Everything You Need to Unlock Splatoon Amiibo and Lego Furniture in ACNH (2026)

Stop chasing clickbait lists — get the Splatoon items and Lego sets in ACNH 3.0 fast

If you’re tired of fragmented guides and conflicting posts about which Amiibo unlock what — this guide cuts through the noise. In 2026 the Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) 3.0 era has settled in, and two of the most asked-for additions — Splatoon amiibo rewards and the new Lego furniture line — are easy to get once you know exactly where to look and what to do.

Quick TL;DR (If you want only the steps)

1. Update ACNH to 3.0+ (check the version in the top-right of the main menu).
2. To unlock Splatoon items: go to Resident Services → Nook Stop → use the Amiibo option (or open the NookPhone amiibo app) and scan a compatible Splatoon amiibo. The items will be added to your catalog or appear for purchase soon after.
3. To get Lego furniture: open the Nook Stop wares (Nook Shopping / terminal offers). Lego items rotate through the terminal’s catalog — no amiibo required.
4. Troubleshoot by restarting the game, retrying the scan with the NFC zone on your controller/console, and verifying your update is installed.

Why this matters in 2026: crossovers, collectors, and a shifting secondary market

By late 2025 Nintendo amplified cross-franchise crossovers in ACNH, and early 2026 left those trends intact. Players moved from casual cataloging to serious collecting — and that changed how people hunt items. Amiibo-dependent unlocks are no longer a niche pain point: they influence marketplace prices, island aesthetics, and trade communities. Understanding the exact unlock flow saves you hours, prevents wasted purchases, and keeps your island looking pro.

Part 1 — Splatoon amiibo: exact unlock flow (step-by-step)

What you need before you start

• ACNH updated to 3.0 or later (check the version on the upper-right of the title screen).
• A Splatoon-series amiibo figure or card that Nintendo lists as compatible (see the compatibility notes below).
• A method to scan the amiibo — Joy‑Con (right), Pro Controller, or Switch Lite/front of console NFC area.
• Resident Services unlocked (this is basic game progression; anyone past the opening island tutorial will have it).

Step-by-step: Scan an amiibo in Animal Crossing

1. Load your ACNH save and head to Resident Services.
2. Use the Nook Stop terminal inside Resident Services — choose the amiibo option. (If your NookPhone has an amiibo app, you can use that too.)
3. Follow the on-screen prompt to register/scan. When prompted, place the amiibo on the NFC spot: the right Joy‑Con (near the analog stick) or the Pro Controller near the HOME-button area. For Switch Lite, hold the amiibo to the front of the console.
4. Confirm the amiibo identity. ACNH will respond with a short animation and (depending on the amiibo) either invite a character, give a photo, or unlock a furniture set.
5. Check your catalog and Nook Shopping. Splatoon-themed furniture items are added to your catalog and/or the game's special wares shortly after scanning. If you don’t see them, wait up to 24 hours in-game (a soft reset often updates availability immediately).

Which Splatoon amiibo work?

Over time Nintendo has released multiple Splatoon-series amiibo. For practical collecting purposes in 2026, the following are the ones most players use to unlock Splatoon furniture in ACNH:

• Inkling (various color/pose variants – Splatoon 1 & Splatoon 2-era figures)
• Inkling Squid / Inkling Boy / Inkling Girl figures and their Splatoon 2 reprints
• Character figures such as Callie & Marie, Pearl & Marina, and other franchise figures that are officially listed as compatible

Note: Nintendo’s official compatibility list is the authoritative source. If you buy used amiibo, check packaging or the NFC tag listing. In late 2025 Nintendo confirmed Splatoon-series amiibo unlock furniture in ACNH’s 3.0.x patch notes; if in doubt consult the patch notes or Nintendo support pages.

What items unlock from Splatoon amiibo?

Scanning Splatoon amiibo unlocks a themed batch of furniture and decor — ink-splattered sets, turf-inspired rugs, weapon props, and character-inspired items. Some items may be exclusive rewards (photo props or unique wallpapers), others become purchasable through Nook Shopping after an amiibo scan. Keep a catalog checklist after you scan to avoid duplicate purchases.

Part 2 — Lego furniture: where it lives and how to buy it

Key difference: Lego items don’t need amiibo

Unlike the Splatoon line, Lego furniture is available through the in-game commerce routes introduced with 3.0 — specifically via the Nook Stop terminal’s wares. That means you only need the 3.0 update installed; there’s no amiibo required.

Where to find Lego furniture (detailed steps)

1. Confirm ACNH is on version 3.0+ (main menu upper-right).
2. Enter Resident Services and interact with the Nook Stop terminal.
3. Open the Nook Shopping / terminal wares and browse the rotating list.
4. Lego items are sold as ready-made furniture (not DIY recipes). Buy directly with Bells from the terminal if an item is live.

What Lego items look like in-game

The Lego collection includes modular shelving, blocky sofas, colorful rugs, toy-style lighting, and novelty display pieces modeled after classic brick builds. They’re intentionally stylized to fit ACNH’s aesthetic: bright, modular, and easy to mix-and-match. Because they come from a major brand collaboration, expect multiple waves of Lego sets to rotate through the Nook Stop catalog during special events.

