Animal CrossingGuidesCollectibles

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

UUnknown

2026-02-21

11 min read

Collector’s step‑by‑step guide to scanning Splatoon Amiibo in ACNH 3.0, exact scan locations, every item’s island use, and catalog tips.

Stop guessing — a collector’s exact guide to every Splatoon Amiibo reward in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (3.0)

If you’re a collector overwhelmed by which Splatoon figures actually unlock items, where to scan them, and what the gear does for your island’s look and catalog progress — this guide cuts the noise. Below you’ll get a step‑by‑step Amiibo scanning walkthrough, a complete list of the Splatoon figures known to work with the 3.0 content, the exact in‑game locations to scan, and a room‑by‑room design brief explaining what each item brings to your island’s aesthetics and catalog completion.

At a glance: What changed in 2026 and why this matters to collectors

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw renewed support for crossovers in Animal Crossing as Nintendo leaned into nostalgia-driven content. The 3.0 update expanded the game’s resort and hospitality features (the Kapp'n hotel facility), and the Splatoon crossover joined the list of stylish, brand‑specific furniture sets that are locked behind Amiibo. For collectors this means two clear priorities:

Know exactly which Amiibo to scan (not every plastic Squid = unique unlock).
Scan in the right place so items actually become available to buy and add to your catalog.

Short checklist before you start (tools you need)

Any Nintendo Switch with functioning NFC: right Joy‑Con or Pro Controller (the NFC reader is on the right stick/handle).
The Splatoon Amiibo you want to use (see list below) or compatible Octoling/Splatoon 2/3 figures.
Access to Resident Services and the new Kapp'n hotel (3.0 update content).
At least a few minutes and a clear spot to place the Amiibo when the game prompts you.

Which Splatoon Amiibo work in New Horizons 3.0?

Animal Crossing’s Splatoon furniture is unlocked by scanning official Splatoon‑series Amiibo. In practice this includes the major groups Nintendo released across the franchise — the original Splatoon trio and the later Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 characters. The most reliable list for collectors is:

Original Splatoon bundle: Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, Inkling Squid
Splatoon 2 characters: Squid Sisters (Callie & Marie variants), Off the Hook (Pearl & Marina), and Octoling figures (where released)
Splatoon 3 / Deep Cut & new roster figures: Deep Cut trio, and Splatoon 3 Inkling/Octoling releases

Note: Nintendo has reissued and produced regional variants through late 2025; if your figure is an official Splatoon Amiibo, it should be recognized. Third‑party NFC tags or custom Amiibo replicas are hit‑or‑miss and not supported officially.

Step‑by‑step: How to scan Splatoon Amiibo in New Horizons (the exact sequence)

Update your game. Make sure Animal Crossing: New Horizons is updated to the latest 3.0+ patch (early 2026 recommended build).
Go to Resident Services. Walk into Resident Services and approach the Nook Stop (the orange kiosk at the counter).
Select “Invite amiibo”. On the Nook Stop menu choose the option to invite a camper or use amiibo. This is the prompt that opens the NFC scanner routine.
When prompted, touch the Amiibo to the NFC reader. Place the figure on the right Joy‑Con or Pro Controller NFC spot (near the analog stick). The game will read the figure and display its portrait/name.
Confirm the scan. Depending on the amiibo type you may be invited to a campsite/photopia/interaction. For Splatoon furniture unlocking: after successful read, the game marks the related crossover set as “available.”
Visit the Kapp’n hotel gift shop or the Nook Shopping kiosk. The Splatoon items typically unlock for purchase through the Kapp’n hotel gift shop (new 3.0 facility) or they appear in Nook Shopping as special promotional items. If they don’t show immediately, check again next day — some unlocks propagate overnight.

Troubleshooting: Scans failing or items not showing?

Make sure the NFC contact point is on the correct Joy‑Con (right side) or the Pro Controller is connected.
Restart the game if the kiosk freezes; re‑scan after reboot.
If the item doesn’t appear in the Kapp'n hotel shop immediately, try visiting the hotel concierge or the in‑game mail tomorrow — some crossovers register as purchasable items next day.

