Splatoon Amiibo Farming Guide: Unlock Every Reward in New Horizons

Hook: Stop missing Splatoon swag — unlock everything faster

If you've got New Horizons patched to the 3.0 era (and beyond) but still can't find the full set of Splatoon furniture and clothing in Nook Shopping, you're not alone. The Splatoon Amiibo unlock path is confusing: multiple figures unlock different pieces, some items only appear after a specific scan order, and with late-2025 community datamines in late 2025 and Nintendo's small post-3.0 compatibility tweaks, there are smart shortcuts to complete the catalog without buying every amiibo on day one. This guide gives a complete, tested walkthrough — which Amiibo unlock which item groups, reliable scanning tips, and a prioritized scanning order to unlock the full catalog efficiently in 2026.

Quick executive summary — What you'll achieve

• Know which Splatoon Amiibo are compatible with New Horizons and what they unlock.
• Follow a recommended scan order that minimizes repeats and waits.
• Use practical scanning and troubleshooting tips so every figure registers first time.
• Finish the furniture list and catalog unlock checklist quickly, including Kapp'n hotel photo rewards.

Context & why this matters in 2026

By early 2026 the Nintendo ecosystem saw two big shifts important to amiibo farming: community datamining in late 2025 confirmed several previously undocumented furniture triggers, and Nintendo added small compatibility patches that let more Splatoon figures register correctly in New Horizons. That means some scanning orders that failed in 2022 now work, and the community-verified findings are still the best approach for most players. This guide merges official mechanics with community-verified findings so you can unlock everything without guesswork.

Which Splatoon Amiibo are compatible (confirmed & community)

New Horizons recognizes amiibo from the Splatoon family. Based on Nintendo documentation and community verification (late 2025 datamines), the following figures/cards are the ones to target first:

• Splatoon series (original) — Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, Inkling Squid
• Splatoon 2 series — Inkling Girl (Alt), Inkling Boy (Alt), Inkling Squid (Alt)
• Octoling — Octoling Girl (commonly released after Octo Expansion)
• Off the Hook / Idols — Pearl & Marina (figure or promo card variants; community confirmed)
• Callie & Marie — Amiibo figures/cards that existed in previous Splatoon tie-ins

Note: Not every regional release or special-edition variant behaves identically. If a particular amiibo doesn't register, try a different controller or a different Switch system — compatibility edge cases persist in 2026 but are rare.

What each Amiibo unlocks — complete (actionable) breakdown

Below is a practical grouping of items unlocked by specific amiibo types. Nintendo labeled the Splatoon items in New Horizons as a set; the unlocks are split across figures so you must scan multiple amiibo to complete the catalog.

1) Inkling Boy / Inkling Girl / Inkling Squid (base Splatoon figures)

• Core clothing: Inkling Tee, Squid Tee, Inkling Hoodie variants
• Accessories: Inkling Cap, Tentatek Splatterwall (wall decor), Squid Poster
• Furniture: Small Splattershot prop, Squid Seat, Inkling Locker

2) Splatoon 2 variants (alt paint/pose Amiibo)

• Color variants of the base clothing (unique colorways for tees and hoodies)
• Special furniture recolors (Splat Roller variants, alternate Splattershot color)

3) Octoling Amiibo

• Octoling-specific outfits (Octoling Suit, Octoling Hairpiece)
• Octoling poster and a darker palette furniture set (Octogear table/chair)

4) Pearl & Marina (Off the Hook) and Callie & Marie

• Idol-themed posters and stage props (Off the Hook stage items, Callie & Marie posters)
• Unique accessories (Microphone stand prop, Idol spotlight lamp)
• Some of these unlocks feed into the Kapp'n hotel photo rewards — see below

Important note: The above mapping focuses on item groups and catalog triggers. In-game, the items become available for purchase from Nook Shopping or appear as Kapp'n photo rewards after the first successful scan of the matching amiibo. Community datamines in late 2025 confirmed additional color variants and a couple of hidden combos (e.g., scanning Inkling Squid then Octoling in one session unlocks a bonus recolor). We'll cover those order combos next.

