Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve ever stared at a plastic Link on your shelf and wondered why you just spent forty bucks on a four-inch figurine, you aren't alone. It's a weird hobby. But for fans, The Legend of Zelda amiibo lineup isn't just about plastic; it's about that specific hit of dopamine when you tap a base to your controller and a chest falls from the sky.
Nintendo released the first wave back in 2014, and honestly, nobody expected them to still be making these things over a decade later. But they do. And people buy them. Every. Single. One. From the pixelated 8-bit Link that looks like a stack of LEGOs to the hyper-detailed Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf, these figures have become the gold standard for Nintendo’s toys-to-life experiment.
Why The Legend of Zelda Amiibo Are Actually Useful (And When They Aren't)
Most people think amiibo are just physical DLC. That’s kinda true, but it’s also a bit reductive. In Breath of the Wild, for instance, tapping a Zelda-themed figure didn't just give you a handful of mushrooms. It changed how you played.
You want Epona? You need the Super Smash Bros. Link or the Twilight Princess Link. You want a giant wolf to hunt meat for you? You’re gonna need that chunky Wolf Link figure that originally came bundled with the Wii U remaster. It's a weirdly fragmented system. If you're a completionist, it’s a nightmare. If you're a casual player, it's just a neat bonus.
The Tears of the Kingdom series took things a step further. Instead of just giving you armor, they started giving you paraglider fabrics. Is a digital piece of cloth worth $15.99? Probably not to your accountant, but to someone who has spent 300 hours in Hyrule, looking cool while gliding off a Sky Island is basically priceless.
The Rarity Trap
Nintendo is notorious for "artificial scarcity." You know the drill. A new Link drops, it’s gone in four minutes, and suddenly it’s $80 on eBay. We saw this peak with the Skyward Sword HD Zelda & Loftwing amiibo. It was the only way to fast-travel from the surface to the sky, which felt like a "pay-to-skip-the-grind" mechanic. People were furious. Then, suddenly, restocks happened and you could find them in the clearance bin at Target.
👉 See also: Blue Protocol Star Resonance Shield Knight Skill Tree: What Most People Get Wrong
The market for The Legend of Zelda amiibo is volatile. One day a Guardian figure is the crown jewel of a collection, and the next, Nintendo reprints it and the value craters. If you're buying these as an investment, you’re basically gambling with plastic. Buy them because you like the art, not because you think they'll pay for your kid's college.
Every Major Link: A Breakdown of the Variations
There are a lot of Links. Like, a lot.
- The 8-Bit Legend: This one celebrates the 30th anniversary. It’s blocky. It’s retro. It gives you the "Hero" outfit in Breath of the Wild, which looks exactly like the 1986 sprite.
- Ocarina of Time Link: This is the "Adult Link" version. It’s iconic. It triggers the Biggoron’s Sword drop, which is easily one of the best weapons for early-game players who don't want to break their sticks every five minutes.
- Toon Link: Whether it’s the Smash version or the Wind Waker 30th-anniversary version, these are arguably the most "toy-like" and charming. They usually drop fish. Lots of fish.
- Majora’s Mask Link: This one is a fan favorite because it unlocks the Fierce Deity armor. It’s edgy. It’s powerful. It’s also one of the hardest figures to find in the wild without paying a premium.
Honestly, the Link’s Awakening (Switch) version is the sleeper hit. It has this high-gloss, "toy" finish that makes it look like it popped straight out of the game’s diorama world. It’s weirdly heavy for its size, too.
The Villains and the Princesses
Zelda herself has several iterations, and they aren't all created equal. The Breath of the Wild Zelda is fine, but the Wind Waker Zelda (actually Tetra’s royal form) has a much better paint job. Then there’s Sheik. Technically Zelda, but functionally her own thing in the Smash line. Sheik is the one you want if you're looking for stealth-based gear.
And then we have Ganondorf.