Full Splatoon item list (what to expect in your catalog)

Below are the Splatoon‑themed items added with the 3.0 update and commonly unlocked by the Splatoon Amiibo family. For each item I include: how it unlocks, where to buy it in‑game, and a short design note describing what it adds to island aesthetics and catalog progression.

Weapons as display pieces

Splattershot (display) — Unlock method: scan Inkling Boy/Girl. Purchase: Kapp'n hotel gift shop or Nook Shopping special. Design: A centerpiece for modern game rooms or arcades; places well on wooden pedestals or in museum‑style displays. Catalog: Adds a unique “display weapon” entry rather than usable equipment.
Splat Roller (display) — Unlock method: common Splatoon amiibo. Design: Great for industrial or workshop areas; pairs well with oil barrels and concrete walls.
Slosher (display) — Unlock method: Splatoon 2/3 figures. Design: Heavy, sculptural piece that anchors docks or harborside splat installations.

Furniture and furnishings

Inkling Sofa & Inkling Chair — Unlock method: any Splatoon amiibo. Purchase: Kapp'n hotel shop. Design: Low, modern seating with glossy color options — perfect for youth lounges and Pop‑Culture cafés. Catalog: Adds modern sofa/chair variants in bright Splatoon colorways.
Squid Lamp — Unlock method: Inkling Squid amiibo and Splatoon 2 packs. Design: Ambient lighting with translucent colored tentacles — ideal for bedrooms and arcades. Catalog: New lamp subtype with color variants.
Turf Rug — Unlock method: Callie/Marie and Deep Cut figures. Design: A turf‑style rug that visually recreates Splat Zones or arena flooring; perfect for an outdoor-themed festival area on your island.
Splat Wall — Unlock method: widespread among Splatoon amiibo. Design: Decorative wall paneling splattered with ink motifs — great as a backdrop for mural zones or festival plazas. Catalog: Adds a new pattern for wall decor that cannot be created with custom designs.
Splash Station (small fountain / ink pool) — Unlock method: higher‑tier Splatoon 3 amiibo. Design: Use near beaches and pools to mimic Turf War arenas; pairs with lights for night‑time neon effects.

Wearables and small items

Inkling Tee / Turf Jacket — Unlock method: scan any character figure. Design: Wearables let you theme NPCs and player avatars; collect multiple color variants to give your villagers uniform looks during events. Catalog: wearable entries added to Nook’s catalog for ordering.
Splat Cap & Ink Boots — Unlock method: Splatoon series amiibo. Design: Great for cosplays and photo shoots in Photopia; mix with other streetwear for a modern ensemble.
Squid Poster & Hero Poster — Unlock method: Squid Sisters / Off the Hook / Deep Cut figures. Design: Simple but evocative wall art that leans into pop idol culture — hang in cafés or music bars.

How each Splatoon item helps island aesthetics (design recipes)

Collecting the set is one thing — using it well to boost your island’s look is another. Here are practical, actionable layouts to make each piece sing on your island.

1) Splatcade Arcade (indoor / indoor‑looking outdoor space)

Core pieces: Splattershot display, Inkling Sofa, Squid Lamp, Splat Wall
Placement tips: Use the Splattershot as the focal point on a small raised platform. Add Inkling Sofas around arcade cabinets or DJ booth (use turntable DIYs). Illuminate with Squid Lamps and hang Squid Posters at player height.
Aesthetic result: Neon retro arcade with competitive Splatoon flavor — ideal for tour maps and visitor photos.

2) Turf War Plaza (outdoor arena)

Core pieces: Turf Rug (as arena floor), Splash Station for ink pools, Splat Wall as backdrop
Placement tips: Use natural cliffs, water, and stone to form lanes. Place Turf Rug trimmed with fencing items for borders. Night: add lanterns and Squid Lamps to sell the neon ink vibe.
Aesthetic result: High‑contrast event plaza that fits festivals and multiplayer meetups.

3) Pop Idol Cafe / Music Bar

Core pieces: Squid Poster, Inkling Sofa, Splattershot (display), wearable merch on mannequins (if available)
Placement tips: Create a stage area with posters behind and sofas for the audience. Use wall items to create a VIP backroom with Off the Hook/Deep Cut motifs.
Aesthetic result: A cross between fandom shrine and functional hangout space for visitors and screenshots.

