{"id":482582,"date":"2026-05-13T05:13:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T05:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/?p=482582"},"modified":"2026-05-13T05:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T05:13:32","slug":"what-do-amiibos-actually-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What do amiibos actually do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_67_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#What_do_Amiibos_Actually_Do\" title=\"What do Amiibos Actually Do?\">What do Amiibos Actually Do?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Introduction_to_Amiibos\" title=\"Introduction to Amiibos\">Introduction to Amiibos<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#How_Amiibos_Work\" title=\"How Amiibos Work\">How Amiibos Work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Benefits_of_Using_Amiibos\" title=\"Benefits of Using Amiibos\">Benefits of Using Amiibos<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#What_is_the_Rarest_Amiibo_Ever\" title=\"What is the Rarest Amiibo Ever?\">What is the Rarest Amiibo Ever?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Are_Amiibos_Discontinued\" title=\"Are Amiibos Discontinued?\">Are Amiibos Discontinued?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Do_Amiibos_Only_Work_Once\" title=\"Do Amiibos Only Work Once?\">Do Amiibos Only Work Once?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Can_You_Reprogram_an_Amiibo\" title=\"Can You Reprogram an Amiibo?\">Can You Reprogram an Amiibo?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#How_Long_Does_an_Amiibo_Last\" title=\"How Long Does an Amiibo Last?\">How Long Does an Amiibo Last?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#What_is_the_Most_Common_Amiibo\" title=\"What is the Most Common Amiibo?\">What is the Most Common Amiibo?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Are_Amiibos_Worth_Keeping_in_Box\" title=\"Are Amiibos Worth Keeping in Box?\">Are Amiibos Worth Keeping in Box?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Why_are_Amiibos_So_Hard_to_Find\" title=\"Why are Amiibos So Hard to Find?\">Why are Amiibos So Hard to Find?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Are_Amiibo_Cards_Cheaper_Than_Amiibos\" title=\"Are Amiibo Cards Cheaper Than Amiibos?\">Are Amiibo Cards Cheaper Than Amiibos?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#What_is_the_Oldest_Amiibo\" title=\"What is the Oldest Amiibo?\">What is the Oldest Amiibo?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#How_Many_Amiibos_Exist\" title=\"How Many Amiibos Exist?\">How Many Amiibos Exist?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Do_Amiibos_Learn_After_50\" title=\"Do Amiibos Learn After 50?\">Do Amiibos Learn After 50?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Why_is_the_Joker_Amiibo_So_Expensive\" title=\"Why is the Joker Amiibo So Expensive?\">Why is the Joker Amiibo So Expensive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#Why_is_the_Wolf_Link_Amiibo_So_Expensive\" title=\"Why is the Wolf Link Amiibo So Expensive?\">Why is the Wolf Link Amiibo So Expensive?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/#What_is_the_Controversy_with_the_Zelda_Amiibo\" title=\"What is the Controversy with the Zelda Amiibo?\">What is the Controversy with the Zelda Amiibo?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_Amiibos_Actually_Do\"><\/span>What do Amiibos Actually Do?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>Amiibos are small <strong>figurines<\/strong> that use <strong>Near Field Communication (NFC)<\/strong> technology to interact with <strong>Nintendo<\/strong> games, unlocking various <strong>in-game benefits<\/strong>, such as <strong>special items<\/strong>, <strong>characters<\/strong>, and <strong>game modes<\/strong>. By tapping an <strong>amiibo<\/strong> to a <strong>Nintendo Switch<\/strong> or <strong>Wii U<\/strong> console, players can access exclusive content, enhance their gaming experience, and even <strong>train AI characters<\/strong> in certain games.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Introduction_to_Amiibos\"><\/span>Introduction to Amiibos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Amiibos are designed to work seamlessly with <strong>Nintendo games<\/strong>, and each figure has a unique <strong>NFC chip<\/strong> that stores data and enables communication with the console. With a wide range of <strong>amiibo figures<\/strong> available, players can choose from their favorite <strong>Nintendo characters<\/strong>, such as <strong>Mario<\/strong>, <strong>Link<\/strong>, and <strong>Pikachu<\/strong>, to name a few.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Amiibos_Work\"><\/span>How Amiibos Work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To use an <strong>amiibo<\/strong>, players simply need to tap the figure to the <strong>Nintendo Switch<\/strong> or <strong>Wii U<\/strong> console, and the <strong>NFC chip<\/strong> will communicate with the game, unlocking the corresponding content. The type of content unlocked depends on the <strong>amiibo figure<\/strong> and the <strong>game being played<\/strong>, but common benefits include <strong>in-game items<\/strong>, <strong>characters<\/strong>, and <strong>game modes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits_of_Using_Amiibos\"><\/span>Benefits of Using Amiibos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Using <strong>amiibos<\/strong> can enhance the gaming experience in various ways, such as providing <strong>access to exclusive content<\/strong>, <strong>boosting gameplay<\/strong>, and <strong>unlocking special features<\/strong>. Additionally, <strong>amiibos<\/strong> can be used to <strong>train AI characters<\/strong> in certain games, such as <strong>Super Smash Bros.