Collector’s Guide: Amiibo, Lego Items, and the Ultimate New Horizons Hoarder Checklist

Hook: If you’re drowning in scattered lists, duplicate lists, duplicate Amiibo boxes and half-built Lego displays, this guide is for you.

Completionists and hoarders: the 2026 wave of Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 content — plus expanding Amiibo drops and the new Lego furniture catalog — means more items to chase than ever. You want every Splatoon, Zelda, and Lego piece unlocked, cataloged and displayed without losing your mind or your wallet. This collector checklist and organization playbook delivers a systematic plan for acquiring, trading, storing and showing off your entire haul.

What changed in 2025–26 and why it matters

Late 2025 and early 2026 brought the long-awaited New Horizons 3.0 refresh: a new facility, hotel features and dozens of cross-over items. Nintendo locked many of the Splatoon and Legend of Zelda cosmetics behind compatible Amiibo, while the official Lego furniture catalog items showed up in the Nook Stop wares — meaning the ways you obtain items now split between physical Amiibo scanning and digital Nook Stop purchases.

At the same time, collector trends in 2026 favor integrated inventory management (Notion and Airtable templates), community-driven trading (Discord, Nookazon), and loyalty-program arbitrage (using Lego VIP, My Nintendo points and retailer credit). This guide gives you the tactics that reflect those trends so your completion run is efficient and secure.

Quick overview: The three acquisition lanes

1. Amiibo-locked content: Splatoon and many Zelda items require scanning compatible Amiibo to unlock in-game purchase options or invite characters.
2. Nook Stop / Nook Shopping drops: Lego furniture and some cosmetics appear directly in the Nook Stop terminal after updating to New Horizons 3.0.
3. Community trading & secondhand markets: For rare Amiibo, discontinued Lego sets, or items you missed, trade communities, resale marketplaces and loyalty program strategies bridge the gaps.

Step-by-step collector checklist (printable workflow)

Use this as your master workflow. Treat each item as a row in your inventory sheet (see the Inventory Management section for templates).

1. Update & verify: Confirm New Horizons 3.0 is installed. Items tied to the 3.0 patch won’t appear until you’re on the correct version.
2. Scan to unlock: For Splatoon and Zelda items, scan the compatible Amiibo figure or card. Once scanned, the associated furniture often becomes available for purchase in the Nook Shopping catalog. Keep a log entry when you scan so you don’t waste time re-checking.
3. Check Nook Stop daily: Lego furniture appears in the Nook Stop wares. Rotate your checking schedule: some items show as limited-time drops.
4. Claim & catalog: Buy the item once unlocked, then verify it’s recorded in your in-game catalog. Mark the item as “obtained” in your external tracker.
5. Duplicate strategy: Decide in advance whether you keep duplicates for display, trade them, or sell them to the Nook shop for bells. Track duplicates in your sheet.
6. Trade safely: Use vetted community services (Nookazon/Discord trade channels). Employ middlemen and escrow for high-value trades.

Actionable tip

Set a daily 10-minute “sweep” to scan amiibo and check Nook Stop — consistency beats panic buying later.

Essential Amiibo & Lego lists — how to build your own authoritative Amiibo list

It’s unrealistic to memorize every SKU. Instead, build a living Amiibo list and Lego furniture catalog within a single source of truth (Notion, Google Sheets, or Airtable). Your master list should include:

• Item name (in-game and official)
• Source (Amiibo figure name / Nook Stop / DIY craft)
• Unlock method (scan / purchase / event)
• Obtained? (Y/N)
• Cataloged in-game? (Y/N)
• Duplicates count
• Notes (trade offers, restock windows, retailer restock links)

Example row (CSV-ready): "Splatoon Turf Sofa, Splatoon Inkling Girl Amiibo, Amiibo scan, N, N, 0, Wants: 2; Trade: willing to trade duplicates"

Inventory management: templates, automation and daily habits

Why inventory matters: When you're chasing hundreds of items, the real advantage is data. A clean tracker prevents accidental buys, helps you prioritize high-value targets, and makes trading credible.

