Link’s waking up in a cold, dark cave with nothing but a high-tech iPad and some old rags. It’s iconic. But let’s be real—sometimes you just want to ride Epona through Hyrule Field without dealing with the hassle of taming a wild horse that’s probably going to buck you into a Guardian’s laser beam. That’s where the physical plastic comes in. If you’ve got a shelf full of Nintendo figurines, you basically hold the keys to a much easier life in the Wild. The Zelda Breath of the Wild amiibo unlocks aren't just cosmetic flourishes; they are genuine game-changers that range from "neat outfit" to "I literally have the best shield in the game five minutes after leaving the Great Plateau."
It's a weird system. Honestly, it's kinda controversial depending on who you ask. Some purists think it ruins the survival loop. Others realize that grinding for Star Fragments is a nightmare and they’d rather just tap a piece of plastic on their controller.
What You’re Actually Getting with Zelda Breath of the Wild Amiibo Unlocks
Most people think amiibo just drop some fish and a chest. While that’s technically true, the loot tables are way more nuanced than the game ever explains. There’s a "progression" logic built into the chips. You aren't getting the Twilight Bow the second you step off the Plateau. The game checks if you've cleared at least one Divine Beast before it starts dropping the "Great" tier loot.
The biggest draw for most players is the legacy gear. We’re talking about the iconic tunics from Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess. These aren't just for show. They can be upgraded at Great Fairy Fountains, though the material cost is steep. You'll need a lot of Star Fragments. If you’re rocking the Hero of Time set, you feel like a legend, but you’re also putting in the work to make it viable against a Silver Lynel.
The Epona Factor
This is the big one. If you scan the Super Smash Bros. Link or the Twilight Princess Link, Epona spawns instantly. She’s got maxed-out stats. She’s the best horse in the game, hands down, and she’s essentially locked behind a paywall. You can’t find her in the wild. Once she spawns, you have to register her at a stable immediately, or she's gone until you manage to trigger the rare drop again. It’s a bit stressful.
Wolf Link: The Ultimate Hunting Buddy
Then there's the Twilight Princess Wolf Link amiibo. This is arguably the coolest of the Zelda Breath of the Wild amiibo unlocks. If you scan him, a literal wolf companion appears to hunt with you. He attacks enemies. He finds shrines. He’s a good boy.
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The catch? His health is tied to your save data in Twilight Princess HD on the Wii U. If you didn't play that game and complete the Cave of Shadows, your wolf only has three hearts. He dies if a Bokoblin looks at him funny. But if you did the work, or if you bought a "maxed out" NFC tag (we see you), he’s a 20-heart tank that makes the early game a breeze.
The Rare Drops You’ll Actually Want
Not all drops are created equal. Some are just filler. You'll get a lot of Raw Meat and Hyrule Herbs. But a few specific items are worth the daily tap.
- The Twilight Bow: Dropped by the Super Smash Bros. Zelda. It fires in a perfectly straight line for massive distances. It uses "light arrows," meaning you don't even use your own ammo. It’s broken. It’s glorious.
- The Biggoron’s Sword: From the Ocarina of Time Link. It’s a heavy hitter with decent durability. Plus, it looks massive on Link’s back.
- Sea-Breeze Shield: If you scan the Wind Waker Zelda, you get this. It’s a solid shield, but mostly it’s just a nostalgia trip for anyone who remembers sailing the Great Sea.
- The Sword of the Six Sages: This comes from the Ganondorf amiibo. It’s a high-damage two-handed sword that looks like it belongs in a museum.
Does This Break the Game?
It depends on your playstyle. If you’re on your first playthrough, maybe hold off. The struggle of finding your first metal shield during a lightning storm is a rite of passage. If you just spawn a Hylian Shield from the Breath of the Wild Zelda amiibo (yes, it can drop, though it’s rare), you lose that tension.
But for a second or third run? Or for Master Mode? It’s a godsend. Master Mode is brutal. Enemies regenerate health. You break weapons faster than you can find them. Having a daily supply of chests that contain Knight’s Broadswords and Ancient Arrows makes the early-game slog much more manageable.
The community often debates the "pay-to-win" aspect of this. Nintendo has moved away from this lately, but in Breath of the Wild, the amiibo feel like official cheat codes. You are paying real money for items that give you a distinct advantage. It's not just a skin. It's a 50-attack power sword delivered to your feet while you're still wearing a Nintendo Switch t-shirt.
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The Strategy of the Scan
You can only scan each amiibo once every 24 hours. However, the "Save Scrubbing" trick is alive and well. You save your game, scan the amiibo, and if you don't like what's in the chest, you just reload the save. Repeat until the Twilight Bow finally drops. It’s tedious. It’s boring. But it works.
If you're looking for specific armor pieces, like the Cap of the Wind, be prepared for a grind. The drop rates are notoriously low for the "iconic" gear. You’ll get a lot of Opal and Amber before you see that green hat.
Essential Amiibo for Collectors
If you’re only going to buy a few, focus on these:
- Guardian: This drops Ancient Parts, including the rare Ancient Cores. If you want the Ancient Armor set from the Akkala Tech Lab without hunting twenty Guardians, this is your best friend.
- Toon Link: He drops a ton of fish. It sounds lame, but fish are essential for high-level speed and stealth buffs.
- Sheik: The Sheikah Mask is a cool cosmetic, but the real prize is the high-tier Sheikah weapons that drop, which are great for stealth-based combat.
Beyond the Gear: Material Farming
People sleep on the "junk" drops. When you scan an amiibo, it’s not just the chest that matters. The items scattered around it—the crates, the barrels, the raw ingredients—are incredibly useful for cooking. High-level cooking is the secret to beating the game’s harder challenges.
A single scan of the Breath of the Wild Archer Link drops a bunch of meat and fish. Cook five of those together, and you have a Full Recovery meal that you can sell for a decent amount of Rupees or use to survive a fight with a Hinox. If you scan 20 amiibo in a row, you basically have an infinite supply of food and money. You never have to worry about the economy of Hyrule again.
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Final Thoughts on the Amiibo Economy
The Zelda Breath of the Wild amiibo unlocks represent a specific era of Nintendo's design philosophy. They wanted to reward collectors with something tangible. In Tears of the Kingdom, they made these items obtainable in-game without the figures, but in Breath of the Wild, many of these items are exclusive to the plastic.
It creates a "haves and have-nots" situation, but let's be honest: the game is massive even without them. You don't need the Fierce Deity Sword to beat Ganon. It just makes you look cooler while you're doing it.
If you want to maximize your experience, start by identifying which legacy game is your favorite. Buy that specific Link figurine. Enjoy the nostalgia of wearing the "Hero of Twilight" set while exploring the ruins of a different Hyrule. Just don't forget to register Epona at the stable immediately.
Next Steps for Players:
- Check your progression: Remember that the best weapons won't drop until you've cleared at least one Divine Beast. Don't waste hours save-scrubbing for a Twilight Bow if you're still on the Great Plateau.
- Set your system clock: If you're impatient, you can technically change the date on your Switch to reset the 24-hour timer, though it’s a bit of a hassle.
- Organize your inventory: Amiibo armor takes up a lot of slots. If you're collecting every legacy set, make sure you've traded enough Korok Seeds to Hestu to actually carry everything.