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
Amiibo .bin files are digital backups of the data stored on physical Zelda amiibo figures. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
(BotW), these files allow players to access exclusive weapons, armor sets, and the 20-heart Wolf Link companion without needing the rare physical figures. Core Requirements
To use these files, you must transfer them to a physical medium that your Nintendo Switch or Wii U can read via NFC.
Hardware: NTAG215 NFC tags (cards, stickers, or coins) are mandatory. Other NFC types like NTAG213 will not work. Software: Android: TagMo is the standard open-source app. iOS: Apps like Ally or Amiibox are commonly used.
Essential Keys: Most apps require two proprietary decryption files, typically named locked-secret.bin and unfixed-info.bin (or sometimes a combined key_retail.bin), to unlock and write the data. Step-by-Step Implementation 1. Preparation zelda botw amiibo bin files
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.
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
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. In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the
NTAG215 NFC Tags: These are blank stickers, cards, or coins that can store one Amiibo's data permanently. Writing Hardware
: 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)
Amiibo support in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) allows players to unlock exclusive gear, including the iconic Epona and legacy Link outfits. While physical figures are the official way to access these rewards, many players use amiibo .bin files—digital backups of the data stored on an amiibo's NFC chip—for convenience or to access rare, out-of-print figures. What are Zelda BotW Amiibo .bin Files?
An amiibo .bin file is a raw data backup of a physical amiibo. It contains the unique digital signature the Nintendo Switch or Wii U looks for when you scan a figure.
Functionality: These files enable the same in-game rewards as physical figures, such as weapon chests and food drops.
Usage: They are primarily used with emulators like Cemu or by writing them to blank NTAG215 NFC tags to create physical "clones". How to Use .bin Files in Breath of the Wild
To use digital amiibo data, you must first enable the feature within the game's system settings. 1. Enable the Amiibo Rune AmiiboDB/Amiibo: Amiibo .bin and .nfc database - GitHub
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild amiibo bin files are raw data backups of physical amiibo figures. These files allow you to emulate amiibo functionality to unlock exclusive items, weapons, and even companions like Wolf Link without needing the physical figures. Key Technical Concepts BIN vs. NFC Files
file is the raw data dump from a physical amiibo. To use this data on a Switch or other devices, it is often converted to a The "Zelda" Series (Most valuable for unique armor)
file format to be written onto physical NFC tags/cards or used by emulators. Hardware Requirements
: Using these files typically requires a device to "write" the data. Common tools include the Action Replay PowerSaves
(which uses a "Power Tag"), NFC-capable smartphones with apps like , or devices like the Flipper Zero Software Setup : In BotW, you must manually enable amiibo in the System Options
menu before the "amiibo Rune" appears in your Sheikah Slate. Notable Amiibo Rewards in BotW
Using bin files for specific Zelda amiibo provides high-tier exclusive loot: Amiibo Figure (BIN) Key Exclusive Reward(s) Additional Drops Summons Wolf Link (up to 20 hearts) (first scan) and Twilight Armor set Fruit, Swords Sheik’s Mask (stealth bonus) Twilight Bow (infinite light arrows, high durability) Herbs, Gems Ancient weapons and rare Ancient Cores Ancient parts 8-Bit Link Hero's Armor set and Sword Barrels, Rupees Advanced Usage Tips How to Use PowerSaves and Amiibo Bin Files
| Amiibo Name | Unlocks (BOTW Exclusive) | Rarity of Bin File | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Link (Archer) | Twilight Bow (rare), Arrows, Fish | Common | | Link (Rider) | Horse gear, Saddle, Bridle | Common | | Link (Ocarina of Time) | Biggoron’s Sword, Cap of Time | Uncommon | | Link (Majora’s Mask) | Fierce Deity Sword, Mask, Armor | Rare | | Link (Skyward Sword) | Goddess Sword, White Sword of the Sky | Medium | | Link (Twilight Princess) | Epona, Hylian Shield, Sword | Common | | Link (The Wind Waker) | Sea-Breeze Boomerang | Medium | | Zelda (The Wind Waker) | Light Arrows, Her Shield | Medium | | Zelda (BOTW) | Ancient materials, Light Bow | Common | | Guardian (BOTW) | Ancient Cores, Rare Ancient Parts | Very Common | | Bokoblin (BOTW) | Club, Meat, Monster Extract | Common |
Understanding datamined mechanics changes how you use your bin files. Here is the professional farming strategy:
Breath of the Wild supports over 20 different Amiibo, each providing a specific set of daily drops (once per real day per Amiibo). Below are the most notable bin files used by the BOTW community:
| Amiibo Name | Key Exclusive Rewards | |-------------|------------------------| | Link (Rider) | Horse gear, saddle, bridle | | Link (Archer) | Bows, arrows, unique helmet | | Link (Ocarina of Time) | Biggoron’s Sword (rare) | | Link (Majora’s Mask) | Fierce Deity set (sword, mask, armor) | | Link (Twilight Princess) | Epona (horse), Twilight set | | Link (Skyward Sword) | Goddess Sword | | Zelda (BOTW) | Rare herbs, shields, sometimes unique gear | | Guardian | Ancient cores, ancient arrows, rare parts | | Bokoblin | Monster parts, basic weapons |
Note: Each Amiibo can be scanned once per real day. Some rewards (like Epona or unique armor pieces) are guaranteed on the first scan but become random afterward.

