Let's be real for a second. If you’re a Nintendo fan, your shelves are probably crying. They’re burdened by the weight of little plastic statues that cost anywhere from fifteen bucks to "I need to sell a kidney" on eBay. Since 2014, the list of zelda amiibos has ballooned from a single, slightly derpy-looking Link to an army of champions, deities, and loftwings. It's honestly a bit much. But we buy them anyway. Why? Because sometimes you just really need a specific paraglider fabric or a chest full of raw meat to fall from the sky.
The thing about these figures is that they aren't just toys. They are physical keys to digital secrets. When Breath of the Wild launched, the frenzy reached a fever pitch. Suddenly, everyone needed a Wolf Link to follow them around the Hyrulean wilderness. If you didn't have that Midna and Wolf Link figure from the Twilight Princess HD bundle, you were basically playing the game on lonely mode. It was a brilliant, if slightly annoying, marketing move by Nintendo.
The Massive List of Zelda Amiibos You Actually Need
We should probably start with the heavy hitters. You've got the Smash Bros. line, which kicked everything off. The original Link amiibo in this set is famous for its yellow "pee stick" support stand. It's ugly. We all hate the stand, yet we all own it. Then there’s Zelda and Sheik. These were the basics. But then things got weirdly specific.
Nintendo started releasing anniversary sets. We got the 8-bit Link, which is basically a 3D pixel block that looks incredible on a desk. We got the Ocarina of Time Link, who is eternally stuck in that iconic pose playing his flute. If you're looking for the full list of zelda amiibos, you have to account for the different eras. There’s the Wind Waker set with its cel-shaded aesthetic—Toon Link and Toon Zelda. They look softer, friendlier, and they unlock some of the best naval-themed gear in the newer games.
Then the Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom era happened. This changed the scale entirely. The Guardian amiibo is huge. It has flexible legs. You can actually pose the thing, which was a first for the line. Along with the Guardian, we got the four Champions: Mipha, Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa. If you’re a completionist, these four are a nightmare to find at MSRP. People scalp these things like they're gold bars. Honestly, seeing a Mipha amiibo for $60 online makes me want to throw my Switch out the window. But for the in-game Divine Beast helmets? Some people find it worth the tax.
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The Rarest of the Rare
Let’s talk about the Skyward Sword Zelda & Loftwing. When this dropped, it caused a massive stir. Not just because it's a beautiful figure—it really is, the paint job on the bird is top-tier—but because it locked a "quality of life" feature behind a paywall. In the game, you use it to travel between the surface and the sky instantly. Without it? You have to find a save point. It’s one of the few times Nintendo really pushed the "pay-to-skip-inconvenience" model with amiibo, and the fan base was... vocal. To put it mildly.
And we can't forget the Link’s Awakening Link. He looks like a little porcelain doll. He's shiny, he's got those dot eyes, and he’s probably the most "toy-like" of the bunch. He unlocks the Shadow Link in the Chamber Dungeon. Is it essential? No. Is it cute? Absolutely.
Why Your List of Zelda Amiibos Might Be Incomplete
You might think you have them all, but did you get the Splatoon crossover? Just kidding, there isn't one. But there are the Monster Hunter ones that sometimes give generic rewards. If we stick strictly to the Zelda-branded ones, the count is north of 25.
Here is the thing about collecting these: availability is a literal coin toss. Nintendo does "restocks," but they're unpredictable. One day, Best Buy has twenty Ganondorf figures from the Tears of the Kingdom line, and the next day, they’ve vanished into the void, only to reappear on Mercari for triple the price. It’s a game of cat and mouse. You have to be fast.
The Functionality Gap
Most people want the list of zelda amiibos because of the legacy items. Take the Majora’s Mask Link. He’s holding a Goron mask. In Breath of the Wild, scanning him gives you the Fierce Deity armor. It makes you look like a god-slayer. It’s objectively the coolest armor in the game. If you don’t have that specific amiibo, you’re stuck wearing the neon green tights your grandma made for you (not really, but you get the point).
The newer Tears of the Kingdom Link has an arm that glows. It’s a neat touch. Scanning him in the sequel gives you a specific paraglider fabric that matches his new look. It's subtle. Nintendo has moved away from locking massive gameplay features behind the figures and shifted toward cosmetics. This is probably a good thing for our wallets, even if it makes the "value" of the plastic feel a little lower to the hardcore min-maxers.
Dealing with the Scalper Market
If you are looking at a list of zelda amiibos today and realizing you're missing ten of them, don't panic. Don't go buy a $100 Young Link right away. Nintendo is surprisingly good at rereleasing these whenever a new game comes out. When Echoes of Wisdom was announced, suddenly older Zelda figures started popping up in stores again.
There's also the "card" alternative. I’m not supposed to say they’re better, but let’s be real. You can buy a pack of NFC cards on Amazon for twenty bucks that function exactly like the figures. They have the same chips. They take up less space. Do they look cool on a shelf? No. They look like credit cards for a fictional bank. But if you just want the Epona horse in your game and don't care about the plastic, that's the pro move.
The Absolute Checklist
If you are a serious collector, your list of zelda amiibos should be categorized by series. It helps keep the chaos organized.
The Smash Series:
Link, Zelda, Sheik, Toon Link, Ganondorf, Young Link.
The 30th Anniversary Series:
8-Bit Link, Ocarina of Time Link, Wind Waker Link, Wind Waker Zelda.
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The Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom Series:
Archer Link, Rider Link, Zelda (BotW), Guardian, Bokoblin, Mipha, Daruk, Revali, Urbosa, Link (TotK), Zelda (TotK), Ganondorf (TotK).
The Miscellaneous Series:
Wolf Link (Twilight Princess), Skyward Sword Link, Skyward Sword Zelda & Loftwing, Link’s Awakening Link.
There are rumors of more. There are always rumors. With the movie in development, you can bet your bottom rupee that more figures are coming. We'll probably get a "Movie Link" with the face of whoever they cast. That’s going to be a weird day for the community.
Technical Glitches and "Soft-Resetting"
Ever scanned an amiibo and got a bunch of apples? It sucks. Most people don't realize that the rewards are randomized. You get one "big" chest per day per amiibo. If you don't get the armor piece or the sword you want, you can actually cheat the system. Just save your game before you scan. If the chest is garbage, reload your save. Scan again. Repeat until you get the Twilight Bow or whatever high-tier loot you’re hunting. It's tedious, but it saves you from waiting 24 hours just to get another bundle of arrows.
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What to Do Next
If you’re serious about completing your collection, the first thing you need to do is stop looking at general retailers and start hitting the niche hobby sites. Places like VideoGamesPlus or even international Amazon sites (Amazon Japan or Germany) often have stock that the US and UK markets ran out of months ago.
Check the bottom of your figures for the production stamps. Some of the first-print runs have slightly different packaging or minor paint variations. If you're a "New in Box" collector, this matters. If you're an "Out of Box" player, just rip them open and enjoy the rewards.
Start by identifying the one "must-have" item you want in-game. Is it the Biggoron's Sword? Then hunt for the Ocarina of Time Link. Is it the Twilight Bow? Find the Smash Bros. Zelda. Don't try to buy the whole list at once unless you've recently won the lottery. Focus on the ones that offer the best "Glider Fabrics" or "Legacy Outfits" first, as those provide the most visual bang for your buck in Tears of the Kingdom. Keep an eye on official Nintendo social media accounts for restock announcements, as they usually happen in waves surrounding DLC or new game launches.
Your shelf might be crowded, but at least your Hylian inventory will be stacked.