You’ve seen them on the shelves. Those little plastic statues of Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf that look like they belong in a museum but are actually sitting next to the $60 controllers. If you’ve ever played a Zelda game on the Switch or Wii U, you've probably wondered if tapping a piece of plastic against your controller is actually worth the $16 to $25 investment. Honestly? It depends on what you want out of your gaming experience. For some, they are overpriced DLC keys. For others, they are the only way to get Epona or a specific paraglider fabric that makes your Tears of the Kingdom screenshots look ten times better.
Amiibo The Legend of Zelda figures aren't just toys. They’re functional pieces of history.
Since the debut of the Super Smash Bros. Link back in 2014, Nintendo has released dozens of these things. They vary wildly in quality. Some early ones have "piss-yellow" support stands that look like Link is being held up by a beam of dehydrated urine. The newer ones, like the Ganondorf from the Tears of the Kingdom line, are genuine works of art with intricate textures on the robes and jewelry. But the real meat of the conversation isn't the plastic; it's the data inside.
What These Things Actually Do In-Game
Most people buy these because they want the loot. In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, scanning an amiibo is basically like pulling a slot machine handle where you're guaranteed to win something, even if it's just a bunch of Raw Prime Meat.
Take the Wolf Link amiibo.
Originally released with Twilight Princess HD on the Wii U, this thing is a beast. If you tap it in Breath of the Wild, a literal wolf companion appears to hunt with you. He attacks enemies. He finds shrines. He’s the best friend Link ever had, and he’s locked behind a physical collectible. If you didn't play the Wii U version to save your progress to the figure, he starts with only three hearts, which makes him a bit of a glass cannon. But seeing a spectral wolf tear through a pack of Bokoblins is a vibe you can't get any other way.
Then there’s the Twilight Princess Link or the Super Smash Bros. Link. These are the only ways to get Epona. You can't find her in the wild. You can't breed her. You tap the figure, she spawns, and you register her at a stable. It feels a bit like cheating, but having the most iconic horse in gaming history under your saddle within ten minutes of leaving the Great Plateau is a powerful feeling.
The Fashion Soul of Hyrule
If you care about aesthetics, amiibo The Legend of Zelda collections are basically your wardrobe. Nintendo loves nostalgia. They know we want to wear the 8-bit outfit from 1986 or the green tunics from Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time. While you can technically find these outfits in the depths of Tears of the Kingdom without the figures, the amiibo give them to you instantly.
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More importantly, the paraglider fabrics.
Scanning the Majora’s Mask Link gives you a fabric that looks like the creepy mask itself. Scanning the Wind Waker Zelda gives you a beautiful nautical pattern. These are purely cosmetic, but in a game where you spend 40% of your time gliding through the air, looking cool matters. It’s the ultimate "flex" for Zelda fans.
The Scarcity Problem and the Second-Hand Market
Nintendo is notoriously bad at keeping these in stock. You might see a restock of the Guardian amiibo (which is huge and has posable legs, by the way) and it’ll be gone in four hours. This has created a secondary market that is, frankly, annoying. Scalpers love Zelda.
You’ll see the Skyward Sword Zelda & Loftwing figure—which lets you fast travel from the surface to the sky instantly, a massive mechanical advantage—selling for double its MSRP on eBay. It's a weird situation where a quality-of-life feature is gated behind a collectible that Nintendo refuses to mass-produce consistently.
Is it fair? Not really. But it’s the reality of being a Zelda fan.
If you're just looking for the in-game items and don't care about the shelf-appeal, many gamers have turned to "amiibo cards." These are unofficial NFC tags that contain the data of the figures. They're cheap, they're portable, and they don't take up space. Nintendo obviously doesn't endorse them, but when a Sheik amiibo is selling for $80 because it hasn't been reprinted in three years, it’s hard to blame people for looking elsewhere.
Why Some Figures Are Better Than Others
Not all amiibo are created equal. Some provide game-breaking advantages, while others just drop a few fish and a rusty broadsword.
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- The Ganondorf (Tears of the Kingdom): This is arguably the best-looking amiibo ever made. The detail on his muscles and the frayed edges of his "Demon King" outfit are incredible. In-game, he drops powerful weapons and a specific paraglider fabric that looks menacing.
