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Kirby

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For fighter info, see Kirby (SSB), Kirby (SSBM), Kirby (SSBB), Kirby (SSB4), and Kirby (SSBU).
For the universe, see Kirby (universe).
Kirby
Kirby
KirbySymbol.svg

Official artwork of Kirby from Kirby Star Allies.

Universe Kirby
Debut Kirby's Dream Land (1992)
Smash Bros. appearances SSB
Melee
Brawl
SSB4
Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023)
Console/platform of origin Game Boy
Species Kirby
Gender Male (internationally)[1]
Gender-neutral (in Japan)[2]
Place of origin Dream Land, Popstar
Created by Masahiro Sakurai
Designed by Masahiro Sakurai
Voice actor Makiko Ōmoto
Article on WiKirby Kirby

Kirby (カービィ, Kirby) is the eponymous protagonist of the Kirby series. A round, pink creature hailing from Planet Popstar, he is best known for his ability to inhale enemies and copy their abilities, and uses these powers to defend his homeland from various threats ranging from his "arch-frenemy" King Dedede to outside evil forces such as Nightmare and Dark Matter. He was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who also created the Super Smash Bros. series. As a member of the "perfect-attendance crew", Kirby has been featured as a playable character throughout the entire Super Smash Bros. series.

Origin[edit]

Kirby's design from Kirby Super Star, prior to his Smash 64 redesign.
Official artwork of Kirby from Kirby Super Star, depicting his original design. Kirby's current design debuted in Smash 64, and was integrated into the Kirby games with Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.

Kirby is a resident of the yellow, star-shaped planet Popstar, and the planet's consistent hero. His round, pink form is only 20 cm (8 inches) in height, though his dimensions are obviously enlarged in the Super Smash Bros. series. Living in the peaceful kingdom of Dream Land, he defends his home against foes such as his "arch-frenemy" King Dedede, and the malevolent, shadowy Dark Matter. Kirby is generally depicted with an innocent and easygoing personality, but he is also shown to be determined and heroic when the situation calls for it. While Kirby's species is left unclear, he is not the only one of his kind; multiple Kirby-like beings are known to exist, including Meta Knight, who bears a striking resemblance to him.

Kirby's demeanor is best described as childlike. He is often motivated solely by his instinctual needs to eat and sleep, and depending on his temperament, he may make brash decisions or allow others to take advantage of him. This extends to the point that he is occasionally compared to an infant, especially in the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime. His voice, reflecting his nature, is comparable to a toddler learning to speak: mostly incoherent babbling with a very rare short sentence. However, Kirby does show some intelligence that an infant would not possess, particularly in his combat skills and adaptability to the situations he comes across. Kirby is also perceptive of emotions, being able to tell what others are feeling and respond appropriately.

Kirby's trademark attack is his ability to Inhale forcefully, allowing him to swallow his enemies whole or spit them back out as star-shaped projectiles. Introduced in Kirby's Adventure was the option to copy a swallowed enemy's ability to fight back (known as a Copy Ability). He has a multitude of Copy Abilities that allow him to perform a wide variety of techniques, such as wielding a sword, breathing fire, or creating beams of energy. He can also float by storing the air he inhales, making himself large and puffy.

Kirby began as an entirely different character that starred in Masahiro Sakurai's early Game Boy game in development, originally called "Twinkle Popo". During development, he used a placeholder sprite resembling a ball with a happy face on it. Sakurai eventually came to prefer this more simplistic design and decided to use it as the final character. Originally called Popopo, the little protagonist was eventually named Kirby, and the game itself named Kirby's Dream Land. The name was chosen from a list of candidates provided by Nintendo of America, who wished to give the character more international appeal; Shigeru Miyamoto thought that the contrast between the cute character and the name's "harsh" sound was humorous. The name was also chosen to honor John Kirby, the attorney who defended Nintendo during a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Universal Studios over the name of Donkey Kong.

Contrary to popular belief, Kirby was always intended to be pink, but the Game Boy's monochromatic palette led to initial confusion about his color scheme. North American marketing for Kirby's Dream Land depicted him as white, similar to the in-game graphics. Meanwhile, Miyamoto initially interpreted the character as yellow; as a result, the second player in later Kirby games is typically a yellow Kirby. His pink coloration wouldn't be seen in-game until Kirby's Adventure, the second game of the series, which also introduced the iconic Copy Abilities.

In Super Smash Bros.[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Main article: Kirby (SSB)
Official artwork of Kirby from Super Smash Bros.

