Every Amiibo That Unlocks Zelda and Splatoon Villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The massive 3.0 update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons quietly added one of the game’s most fun crossovers: four special villagers themed after The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon. With the right amiibo, you can invite:

• Mineru – a Zelda collaboration villager
• Tulin – another Zelda collaboration villager
• Cece – a Splatoon-inspired fashionista
• Viché – a Splatoon-flavored trendsetter

This guide walks through every compatible amiibo figurine you can use on Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 to unlock each villager, plus step-by-step instructions, frequently asked questions, and tips to avoid wasted scans.

Before You Start: Requirements and Setup

Before hunting down specific amiibo, make sure your game and console are ready to recognize them.

1. Update Animal Crossing: New Horizons to Version 3.0

The Zelda and Splatoon villagers are tied to the 3.0 update. If you bought the game on cartridge or haven’t played in a while, your system may need to download the patch. Nintendo distributes game updates digitally via the eShop infrastructure, and your console can auto-update if the feature is enabled.¹

To force a manual check for updates on Nintendo Switch or Switch 2:

• Highlight Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the home screen.
• Press the + or – button for Options.
• Select Software Update > Via the Internet.

2. Ensure Your Console Can Read amiibo

Both Joy-Con and Pro Controllers for Switch systems include NFC readers, which allow them to detect amiibo toys when held near the right analog stick. Nintendo’s official support documentation confirms that supported controllers can scan amiibo directly without any extra accessories.¹

To confirm amiibo functionality:

• Open any game that supports amiibo (for example, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or Animal Crossing).
• Enter a mode that clearly prompts for an amiibo scan.
• Tap an amiibo on the right Joy-Con or Pro Controller. If the figure is registered correctly, you’ll see an on-screen response.

3. Unlock the Nook Stop and Campsite

You’ll be inviting collaborative villagers through the Resident Services building. That means you need:

• The Resident Services building (the tent must have upgraded).
• The Nook Stop kiosk inside, which handles amiibo invitations.
• A built campsite on your island, so invited villagers have somewhere to stay.

These features appear as you progress through Tom Nook’s island development milestones. Nintendo’s general gameplay guidance stresses that amiibo features are optional but enhance the experience for players who choose to use them.²

How amiibo Invitations Work for Collaboration Villagers

All four crossover villagers follow the same basic pattern once you have the required amiibo:

1. Go to Resident Services.
2. Interact with the Nook Stop terminal.
3. Choose the option related to inviting an amiibo camper (wording may differ slightly depending on your region/console version).
4. When prompted, tap the compatible amiibo on the right controller’s analog stick.
5. The linked villager appears at the campsite as a visitor.
6. Over multiple visits, complete their crafting or furniture requests.
7. Eventually, you’ll be able to invite them as a permanent island resident.

This is the same structure Nintendo uses for most amiibo-driven villagers and guests across the series, including special collaboration characters noted on the official amiibo site.³

All Zelda amiibo That Unlock Mineru

Mineru is a refined deer villager added as part of the Zelda collaboration. To invite her, you must scan one amiibo from a set that leans toward key heroes and icons from across the series.

You only need a single compatible figure from this pool to get her to show up at the campsite. Below is a structured breakdown to help you match what you own.

Mineru-Compatible Zelda amiibo List

If you have any amiibo from the right-most column, you can use it to trigger Mineru. You do not need to buy a specific “Mineru” branded figure; Nintendo’s approach is to map collaboration villagers to existing release lines rather than introduce entirely new toys for each crossover.

All Zelda amiibo That Unlock Tulin

Tulin is a Rito bird villager whose unlock pool favors Link variants and sky- or wind-themed champions. As with Mineru, any one compatible figure is enough.

Tulin-Compatible Zelda amiibo List

If you already own several Zelda amiibo from Smash, Wind Waker, or Tears of the Kingdom, there’s a high chance you have at least one Tulin-compatible figure in your collection.

All Splatoon amiibo That Unlock Cece

Cece is a Splatoon-flavored fashion guru who draws inspiration from the franchise’s idols and Octoling aesthetic. Her unlock pool uses amiibo tied to Splatoon, Splatoon 2, and Splatoon 3, focusing on Callie, Marina, Octolings, and members of the latest idol trio.

Cece-Compatible Splatoon amiibo List

If you’re a long-time Splatoon fan, there’s a good chance you already have at least Callie or Marina from earlier games. Any of those figures in the table above can be your ticket to inviting Cece to your New Horizons island.

All Splatoon amiibo That Unlock Viché

Viché is another Splatoon-style villager, leaning more toward Inklings across colors and generations, plus additional idol figures from the series. If you’re sitting on Inkling amiibo from Super Smash Bros. or earlier Splatoon releases, check whether they’re in this list.

