Animal Crossing New Horizons 3.0: How to Unlock Zelda & Splatoon Villagers with Amiibo

Introduction

The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update has arrived, bringing a permanent crossover with The Legend of Zelda and Splatoon. But these four exclusive villagers - Mineru, Tulin, Cece, and Viché - are locked behind amiibo. This guide breaks down exactly which figures you need, how to invite them, and what unique items and personalities they bring to your island.

What You Need Before You Start

First things first, you gotta update your game to Version 3.0.0, which dropped on January 14, 2026. Without this patch, none of the Zelda or Splatoon content exists in your game, so that's non-negotiable. If you're picking up the Switch 2 Edition, it'll run you $64.99 and comes with everything baked in. But if you already own the base game, you can grab just the update pack for $4.99, which is a pretty solid deal for what you're getting.

Now, about those amiibo. For the Zelda villagers - Mineru, Tulin, Cece, and Viché - you'll need any Legend of Zelda series amiibo. Yeah, any of them works, which means you don't have to track down specific rare ones. For the Splatoon crew, you'll need any Splatoon series amiibo. The Switch 2's NFC scanning is way faster than the original Switch, so you won't be holding that plastic figure to your controller for five seconds wondering if it's working.

The Invitation Process (It's a 3-Day Commitment)

Here's how you actually get these characters onto your island. Head over to Resident Services and fire up the Nook Stop terminal. You'll see an option that says 'Invite a Camper' - select that, then scan your amiibo when prompted. The game will recognize it immediately and send the villager to your campsite.

But they won't just move in right away. You've got to complete a three-day DIY gift request cycle, which means crafting specific items they ask for each day. This is where patience comes in. On the third day, after you've delivered their final requested item, they'll agree to move in. At that point, the game will randomly select an existing villager to ask to move out.

Zelda Collaboration Villagers: Tulin & Mineru

The 3.0 update dropped two Legend of Zelda heavyweights onto your island, and they're both direct imports from Tears of the Kingdom. If you've been hoarding those Zelda amiibo, now's the time to break them out - these villagers won't show up any other way.

Tulin: The Jock Bird Villager

Tulin's that energetic bird you've probably seen soaring around Hyrule, and he's brought the same wind-based enthusiasm to Animal Crossing. As a Jock villager, he'll constantly bug you about exercising, but at least his catchphrase fits the theme perfectly.

Bio Detail	Info
Species	Bird
Gender	Male
Personality	Jock
Birthday	March 3rd
Star Sign	Pisces
Catchphrase	'gust'
Origin	The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

That 'gust' line isn't just for show - it matches his wind-based abilities from TOTK, which is a nice touch the developers didn't have to include but did anyway.

Mineru: The Snooty Deer Villager

Mineru's a bit more... complicated. She's a Snooty deer with a catchphrase that references her construct-building skills, but the real star is her animation work. When she gets surprised, that third eye actually opens on her forehead, which is both unsettling and incredibly cool.

Bio Detail	Info
Species	Deer
Gender	Female
Personality	Snooty
Birthday	May 12th
Star Sign	Taurus
Catchphrase	'construct'
Special Feature	Third eye opens when surprised

She'll definitely judge your outfit choices, but that's just the Snooty personality doing its thing. The attention to detail with her eye animation makes her one of the most visually interesting villagers in the entire game.

Which Amiibo Call Each Villager

Here's where things get specific - and potentially expensive if you're missing some of these. Each villager answers to a completely different set of amiibo, and you can only scan one villager per day, so plan accordingly.

Scan These for Tulin	Scan These for Mineru
Link (Super Smash Bros.)	Zelda (Super Smash Bros.)
Toon Link (Super Smash Bros.)	Sheik
Young Link (Super Smash Bros.)	Ganondorf (Super Smash Bros.)
Link (Majora's Mask)	Wolf Link
Link (Skyward Sword)	Link (Ocarina of Time)
Toon Link (The Wind Waker)	Link (Twilight Princess)
Zelda (The Wind Waker)	Link (The Legend of Zelda 8-bit)
Link (Archer)	Link (Rider)
Bokoblin	Guardian
Daruk	Zelda (Breath of the Wild)
Revali	Urbosa
Zelda and Loftwing	Link (The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening)
Link (Tears of the Kingdom)	Zelda (Tears of the Kingdom)
Ganondorf (Tears of the Kingdom)	Sidon
Tulin (Breath of the Wild)	Riju
Yunobo	Mipha

That's 32 different amiibo across both lists, which is honestly pretty generous of Nintendo. The Tulin amiibo from Breath of the Wild works for calling AC's Tulin, which is a nice bit of symmetry, but you can also use the newer Tears of the Kingdom Link if you've got it.

