When Nintendo moved on from the Wii U to the Switch, amiibo also made the jump into the next console generation. All of the old amiibo figures that were released alongside the Wii U work just fine with the Switch and Nintendo continues to release brand new figures to support Switch games like Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
How to Scan an Amiibo With a Nintendo Switch
Scanning an amiibo with a Nintendo Switch is easier than ever before. With the Wii U, the scanner is located on the GamePad, which is inconvenient for players who prefer to use a Pro Controller. Similarly, the 3DS uses a separate peripheral for scanning, and the New Nintendo 3DS requires the player to obscure the lower screen with an amiibo in order to scan it. There are two places that you can scan an amiibo on a Nintendo Switch, depending on the controller that you are using. If you’re using the Joy-Con controllers, you can scan an amiibo by touching it to the right joystick, which is located on the right Joy-Con. This works regardless of how you are using the Joy-Cons. They can be connected to the Switch, plugged into a controller frame, or held separately, and still read an amiibo. If you’re using a Pro Controller, you can scan an amiibo by touching it to the Nintendo Switch logo on the front of the controller. This allows players to take advantage of in-game bonuses, like invulnerability in Super Mario Odyssey, regardless of the controller they are using. The specific procedure for scanning an amiibo on Nintendo Switch differs from one game to the next, but here are the general steps you’ll need to take:
How to Receive Amiibo Rewards and Bonuses in Specific Games
While the basic process of scanning an amiibo doesn’t change from one game to the next, each game does have a specific procedure you need to perform before you can actually scan an amiibo. The method of scanning an amiibo in any given game is typically laid out in the included documentation, and most games also have an in-game tutorial that shows you how to start the scanning process. If you missed out on a tutorial, or can’t find the in-game documentation, here are the specific steps that you’ll need to take for some of the most popular Switch games:
Using Amiibo in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Amiibo use is turned off by default in this game, so you’ll have to enable it before you can scan your amiibo: After you turn amiibos on, you can scan an amiibo at any time during gameplay:
Using Amiibo in Super Mario Odyssey
The ability to scan an amiibo in Super Mario Odyssey isn’t available when you first start playing. Before you can take advantage of this feature, you’ll need to beat the first two kingdoms. When you arrive at the Sand Kingdom and beat the Broodals, you will find a Toad hanging out near your ship. After you talk to the Toad, you can scan an amiibo at any time:
Using Amiibo in Kirby Star Allies
You can only scan an amiibo while in a stage, so it’s a good idea to only use one when you plan on playing through the entire level. Scanning an amiibo will provide you with food, lives, stars, and illustration pieces.
Using Amiibo in Splatoon 2
Using Amiibo in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Using Amiibo in Skyrim
Using Amiibo in Fire Emblem Warriors
You can scan amiibo figures to unlock weapons, but the feature isn’t available until you complete the second chapter in the story mode.
Using Amiibo in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Before you can scan your amiibo in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, you need to complete world 1-5, defeat the mid-boss, and get Luigi on your team. After that, here is the process to scan an amiibo:
What Do Do If Your Switch Won’t Scan Your Amiibo
When a Switch fails to read a single amiibo, there may be a problem with that amiibo. If you run into a situation where your Switch won’t scan any amiibo figures at all, there may be a hardware or software issue. Here are some of the most important things to check when your Switch fails to scan your amiibo: If you try all of these suggestions, and your Switch still isn’t able to scan amiibos, then there may be a hardware fault in your Joy-Con or Switch. In that case, you will need to contact Nintendo support to request a consultation or repair.
