Amiibo cards are a great way to collect and display your favorite characters from the Nintendo franchise. However, they can be expensive to buy and limited in availability.
Fortunately, you can easily make your own Amiibo cards using NFC tags and a little bit of creativity. This guide will walk you through the steps needed to create your personalized Amiibo cards.
What is an Amiibo Card?
Definition
Are you a fan of Nintendo games like Splatoon, Super Smash Bros., or Animal Crossing? Then you’ve probably heard of Amiibos. These little figures use near-field communication (NFC) technology to interact with compatible games on the Nintendo Switch, 3DS, and Wii U consoles.
But did you know that there are also Amiibo cards? These function just like the figures, but in a more compact and collectible card form.
The toys-to-life market has seen a decline in recent years, with Disney Infinity and Skylanders no longer releasing new figures. But Amiibo cards are still sought-after by collectors and gamers alike. The limited edition and hard-to-find Amiibo cards can sell for high prices on the secondary market.
These cards can be used in the same way as Amiibo figures – for unlocking special content, like costumes or levels, in compatible games. Fortunately, you do not have to spend a fortune on rare Amiibo cards or wait for a character to be released as a card. With this guide, you can make Amiibo cards from scratch.
How Amiibo Cards Work?
Amiibo cards use near-field communication (NFC) technology, just like Amiibo figures. This technology allows the card to interact with compatible games on Nintendo consoles and gives access to special content.
Once the card is placed near the NFC touchpoint on the console, the game will prompt you to save the data from the Amiibo. This data can then be used in-game, such as unlocking a new character skin or level.
However, this does not mean that all games with Amiibo compatibility will work with any Amiibo card. For example, Super Smash Bros. & Mario Party 10 supports numerous amiibo, but Kirby & the Rainbow Curse only supports Kirby figures.
Additionally, the amiibo serves different functions in different games. In Super Smash Bros., the amiibo can be trained to become a fighter that players can battle against or team up with. In Animal Crossing, the amiibo allows players to invite characters for photoshoots or to play mini-games. Overall, amiibo cards can add an extra layer of fun and customization to compatible games.
How to Make Amiibo Cards?
If you want to successfully make your own Amiibo cards, you will need a few things:
- NFC Compatibility
NFC writing capabilities allow you to write the amiibo data onto the blank NFC tag. This can be achieved by having an external NFC writer or using a compatible smartphone (like those with Android) and downloading the right apps.
We recommend using a compatible Android/iPhone device, as external NFC writers can be expensive and hard to find. Besides, they are complicated to use and only have one function – writing amiibo data. On the other hand, a compatible smartphone allows you to write amiibo data as well as perform numerous other functions.
- Blank NFC Tags (Strictly NTAG 215)
Not all NFC tags are compatible with amiibo. You will need to specifically use NTAG 215 NFC tags, as they can hold amiibo data. These can be easily found online on websites like Amazon or eBay.
If you make the mistake of buying NTAG 213 or NTAG 216 tags, you will waste your time and money. So make sure you buy NTAG 215 tags!
- Amiibo Bin Files
You will need the bin files of the amiibo that you want to create cards. These can be found online through different websites, or you can dump amiibo data from your own figures using an NFC writing tool.
Ensure you have both locked secret.bin files and unfixed info.bin files. The locked secret bin files are essential for the amiibo card to work, as they contain all of the amiibo data. However, the unfixed info bin files can also be useful if you want to customize your amiibo cards with different levels or stats.
- TagMo App
Once you have all the necessary materials, you will need to download the TagMo app on your phone. This is a free app that allows you to write amiibo data onto NFC tags.
After downloading and installing the app, you will start the writing process immediately. It is a hassle-free exercise (as you’ll see from the step-by-step guide below). Ensure you carefully follow all the steps to ensure that your amiibo cards work properly.
Detailed Guide on How to Make Amiibo Cards
Now that you have all the materials, let’s get started on creating your own amiibo cards!
- Download TagMo APK
The initial step is to download the TagMo app onto your phone. The app is 100% free & available on the Google Play Store or GitHub. Ensure you enable “Unknown Sources” on your phone before downloading the app.
- Download Amiibo.bin Files
Amiibo.bin files contain all the data for a specific amiibo, including the character’s appearance and abilities. You can obtain these files using these steps:
- Open the TagMo app and enable NFC
- Import File. On the app’s settings menu, you should click on Import File. You will then access the download folder and choose the locked-secret.bin and unfixed-info.bin files. Click on each one to import them into the app.
- Press Scan Tag. Place an amiibo figure on the back of your phone. The app will then read it and generate Amiibo.bin files for that specific figure or chip. Save these files onto your phone’s storage.