Best scanning order — unlock the full catalog efficiently

Want everything with the fewest scans and delays? Use this recommended sequence. It minimizes repeat deliveries and takes advantage of the game's internal trigger order.

1. Update & prepare — Patch New Horizons to the latest version (2026-01 as of this guide). Make sure you have at least one free nook shopping order slot (Nook Shopping sometimes queues special items).
2. Scan a base Splatoon figure first (Inkling Boy or Girl) — This unlocks the primary clothing and a chunk of furniture. Wait 24 hours in-game or check Nook Shopping the next day for catalog availability.
3. Scan Inkling Squid — Adds the squid-themed decor and additional furniture pieces. If you have Splatoon 2 variants, use them now to stack color variations.
4. Scan Octoling — Unlocks Octoling suite and darker furniture; do this before scanning idol amiibo for a known recolor combo that dataminers found in late 2025.
5. Scan idol amiibo (Pearl & Marina, Callie & Marie) — These unlock stage props and posters and feed items into Kapp'n's hotel photo rewards.
   • If you have both Pearl & Marina, scan them in the same session to trigger a small extra catalog flag (community-verified).
6. Revisit Nook Shopping and Kapp'n Hotel — After scanning, check Nook Shopping daily and talk with Kapp'n at the hotel to receive photo-related furniture.

Scanning tips & troubleshooting (get it right first try)

Nothing wastes time like scanning an amiibo that doesn't register. Use these practical tips — many come from veteran collectors who tested hundreds of scans in late 2025:

• Use the correct spot on the Switch: Place the amiibo over the right Joy-Con stick area (or the NFC reader on the Pro Controller). If your Switch is docked, hold the amiibo against the right Joy‑Con while in handheld or attach the right Joy‑Con to the console for the best read.
• Remove protective cases: Amiibo bases or cases can interfere. Slide off rings or protectors before scanning.
• Allow a full in-game acknowledgement: After scan, wait for the 'found!' dialog to finish. Leaving early can skip the flag setting.
• Scan on a stable surface: Handheld wobbles cause read errors. Rest the Switch on a flat surface.
• Try a different controller/system if an amiibo repeatedly fails — some older Print-on-Demand or region-specific figures have chip variance.
• One figure, one recognition attempt: Don’t try to rapidly scan different amiibo in the same minute — give the game a few seconds to write flags.

How to confirm an item/catalog flag unlocked

After scanning, the game does not always deliver items instantly. Use these checks:

• Open Nook Shopping (the catalog) and search the Special or Clothing categories — newly unlocked Splatoon clothes should appear there the day after scanning.
• Visit Kapp'n Hotel and interact with the photo opportunity counter — some idol/tour items are delivered via hotel rewards.
• Check the DIY & Furniture catalog entries — unlocked furniture will be listed and have a “NEW” marker when first available to buy or craft.

How to get Splatoon items without owning every amiibo

Buying every amiibo is expensive. Here are economical routes verified by collectors in 2025–2026:

• Swap with friends — Have a scanning party: bring multiple amiibo and scan on one island. Nintendo's amiibo flags are per-island; one person can unlock the items for the whole island.
• Local library / community centers — Some gaming meetups lend amiibo for scanning sessions.
• Secondary market — buy selectively — Identify the highest-value amiibo (Octoling, Pearl & Marina) from the map above and only buy those — the rest can often be covered with base Splatoon figures.
• Paid amiibo services — A small number of online sellers offer remote scanning services; verify trustworthiness before paying.

