Why is the Wolf Link amiibo so Expensive?

The Wolf Link amiibo has retained its value well beyond almost every other Nintendo figurine. Originally retailing for $15.99 at its November 2016 launch alongside Twilight Princess HD, it now routinely sells for exorbitant prices between $100-160 on the secondary market.

What has allowed this single amiibo to maintain such high demand and pricing while even harder to find figures like Gold Mega Man have cratered in value? As an avid Nintendo collector myself, I believe it comes down to the triple threat of limited supply, great in-game rewards, and being a coveted collectible of a fan favorite character.

Nintendo Created an Initial Supply Crunch

Nintendo has garnered criticism from fans for years over artificially limiting supply for hot gaming merchandise. Whether amiibo figures or nostalgic throwback consoles, they often restrict quantities at launch. This was clearly the case when the Wolf Link amiibo first hit the market.

Announcing and showcasing the figure months ahead of its late 2016 release alongside Twilight Princess likely built anticipation. Yet Nintendo did not seem to anticipate or meet the intense demand. Launch day came and the Wolf Link amiibo instantly became hard to find at retailers.

Price tracker site CamelCamelCamel shows the rapid rise in prices for the figure over 2016 and 2017 as stocks diminished:

November 2016: $15.99 MSRP
December 2016: $39.99 ($24+ over MSRP) 
June 2017: $69.99 ($54 over MSRP)

Fans hoping to buy this special amiibo were often left empty handed. Some lamented their struggles to obtain this hot item, like this gamer writing:

"I checked all local stores on launch day with no luck. Employees said people were lined up waiting to grab them. Now I‘ll have to pay 4X-5X as much to get the Wolf Link amiibo thanks to scalpers buying them out!"

Judging by the initial demand likely outpacing their conservative supply, Nintendo could have avoided leaving money on the table. Instead, speculators happily bought up the figure to sell at inflated prices later.

Unlocks Special Content – Enhancing Gameplay Value

The Wolf Link amiibo justified the higher cost for many fans thanks to unlocking exclusive content across multiple Nintendo games on Wii U and Switch. While not all amiibo provide special in-game bonuses, this one had some of the most enticing rewards.

Twilight Princess HD

Scanning the Wolf Link figure gave access to the Cave of Shadows – a challenging new dungeon with waves of enemies to defeat alongside Midna. Reviews praised this bonus add-on content:

IGN: "The Cave adds several hours of fresh gameplay and combat gauntlets." (8.8/10)  
GameSpot: "An enjoyable side quest for hardcore fans." (7/10)

Breath of the Wild

In the Switch open world epic, the Wolf Link amiibo can be scanned daily to make Wolf Link appear. He‘ll then help you fight enemies and scour Hyrule. This companion perk was a big selling point for fans, moreso than most other Link amiibo bonuses like random items.

GameRevolution: "Your new heroic wolf friend adds an extra layer of fun." (9.5/10)

Other Rewards

The Twilight Princess motif continued in other games, with the Wolf Link amiibo unlocking related costumes in Super Mario Maker and exclusive Animal Crossing items. Players benefited in various Nintendo titles for years thanks to ongoing support.

Beloved Character + Stylized Design

Beyond pure gaming functionality, Nintendo customer loyalty and fan culture has also long played a role in driving up demand. Characters like Link persist across generations, keeping older fans while gaining new younger ones. This gives certain amiibo timeless appeal past their initial launch window.

The Wolf Link design captures an iconic moment for the character alongside Midna‘s distinct Twilight Princess aesthetic. As one of the more unique Link variants, it visually pops on the shelf for collectors.

Other hard to find Zelda figures like Skyward Sword Link ($100+ now) and Smash Bros Toon Link ($130+) show the appeal of limited variants of popular Nintendo mascots. Fans and opportunists rush to buy up coveted characters. Mint condition and sealed box copies tend to fetch even higher premiums from collectors down the road.

Analyzing the amiibo resale market, industry watcher Simon Carless commented:

"IP and characters that resonate across generations will retain more viability long term. I expect particular game or character amiibo to continue appreciating given sufficient initial scarcity and appeal."

This bodes well for the Wolf Link amiibo retaining collector value better than one-off figures from less prominent Nintendo series.

Why Many Other amiibo Lose Value

In contrast, most amiibo rapidly dropped to clearance bargain bin prices after their initial release once supply stabilized. Even previously rare figures like Gold Mega Man can now be readily found well below their $50+ launch pricing.

Without recurring appeal through character fame or solid in-game rewards, most amiibo end up becoming impulse purchase novelties that get marked down. Those that retain high pricing years later have crossed over from simple toys into coveted prizes for Nintendo devotees.

In summary, the Wolf Link amiibo has maintained its lofty value years later due to three main factors:

1. Initial supply falling far short of intense demand – Causing prices to rapidly rise among opportunistic resellers.

2. Unlocking exclusive and enticing in-game content – Adding ongoing gaming value beyond shelf appeal alone.

3. Depicting a fan favorite character and stylish design – Tapping into the loyal Nintendo fanbase‘s collector urge and eagerness to display their fandom.

As the chart below shows, these same attributes have caused other uncommon Legend of Zelda amiibo to also rise in resale pricing over time compared to their original MSRP.

So for these reasons, the Wolf Link amiibo remains an elusive and expensive prize for Zelda devotees even six years post-launch. Nintendo‘s artificial supply limitations, smart design, and talent for leveraging fan nostalgia maintain its rarity and value in 2023.