Published by: Hyrule Tech Chronicles Reading time: 5 minutes
When The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched alongside the Nintendo Switch in 2017, it introduced a revolutionary way to use Amiibo. Unlike previous titles that offered simple cosmetic unlocks, BotW used Amiibo to deliver exclusive weapons, rare armor sets, and even a unique horse—Epona.
However, with many of these physical figures long out of print (looking at you, Zelda 30th Anniversary set), a digital alternative has emerged in the gaming community: Amiibo bin files.
Here is everything you need to know about what they are, how they work, and the risks involved.
Several Amiibo unlock armor sets and weapons that are unobtainable through normal gameplay. Players utilizing bin files often seek specific files for:
This is the gray area where the article must be precise.
You have three options depending on your hardware.
Report prepared for educational use. The author does not condone copyright infringement or console modification that violates terms of service.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild amiibo .bin files are raw digital copies of the data stored on physical amiibo figures. These files allow players to "backup" their collection or emulate physical figures using NFC-enabled devices to unlock daily in-game rewards like rare weapons and armor. Core File Specifications : Typically exactly
: Raw binary data (.bin) that represents the content of an amiibo figure, card, or plush. Encryption
: The rewritable portions are encrypted; using these files with custom hardware often requires a specific key file, usually named key_retail.bin How They Are Used zelda botw amiibo bin files
To use these files without the original physical figures, players typically follow one of two paths: NFC Emulation : Using a smartphone with an NFC chip and apps like (Android) or (iOS) to write the .bin data onto blank NTAG215 NFC tags Hardware Emulators : Devices like the Amiibolink
act as "blank" amiibo that can store multiple .bin files and switch between them digitally. In-Game Functionality in BotW
Once a .bin file is written to a tag or emulated, it functions identically to a physical figure: Daily Drops
: Each "figure" can be scanned once every 24 hours to drop a treasure chest and a selection of items (food, gems, etc.). Exclusive Loot
: Certain amiibo provide items that cannot be found elsewhere in the game, such as the Twilight Bow (Zelda Smash Bros.), (Link Smash Bros.), or the Fierce Deity Armor (Link Majora's Mask). The "Reset" Trick
: To get rare drops faster, players can save before scanning, open the chest, and reload the save if they don't like the item. To scan the same amiibo again immediately, you can manually change the system time forward by one day in the Switch settings. Key Zelda BOTW Amiibo Rewards Notable Exclusive Drop(s) Link (Smash Bros) Epona (Horse), Twilight Armor Set Zelda (Smash Bros) Twilight Bow Link (Majora's Mask) Fierce Deity Armor Set, Fierce Deity Sword Link (Skyward Sword) Skyward Sword Armor Set, Goddess Sword Sheik (Smash Bros) Sheik's Mask Summons Wolf Link as a hunting companion
Amiibo .bin files are digital backups of the data stored on physical Amiibo figurines. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
(BotW), these files allow players to access exclusive in-game rewards—such as the Twilight Bow, Epona, or Wolf Link—without needing the actual physical toys. What You Need
To use these files on a Nintendo Switch or Wii U, you must "write" them onto physical media that the console can read.
NTAG215 NFC Tags: These are blank stickers, cards, or coins that can store one Amiibo's data permanently. Writing Hardware Unlocking the Wild: The Complete Guide to Zelda:
: An Android smartphone with NFC capabilities is the most common tool. Alternatively, specialized devices like the Action Replay PowerSaves for Amiibo use a PC-connected base and a reusable "Power Tag".
Essential Support Files: Most writing apps require two encryption keys, usually named unfixed-info.bin and locked-secret.bin, to correctly sign the data. How to Use Them 1. Writing to Tags (Android/iOS)
In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW), amiibo .bin files are digital backups containing the raw data found on physical amiibo NFC chips. These files are used by players to unlock exclusive in-game items—such as the Hylian Shield, Epona, or classic Link outfits—without needing to purchase or unbox the actual plastic figures. What are .bin Files?
Amiibo Data: These files represent the precise data that a Nintendo console reads via NFC.
Portability: They are used to create "clones" on blank NFC tags or to simulate amiibo in emulators.
Backup: Many collectors use .bin files to preserve the data of their physical collection. Common Ways to Use .bin Files
Players typically utilize these files through three main methods: 1. Creating Custom NFC Tags (Mobile)
You can write .bin files onto blank NTAG215 chips, which then function exactly like a standard amiibo when scanned by a Switch or Wii U. AmiiboDB/Amiibo: Amiibo .bin and .nfc database - GitHub
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) introduced a robust amiibo system that grants players exclusive in-game items, ranging from iconic armor sets like the Armor of the Wild to rare weapons like the Twilight Bow. For many players, however, the physical scarcity and high cost of these figurines have led to the use of amiibo .bin files. These files act as digital clones, containing the specific character ID and data required to "trick" the Nintendo Switch into granting rewards without the physical toy. AmiiboDB/Amiibo: Amiibo .bin and .nfc database - GitHub
What do I do with these? Amiibo data are stored on the physical Amiibo as a . bin file. .Bin file - raw data from physical Amiibo. Fierce Deity Set: Unlocked via Majora’s Mask Amiibo
Amiibo .bin files are digital copies of the data found on physical Nintendo Amiibo figures. For The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW), these files are commonly used by players to access exclusive in-game items—like Epona, the Twilight Bow, or the Fierce Deity set—without needing the physical figures . 🛠️ How They are Used
Emulation (CEMU): Players use .bin files to "scan" Amiibo within emulators. You simply load the file through the emulator's NFC menu while the Amiibo rune is active in-game .
NFC Tag Writing: You can write these files onto blank NTAG215 chips or cards using a smartphone (via apps like TagMo for Android or Ally for iOS). These "homebrew" tags then function exactly like a real Amiibo when tapped on your Switch .
Hardware Devices: Devices like the Action Replay PowerTag or AmiiboLink allow you to upload multiple .bin files to a single rewritable puck . 📂 Key Components How to Use PowerSaves and Amiibo Bin Files
In the vast kingdom of Hyrule, .bin files act as digital blueprints for the powerful
artifacts that grant Link rare equipment and survival supplies. These files are essentially raw data dumps from physical figures, often around 540 bytes in size, containing the unique identity of characters like the 30th Anniversary Link The Legend of Digital Spoofing
When a player possesses these .bin files, they can "spoof" the presence of a physical amiibo using devices like the Action Replay PowerSaves
or NFC-capable smartphones with management apps. This allows Link to summon a high-powered 20-heart Wolf Link companion or unlock exclusive armor sets like the Skyward Sword outfit without owning the rare plastic figures. Scanning for Fate To utilize these files within Breath of the Wild
How to choose Amiibo Items in Zelda Breath of The Wild | BoTW
Subject: Digital Content Report – Amiibo Binary Files (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
Date: October 26, 2023 Prepared By: AI Assistant Topic: Analysis of "Bin Files" regarding Amiibo functionality in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Devices like Puck.js, Flask Amiibo, or Allmiibo stores 200+ bin files internally.