Recommended columns (build this in Google Sheets or Airtable)

• Category (Amiibo, Lego, In-game craft)
• Item Name
• Source (Amiibo name, Nook Stop)
• Unlock Method (scan / buy / event)
• Obtained (Yes/No)
• Cataloged (Yes/No)
• Physical condition (Mint / Opened / Loose)
• Display Location (Island Room / Shelf A)
• Price paid / market value
• Trade history / notes

Automation and integrations

• Use image links in Sheets/Airtable to visually confirm items at a glance.
• Set conditional formatting to highlight “Obtained = No” for priority view.
• Create webhooks to get Discord alerts for restocks or Nookazon listings (many community bots support webhooks in 2026).
• Consider lightweight automation tools and AI helpers — see practical automation patterns like Automating Nomination Triage with AI for small-team patterns that translate well to collector workflows.

Daily habits

1. 10-minute Nook Stop sweep.
2. Record any Amiibo scanned immediately.
3. Update trades and price changes once per week.

Trading tips: beating scams and getting fair value

Trading is the quickest way to finish a collection without paying full retail for every Amiibo or set. But trading carries risk. Use these proven safeguards developed by serious collectors in 2025–26:

• Reputation first: Trade in community channels (Nookazon, ACNH Discord servers) that keep public trade histories and references.
• Always screenshot: Keep evidence of promises, receipts, and item screenshots. If the trade goes sideways, you’ll have a record.
• Use middlemen for expensive trades: Trusted moderators or verified service providers act as escrow so both parties deliver as promised.
• No single-person deals for high-value items: If someone insists on DMs only and refuses public trade threads, walk away.
• Set clear terms: Include condition, quantity, friend code, time window and refund policy in your trade post.

Sample trade template

"ISO: Splatoon Turf Sofa (unlocked). Offering: Lego Brick Shelf (mint). Condition: open box OK. Trade window: Jan 24 19:00–20:00 UTC. Middleman: @MM_Name. No refunds unless counterfeit evidence provided. Screenshot proof required."

Display tips — in-game and IRL

Display is where your collection becomes art, not clutter. Use the following display strategies to show off everything from Amiibo boxes to Lego furniture you unlocked in-game.

In-game display tips (New Horizons)

• Themed rooms: Group Splatoon items in a turf-themed room, Zelda items in a shrine, Lego furniture in a playroom. Use flooring and wallpaper to tie items together.
• Rotation schedule: Rotate seasonal displays monthly so visitors always see something fresh and you prevent visual fatigue.
• Outdoor showcases: Use island landscaping to create a Lego park or Splatoon turf war zone for visitors to screenshot.
• Dream addresses & QR codes: Share your island Dream or publish showrooms so others can admire and rate your collection.

Real-world display tips (Amiibo and Lego sets)

• Decide boxed vs unboxed: Boxed Amiibo retain resale value; loose figures are cheaper to display. For Lego, keep sets sealed for long-term investment or build and display for immediate visual payoff.
• Invest in modular shelving: IKEA Kallax cubes, Glasscurio cases and wall-mounted shadow boxes work great. Use magnetic Amiibo stands if you prefer the box lid displayed separately.
• Lighting matters: LED strips and small spotlights make colors pop — especially for Splatoon prints and neon Lego bricks.
• Protect from UV & dust: Acrylic cases and UV-filtering glass preserve paint and box art. Use silica gel packs in boxes if humidity is a concern.
• Labeling: Add small, printed labels (item name, acquisition date) for a museum feel and for quick inventory checks.

Deals, rewards & loyalty program playbook (save money, earn points)

2026 is a loyalty points game. Stack rewards for bigger wins.

• Lego VIP: Use VIP points on limited Lego sets or exclusive releases — many collectors leveraged VIP points in late 2025 to secure sold-out items.
• My Nintendo & eShop offers: Save Gold Points from digital purchases to offset DLC or small cosmetic packs; watch for time-limited My Nintendo missions that award bonus points.
• Retailer restock alerts: GameStop, Best Buy and Amazon offer pre-order and restock email alerts. Use third-party tracker bots or services to get real-time notifications.
• Secondhand arbitrage: Buy used Amiibo and LEGO lots during slow seasons and resell duplicates or trade for missing items; factor in loyalty point credits and trade-in bonuses when calculating value.
• Credit card & cashback stacking: Use cards that give bonus points at toy retailers and marketplaces during big promotions; combine with retailer coupons to maximize savings.