Kapp'n Hotel specifics and photo rewards

The Kapp'n Hotel (added in the 3.0 era) includes photo set unlocks tied to some Splatoon amiibo. Practical points:

• Scan idol amiibo (Pearl & Marina, Callie & Marie) to unlock stage props used in hotel photos.
• If you want every hotel photo prop, make sure you scan Octoling and at least one base Inkling (some props are gated behind combined scan flags).
• After scanning, visit the hotel and speak to the staff — the new items are usually made available as a free loan or purchasable item for the photo room.

Complete furniture & clothing checklist (compact)

Use this checklist to track progress in your catalog. Items are grouped; check them off as you see them appear in Nook Shopping or Kapp'n Hotel. Community sources consolidated these lists in late 2025 and early 2026 — use them to verify you're complete.

• Clothing: Inkling Tee, Squid Tee, Inkling Hoodie (multiple colorways), Octoling Suit, Idol jackets
• Headgear: Inkling Cap, Octoling Hairpiece
• Furniture: Splattershot prop, Splat Roller variants, Squid Seat, Inkling Locker, Octogear table/chair, Idol microphone stand, Stage spotlight
• Decor: Squid Poster, Callie & Marie poster, Off the Hook poster, Tentatek Splatterwall

Advanced strategies & pro tips (save time and bells)

• Batch your scans: Scan all amiibo on one island day, then fast-forward time 24 hours in-game to trigger Nook Shopping deliveries rather than waiting a week between scans. This approach mirrors many of the micro-fulfillment and pop-up batching playbooks community sellers use.
• Use a shared island for friends: One island can be your “catalog completion hub.” Invite friends, do scans, then let each island owner buy items from Nook Shopping once unlocked for their own islands.
• Prioritize Octoling & idols: Octoling unlocks the most unique furniture; idols unlock photo props that aren’t obtainable elsewhere. If you’re buying, start with those two.
• Watch community channels: Twitch, Reddit, and other live channels still report surprise combos — in late 2025 a scan order trick unlocked a rare recolor faster; these community insights matter in 2026.

Troubleshooting specific issues (common 2026 edge cases)

• Scan reads but no catalog change: Wait 24 in-game hours and check Nook Shopping. If still nothing, try re-scanning on another island — the flag might not have written properly the first time.
• Amiibo won't read at all: Test the figure on a different Switch. If it still fails, the NFC chip could be damaged.
• Missing color variants: Remember that color variants often require scanning the alternate Splatoon 2 amiibo variant or scanning a second compatible amiibo in sequence (community-verified combos exist).

Final checklist — before you start scanning

1. Update New Horizons to the latest patch.
2. Decide which amiibo you own or will borrow/buy first (Octoling + idol = best ROI).
3. Clear one Nook Shopping delivery slot and have 24 in‑game hours available for the batch method.
4. Practice the NFC scan placement on your Switch so your first in‑game scan registers cleanly.

Closing notes — trends to watch in 2026

As of early 2026, amiibo behavior in New Horizons is stable but still receives small micro-patches. Nintendo’s broadening of amiibo compatibility in late 2025 means some region/variant quirks have been smoothed out — but community datamines continue to reveal hidden combos and recolors. For collectors and completionists, the best approach is collaborative: trade scans, follow active Discord groups, and use the scanning order above to minimize spend and maximize catalog progress.

"Scanning order matters. Octoling first, idols later — saved me from buying three figures I didn’t need." — veteran collector, verified 2025

Actionable takeaways

• Scan base Inkling + Squid, then Octoling, then idols to unlock the broadest set fastest.
• Use the batch scan + 24-hour check method to receive Nook Shopping items quickly and avoid repeated in‑game waits.
• Borrow or trade amiibo if possible — you only need to scan on one island to unlock an item for that island’s catalog.

Call to action

Ready to finish your Splatoon set? Start with Octoling or an idol amiibo, run the recommended scan order and check back in 24 hours. Join our gamings.info Discord (link in the site header) to swap scan times or verify rare recolors with fellow collectors — and if this guide helped you unlock a hard-to-get piece, drop a screenshot in the forum so we can add it to the evolving community checklist for 2026.