Kirby makes his first appearance as a starter character in Super Smash Bros.. Kirby is known for his great recovery, quick attacks which gives him a great combo game, his incredibly fast up tilt, and surprisingly long-range aerials, all of which place him high in the original game's tier list, placing 2nd only behind Pikachu. Kirby's trademark move is Swallow, which allows him to him suck in enemies caught within the vortex and emulate their neutral special attack.

In-game description:

The 8-inch high Kirby hails from a distant, peaceful star. Like his simplistic appearance, he is an easily-understood character. True to his instincts, Kirby eats when he gets hungry and sleeps as soon as he grows tired. Nevertheless, Kirby remains a formidable opponent. In addition to his distinct flying and swallowing skills, he also has the ability to copy enemy attacks for ever-changing action.
Works:

In Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Main article: Kirby (SSBM)
Kirby in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

For Kirby's return in the GameCube Smash entry, he gets a redesign and has new attacks, including the Hammer as his new side special move. He is still a starter character and is still a floaty, lightweight character that can jump five times in midair. However, Kirby has been severely nerfed, losing most of his power, combo ability, and speed from Smash 64, while also being harmed by the game's faster mechanics overall. As a result, Kirby now heavily struggles to compete against the vast majority, with most of his foes able to shrug off his approaches by overwhelming him with fast attacks and speed or by camping him. These nerfs have landed him in the F tier, rendering him 25th out of 26 characters.

Trophies[edit]

Kirby is the most extensively represented character in Melee trophies. In addition to having his set of three trophies earned through single player modes, there are five trophies named "Kirby Hat" that provide information about the powers he gains with his in-game inhale ability.

Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby's Classic Mode trophy in Melee
Kirby
A denizen of the far-off, peaceful planet Pop Star, Kirby became a citizen of Dream Land after defeating King Dedede. Even though he's only about eight inches tall, Kirby is an extremely skilled technician. He has the unique ability to absorb the powers of his enemies, and his elastic body makes him a versatile adventurer.
Kirby's Dream Land (8/92)
Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby's Adventure Mode trophy in Melee
Kirby [Smash]
Kirby's small size lets him dodge many attacks, but his light weight makes him fly far when struck. Using his ability to inflate, he can jump five times. His Swallow attack creates wild combos; not only can he copy foes' moves, but he'll also put on special hats and mimic their voices. His Hammer is unwieldy but powerful.
B: Swallow
Smash B: Hammer
Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby's All-Star Mode trophy in Melee
Kirby [Smash]
Because of his light weight, Kirby is always in danger of being sent flying, but his ability to puff up and fly allows him to come back from amazing distances. His Final Cutter strikes on the way up and on the way down, and it sends out a beam of force upon landing. Kirby transforms into various objects and crashes down when he uses his Stone technique.
Up & B: Final Cutter
Down & B: Stone

There are also trophies depicting Kirby in various guises he has taken in Kirby games:

