What Can You Use as a Nintendo DS Stylus?

Official / Best

• Nintendo DS/DSi/3DS Stylus: Telescoping (DS/DSi), fixed (3DS). Perfect fit, conductive tip, slot storage. $2–$5 used.

Good Alternatives

• Capacitive Stylus (Phone/Tablet): Works on DS/DSi/3DS resistive screen? No. Resistive needs pressure, not capacitance. Don't buy capacitive.
• Resistive Stylus / PDA Stylus: Palm Pilot, Nintendo DS, 3DS, Wii U GamePad styluses interchangeable. Hard plastic tip.
• Pen with Rubber Eraser: Clean eraser end works — soft, wide tip. Avoid graphite residue.
• Plastic Pen Cap (Bic Cristal): Smooth, rounded. Scratches less than metal.
• Credit Card Corner / Guitar Pick: Emergency only — no precision.

Avoid

• Metal tips (paperclip, screw, mechanical pencil lead) — scratch screen permanently.
• Sharp objects (knife, needle).
• Fingernails — oil residue, imprecise, can scratch over time.

Pro Tip

Keep screen protector on (Hori, amFilm, generic PET). Replace protector, not screen. Clean with microfiber + 70% IPA.

If you lost the original, buy a 5-pack of Nintendo DS styluses ($4) — they fit the slot, last years.