✨ Don't miss: Daily Jumble in Color: Why This Retro Puzzle Still Hits Different
The Super Smash Bros. Ganondorf was the king for a long time—bulky, detailed, and imposing. But the Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf? That thing is a masterpiece. The flowing robes, the menacing pose, the sheer scale of the figure... it’s probably the best-produced amiibo Nintendo has ever made. It’s less of a toy and more of a legitimate statue.
Functionality Across Different Games
It’s easy to forget that these work in more than just the main Zelda titles. In Skyrim on the Switch, you can tap a Zelda amiibo to get a chest with the Master Sword or the Hylian Shield. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, they unlock Mii racing suits. It’s a cool way to see Link’s DNA spread across the Nintendo ecosystem.
But let's talk about the Guardian amiibo. It’s huge. The legs are posable. It’s the only one that really breaks the "static figure" mold. Back when Breath of the Wild launched, this was the "it" item. It drops ancient parts, which, if you’ve played the game, you know are a massive pain to farm otherwise. It’s one of the few instances where the amiibo actually saves you hours of tedious gameplay.
The Dark Side of Collecting: Scalpers and Spoofing
If you can’t find a specific The Legend of Zelda amiibo, you’ve probably seen those little NFC cards on Amazon or Etsy. It’s a gray area. Basically, people take the data from the figure and put it on a cheap card.
Is it legal? Nintendo’s lawyers would probably say no.
Is it practical? Absolutely.
🔗 Read more: Cheapest Pokemon Pack: How to Rip for Under $4 in 2026
If you just want the Fierce Deity armor but don't want to spend $60 on a used piece of plastic from a stranger on the internet, cards are the way to go. You lose the shelf appeal, but you get the in-game perks. It’s the classic battle between the collector and the player. Most hardcore fans end up doing both—keeping the figures pristine in the box and using a deck of cards for the actual scanning.
Maintaining Your Collection
If you do go the "New in Box" (NIB) route, God speed. The boxes are thin, the corners crease if you breathe on them too hard, and the plastic yellows over time if left in the sun.
For the "Out of Box" (OOB) crowd, dusting is your primary enemy. Those little nooks and crannies on the Breath of the Wild Rider Link are a magnet for cat hair and dust. Use a soft makeup brush. Seriously. It’s the best way to clean them without chipping the paint or snapping a thin sword.
What’s Next for Zelda Amiibo?
With the rumors of the "Switch 2" or whatever Nintendo calls their next console constantly swirling, the big question is: Will these still work?
Nintendo has a decent track record with backwards compatibility for controllers and peripherals. It’s highly likely your collection will transition to the next generation. We might even see a new line for whatever the next big Zelda project is. Maybe a "Classic" series that covers the Oracle games or The Minish Cap? Fans have been begging for a Vaati figure for years.
Whether you’re a whale with a full set or just someone who wanted the Wolf Link buddy, these figures have carved out a weird, permanent spot in gaming culture. They’re a bridge between the physical and digital worlds that, despite the price and the shelf space they consume, still feel like a little piece of Hylian magic.
Actionable Tips for New Collectors
- Check Local Inventory First: Don't go straight to eBay. Use sites like BrickSeek or just call your local Best Buy. Nintendo often shadow-drops restocks.
- Prioritize Function: If you’re playing Tears of the Kingdom, get the Skyward Sword Link first. The armor set it provides is one of the most versatile in the game.
- Storage Matters: If you display them OOB, keep them away from direct sunlight. The paint on the earlier Smash series is prone to fading.
- Don't Overpay: Almost every Zelda amiibo has been restocked at least once. If a price is triple the MSRP, wait six months. Patience usually pays off with Nintendo.
The world of The Legend of Zelda amiibo is deep and occasionally expensive, but it adds a layer of tangible interaction to a series that has defined gaming for decades. Just remember: you don't need all of them to save the princess. But having a few on your desk definitely doesn't hurt.