Fire Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Fire Kirby's trophy in Melee
Fire Kirby
When Kirby swallows a fire-wielding enemy, he transforms into Fire Kirby. Not only does he breathe fire in this form, but he can also sprout flames on his entire body and damage enemies by crashing into them. Fire Kirby wears the bright red headdress of his enemy Burning Leo. The hat turns into a helpful weapon when thrown.
Kirby's Adventure (5/93)
Fighter Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Fighter Kirby's trophy in Melee
Fighter Kirby
Kirby dons a warrior's headband and becomes a fierce fighter when he swallows an enemy skilled at physical attacks. Fighter Kirby uses many colorful punching and kicking moves as he overpowers his enemies with his sparring skills. The Vulcan Jab is just one of the many techniques Kirby can use thanks to his copying power.
NTSC
Kirby Super Star (9/96)
PAL
Kirby's Fun Pak
Ball Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Ball Kirby's trophy in Melee
Ball Kirby
When Kirby swallows a ball enemy, he turns into a ball and can bounce off of floors and walls. It's tough to control, but well worth it for the strong attack power it gives Kirby. After his debut in Kirby's Adventure, Ball Kirby has popped up in several more Kirby games, such as Kirby's Pinball Land and Kirby's Block Ball.
Kirby's Adventure (5/93)
Trophy of Kirby having copied Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Yoshi and Samus Aran from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby Hat 1's trophy in Melee
Kirby Hat 1
Here's Kirby sporting several results of his Copy ability. In Link's hat he can shoot arrows, while Mario's cap gives him access to Fireballs. The Donkey Kong suit offers up a Giant Punch, while Samus's helmet allows Kirby to fire off charged-up energy shots. Finally, while wearing the Yoshi hat, Kirby can swallow enemies and turn them into eggs.
Super Smash Bros. Melee (12/01)
Trophy of Kirby having copied Pikachu, Ness, Fox McCloud and Captain Falcon from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby Hat 2's trophy in Melee
Kirby Hat 2
Kirby's got several of his finest hats on here. In Ness's baseball cap, he can use the power of PSI to unleash PK Flash, while Captain Falcon's visor gives him the ability to unleash a huge punch. His adorable Pikachu cap comes complete with stored-up electric charges, allowing him to shock his foes, and the Fox ears come with a matching Blaster.
Super Smash Bros. Melee (12/01)
Trophy of Kirby having copied Bowser, Ice Climbers,  Princess Peach, Zelda and Sheik from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby Hat 3's trophy in Melee
Kirby Hat 3
With all of these hats, Kirby could open his own haberdashery! Peach's crown lets him use Toad, while the Ice Climber parka allows him to shoot ice blocks. Kirby has Fire Breath in the Bowser horns, and he can copy Zelda in both her forms. In Zelda's headdress he can use Nayru's Love, while Sheik's wrap gives him a needle arsenal.
Super Smash Bros. Melee (12/01)
Trophy of Kirby having copied Jigglypuff, Mewtwo, Marth, Mr. Game & Watch and Luigi from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby Hat 4's trophy in Melee
Kirby Hat 4
Looks like Kirby's copied a bunch of hidden characters! In Luigi's hat, he can shoot green Fireballs, while copying Mewtwo gives him the power to throw Shadow Balls. Copying Mr. Game & Watch lets Kirby hurl sausages, and doing the same to Jigglypuff earns him a Rollout move. Marth's hair comes complete with a powerful Shield Breaker move.
Super Smash Bros. Melee (12/01)
Trophy of Kirby having copied Roy, Falco Lombardi, Pichu, Dr. Mario and Ganondorf  from Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Kirby Hat 5's trophy in Melee
Kirby Hat 5
Secret hats galore! In Pichu's hat Kirby can shoot out electricity, while Dr. Mario's headgear gives him Megavitamins. When Kirby wears Falco's beak, he gets to use Falco's powerful Blaster; by the same token, he can fire arrows while in Young Link's cap. When Kirby copies Ganondorf, he gets the Warlock Punch, and copying Roy produces a Flare Blade.
Super Smash Bros. Melee (12/01)

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Main article: Kirby (SSBB)
Kirby, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Kirby returns for his third appearance in the Wii version of the Smash series. He was revealed in all trailers for Brawl before its release (also being the only character who didn't undergo drastic changes in graphics, as shown by the trailers), and was confirmed on the official website on June 7, 2007.[3] He rounds out the roster again as a starter character and he is no longer the sole playable character of his series, as he is joined by both Meta Knight and King Dedede. Kirby has been drastically improved since Melee, having increased reach, speed, power, combo ability, and aerial mobility. These boons have allowed him to be ranked 20th on the current tier list in D tier as a mid tier.

Kirby, like all characters, received a Final Smash in this game. Called Cook Kirby, the move allows Kirby to cook opponents and items, and then send opponents flying and release new items.

Trophies[edit]

Many of Kirby's forms are made into trophies in Brawl.

Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Kirby
A round, pink ball of cuteness from a distant, peaceful star. He can inhale anything with his gigantic mouth, then spit it out as ammo. He has the handy ability to copy powers and use them as his own. His hovering ability lets him fly through the air with ease. He's so round, he's sometimes treated like a ball.
NTSC
Game Boy: Kirby's Dream Land
SNES: Kirby Super Star
PAL
Game Boy: Kirby's Dream Land
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak
Beam Kirby trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Beam Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Beam Kirby
NTSC Kirby in a jester cap...and a supercute Kirby at that. Beam Kirby features a Beam ability, acquired by inhaling Waddle Doo, that allows him to shoot a whiplike beam at his enemies. With a wide attack range, this ability is extremely easy to use, especially for taking out enemies in bunches. In Kirby Super Star, this beam can also be charged and fired.
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Squeak Squad
PAL Kirby in a jester cap...and a super-cute Kirby at that. Beam Kirby features a Beam ability, acquired by inhaling Waddle Doo, that allows him to shoot a whip-like beam at his enemies. With a wide attack range, this ability is extremely easy to use, especially for taking out enemies in bunches. In Kirby's Fun Pak this beam can also be charged and fired.
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Mouse Attack
Screenshot by Dany36
Needle Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Needle Kirby
NTSC A Kirby ability made when Kirby inhales a spiked enemy. When attacking, the needles on Needle Kirby's body extend, giving him a porcupine-like look. This ability provides both offensive and defensive measures against nearby enemies. Plus, needles which extend on Kirby's underside when jumping eliminate any threats on landing.
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Canvas Curse
PAL A Kirby ability made when Kirby inhales a spiked enemy. When attacking, the needles on Needle Kirby's body extend, giving him a porcupine-like look. This ability provides both attacking and defensive measures against nearby enemies. Plus, needles which extend on Kirby's underside when jumping eliminate any threats on landing.
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Power Paintbrush
Screenshot by Dany36
Sword Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Sword Kirby
A Kirby ability made when Kirby inhales a sword-wielding foe or a sword itself. Doing so provides Kirby with a rapid sword slash, a jumping sword spin, or even the energy-beam blast of the Final Cutter. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is the #1 Copy Ability in terms of accessibility.
NTSC
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Squeak Squad
PAL
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Mouse Attack
Screenshot by Dany36
Sleep Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Sleep Kirby
Kirby after he copies the ability to sleep peacefully. Kirby takes on this form when he inhales Noddy or other such enemies. Kirby cannot move at all while sleeping, so extra care should be taken not to use this ability when enemies are near. Kirby, in his slumber, tends to drool, and in his panicked awakening, isn't it cute how he forgets to wipe off the drool?
NTSC
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Squeak Squad
PAL
NES: Kirby's Adventure
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Mouse Attack
Screenshot by Dany36
Wing Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Wing Kirby
Kirby when he inhales a winged enemy and copies its flying ability. This ability can be used to proceed through strong winds that would otherwise be too tough to overcome. Wing Kirby can also perform a plethora of attack moves, such as the Bomber Heading, where Kirby dive-bombs onto enemy heads.
NTSC
SNES: Kirby Super Star
GameCube: Kirby Air Ride
PAL
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak
GameCube: Kirby Air Ride
Screenshot by Dany36
Fighter Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Fighter Kirby
Kirby when he is skilled in martial arts, especially close-quarters combat. Inhaling brawny challengers like Knuckle Joe will transform Kirby, allowing him to use a bunch of fight moves like Rising Break, the heroic uppercut. His powerful punch in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, which used charged energy to take out faraway enemies, is another Fighter Kirby highlight.
NTSC
SNES: Kirby Super Star
GB Advance: Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
PAL
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak
GB Advance: Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Screenshot by Dany36
Fire Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Fire Kirby
Kirby when he inhales an enemy who uses fire. Shooting fire from his mouth, Fire Kirby can cook enemies from afar. This ability also allows Kirby to light explosive blocks, fuses, and so on. In Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land and Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Fire Kirby can roll his burning body into enemies as an attack move.
NTSC
SNES: Kirby Super Star
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Canvas Curse
PAL
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak
Nintendo DS: Kirby: Power Paintbrush
Screenshot by Dany36
Ice Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Ice Kirby
Kirby when he copies an enemy with chilly abilities. Ice Kirby can blow an icy wind from his mouth and freeze enemies solid. These frozen enemies can then be knocked into other enemies as an additional means of attack. These blocks are not only effective against enemies but can also be used on terrain such as magma or water.
NTSC
NES: Kirby's Adventure
SNES: Kirby Super Star
PAL
NES: Kirby's Adventure
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak
Screenshot by Dany36
Plasma Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Plasma Kirby
NTSC Kirby when he inhales Plasma Wisps, which glow with a neon green flame. Plasma Kirby can charge the plasma strength up to a maximum level of 5 by furiously pressing buttons. In Kirby Super Star, your attack--be it a Plasma Laser or a Plasma Wave Cannon--varies with the length of time you charge it.
SNES: Kirby Super Star
GameCube: Kirby Air Ride
PAL Kirby when he inhales Plasma Wisps, which glow with a neon green flame. Plasma Kirby can charge the plasma strength up to a maximum level of 5 by furiously pressing buttons. In Kirby's Fun Pak, your attack--be it a Plasma Laser or a Plasma Wave Cannon--varies with the length of time you charge it.
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak
GameCube: Kirby Air Ride
Screenshot by Dany36
Tornado Kirby's trophy in Brawl
Tornado Kirby
Kirby when he inhales enemies that fly around like twisters through the sky. When in tornado form, Kirby can spin freely through the air for short amounts of time, clearing out groups of enemies. Tornado Kirby will continue spinning and bouncing violently off of obstacles until he comes to a stop. One drawback of Tornado Kirby is the control difficulty.
NES: Kirby's Adventure
GameCube: Kirby Air Ride