Splatoon Collaboration Villagers: Cece & Viché

If you've got Splatoon amiibo collecting dust, here's the good news: Nintendo's squid-kid crossover added two exclusive squirrel villagers to New Horizons. The catch is you won't find Cece or Viché on any mystery island tour - they only move in through amiibo scans, so you'll need the right figures to get them to show up.

Cece: The Peppy Squirrel (Shiver)

Cece is the peppy squirrel of the duo, born on May 28th, which makes her a Gemini, and she's got that high-energy personality you'd expect. She first showed up in New Leaf where her catchphrase was 'stay fresh,' but Nintendo switched it to 'drip ink' for New Horizons, which honestly fits the Splatoon theme way better. Her whole design is based on Shiver from Splatoon 3, so if you're a fan of that shark idol's whole vibe, Cece's basically bringing that same energy to your island.

Viché: The Normal Squirrel (Frye)

Viché's the normal personality squirrel, with a birthday on July 7th, making her a Cancer. Her catchphrase also got changed - from 'splatastic' in New Leaf to 'lip-synch' in New Horizons, for whatever reason. She's modeled after Shiver and Frye from Splatoon 3, the eel idol with those iconic dance moves, so expect that same laid-back but stylish presence when she moves in.

Complete Splatoon Amiibo Compatibility List

Now for the important part - you can't just scan any random amiibo and hope for the best. Each villager needs specific Splatoon figures, and the lists are completely different.

To get Cece, you'll need to scan one of these:

• Callie
• Marina
• Octoling Girl
• Octoling Boy
• Octoling (Blue)
• Smallfry
• Shiver
• Callie (Alterna)
• Marina (Side Order)
• Big Man

And for Viché, you'll need one of these:

• Inkling (SSB)
• Inkling Girl (Orange)
• Inkling Boy (Blue)
• Inkling Squid
• Marie
• Inkling Girl (Lime)
• Inkling Boy (Purple)
• Inkling Squid (Orange)
• Inkling Girl (Neon Pink)
• Inkling Boy (Lime)
• Inkling Squid (Purple)
• Pearl
• Inkling (Yellow)
• Frye
• Marie (Alterna)
• Pearl (Side Order)
• Big Man

Unlocking Collaboration Items & Rewards

The Version 3.0 update dumped a mountain of Nintendo crossover goodies into the game, and if you've got a handful of amiibo lying around, you're already halfway to snagging them. These figures are basically a ticket to plastering your island with iconic gear from Zelda and Splatoon, so let's break down exactly what you get and how to grab it all without draining your Bell account.

Zelda Collaboration Items (28 Total)

The Legend of Zelda set is the crown jewel here, packing 28 items that'll make any Nintendo diehard nod in approval. The centerpiece is the Master Sword, an outdoor houseware piece that actually contributes 0.5 development points to your island rating - which means it's not just for show. You've got the Hylian Shield for mounting on your wall, a Fairy Bottle that sparkles with an animated fairy, and a full wardrobe of Link's iconic gear.

• Furniture & Decor: Master Sword, Hylian Shield, Fairy Bottle, plus dozens of Zelda-inspired furniture pieces
• Clothing: Link's Tunic (2,300 Bells at Nook Shopping), Zelda-themed hats, boots, and accessories
• Extras: Complete matching sets for flooring, walls, and decorative accents

Splatoon Collaboration Items

Splatoon fans get plenty of love too, and the good news is you only need to scan one Splatoon amiibo to open the entire catalog. The collection is stacked with ink-splattered fashion and furniture that screams Turf War vibes, from neon-laced streetwear to actual decorative weapons.

• Clothing: T-shirts, hats, sneakers, and accessories plastered with Splatoon logos and squidkid flair
• Furniture: Seats, wall art, flooring, and items like posters, signs, and lamps
• Bonus: Rugs and other accent pieces to give any room that fresh Inkopolis aesthetic

How to Access Collaboration Items

Here's where it gets practical. After you scan your amiibo at the Nook Stop terminal in Resident Services, the items don't just drop into your inventory - they hit the store catalogs and rotate through a few different shops.

