amiibo Glossary: The Terms Collectors Use (Sealed, Wave, Reprint, Grade)

New to Amiibo collecting? This glossary explains the terms you’ll see in listings and collector chats so you can buy and grade confidently.
Published:
Aleksandar Stajic
Updated: February 21, 2026 at 03:37 PM

Collector language is simple, but if you don’t know it, you get exploited: ‘sealed premium’, ‘first print’, ‘wave’, ‘grade’. This glossary keeps it practical.

Common Terms (Practical Definitions)

  • Sealed: unopened in original packaging (but condition can still be bad).
  • Wave: a release batch/time period for a set of figures.
  • Reprint/Restock: a later run that increases availability.
  • First print: early production run (collector relevance varies).
  • Grade: a condition rating (A/B/C/D) based on visible wear.
  • Shelf wear: scuffs/soft corners from retail handling.
  • Blister: the clear plastic front bubble on sealed packaging.
  • Variant: a small change in packaging/printing across regions or runs.

Rule: whenever someone uses ‘rare’ without condition proof, translate it as ‘marketing’ until proven otherwise.

Related Guides

Collecting & Grading

Condition system and rules.

First Print vs Reprint

When print runs matter.

Price Sanity

Avoid hype pricing.

Buying Guide

Baseline buying order.

Related Articles

All amiibo-Compatible Games – Complete Overview of Bonuses and Gameplay Integration

amiibo figures interact with a wide range of Nintendo games across Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch. The added value differs from title to title. In some cases the bonus is cosmetic. In others it affects gameplay more directly. What follows is a structured overview of compatible titles and the most significant unlock tied to scanning a figure.

amiibo Hub: Start Here (Pillars, Guides, and What to Buy First)

Your Amiibo library in one place: basics, compatibility, buying, and collecting. Use this hub to choose your path and avoid beginner mistakes.

amiibo Reprints – Release Cycles, Waves, and Their Role in Nintendo’s Ongoing Game Integration

amiibo are NFC-enabled character figures and cards introduced in November 2014. A reprint, in simple terms, is a renewed production run of an already released figure without functional changes. The internal chip remains the same. Packaging details may vary slightly by production year, but the gameplay interaction does not change. Reprints are therefore not new editions. They are returns to circulation.

Pyra - number 92

The Pyra amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. Series represents Pyra as she appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It is an NFC figure with internal storage. In plain terms, supported games can read it, and some can also write data back to it. The value is practical: it can carry saved fighter data and it can trigger unlock checks where a game supports amiibo features.

Pichu - number 72

The Pichu amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. Series is a character figure with NFC functionality. It represents Pichu as seen in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and connects to compatible Nintendo systems. The figure is not only decorative. It stores data and can carry progress inside supported games.

Kapp’n

The Kapp’n amiibo belongs to the Animal Crossing amiibo figure line released during the first wave of figures connected to the series. Like other figures in that line, it carries a small NFC chip that links the physical object to several Nintendo games. Scanning the figure activates character-related content. The practical value of the figure sits mostly in the ability to call Kapp’n into supported titles and unlock small pieces of themed content connected to his role in the series.

amiibo Basics: What They Are, How They Work, and What You Actually Get

amiibo are NFC figures that trigger game-specific rewards. Learn how they work, what they store, and why expectations matter more than hype.

amiibo Games List Strategy: How to Build a Useful Compatibility Index

A giant list is useless if it’s not structured. This guide shows how to build an Amiibo compatibility index that’s searchable, scannable, and actually helpful.

Pokémon Trainer - number 74

The Pokémon Trainer amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. Series represents the trainer character as seen in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It is a functional NFC figure that stores data and interacts with compatible Nintendo games. In practical terms, it is a training partner that adapts over time. Not a decorative object only, but not a complex device either. It does what the amiibo system was built to do.

Chrom - number 80

The Chrom amiibo from the Super Smash Bros. Series extends the character into physical form while adding functional use across compatible Nintendo systems. It is not decorative alone. It stores data where supported and unlocks defined in-game content. The practical value centers on its training function in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and on smaller bonuses in selected Fire Emblem titles.

amiibo Checklist for Sellers: How to List and Sell Without Buyer Drama

If you sell Amiibo, clarity sells faster. Use this seller checklist: photos, condition language, packaging grading, and how to price without backlash.

Blathers

The Blathers amiibo is part of the Animal Crossing figure series released during the broader rollout of Nintendo’s amiibo platform. Each figure combines a small collectible sculpture with an NFC chip inside the base. When placed on a compatible reader, the console reads the character ID stored in the figure. In practice this allows certain games to reference the character directly. The Blathers amiibo mainly provides access to appearances of the museum curator or small character related features inside supported Animal Crossing titles.