<\/strong>, allowing players to create custom <strong>AI opponents<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions\"><\/span>Frequently Asked Questions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Rarest_Amiibo_Ever\"><\/span>What is the Rarest Amiibo Ever?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The rarest <strong>amiibo<\/strong> ever is the <strong>Qbby BoxBoy!<\/strong> series <strong>amiibo<\/strong>, which is highly sought after by collectors and can be difficult to find.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Amiibos_Discontinued\"><\/span>Are Amiibos Discontinued?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Nintendo<\/strong> has announced that they will no longer be producing certain <strong>amiibo figures<\/strong>, making them highly collectible and potentially valuable.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Amiibos_Only_Work_Once\"><\/span>Do Amiibos Only Work Once?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No, <strong>amiibos<\/strong> can be used multiple times, but some games may limit the frequency of use, such as once per day.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_You_Reprogram_an_Amiibo\"><\/span>Can You Reprogram an Amiibo?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, <strong>amiibo<\/strong> data can be deleted or reset, allowing players to reprogram the figure for use in different games or with different characters.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Long_Does_an_Amiibo_Last\"><\/span>How Long Does an Amiibo Last?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Each <strong>amiibo<\/strong> can be used once every 24 hours, but the figure itself can last for many years with proper care.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Most_Common_Amiibo\"><\/span>What is the Most Common Amiibo?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The most common <strong>amiibo<\/strong> figures are those of popular <strong>Nintendo characters<\/strong>, such as <strong>Link<\/strong>, <strong>Mario<\/strong>, and <strong>Pikachu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Amiibos_Worth_Keeping_in_Box\"><\/span>Are Amiibos Worth Keeping in Box?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, keeping <strong>amiibos<\/strong> in their original packaging can help preserve their value and make them more collectible.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_are_Amiibos_So_Hard_to_Find\"><\/span>Why are Amiibos So Hard to Find?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Amiibos<\/strong> can be difficult to find due to high demand, limited production runs, and <strong>exclusivity deals<\/strong> with certain retailers.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_Amiibo_Cards_Cheaper_Than_Amiibos\"><\/span>Are Amiibo Cards Cheaper Than Amiibos?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, <strong>amiibo cards<\/strong> are generally cheaper than <strong>amiibo figures<\/strong>, as they are easier to produce and not as collectible.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Oldest_Amiibo\"><\/span>What is the Oldest Amiibo?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The oldest <strong>amiibo<\/strong> is the <strong>Super Smash Bros.<\/strong> series, which was released in 2014.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Many_Amiibos_Exist\"><\/span>How Many Amiibos Exist?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There are currently <strong>222 amiibo figures<\/strong> available, with more announced for release in the future.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Amiibos_Learn_After_50\"><\/span>Do Amiibos Learn After 50?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, <strong>amiibos<\/strong> can continue to learn and improve after reaching level 50, allowing players to further train and customize their <strong>AI characters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_the_Joker_Amiibo_So_Expensive\"><\/span>Why is the Joker Amiibo So Expensive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>Joker amiibo<\/strong> is highly sought after by fans of the <strong>Persona<\/strong> series and <strong>Super Smash Bros.<\/strong>, making it rare and expensive.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_the_Wolf_Link_Amiibo_So_Expensive\"><\/span>Why is the Wolf Link Amiibo So Expensive?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>Wolf Link amiibo<\/strong> is rare and highly collectible, making it expensive and difficult to find.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Controversy_with_the_Zelda_Amiibo\"><\/span>What is the Controversy with the Zelda Amiibo?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The <strong>Zelda amiibo<\/strong> has been criticized for locking exclusive content behind a <strong>paywall<\/strong>, making it inaccessible to players who do not own the figure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What do Amiibos Actually Do? Amiibos are small figurines that use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to interact with Nintendo games, unlocking various in-game benefits, such as special items, characters, and game modes. By tapping an amiibo to a Nintendo Switch or Wii U console, players can access exclusive content, enhance their gaming experience, and &#8230; <a title=\"What do amiibos actually do?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/what-do-amiibos-actually-do\/\" aria-label=\"More on What do amiibos actually do?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=482582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/482582\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=482582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=482582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gameslearningsociety.org\/wiki\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=482582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}