Your first stop is the Nook Stop itself, where scanned collaboration pieces appear for direct purchase. If you've got the Happy Home Paradise DLC, you'll also find the full roster tucked into that catalog for decorating vacation homes.

For art hunters, Redd's Treasure Trawler occasionally stocks Zelda and Splatoon-themed paintings and sculptures, so check his black-market boat whenever it docks near your secret beach.

Pricing won't bankrupt you. The Link's Tunic costs 2,300 Bells from Nook Shopping, and most furniture lands in the standard Nook Shopping price range - so you can rep Hyrule or Inkopolis without skipping turnip day.

Tips & Strategies for Amiibo Collection

Finding & Purchasing Compatible Amiibo

You don't have to treat amiibo hunting like a treasure hunt with no map. The Official My Nintendo Store is your safest bet - they stock a wide range and you'll never question if they're legit. Best Buy is another solid option, especially since they also carry the new Animal Crossing Switch 2 Edition console if you're in the market for an upgrade.

Secondhand markets are where you'll find the real bargains though, particularly for older cards that aren't in production anymore. And here's something most people miss: any Legend of Zelda series amiibo works with New Horizons, not just the Animal Crossing ones. So if you already have a Link or Zelda figure, you can scan it to unlock villagers like Mineru, Tulin, Cece, and Viche without spending extra cash.

Managing Villager Slots with Amiibo

This is the game-changer that makes amiibo worth the investment. Random campsite visitors are a coin flip - you might get someone cool, but you can't control who they replace, or if they'll replace anyone at all. With amiibo cards, you're making the decisions.

Just swing by the Nook Stop terminal in Resident Services and scan your card. The game will randomly select an existing villager to ask to move out.

Switch 2 Edition Performance Benefits

If you've upgraded to the Switch 2 Edition, you're getting more than just a fresh paint job. The hardware improvements make the amiibo experience noticeably smoother.

• NFC scanning is dramatically improved: It's faster and way more reliable, so you're not sitting there rubbing the figure on your controller hoping it registers.
• Loading times are reduced: Everything from booting up your island to ducking in and out of buildings happens quicker. The difference isn't earth-shattering, but you'll feel it, especially coming from an original Switch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Amiibo & Compatibility Questions

Do I need to buy special Switch 2 amiibo? Nope, you're all set with what you've've got. Every single amiibo figure and card from the original Switch works perfectly with the Switch 2 Edition - no hardware hacks or weird workarounds needed, which includes those old Zelda and Splatoon cards you've probably got buried in a drawer somewhere.

Which Zelda amiibo unlock which villagers? This is where it gets specific, because not all Zelda amiibo do the same thing. Newer figures like the Tears of the Kingdom set will invite Tulin, while older releases bring Mineru to your island instead, so you'll want to check which era your figure is from before you scan.

What about Splatoon amiibo? The Splatoon series is pretty straightforward but has its own quirks. Scanning an Inkling or Inkling Girl will bring Viché to your island, while Octoling or Callie scans will invite Cece instead. The weird exception is Big Man - that one lets you choose between Cece or Viché each time you use it, which is actually pretty convenient if you're indecisive.

Villager & Gameplay Questions

Are the crossover villagers permanent? Absolutely, and this is the good news. Once you scan a compatible amiibo at the Nook Stop Terminal and they agree to move in, they're on your island for good - no temporary camper phase, no waiting game. They show up, grab a plot, and start living their best island life immediately.

When did this update go live? The Version 3.0 update dropped on January 14, 2026, and that's when all the Zelda and Splatoon content became available. So if you're booting up your game and don't see the option, make sure you've updated first.

Do these villagers actually feel different? They definitely do. The Zelda and Splatoon inspired villagers come with their own unique dialogue and interactions that set them apart from your normal lazy or peppy villagers. They reference their home games, have special reactions, and honestly just bring a different vibe to the island.

Conclusion

With the right amiibo, you can permanently add Zelda and Splatoon characters to your island, complete with themed houses and unique dialogue. Whether you're scanning for villagers or hunting for collaboration furniture, this update offers a fresh way to customize your paradise. Now it's time to head to the Nook Stop and start inviting.