Troubleshooting: common problems and fixes

1. My amiibo scan failed — quick fixes

• Make sure your Joy‑Con/Pro Controller has battery and is connected.
• Align the amiibo with the controller NFC area. On the right Joy‑Con, the NFC reader is near the analog stick. For Switch Lite, place it against the front-center of the console.
• Restart ACNH and try again. A full console restart sometimes resolves recognition errors.
• Test the amiibo in another game (if available) to confirm the figure’s NFC chip is intact.

2. I scanned the amiibo but items didn’t appear

Wait a few in‑game hours or a soft reload. Some players report that Splatoon items populate the Nook Shopping list after an autosave cycle. If 24 hours pass and nothing appears, re-scan the same amiibo and double-check you’re on 3.0+. If problems persist, consult Nintendo Support forums and ACNH communities — occasional regional rollouts caused slight delays during the initial 3.0 rollout in late 2025.

3. Lego items not in Nook Stop wares

The Lego line is a rotating stock in Nook Stop. If a specific Lego item isn’t listed, check back daily — the terminal’s inventory refreshes regularly. Keep Bells ready or set up a Nook Shopping wishlist so you don’t miss a limited-run piece.

Collector & economy strategies (2026 meta)

Where to buy Splatoon amiibo affordably

• Check local classifieds and second‑hand marketplaces (e.g., eBay, Mercari, Facebook Marketplace). Post‑2024/2025 reprints stabilized supply, so prices are more reasonable in 2026 than the 2017–2020 scarcity era.
• Watch Nintendo’s official store for reprints and restocks — Nintendo has been reissuing select Splatoon figures since the franchise regained momentum in 2024–2025.
• Bundle deals work: buy amiibo lots when you only need one figure to unlock sets for your entire island (amiibo unlocks are per-island or per-player depending on item).

Trading and catalog sharing best practices

• Invite fellow players to your island to let them buy unlocked items directly — cheaper and cleaner than mail trading.
• Use Dream Islands and online marketplaces for exposure, but always protect sensitive data and avoid no-show trades.
• If an item is amiibo-locked, scanning once on your primary account often makes the item purchasable by anyone on that island — check after scanning and set up a sales window.

Advanced strategies: speed-unlock, multi-account, and aesthetics

Speed-unlock the entire Splatoon set

1. Borrow or borrow-scan multiple amiibo quickly: you only need a compatible amiibo scanned once per island to add purchasability for residents.
2. Scan several different Splatoon amiibo back-to-back to ensure you trigger all variant unlocks (some cosmetic variants tie to specific figures).
3. Clear inventory space and use in-game storage to buy and hold items for later placement or trading.

Use Lego items as modular staging for events

Lego furniture’s modular look makes it ideal for pop-up shops, kid-themed events, and creative showcases on islands. Mix Lego blocks with neon Splatoon items for festival stages or turf wars. In 2026 island aesthetics are a major social magnet — well-curated drops drive visitor counts and trading opportunities.

2026 trends & future predictions for crossovers in ACNH

Since Nintendo doubled down on IP partnerships in late 2025, expect more collaborations that use the amiibo unlock system for exclusives and Nook Stop rotations for brand drops. Lego joins a list of non‑Nintendo partners in 2026, signaling continued diversification of ACNH content. That means more players will need to balance amiibo acquisition with daily terminal checks. Pro tip: build a shared checklist (Discord, spreadsheet) with your community to track what’s gone live and who can scan which amiibo.

Actionable checklist — get everything in one session

• Confirm ACNH shows 3.0+ at the title menu.
• Charge controllers and bring all amiibo you own to Resident Services.
• Scan each Splatoon amiibo (use the Nook Stop amiibo option or NookPhone app).
• Open Nook Stop wares and search for Lego items; buy any must-haves immediately.
• Restart the game and re-check catalogs if something didn’t register.
• Invite friends and let them buy items directly to save on trading headaches.

"If you own one Splatoon amiibo and one island, you can unlock Splatoon decor that benefits every resident — make that one scan count." — Practical ACNH advice, 2026

Final takeaways — smart collecting in 2026

Splatoon amiibo and Lego furniture in ACNH 3.0 are designed to reward both the amiibo‑collector and the daily terminal checker. Splatoon items require a scan; Lego items require the 3.0 update and a Nook Stop purchase. Knowing the exact scan mechanics, which controllers have NFC, and how Nook Stop rotates stock will save you time and Bells. Follow the troubleshooting steps above if things don’t appear immediately, and use island invites to help friends buy items without complicated mail trades.

Want a checklist you can use on your island?

Download our printable ACNH 3.0 collector checklist (Splatoon amiibo slots, Lego item watchlist, and trading template) or join our Discord to coordinate scans and restock alerts. Share your haul and island photos — the best setups get featured.

Call to action: Ready to unlock everything? Head into Resident Services now, scan an amiibo, check Nook Stop wares, and then drop your before-and-after photos in our ACNH community. For more step-by-step guides and marketplace deal alerts, subscribe to our weekly roundup — we cover amiibo restocks, Nook Stop drops, and the best trades so you don’t miss the next crossover.