files are digital backups (dumps) of the data stored on the NFC chips inside physical Skylanders figures. These files allow collectors to preserve their characters' progress or recreate them using blank NFC tags, which is especially useful given that physical figures are increasingly rare or prone to hardware failure. Common Uses for Creating NFC Cards : You can write these files onto blank Mifare Classic 1K
(Gen1a) tags to create "cards" that act exactly like physical figures when placed on the Portal of Power. Data Preservation
: Backing up your own figures ensures that if the internal chip dies, you still have the character's level, upgrades, and "nickname" saved. : These files are used in emulators like
to play Skylanders games on a PC without needing physical toys. Essential Tools
To work with these files, the community typically uses the following hardware and software: NFC Reader/Writer : An external USB device like the is the standard for PC. Portal of Power
: A standard portal can sometimes be used with specific PC software like the Skylanders GUI Tool to dump your own files. Skylanders GUI Tool : Used for dumping (reading) and managing figure data. Mifare Windows Tool (MWT) : A popular utility for writing the files to NFC tags. Zaduig / libusbK
: Necessary drivers to get the NFC reader or portal to communicate with your PC. Where to Find Files How To Make Skylanders NFC Cards 2024
Working with (binary) files involves using them to create custom NFC cards or to backup and edit the data stored on physical figures. These files contain the character's unique ID along with saved progress like experience, gold, and skill upgrades. Creating Custom NFC Cards skylander bin files
data to a new NFC tag, you typically need a compatible reader/writer (like an ACR122U) and Mifare Classic 1K Software Tools : Common tools used include Mifare Windows Tool (MWT) (Yet Another Mifare Tool), or found on platforms like The Writing Process Connect your NFC reader and place a blank card on it. Open your software (e.g., MWT) and select the option to "Read Tag" to verify the card is detected. "Write Tag" and select your desired Skylander file as the source.
Enable "Advanced" settings if necessary (e.g., "Chinese magic unlocked gen 1") to allow writing to the manufacturer block.
Start the "cloning" or "writing" process. Once all 64 blocks are written, the card is ready for use in-game. Editing and Backing Up Data
If you want to modify a character's stats or save a copy of your physical collection, you can use specialized editors. Data Stored : Files keep track of Experience points Skill upgrades Equipped Hats Editor Options Skylander Editor
: A popular tool for Windows that allows you to open encrypted files, change stats, and save them back to the portal or a file.
: An OSX-based portal reader/editor that can decrypt data directly from the portal. : A figure generator available on that can create new figure data from scratch. Common File Sources Most users look for pre-organized collections like the Skylanders Ultimate NFC Pack
, which contains dumps for almost every character in the franchise. For modern handheld devices, the sealldeveloper/FlipperSkylanders repository provides compatible files specifically for the Flipper Zero files are digital backups (dumps) of the data
To help you find the right tools or files, are you looking to create physical cards for a console, or are you trying to emulate them on a PC using something like RPCS3? How to make Skylanders NFC Cards!
A “raw” Skylander BIN file is a linear representation of these 1024 bytes (or 4096 bytes for later “Superchargers” vehicles using Mifare 4K). No headers or footers exist; the file is a literal memory dump. This simplicity is why tools like dd can directly read the portal via a PN532 NFC reader and output a .bin.
If you want to preserve your collection, follow these steps:
triggerhappy_gold_001.bin).Congratulations! You now have a perfect backup. If the figure breaks, you can buy a cheap used Skylander (or a blank NFC tag), erase it, and write your backup BIN to it.
A community-run database of bin files. This is controversial but widely used. It allows you to download bin files for every figure, including discontinued chase variants like Stone Whirlwind.
| Sector | Block | Typical Content | Writable by Console? | |--------|-------|----------------|----------------------| | 0 | 0 | UID, manufacturer data | No | | 0 | 1-3 | Keys, sector trailers | No | | 1 | 0-2 | Character ID, nickname, level, XP | Yes | | 2 | 0-2 | Upgrades (byte flags), wow-pow | Yes | | 3 | 0-2 | Hat ID, soul gem flag | Yes | | 4 | 0-2 | Money (gold), quest progress | Yes | | 5 | 0-2 | Feats of strength (bitmask) | Yes | | 6-15 | 0-2 | Unused/zeroed or DLC expansion data | Conditional |
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Distributing Skylander bin files is legally gray at best. Step-by-Step: How to Backup a Skylander to a
The Law:
The Ethics (Collector’s View):
Our recommendation: Use bin files for personal backup of your own figures. Do not download rare figures you do not own. The moment you put a counterfeit bin on a blank NFC tag and sell it on eBay as "Authentic," you cross into fraud.
In technical terms, a BIN file is a binary image—a raw, sector-by-sector copy of the data stored on a Skylander’s internal NFC (Near Field Communication) chip. Every Skylander figure has a unique chip inside its base. When you place that figure on the Portal of Power, the console reads this chip.
A BIN file is essentially the "ghost" of that physical figure. It contains:
Working with bin files is not always smooth. Here are the top three errors.