Even when a message like ” phone has no NFC capabilities” appear, you should still continue and press the save button. The app will still generate the files for you to use. You can repeat this step for as many amiibo figures or chips as you want to create cards for.
- Launch the TagMo Application
This is the main part where you will write the amiibo data onto your NTAG215 chips. You must be meticulous in this step, as a mistake can lead to the amiibo cards not working properly. Here’s how you write the data onto the chips:
- Open the TagMo app. Once you launch the app, choose the three dots (…) situated in the upper right corner.
- Click on Load Key(s)/ Import Keys. Select the unfixed-info.bin file and locked-secret.bin file to add them to the app. You can even search for them in the download folder if you cannot find them on the TagMo app.
- Locate NFC Bank. Select the NFC Bank menu and click on it to show the Amiibo.bin files you have previously saved onto your phone’s storage. Select the link of the amiibo figure you want to write onto your NFC tag.
- Press Download Files and Click Load Tag. You will then choose your amiibo files and click Write Tag. Your phone’s NFC will then start writing the amiibo data onto the chip.
The data from the original Amiibo figure has now been successfully written onto your NFC chip. You can place the chip into a blank NTAG215 card or sticker and use it as a functional amiibo! Repeat this step for any other Amiibo figures you want to create cards for.
- Test Your Amiibo Card
To ensure that your amiibo card works, test it with your Switch or 3DS console. Place the card on the right joy-con for it to be recognized by the system. Your amiibo should now work just like a real figure or chip!
And that’s it, you have successfully created your own amiibo cards! It may take some time and effort to gather all the materials and go through the steps, but it will definitely be worth it as you can save money from purchasing actual amiibo figures or chips.
Note that NTAG 215 chips are not re-writable, so be sure to choose the amiibo figures you want to create cards for carefully. You can purchase blank NTAG215 chips online to create more amiibo cards in the future.
Different Amiibo Cards to Create
There are countless Amiibo figures to choose from, but here are a few suggestions for amiibo cards you can create:
- Super Smash Bros. characters such as Mario, Link, and Kirby
- Animal Crossing villagers such as Tom Nook and Isabelle
- Splatoon Inklings
- Legends of Zelda champions like Zelda and Ganondorf
- Joker Amiibo Cards
- Wolf Link Amiibo Cards
- Breath of the Wild
- Zelda – Link’s Awakening
- Shovel Knight
You can even mix and match the amiibo data onto one card, allowing you to use multiple Amiibos in one go. However, be sure to test out the amiibo card before fully using it in your games to ensure it works properly.
Are Custom-Made Amiibo Cards Legal?
Custom-made amiibo cards are not officially endorsed or licensed by Nintendo, so their legality is unclear. As long as you are not selling the cards for a profit, it should be fine to create and use them for personal use.
However, do keep in mind that using custom amiibo cards may result in flagged accounts or corrupt game saves. Use them at your own discretion.
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- Latest Android and iOS NFC Tags Programming Guide
General Q&A About Make Amiibo Cards
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What software do I need to make Amiibo cards?
You will need NFC writing software to program the NFC tags with the desired Amiibo character, such as TagMo or Amiiqo.
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Can I make Amiibo cards for any game, or are they specific to certain games?
Amiibo cards can be made for any game that supports Amiibo functionality, but the character data must be compatible with the game you want to use them on.
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How much does it cost to make your own Amiibo cards?
The cost of making Amiibo cards will depend on the cost of the NFC tags and any other materials you need, as well as the cost of the NFC writer.
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Can I use NFC tags to make Amiibo cards, or do I need specific ones?
You will need NFC tags compatible with your NFC writer and enough memory to store the Amiibo character data you want.
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Is it legal to make my own Amiibo cards?
It is currently a legal grey area to make your own Amiibo cards. While creating and using your amiibo cards for personal use is not technically illegal, it is against Nintendo’s terms of service. It could potentially lead to legal issues if you distribute or sell them.
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What kind of designs can I put on my Amiibo cards?
You can put any design on your Amiibo cards, but they should include the character’s name and image for easy identification.
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How do I program my Amiibo cards with the desired Amiibo character?
You can program your amiibo cards using NFC writing software. It allows you to load the character data onto the NFC tag.
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Are there any risks involved in making Amiibo cards?
There are some risks involved in making Amiibo cards, such as the possibility of damaging your NFC writer or accidentally wiping an NFC tag.
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Can I reuse NFC tags to make new Amiibo cards?
NFC tags can be reused to make new Amiibo cards, but they must be wiped clean of any existing data first.