Catalog progression: what scanning does — and what it doesn’t

When you scan a Splatoon Amiibo in 3.0 you do two things:

You unlock access to a set of purchasable Splatoon items — typically via the Kapp’n hotel gift shop or Nook Shopping promotional list.
Once purchased, items go into your inventory and then your Nook’s catalog so you can reorder them later.

What it does not do: Scanning a single figure usually does not immediately add every color variant to your catalog. You may need to buy or obtain multiple variants or scan multiple amiibo (where Nintendo has assigned different variants to different figures) to complete the cataloged set.

Collector tips & advanced strategies (save time and money)

Prioritize the originals. If you want the fastest path to the core furniture pieces, scan the original Splatoon trio first (Inkling Boy, Inkling Girl, Inkling Squid) — they unlock the base set reliably.
Use multi‑scan days. If you’re completing a large collection, scan all your Splatoon amiibo in one session. Check Kapp’n hotel and Nook Shopping immediately and again the next day to capture any delayed unlocks.
Leverage trading communities. Not every collector wants to buy every figure. Use subreddit trading channels, local marketplaces, and fellow islanders to borrow or trade scans when possible — many players will swap scans or send items through mail once unlocked.
Watch reprint windows. Nintendo’s late‑2025/early‑2026 reprints made some previously rare figures easier to find. If you missed a release, keep an eye on official store announcements and secondary markets for bundling opportunities.
Document your catalog. Keep a simple checklist (screenshot your Nook Catalog pages) so you don’t buy duplicates of the same color variant unless you want them for creativity.

Legal & rarity notes for collectors (2026 outlook)

The Amiibo market matured through 2025 into 2026: Nintendo has been selective about reprints, and rare variants still command collector premiums. If you’re pursuing a complete Splatoon meta‑set for ACNH, plan for some purchases from the secondary market and use verified marketplaces to avoid counterfeit figures. Official figures will always give the best compatibility results in‑game.

Final troubleshooting & FAQs

My Splatoon Amiibo scanned but no items appeared — what now?

Try: rebooting the game, visiting the Kapp’n hotel gift shop specifically (not just Nook Shopping), and checking the Nook Catalog the next in‑game day. If you still don’t see items, attempt to re‑scan at Resident Services and confirm your game is fully patched.

Can I unlock everything with a single figure?

Short answer: usually no. Some variants and idol‑variant items are tied to specific amiibo releases. Scanning a single figure unlocks the base set, but multiple amiibo will speed up full catalog completion.

Do third‑party NFC cards work?

They sometimes work but are unreliable and not supported by Nintendo. For guaranteed unlocks, use official Splatoon Amiibo figures.

Actionable checklist: Unlock every Splatoon item — in order

Update ACNH to 3.0+ and restart your Switch.
Gather your Splatoon amiibo (start with the original trio).
Go to Resident Services → Nook Stop → Invite amiibo; scan each figure.
Visit the Kapp’n hotel gift shop and Nook Shopping immediately, and again the next day.
Buy desired items and catalog them; track which variants you still need.
If you need variants you don’t own, seek trades or reprints via community channels.

Pro tip: set up a themed photo spot in Photopia as you unlock items — each Splatoon piece was designed to be photogenic, and building your set room‑by‑room makes catalog completion feel satisfying instead of scattered.

Closing: Build the island you dreamed of — with purpose

Collecting Splatoon items in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is rewarding for both catalog hunters and designers. With the 3.0 Kapp’n hotel update and the late‑2025/early‑2026 support push, now is the best time in recent memory to finish your Splatoon crossover collection. Follow the scanning steps above, prioritize the original trio for the fastest unlocks, and use the design recipes to place each item so it truly elevates your island’s story.

Ready to start scanning? Grab your Amiibo, update the game, and run the checklist — then share your island photos with the community. If you want, bookmark this guide and come back as you unlock items: I’ll keep adding tips and new item placement recipes as more Splatoon figures are reissued through 2026.

Call to action

Got a rare Splatoon figure or a placement you’re proud of? Share your island shot or swap checklist with our community. Click through to our forums to trade scans, request specific variant unlock help, or find the latest reprint alerts for 2026 — and sign up for an alert when we add new Splatoon layout recipes.

Unknown

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.