Stickers[edit]

Name Game Effect Fighter(s)
Needle Kirby Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards AttackHead+029TypeIcon(Head).png Attack +29 All charactersRandomHeadSSBB.png
Cupid Kirby Kirby & The Amazing Mirror SpecialCarryStarRodCarry Star Rod All charactersRandomHeadSSBB.png
King Dedede & Kirby Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards AttackSpecialsDirect+021SpecialsDirect.png Attack +21 Kirby Meta Knight King Dedede KirbyHeadSSBB.pngMetaKnightHeadSSBB.pngKingDededeHeadSSBB.png
Kirby Kirby & The Amazing Mirror SpecialSwimTime+040StickerIconSwimTime.png +40 All charactersRandomHeadSSBB.png
Kirby Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards AttackBodySpin+022TypeIcon(Body).pngTypeIcon(Spin).png Attack +22 Kirby Meta Knight King Dedede KirbyHeadSSBB.pngMetaKnightHeadSSBB.pngKingDededeHeadSSBB.png
Kirby Kirby Air Ride AttackArmLeg+017TypeIcon(Hand).pngTypeIcon(Foot).png Attack +17 Kirby Meta Knight King Dedede KirbyHeadSSBB.pngMetaKnightHeadSSBB.pngKingDededeHeadSSBB.png
Cook Kirby Kirby Super Star SpecialFlinchResistance+140StickerIconFlinchResistance.png +140 All charactersRandomHeadSSBB.png
Brawl Sticker Needle Kirby (Kirby 64).png
Needle Kirby
(Kirby 64)
Brawl Sticker Cupid Kirby (Kirby & The Amazing Mirror).png
Cupid Kirby
(Kirby & The Amazing Mirror)
Brawl Sticker King Dedede & Kirby (Kirby 64).png
King Dedede & Kirby
(Kirby 64)
Brawl Sticker Kirby (Kirby & The Amazing Mirror).png
Kirby
(Kirby & The Amazing Mirror)
Brawl Sticker Kirby (Kirby 64).png
Kirby
(Kirby 64)
Brawl Sticker Kirby (Kirby Air Ride).png
Kirby
(Kirby Air Ride)
Brawl Sticker Cook Kirby (Kirby Super Star).png
Cook Kirby
(Kirby Super Star)

In Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Main article: Kirby (SSB4)
Kirby as he appears in Super Smash Bros. 4.
Kirby as he appears in Super Smash Bros. 4.

Kirby returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. Kirby's Hammer attack has been replaced with a similar move called Hammer Flip, and his Final Smash was changed to Ultra Sword. Kirby does not have a new dash attack, unlike the last two games in the series.

At SSB4's initial release, Kirby had been nerfed since Brawl, with his overall range being reduced. However, Kirby benefits from general gameplay changes of SSB4, such as the changes to hitstun canceling, which allow him to perform combos more effectively. Kirby was also noticeably buffed courtesy of game updates to both versions of SSB4, improving his approach and KO power. However, such updates have not significantly patched up his key flaws, which has resulted in his representation in tournaments being scarce and his tier position being worse than it was in Brawl. He is ranked 50th on the tier list, placing him in the F tier.

Trophies[edit]