Actionable reward tactic

When a Lego set you need is restocking, check whether the retailer runs a points promotion or if the set is eligible for VIP or cashback — a 10% points stack can be worth far more than a marginal discount later. Also consider rethinking fan merch strategies to reduce costs while preserving collector appeal.

Conservation & long-term value strategies

If you're collecting as both a fan and an investor, follow these rules:

• Mint items: Keep one sealed copy for investment and a display copy for personal use.
• Document provenance: Keep receipts, screenshots of in-game unlocks, and trade history to substantiate ownership for future sales.
• Insurance & appraisal: For high-value Lego lots and rare Amiibo, consider collectible insurance or appraisal if total value exceeds your homeowner policy thresholds.

Common mistakes completionists make (and how to avoid them)

• No central tracker: Leads to duplicate purchases and missed trades. Fix: set up the suggested sheet and enforce daily updates.
• Impulse trading: Trading without vetting leads to scams. Fix: use middlemen and reputation-based platforms; review resources like How to Teach Kids Responsible Collecting for structured habits that scale to adults.
• Store everything in original boxes unsorted: Boxed storage is safe but impossible to navigate. Fix: label boxes and keep a quick index on the outer lid.
• Missed loyalty stacking: Collectors often buy at retail without checking loyalty perks. Fix: check retailer promos and VIP status before purchase; see in-store and sampling strategies like In‑Store Sampling Labs & Refill Rituals for creative loyalty activation ideas.

2026 trends and future predictions for collectors

Expect the following as the collector economy evolves in 2026:

• More crossovers locked to physical toys: Brands will continue using Amiibo-like mechanics to drive physical purchases and encourage catalog completion.
• Decentralized marketplaces mature: Verified community escrow services and reputation systems reduce scam risk and speed up trades.
• Inventory-as-a-service: More collectors will adopt SaaS tools (Airtable templates, Notion databases) specifically tailored to game-related item management.
• Retail restock automation: Bots and webhook alerts will be commonplace; success depends on good alert hygiene to avoid wasted buys.

Final checklist summary — print and pin

• Confirm New Horizons 3.0 update installed (essential).
• Create a single master collector checklist that includes Amiibo list, Lego furniture catalog and in-game items.
• Scan Amiibo to unlock Splatoon & Zelda items; check Nook Stop for Lego drops.
• Log every acquisition immediately in your tracker (image, date, source, condition).
• Use safe trading practices: reputation, screenshots, middlemen.
• Optimize display with themed rooms, lighting, and modular shelving.
• Stack loyalty programs — Lego VIP, My Nintendo, retailer promos — before major purchases.

Actionable takeaways

• Set a 10-minute daily routine: update tracker, scan Amiibo, check Nook Stop.
• Create an Airtable/Notion template now — populate it as you unlock items; treat it as your canonical source.
• Before trading, ask for references and propose a middleman for anything over a preset value (e.g., $30 USD).
• Use loyalty programs and restock alerts to save money and avoid panic-buy prices.

Where to get the tools mentioned

Start with free tools: Google Sheets for quick lists, Notion for long-form notes and images, Airtable for relational inventory with image attachments. For Lego part and set references, Rebrickable and Bricklink are must-haves in 2026. For community trades, join the established ACNH Discord servers and Nookazon listings to compare market prices. If you want to streamline automation, check small-team automation patterns like Automating Nomination Triage with AI.

Closing: Build a collection that tells a story — not a room that hides one

Collecting every Amiibo unlock, Lego furniture piece and New Horizons item is a marathon, not a sprint. The difference between a chaotic hoard and a curated legend is how you track, trade and display your items. Use the collector checklist and systems above to bring order to abundance. Start small: implement the daily 10-minute sweep and create your master tracker today — you’ll thank yourself when your island (and shelf) earns that coveted completionist cred.

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Want a ready-made template? Download our free Completionist Collector Checklist (Google Sheets + Airtable versions) and get weekly alerts for Amiibo restocks, Lego VIP promos and top Nookazon listings. Join our collectors' Discord to trade safely with verified members and show off your displays — click to get started and complete your collection smarter, not harder.

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