Let’s be real for a second. Most of the plastic cluttering our shelves from the toys-to-life era—remember Skylanders?—is basically landfill fodder now. But the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo is an outlier. It’s weird, actually. Even though Tears of the Kingdom took over the conversation years ago, people are still hunting down this specific 2017 figure of the Princess in her blue Royal Ancient Lab coat. Why? Because Nintendo actually made it do something useful, and honestly, the "Breath of the Wild" version of Zelda remains one of the most compelling iterations of the character we've ever seen.
It’s not just about the plastic. It’s about the drops.
If you’ve played Breath of the Wild, you know the struggle of the early game. You’re running around Great Plateau with a stick and a prayer. Then you tap this little NFC-enabled figure to your Joy-Con. Suddenly, the sky rains down a chest and a bunch of rare plants. It feels like cheating, but in a game that actively tries to kill you with a stray lightning bolt or a stray Guardian beam, you take what you can get.
The Specific Magic of the Breath of the Wild Zelda Figure
When people talk about the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo, they often confuse it with the Smash Bros. version or the Wind Waker toon style. Don't do that. The BotW version is the one where she’s holding a Sheikah Slate, looking like she’s about to lecture Link on why he hasn't recovered his memories yet.
Design-wise, it’s one of the more detailed figures in the series. The gold trim on her tunic and the tiny screen on the Slate are surprisingly crisp for a mass-produced toy. But the gameplay utility is where the value stays high. When you scan her in Breath of the Wild, you’re guaranteed a chest. Inside that chest? Usually a shield.
The big prize is the Royal Guard’s Shield. It’s gorgeous. It’s black and purple with gold filigree. It also has a durability rating that makes it feel like it’s made of wet cardboard, but the parry power is undeniable. Aside from the shield, you get a bunch of "Silent Princess" flowers. If you’re trying to upgrade the Master Sword or the Stealth Armor set, you know these flowers are a nightmare to find in the wild. This amiibo is basically a shortcut to high-level gear and upgrades.
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Is the Hylian Shield Actually Behind This?
There is a massive misconception floating around the internet that you need the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo to get the Hylian Shield. That’s just wrong. Stop listening to those old Reddit threads from 2017. The Hylian Shield is in the lockup of Hyrule Castle, guarded by a Stalnox. You don't need a toy to get it.
What the amiibo does do is provide a consistent source of high-tier shields like the Knight’s Shield or the Royal Shield before you’ve progressed far enough in the game for them to naturally scale in the world. It’s a progression breaker. If you’re on a Master Mode run—which is basically a masochist’s dream—having access to these shields from day one is the difference between surviving a Bokoblin camp and seeing the "Game Over" screen for the fiftieth time.
Rarity and the Resale Market Headache
Finding this thing at MSRP ($15.99) is a joke. Honestly, unless Nintendo does a stealth restock at Best Buy or Target, you’re looking at the secondary market.
Prices for the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo fluctuate wildly. During the launch of Tears of the Kingdom, prices spiked to $40 or $50. Now, it’s settled a bit, but it’s still a "premium" item. Collectors want it because it completes the "Champions" set, even though she isn't technically a Pilot.
What You Should Know Before Buying Used
- Check the base. If the gold paint is peeling, it’s been handled by kids (obviously).
- Verify the chip. Occasionally, "custom" amiibo are just shells with different NFC tags inside.
- Don't pay "New in Box" prices if you just want the gear.
The internal NFC chip is what matters. If you’re a purist, you want the box. If you’re a gamer, you just want the Silent Princess flowers.
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Beyond the BotW Gameplay
The cool thing about Nintendo’s ecosystem is that this specific Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo isn't a one-trick pony. It works in Tears of the Kingdom too. In that game, it drops a specific fabric for your paraglider. It’s the "Princess Zelda" fabric, featuring a design based on her Royal attire.
It’s subtle. It looks sophisticated. It's way better than the default tattered rag you start with.
Even in Skyward Sword HD, scanning Zelda amiibo (though usually the Loftwing one) provides utility. But even the standard BotW Zelda will give you random loot in almost every other first-party Nintendo game. In Skyrim on Switch? You get Zelda-themed gear. In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity? You get high-level crafting materials. It’s probably the most "cross-functional" piece of plastic you can own if you’re a Nintendo fan.
The Emotional Connection to the BotW Era
There’s a reason this specific figure sells better than the Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword versions. Breath of the Wild changed everything. This Zelda wasn't just a damsel; she was a frustrated scholar, a failure in her own eyes, and eventually, the savior of the realm.
When you look at the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo on your desk, it represents that specific 100-year struggle. The pose—holding the Sheikah Slate—is iconic because it represents the player's journey too. We spent hundreds of hours staring at that same Slate.
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Technical Limitations and Glitches
It’s not all perfect. The NFC tech in the Switch is sometimes finicky. You have to hover the base of the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo over the right analog stick. Sometimes it doesn't read. Sometimes the game tells you "You can't use this again today."
Pro tip: You can "time travel." If you really need that Royal Guard Shield and didn't get it, save your game, close it, change the system clock on your Switch to the next day, and reload. It works. It's a bit of a hassle, but if you're hunting for a specific drop, it’s the only way to bypass the 24-hour lockout.
Also, the "drops" are RNG (Random Number Generation). You aren't guaranteed the best item every time. You might just get a pile of herbs and a rusty shield. That’s just the luck of the draw.
The Counter-Argument: Are NFC Cards Better?
If you hate the idea of plastic figures, there’s a whole world of "NFC cards." These are basically credit-card-sized pieces of plastic with the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo data burned onto them.
Purists hate them. Nintendo probably isn't a fan either since they don't get a cut of those Etsy sales. But for a player who wants the in-game functionality without spending $60 on eBay for a rare figure, they are a practical alternative. However, they lack the aesthetic value. You can't display a card on a shelf and have it look like a piece of gaming history.
The Real Legacy of the BotW Zelda Figure
Ultimately, the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo stands as a testament to a specific moment in gaming. It was when Nintendo finally figured out how to make physical DLC feel somewhat fair. It’s not essential to beat the game—not by a long shot—but it feels like a "thank you" to the fans who want a little extra help or a cool cosmetic.
If you’re a completionist, you need it. If you’re a casual player, you might want it for the paraglider skin or the early-game shields. Either way, it’s one of the few pieces of gaming merch from the mid-2010s that hasn't lost its relevance.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors and Players
- Audit Your Collection: If you already own Zelda amiibo from other series, check their compatibility lists. You might be surprised at how many "BotW" rewards you can get from the Smash Bros. Zelda.
- Check Local Retro Stores: Forget Amazon. Check local "mom and pop" game shops. They often have loose amiibo for significantly cheaper than online listings because they don't have to deal with shipping fragile boxes.
- Update Your Switch: Ensure your console firmware is current. Older firmware occasionally has issues recognizing the newer production runs of these figures if they've been rereleased.
- Use the Save-Scum Method: Before you scan your Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo, save your game. If you don't like what's in the chest, just reload the save and scan it again. It saves you from having to mess with the system clock.