Kirby's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Kirby
NTSCSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Round little Kirby lives on the peaceful Planet Popstar, in Dream Land. He can inhale things with his big mouth, either copying their abilities or spitting them out again. In Smash Bros., Kirby can inhale opponents and copy their standard specials. He gets launched easily but recovers well.
NTSCSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U Pudgy, little Kirby lives in the peaceful hills of Dream Land on the Planet Popstar. He can inhale things with his big mouth, either copying their abilities or spitting them out again. In Smash Bros., Kirby can inhale opponents and copy their standard specials. He gets launched easily but recovers well.
Game Boy: Kirby's Dream Land (08/1992)
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
PAL A roly-poly little fella from Dream Land on Planet Popstar. He can inhale pretty much anyone or anything with that big gob of his, then spit them out or copy their abilities. He can copy opponents' standard specials in this game, too! His light weight means he gets launched easily, but with a series of mid-air jumps, recovering's not too tricky.
Game Boy: Kirby's Dream Land (08/1992)
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Kirby (Alt.)'s trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Kirby (Alt.)'s trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Kirby (Alt.)
NTSC Holding the special button and left or right will charge up Kirby's Hammer Flip attack. Charging too long hurts Kirby! The hammer strikes twice in the air, but landing the single blow on the ground is more powerful. Kirby's up special Final Cutter slices up and down, firing a shock wave upon landing.
Game Boy: Kirby's Dream Land (08/1992)
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
PAL Charge up Kirby's Hammer side special to unleash Hammer Flip, a move with serious launch power. Charge it too much, though, and you'll get hurt! The move hits twice in mid-air, but does more damage on the ground. Final Cutter slices up and down before sending out an energy wave. Move Kirby mid-jump to change where he lands.
Game Boy: Kirby's Dream Land (08/1992)
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Plasma Kirby
NTSC What does the aurora borealis have in common with lightning? Plasma! And what does Plasma Kirby have in common with them? Hrm. Maybe that was too easy... Anyway, Plasma Kirby can build up plasma using the +Control Pad and fire it with the B Button. You can look up more about plasma if you want, but firing plasma is what's important here.
PAL In the Kirby series, Plasma Kirby is Kirby, but with the ability to fire plasma, and mashing the +Control Pad charges him up! "But what exactly is plasma?" you ask. Well, that's a very good question. Maybe you should look it up yourself. Can't be giving you all the answers, you know.
Sword Kirby
NTSC That green cap sure does make Kirby look heroic, doesn't it? Maybe wearing it just inspires Kirby, but while he's wearing it, he gets all kinds of neat moves, like Spin Slash, Multisword Attack, and Sword Dive. He's even able to pull off these moves in the air, on the ground, or underwater!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
3DS: Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)
PAL Kirby looks like a pretty courageous hero in that green cap, doesn't he? Indeed, this Kirby is a master of sword-swishing, fending off enemies with the powerful Spin Slash, the rapid Multisword Attack and the stylish Sword Dive. If that wasn't impressive enough, he can also use these moves on land, in mid-air AND underwater. Beautiful!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
3DS: Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)
Beam Kirby
NTSC Waddle Doo can fire beams from his eye. Does that make you green with envy? Then inhale him and copy that ability! You'll then be able to shoot beams from a wand, and the attack can even be charged up for greater effectiveness. You can also use a beam to push switches or to grab and toss your foes.
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
PAL Ever felt jealous of a Waddle Doo's ability to fire beams from its eye? Well, if you're Kirby, there's really no need – swallow one and you, too, can swing energy beams to your heart's content! Charge them up to plough through multiple enemies at once, use them to grab and throw enemies, and even press switches through walls! Yeah!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Fire Kirby
NTSC When Kirby first copied the Fire ability, he was only able to breathe fire. Nowadays, he can do all sorts of neat things! For example, he can engulf himself in flames and roll forward, burning grass, lighting fuses, melting ice, and so on. What we'd really like him to do, though, is help us make the perfect s'more. Mmmmm.
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
PAL Once upon a time, all Fire Kirby could do was shoot flames from his mouth, but he's come a long way since then. Now he can roll along the ground as a blazing fireball, burn up grass, light fuses, melt ice and so on. That's great and all, but what we really want to know is...can he help us get a barbecue going?
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Ice Kirby
NTSC The perfect ability to copy in the summer—Kirby gains freezing breath when he copies the Ice ability. Enemies frozen by his arctic blasts can be launched at other foes too. Perfect for a tough fight or when you need some ice for your iced coffee. Kirby isn't busy saving Dream Land or anything...
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
PAL When Kirby has the Ice ability, he can blast enemies with glacial gales to freeze them. He can then kick them into other enemies to take them all out at once! It's the perfect ability for a tough fight...or for when you need some ice to keep a glass of fruit juice nicely chilled. Not everything has to be about saving Dream Land, you know!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Needle Kirby
NTSC Kirby normally looks as tasty as a big ol' marshmallow, but he's significantly less appetizing when he's copied the Needle ability. Those pokey spikes won't add any flavor at all. With this ability, Kirby can bash into enemies or launch the spikes at them. A great, easy-to-use ability!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