- The 8-Bit Link: A blocky, pixelated masterpiece. It feels heavy. It feels significant. It drops the "Hero" set, which is the classic 1986 look.
- The Zelda & Loftwing: As mentioned, this is the most "functional" one for Skyward Sword HD. Without it, you have to find a save point to return to the sky. With it, you just tap and fly. It’s the closest Nintendo has come to "pay-to-win" in a single-player Zelda game.
The Bokoblin amiibo? Kind of a letdown. It’s small. It drops basic monster parts. Unless you’re a completionist, you can probably skip the grunt-level enemies and stick to the heroes and villains.
Technical Nuance: How They Work
Under the base of every amiibo The Legend of Zelda figure is a small Near Field Communication (NFC) chip. It’s the same tech in your phone for Apple Pay or Google Wallet. When the Switch controller sends out a tiny electromagnetic field, it powers the chip in the figure just long enough for it to send a string of data back. This data identifies the specific character and series.
Interestingly, Zelda amiibo often have "cross-game" functionality. A Zelda figure meant for Breath of the Wild will also work in Skyrim on the Switch to give you a Master Sword or Hylian Shield. They work in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity to give you high-tier materials. They even work in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to unlock a Mii racing suit that looks like Link. You’re buying a key that opens doors in multiple different games.
The Collectors' Dilemma: To Open or Not?
There is a heated debate in the community. Half the people keep them in the box (NIB - New In Box) to preserve the value. The other half (OOB - Out Of Box) actually want to use the things.
Here’s the kicker: You can't scan an amiibo while it’s in the original box. Nintendo put a small piece of metallic shielding in the bottom of the packaging to prevent people from scanning the figures through the cardboard at the store. If you want the loot, you have to tear that beautiful box open. Or, if you're really surgical, you can cut a slit in the bottom, remove the shield, and scan it that way. But most of us just rip them open like it’s Christmas morning.
Practical Steps for the Aspiring Collector
If you’re just starting your amiibo The Legend of Zelda journey, don't go to eBay first. You will overpay.
First, check local retailers like Best Buy or GameStop during a major game launch. Nintendo almost always does a "Zelda wave" reprint when a new game comes out. That’s your chance to grab the Majora’s Mask or Ocarina of Time figures at the standard $15.99 price point.
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Second, prioritize the "Utility" figures. Get the Zelda & Loftwing for the travel mechanics. Get any Link that provides Epona. Get the Tears of the Kingdom Link for the specific aesthetic rewards in the latest game.
Finally, understand the limits. You can only scan each amiibo once per day per game. If you have five different Link figures, you can scan all five in one sitting, but you can't scan the same one twice until the clock hits midnight. If you're hunting for a specific drop—like the Biggoron’s Sword—you can "save scum" by saving your game, scanning the figure, and reloading the save if you don't get what you want.
Amiibo are a weird mix of physical statue and digital key. They represent a specific era of Nintendo's history where they tried to bridge the gap between toys and software. While the "toys-to-life" craze of Skylanders and Disney Infinity died out years ago, Zelda amiibo have endured because the characters are timeless and the rewards are actually useful for people who spend hundreds of hours in Hyrule.
Keep an eye on the base of the figures. The gold-colored bases usually signify the Zelda series line, while the red or grey bases belong to the Super Smash Bros. or 30th Anniversary lines. They all work, but the collectors' market values the specific series sets differently. If you find a Wind Waker dual-pack at a yard sale, buy it immediately. It’s one of the rarest sets out there and fetches a high price among those looking to complete the "Toon Link" aesthetic.
Ultimately, these figures are about your connection to the series. Seeing a tiny Link's Awakening Link—with his glossy, marble-like eyes—sitting on your desk is a great reminder of the hours spent on Koholint Island. The fact that he also drops a bunch of arrows and some mushrooms in your current game is just a nice bonus.
To get the most out of your collection, start by identifying which specific in-game items you actually want. Use a community-maintained database to check which figure drops what, as Nintendo doesn't provide an official list in the box. Focus on the figures that offer unique mechanics like the Loftwing's fast travel or Wolf Link's companionship, rather than just the ones that provide generic gear. If you're a display-oriented collector, invest in tiered shelving; the Zelda line is now large enough that they easily clutter a flat surface, and the varied heights of the figures like the Guardian versus the Toon Link make them difficult to see if they're all crammed together.