Splatoon is one of the few amiibo series where the figure does more than tap-to-unlock-a-thing. Scan an Inkling at Splatsville and you don't just get a cosmetic — you get a multi-step relationship with the character: an initial gear piece, then more after you win matches, and a recurring photo opportunity in the lobby. It rewards collectors who actually play the game.

This is the post I wish I'd had when I started chasing the line. Every wave, every figure, every reward, in one place.

The waves at a glance

Splatoon's amiibo line has shipped in four main waves over roughly a decade:

  • Wave 1 (2015) — Inkling Boy, Inkling Girl, and Inkling Squid. Originally released alongside Splatoon on Wii U.
  • Wave 2 (2016–2017) — Recolored Inklings (lime / orange / neon pink), plus Callie and Marie of the Squid Sisters.
  • Wave 3 (2018) — Octolings (boy, girl, octopus) and the Pearl & Marina "Off the Hook" pair from Splatoon 2.
  • Wave 4 (2022–present) — The Splatoon 3 wave: a neon-yellow Inkling, neon-blue Octoling, Smallfry, the Side Order pack (Marina and Pearl in tour outfits), the Alterna pack (Callie and Marie), and the Deep Cut trio: Shiver, Frye, and Big Man.

How unlocks work in Splatoon 3

The amiibo stand in Splatsville handles every scan. The pattern is consistent across most figures:

  • First scan → one gear piece, immediately.
  • After 10 wins (any mode) → second gear piece.
  • After another 10 wins → third gear piece.
It's the closest amiibo gets to a gameplay loop. The figure isn't just a key — it's an objective.

Splatoon 3 wave: full unlocks

  • Inkling (Neon Yellow) — Boss Floss, Schoolyard Scrap Jack, Knotty Bois.
  • Octoling (Neon Blue) — Sushi Sous-Chef Brand, Black-Belt Gi, Kick Dampeners.
  • Smallfry — Chaos Helm, Chaos Commander Suit, Chaos Kicks. Yes, the helmet has Smallfry's tuft.
  • Shiver — Hohojiro Mask, Chomp Top, Faux Sharkskin Platfins.
  • Frye — Onaga Mask, Eelneck Tank, Eelheel Socks.
  • Big Man — Manta Mask, Big Slick, Big Muds.
  • Callie (Alterna) — Hero Grip Replica, Survival Suit Replica, Survival Footwrap Replicas.
  • Marie (Alterna) — Captain's Cap Replica, Captain's Poncho Replica, Captain's Flip-Flop Replicas.
  • Marina (Side Order) — World Tour Headphones, World Tour Jacket, World Tour Heels.
  • Pearl (Side Order) — World Tour Crown, World Tour Puffy Coat, World Tour Boots.

Older amiibo still work

One of the friendliest things Nintendo did with Splatoon 3 was keep the old amiibo relevant. Every Wave 1, 2, and 3 figure unlocks its own three-piece gear set in Splatoon 3 — including the original 2015 Inkling Boy/Girl/Squid trio, the Octolings, and Pearl & Marina. If you held onto your Splatoon 2 amiibo, they're still useful.

What about photo mode?

Beyond gear, every Splatoon amiibo lets you pose with the character at the amiibo stand for a photo. Some figures (notably the Deep Cut trio) include unique idle animations that are worth scanning once even if you don't care about the gear.

The hunt

The Splatoon 3 wave's been hard to track at MSRP — the Deep Cut trio in particular has resold hot since release. If you're building this collection, my advice: pre-orders are the only sane way. By the time figures hit retail shelves they're already gone.

Once you have the full lineup, the payoff isn't just on your shelf. It's three sets of gear, ten-plus photos, and a steady drip of cosmetic content every time Nintendo updates the game. As completionist runs go, this one earns its place.