3DS: Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)
PAL Kirby's soft, fluffy and just...so huggable! Except when he's got the Needle ability, that is – then it's like there's a hug-free zone all around him. Being covered in spikes comes in handy, though, for rolling into enemies, and even shooting at them! However, whether that really makes up for his loss of huggableness is hard to say...
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
3DS: Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)
Tornado Kirby
NTSC Who needs hats when you can have an actual tornado coming out of your head? That's our Kirby—always the trendsetter. And with the Tornado ability, he can go one step further, turning his whole body into a cyclone to go on a wild rampage. His rapid spinning isn't exactly easy to control, but that's all part of the fun!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
Wii: Kirby's Return to Dream Land (10/2011)
PAL Who needs hats when you can have an actual tornado coming out of your head? That's our Kirby – always the trendsetter. And with the Tornado ability, he can go one step further and turn his whole body into a cyclone to go on a wild rampage. His rapid spinning isn't exactly easy to control, but that's all part of the fun!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
Wii: Kirby's Adventure Wii (11/2011)
Mike Kirby
NTSC Curious what Kirby's singing voice sounds like? Then track down and inhale Mr. Tick-Tock or a Walky! Kirby can copy the Mike ability and then use a mike or megaphone to really let 'er rip. Sometimes he sounds as cute as he looks, but he can also hit those low notes when he wants to rock.
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
Wii: Kirby's Return to Dream Land (10/2011)
PAL Kirby isn't much of a talker, but if you ever do want to hear his voice, here's a simple solution: swallow a Walky or Mr. Tick-Tock, and you'll be rewarded with an ability called Mike! Watch in awe as Kirby pulls out a microphone (or a megaphone) and shakes your soul with his dulcet tones. For some reason, his enemies can't stand the sound!
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
Wii: Kirby's Adventure Wii (11/2011)
Sleep Kirby
NTSC You don't get to see sleeping heroes very often. They're so busy rescuing princesses or saving the world, they just don't have time for a little nap. Not so with Kirby! The moment he inhales the snooze-prone enemy Noddy, he pops on his sleeping cap and dozes right off. Ah, Kirby, what dreams might you be having today?
NES: Kirby's Adventure (05/1993)
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
PAL You don't get to see sleeping heroes very often. They're so busy rescuing princesses or saving the world, they just don't have any time for a little kip. But not our Kirby! The moment he inhales the snooze-prone enemy Noddy, he pops on his sleeping cap and dozes right off. Ah, Kirby, what dreams might you be having today?
NES: Kirby's Adventure (12/1993)
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Bomb Kirby
NTSC When he copies the Bomb ability, Kirby gets to don a stylish hat just like Poppy Bros. Jr. The hat's appearance varies a little from game to game, but the ability itself is always pretty much the same: pull out a bomb, throw it, BOOM! Careful, though—if you hang on to the bomb for too long, you'll go BOOM yourself!
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
3DS: Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)
PAL When he copies the Bomb ability, Kirby gets to don a stylish hat just like Poppy Bros. Jr. The hat's appearance varies a little from game to game, but the ability itself is always pretty much the same: pull out a bomb, throw it, BOOM! Careful, though – if you hang on to the bomb for too long, you'll go BOOM yourself!
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
3DS: Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)
Fighter Kirby
NTSC "Show me your moves!" Wait—that's not Kirby's line! Regardless, he's really fired up and ready to become a fighting machine with that red headband. He knows the basics, like kicking and tossing, but he can also muster his fighting spirit to blast distant foes.
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
Wii: Kirby's Return to Dream Land (10/2011)
PAL With his red headband and fierce attitude, Fighter Kirby is ready to take on anything. Like a real martial artist, he can kick and throw his foes into submission. And like a...not-so-real martial artist, he can fire his fighting spirit as an energy blast to hit faraway enemies. The only weapon this Kirby needs is his burning heart!
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Wii: Kirby's Adventure Wii (11/2011)
Wing Kirby
NTSC Kirby doesn't need to copy abilities to bop through the air, but actually having wings gives his aerial skills a definite boost. They even let him use some extra attacks, like the acrobatic Shuttle Loop and the mighty Condor Head. He can also fire at foes with his Feather Gun! Thought Kirby was just a squishy puffball? Surprise!
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
Wii: Kirby's Return to Dream Land (10/2011)
PAL Kirby doesn't need to copy abilities to bop through the air, but actually having wings gives his aerial skills a definite boost. They even let him use some extra attacks, like the acrobatic Shuttle Loop and the mighty Condor Head. He can also fire at foes with his Feather Gun! Thought Kirby was just a squishy puffball? Think again!
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Wii: Kirby's Adventure Wii (11/2011)
Ninja Kirby
NTSC Making his debut in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, the Moonja enemy looks about as ninja as you can get. If you copy its ability, Kirby can become a master of the ninja arts! With a variety of useful skills like Knife Throw and Blossom Storm, you might want to remain a ninja forever!
SNES: Kirby Super Star (08/1996)
Wii: Kirby's Return to Dream Land (10/2011)
PAL Making its debut in Kirby's Adventure Wii, the Moonja enemy looks about as ninja as you can get. Swallow one, and Kirby will become a master of ninja arts too! Knife Throw, Wall Cling, Smoke Screen and Blossom Storm – with such a variety of useful skills, you might never want to let this Copy Ability go!
SNES: Kirby's Fun Pak (01/1997)
Wii: Kirby's Adventure Wii (11/2011)