Viché-Compatible Splatoon amiibo List

Since Viché’s pool spans nearly every generation of Splatoon amiibo, she’s often easier to unlock if you’ve collected figures over the years rather than starting fresh.

Step-by-Step: Scanning amiibo to Invite Villagers

If you’ve never used amiibo with Animal Crossing: New Horizons before, follow these detailed steps to avoid mis-scans or confusion.

Inviting Mineru, Tulin, Cece, or Viché

1. Launch the game and load your island.
2. Walk to Resident Services in the plaza and go inside.
3. Interact with the Nook Stop terminal.
4. Select the option to invite an amiibo camper (naming can vary but it will reference amiibo and campers).
5. When prompted, hold the compatible amiibo to the right analog stick of your Joy-Con or Pro Controller.
6. Wait for the system to recognize the figure. If successful, the screen will confirm the identity of the amiibo.
7. If the amiibo belongs to one of the recognized Zelda or Splatoon lists, the corresponding villager (Mineru, Tulin, Cece, or Viché) will be invited to the campsite.
8. Exit Resident Services, then visit the campsite to talk to the visitor.
9. Complete any crafting or furniture requests. They rarely move in on the first day; you usually need to invite them multiple times across different days.
10. Eventually, you’ll receive the option to ask them to become a permanent resident. Accept, and they’ll join your island.

Extra Rewards: Items, Posters, and Outfits

Beyond villagers, amiibo can also unlock themed items and posters. Nintendo’s official amiibo site points out that compatible figures often provide exclusive accessories, furniture, or in-game art when scanned in supported titles.³ In Animal Crossing: New Horizons this may include:

• Collaboration outfits that mirror Zelda champions or Splatoon gear.
• Themed furniture that reflects each franchise’s style.
• Posters of the characters you’ve invited, which can be ordered afterward via in-game catalogs.

These extras add more value to any amiibo you buy or already own, as they can also be used across multiple games that support the same figures.

Tips for Collectors and New Buyers

With so many amiibo involved, it’s worth planning your purchases or scans. Some general advice:

• Check what you already own: Many players have at least one Smash Link, Inkling, or older Splatoon figure already.
• Prioritize multi-game compatibility: Figures like Link, Zelda, and Inklings also unlock bonuses in their own franchises (Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Splatoon 2, Splatoon 3). Nintendo’s game pages highlight amiibo compatibility for each title.⁴
• Be wary of inflated resale prices: Limited amiibo can spike in price on secondary markets; consider waiting for reprints.
• Store amiibo carefully: Keep figures away from magnets and extreme heat so the NFC chips remain readable over time. Nintendo states that amiibo data is stored on an NFC tag embedded in the base, which can be damaged by physical stress.⁵

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a specific “Mineru” or “Tulin” amiibo?

No. There are no dedicated Mineru or Tulin amiibo. You unlock them by scanning existing Zelda amiibo from the compatible lists above. Any single qualifying figure is enough to invite the corresponding villager.

Can I unlock both Mineru and Tulin with the same amiibo?

Each amiibo is mapped to either Mineru’s pool or Tulin’s pool, not both at once. However, if you own multiple Zelda figures, you can use one from each list and have both villagers on your island.

Do I have to rescan the amiibo every time they visit?

You’ll need to re-invite them on separate days (usually three visits) to convince them to move in. That means you’ll be scanning the same amiibo several times over multiple sessions until they commit to becoming a resident.

Will these amiibo work on both Switch and Switch 2?

Yes. Nintendo designed amiibo using NFC technology that works across compatible consoles in the Switch family.¹ As long as the game supports amiibo and your controller has an NFC reader, the figures behave the same on both systems.

Can I use amiibo cards instead of figures?

For the collaboration villagers covered here (Mineru, Tulin, Cece, Viché), the unlocks are tied to specific figure lines, not standard Animal Crossing amiibo cards. You can use cards to invite many other villagers and NPCs, but to get these four, you need one of the listed Zelda or Splatoon figures.

What if my amiibo isn’t recognized?

If the game doesn’t respond when you tap a figure:

• Confirm amiibo reading is enabled in your console settings.
• Try scanning with a different controller to rule out hardware issues.
• Check for visible damage to the amiibo base.
• Make sure you’re in the correct Nook Stop invitation menu.

If the console recognizes the amiibo but no special villager appears, that figure may simply be outside the supported pools for these four characters.

Bringing Hyrule and Inkopolis to Your Island

The 3.0 update turned Animal Crossing: New Horizons into a small celebration of Nintendo’s wider universe. With just a few well-chosen amiibo, you can welcome heroes, idols, and stylized villagers from Hyrule and Inkopolis into your quiet island life. Check your collection, scan a compatible Zelda or Splatoon figure at the Nook Stop, and soon Mineru, Tulin, Cece, or Viché will be strolling your beaches, shopping in your stores, and adding a colorful crossover twist to your daily routine.