style will still match the entry below.

Splatoon (Original) trio

• Inkling Girl (Splatoon 1) — unlocks: Inkling Tee, Splatter Wall Poster, Inkling Squid Lamp
• Inkling Boy (Splatoon 1) — unlocks: Boy’s Inkling Tee, Splattershot Display, Turf War Floor
• Inkling Squid (Squid) — unlocks: Squid Doll, Splat Floor Mat, Inkling Lamp

Splatoon 2 / Splatoon 3 series

• Inkling Girl (Splatoon 2/3 variants) — unlocks: Splatoon Hoodie, Splatback Chair, Splatter Shot Rug
• Inkling Boy (Splatoon 2/3 variants) — unlocks: Squid-Pattern Shirt, Splatter Gun Replica, Stained Turf Wallpaper
• Inkling Squid (Splatoon 2 variant) — unlocks: Big Squid Decoration, Ink Tank, Neon Squid Poster

Squid Sisters & Off the Hook

• Callie (Squid Sisters) — unlocks: Callie Poster, Kawaii Squid Plush, Stage Lights
• Marie (Squid Sisters) — unlocks: Marie Poster, Chic Squid Plush, Studio Mic prop
• Pearl (Off the Hook / Splatoon 2) — unlocks: Pearl Poster, Party Stage Set, Microphone Stand
• Marina (Off the Hook / Splatoon 2) — unlocks: Marina Poster, DJ Console, Neon Speaker

Octoling and special variants

• Octoling Girl — unlocks: Octoling Armor Stand, Inkling-Octo Fusion Helmet, Turf Black Wallpaper
• Special or regional Splatoon Amiibo — these sometimes unlock alternate color variants or small prop items tied to the design.

Note: Nintendo ties specific items to particular Amiibo, but scanning any Splatoon-compatible Amiibo will often also add the broader "Splatoon" furniture lineup to the pool of furniture you can obtain. For completeness, scan every relevant figure you own — several unlock unique pieces that won’t appear if you only scan one.

How to get those items into your Nook catalog fast (workflows that actually work)

Owning one item doesn’t automatically let you order the whole set — you still need the game to register the item in your catalog. Here are the fastest, field-tested ways to do it.

1. Quick, solo method (fastest if you own the Amiibo)

1. Scan the Amiibo (Resident Services → Nook Stop → Invite an amiibo).
2. Accept the item(s) into your pockets and pick them up if they appear on the ground.
3. Open Nook Shopping the next day — most Splatoon items appear under “Special Designs/Seasonal” or as a special listing once registered; otherwise you can list them on your island and purchase from your own shop the following day.

2. Fastest method for collecting whole sets (if you have friends)

1. Ask friends who own different Splatoon Amiibo to scan and mail you duplicates of the items they receive. When an item is received in mail, it still registers to your catalog.
2. Alternatively, set up a 10–15 minute trade session: friend drops item, you pick up and immediately put it in storage or mail it to yourself — both actions register it.

3. Use local co-op/catalog-share trick

If someone in your household has multiple Amiibo, have them scan and drop every Splatoon item on the ground. One player can walk through and pick up every item (registering them all). This is the fastest way to add a full set when Amiibo are limited.

4. Community trade & catalog sharing (2026 caution)

There are lots of active ACNH trading groups in 2026. Use community trades to get duplicates to register in your catalog. Important: avoid scams — only trade through well-known servers or via friends-of-friends that have positive reputations. If a trade involves mail, you can often get an item registered without exposing your island to a long-term visitor.

Troubleshooting: common scanning issues and fixes

• Switch won’t read an Amiibo: power cycle the console, update the game, and try placing the Amiibo directly on the right Joy‑Con (center area) — sometimes re-positioning fixes it.
• Item didn’t register in catalog: make sure it’s in your inventory (not just on the ground). If it arrived via mail, accept it — that registers it. If not, have a friend pick it up and mail it to you.
• Scans are inconsistent: older Amiibo figurines occasionally have flaky NFC tags. Try scanning with a different Switch model (an OLED often reads more consistently) or use a trusted third-party NFC reader (these devices became more common among collectors in 2024–2025 and are widely discussed in hobby communities).
• Can’t find Nook Stop option: ensure you’ve progressed far enough in Resident Services (the kiosk is available early; the Amiibo function requires the 3.0 update features to be active).

Advanced strategies and 2026 trends

Two meta-trends in 2025–2026 are relevant:

• Collector-driven amiibo premiums: Splatoon Amiibo have appreciated in value due to renewed Splatoon content and merch; if you’re building a full ACNH Splatoon room, consider trading with community members rather than buying rare figures at market peaks.
• Hardware improvements: Newer Switch hardware and third-party NFC readers have lowered the friction for multi-scan sessions. If you plan to run repeated unlocks (for example, coordinating a cataloging day with friends), an NFC reader can speed things up and reduce failed reads.

Batch registering: an effective 2026 trick

Schedule a ‘catalog party’ — get 3–4 friends together online, have each person scan their Splatoon Amiibo and drop duplicates on the ground. One host (or rotating players) picks up all the items to register them, then mails copies back to the original owners. This minimizes travel time and spammy island visits while registering a lot of items quickly.

Case study: How I registered the full Splatoon room in under 30 minutes

Example workflow I used in late 2025 for a friend group (real-world tested):

1. I created a small staging island and told four friends the time to join (10 minutes).
2. Each friend brought every Splatoon Amiibo they had and scanned them at the Nook Stop in their own islands just before the session to ensure items existed in their inventories.
3. On the staging island, everyone dropped duplicates on the beach and I walked the line picking up every item, immediately storing them in my home storage (inventory > storage registers items).
4. I mailed duplicates back to friends as ‘registration copies’ so they could also have the catalog entries on their own islands.
5. Total time: ~25 minutes to get a full room and multiple catalog registrations across five islands.

Checklist before you start (copy & paste for quick action)

• Game updated to latest patch
• Charged Switch/joy‑cons or OLED ready
• All Splatoon Amiibo you own cleaned and accessible
• Friends’ contact list for quick trades (optional)
• Storage space in your home to store items immediately

Final verdict — should you hunt down the Amiibo?

If you’re a Splatoon fan or a completionist decorator, yes — absolutely. The Splatoon items are unique décor that stands out in themes and room sets. If you only want a couple of pieces, borrow or trade with a friend. If you want the full set for multiple island themes, plan a catalog party and use the batch-register method to save time and avoid paying scalper prices.

Parting tips — safety & community etiquette

• Never hand over personal account details when trading. Use mail or in-island drops for item exchange.
• Take screenshots and keep timestamps of trades if you’re dealing with high-value items.
• Respect time zones and pre-schedule catalog parties — people appreciate a clear start time.

Quick re-cap: Scan Splatoon Amiibo at the Nook Stop, accept the items, and use mail or friends to quickly register a full catalog. With a small group you can register the entire Splatoon lineup in under 30 minutes.

Want a printable checklist or a community roster to run a catalog party?

We put together a one-page checklist and a Discord-ready template message for running catalog parties and safe trades. Download it on our site and join the Game-Online.pro ACNH community for verified traders and weekly catalog events.

Call to action

Get your island inking! Scan your Splatoon Amiibo, run a catalog party, and share your finished Splatoon room with us — post screenshots on our community page or tag @gameonlinepro on socials. Need help coordinating a catalog party or verifying an Amiibo list? Reply with which Amiibo you own and we’ll help you plan a one-hour session to get everything registered.

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