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Main article: Kirby (SSBU)
Kirby as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Along with the rest of the veterans, Kirby reappears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a playable fighter. He appears in the World of Light mode as the sole survivor of Galeem's initial attack. He can now inhale certain projectiles that could heal or damage him, and his dash attack is now the flame variant used in Melee.

Spirits[edit]

Fighter spirit[edit]

Support spirits[edit]

No. Image Name Class Cost Ability Series
326
SSBU spirit Warp Star.png
Warp Star ★★ 1 Super Launch Star Equipped Kirby Series
327
SSBU spirit Star Rod.png
Star Rod ★★★ 2 First-Strike Advantage Kirby Series
328
SSBU spirit Ultra Sword.png
Ultra Sword ★★★ 2 Chance of Double Final Smash Kirby Series
329
SSBU spirit Robobot Armor.png
Robobot Armor ★★ 1 Weapon Attack ↑ Kirby Series

In other languages[edit]

Language Name
Japan Japanese カービィ, Kirby
UK English Kirby
France French Kirby
Germany German Kirby
Spain Spanish Kirby
Italy Italian Kirby
China Chinese 卡比
South Korea Korean 커비, Kirby
Netherlands Dutch Kirby
Russia Russian Кирби
Portugal Portuguese Kirby

Trivia[edit]

  • Throughout the series, all of Kirby's victory poses have been variations of the Kirby Dance, a victory dance he performs upon completing a level or defeating a boss in his home series.
    • Additionally, he always finishes the dance at the end of the song within his home series; this carries over into the Super Smash Bros. series, as he always finishes at the end of his victory theme (itself is a remix of the level clear theme from his home series).
    • In Smash 64, Kirby only has two victory poses, as opposed to the usual three. This makes Smash 64 Kirby the only character in the series to have less than three victory poses.
  • At 20 cm (8 inches) tall, Kirby is the second shortest playable character in the Super Smash Bros. series, larger only than Captain Olimar as of Brawl with Olimar at ~1.9 cm (~0.75 inches).[4]
    • Kirby's height was first given in Smash 64, but then canonized in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards,[5] and since then has been consistently given as Kirby's height in later profiles (though the actual scale of objects in the Kirby universe tends to vary).
  • Kirby uses a different dash attack in each of the first three Super Smash Bros. games. In Super Smash Bros., he performs a sliding tackle. In Melee and Ultimate, he performs the Burning ability's attack. In Brawl and SSB4, he performs the Yo-yo ability's Break Spin from Kirby Super Star.
  • Although he is able to do so in his home series, Kirby was unable to inhale projectiles in any Super Smash Bros. installment prior to Ultimate. However, he can do so if he copies King Dedede's Inhale.
  • Kirby is the only fighter to never be unlockable in any way or context in the entire Super Smash Bros. series, due to being a starter character in every game and being the only fighter playable from the start of World of Light.
  • Uniquely, while Kirby is voiced by the same actress in all regions, he has distinct regional voice clips for many of his Copy Ability moves, particularly ones that have different names between Japanese and English (for example, Palutena's "Autoreticle!" as opposed to "オート照準!"). This even occurs with moves like Robin's Thunder, which shares the names of most of its variants between Japanese and English; for the English clips, Kirby calls out their names in a American accent. However, Kirby saying Jigglypuff's Japanese name when charging Rollout ("Purin...") is kept the same in all regions.

References[edit]