Kirby

For fighter info, see Kirby (SSB), Kirby (SSBM), Kirby (SSBB), and Kirby (SSB4).

Kirby
Kirby Official artwork of Kirby from Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
Universe	none
Debut	Kirby's Dream Land (1992)
Smash Bros. appearances	none
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (2015)
Console/platform of origin	Game Boy
Species	Kirby
Gender	Male
Place of origin	Dream Land
Created by	Masahiro Sakurai
Designed by	Masahiro Sakurai
Japanese voice actor	Makiko Ōmoto
Article on WiKirby	Kirby

Kirby (カービィ, Kirby) is the main protagonist of the Kirby series. He was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who also created the Super Smash Bros. series.

Character description

File:Kirby's Dream Land 3.png

Official artwork of Kirby from Kirby's Dream Land 3. Kirby's design was later changed to its current design in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, which was likely inspired by Kirby's appearance in Smash 64 and Melee.

Kirby began as an entirely different character design named Popopo 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 this character design instead of the original one. The little protagonist was eventually named Kirby and the game itself named Kirby's Dream Land. A later design change gave Kirby one of his most alluring characteristics -- his color. Kirby was originally to be yellow, but Sakurai had imagined him as pink. His name is believed to have one of two possible inspirations: a vacuum cleaner company named Kirby Company, or the legal counsel of Nintendo, John Kirby, who saved Nintendo during a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Universal Studios over the name of Donkey Kong.

Kirby's round pink form is only 20 cm (8 inch) in height (though in his appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series, his dimensions are obviously enlarged). Kirby is a resident and the consistent hero of the yellow star-shaped planet Popstar. He can Inhale forcefully, allowing him to swallow enemies in front of him and copy their abilities to fight back (known as a Copy Ability). He can also store the air he inhales, making himself large and puffy, enabling him to float around. His species, of which himself and Meta Knight are the two most prominent individuals, is not officially named, but is most commonly referred to as "Kirbys", alternately spelled "Kirbies", "Star Warriors", or "Puffballs".

In Super Smash Bros.

Kirby's official Super Smash Bros. artwork

Kirby is a starter character in Super Smash Bros.. Kirby is known for his great recovery, quick attacks which gives him a great combo ability, 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:

• Kirby's Dream Land (GB)
• Kirby's Pinball Land (GB)
• Kirby Super Star (SNES)
• Kirby's Adventure (NES)

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Kirby, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

As a playable character

In Kirby's return appearance in the GameCube game, he gets a redesign and has new attacks that includes the Hammer Special Move as his new forward 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. In the time-tested viewpoint of the Smash community's elite, "Kirby's tournament viability has dropped like a stone". This nerf has significantly dropped him in the F tier, placing him all the way down to the last placing of the tier list.

Trophies

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. See Kirby Hats (SSBM).

His Classic mode trophy reads as follows:

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 ability to absorb the powers of his enemies, and his elastic body makes him a versatile adventurer.

: Kirby's Dream Land

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

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

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.

: Kirby Super Star

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

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Kirby, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

As a playable character

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 [1]. He rounds out the roster again as a starter character, and is finally not the sole representative character for his series with the inclusion of King Dedede and Meta Knight. It would seem that he is a lot closer to his N64 "glory days" in Brawl than he was in Melee, having increased reach, speed, power, combo ability and aerial mobility. He is probably the character who improved the most from Melee to Brawl, along with Mr. Game & Watch, and is ranked 20th on the current tier list in D 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

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

Kirby

A round, pink ball of cuteness from a distant, peaceful star. He can swallow 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.

: Kirby's Dream Land

: Kirby Super Star

Cook Kirby

Beam Kirby

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.

: Kirby's Adventure

: Kirby: Squeak Squad (NTSC)/Kirby: Mouse Attack (PAL)

Needle Kirby

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.

: Kirby's Adventure

: Kirby: Canvas Curse (NTSC)/Kirby: Power Paintbrush (PAL)

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 Sword. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that this is the #1 Copy Ability in terms of accessibility.

: Kirby's Adventure

: Kirby: Squeak Squad (NTSC)/Kirby: Mouse Attack (PAL)

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?

: Kirby's Adventure

: Kirby: Squeak Squad (NTSC)/Kirby: Mouse Attack (PAL)

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 Head, where Kirby dive-bombs onto enemy heads.

: Kirby Super Star

: Kirby Air Ride

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 Mega Power Shot in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, which used charged energy to take out faraway enemies, is another Fighter Kirby highlight.

: Kirby Super Star

: Kirby: Canvas Curse (NTSC)/Kirby: Power Paintbrush (PAL)

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 Super Star and Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Fire Kirby can roll his burning body into enemies as an attack move.

: Kirby Super Star

: Kirby: Canvas Curse (NTSC)/Kirby: Power Paintbrush (PAL)

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.

: Kirby Super Star

: Kirby: Canvas Curse (NTSC)/Kirby: Power Paintbrush (PAL)

Plasma Kirby

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. 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.

: Kirby Super Star

: Kirby Air Ride

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.

: Kirby's Adventure

: Kirby Air Ride

Stickers

Name	Game	Effect	Character(s)
Cupid Kirby	Kirby & The Amazing Mirror	SpecialCarryStarRodCarry Star Rod	All characters
King Dedede & Kirby	Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards	AttackSpecialsDirect+021 Attack +21	Kirby Meta Knight King Dedede
Kirby	Kirby & The Amazing Mirror	SpecialSwimTime+040 +40	All characters
Kirby	Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards	AttackBodySpin+022 Attack +22	Kirby Meta Knight King Dedede
Kirby	Kirby Air Ride	AttackArmLeg+017 Attack +17	Kirby Meta Knight King Dedede

Cupid Kirby (Kirby & The Amazing Mirror)

King Dedede & Kirby (Kirby 64)

Kirby (Kirby & The Amazing Mirror)

Kirby (Kirby 64)

Kirby (Kirby Air Ride)

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.

Trophies

Kirby

NA: 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.

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.

Kirby (Alt.)

NA: 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.

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.

• 

  Classic (3DS)

• 

  Classic (Wii U)

• KirbyAllStarTrophy3DS.png

  Alt. (3DS)

• 

  Alt. (Wii U)

Trivia

• Kirby uses a different dash attack in each of the first three Super Smash Bros. games. In the original Super Smash Bros., he performs a slide tackle. In Melee, he performs "Burning Kirby" (an ability seen in some Kirby games, and merged with the Fire ability in others), while in Brawl, he performs Yo-yo Kirby's "Break Spin" from Kirby Super Star. The Break Spin also returns as Kirby's dash attack in Super Smash Bros. 4.