Kirby (SSBU): Difference between revisions

|tier = D+

|ranking = 80

Kirby is currently ranked 80th out of 86 on the ''Ultimate'' [[tier list]], placing him in the upper half of D+ tier and making him the lowest ranking member of the [[Original 8]]. Despite being buffed overall, this is a slight drop from his already low placement in [[Super Smash Bros. 4|Smash 4]], where he was ranked 50th out of 55.  

Kirby has access to quick and devastating [[Combo|combos]], making him a threat up-close. ''Ultimate'' buffed the frame data and KO power on many of Kirby's combo finishers, allowing him to secure [[Stock|stocks]] earlier and easier than in ''Smash 4''. Kirby's [[jab]] can now [[jab lock]], giving him access to a wider array of combos and strong [[Punishment|punishes]]. Kirby's [[dash attack]] was changed into its [[Super Smash Bros. Melee|''Melee'']] iteration. This change makes dash attack into a versatile and reliable move that can be used as a kill option and a [[Cross-up|cross-up]] tool. All of Kirby's [[Smash attack|smash attacks]] do more damage and [[knockback]], with various other attributes having been buffed as well. With the exception of [[Up aerial|up air]], Kirby's [[Aerial attack|aerials]] all have more range than in ''Smash 4''. Kirby's aerials also received buffs on their speed and knockback. This considerably improves Kirby's [[edgeguarding]]. All of Kirby's [[Special move|specials]] were made to be more useful to his overall kit, receiving buffs to their power and frame data. [[Inhale (Kirby)|Inhale]] in particular received several notable buffs. Not only is Inhale faster, but Kirby can now inhale most [[Projectile|projectiles]] to [[Healing|heal]], keep his [[Copy ability|copy ability]] for a longer amount of time, and gains a higher reward for inhaling opponents thanks to a 1.2× damage multiplier on his copy abilities.  

 

However, Kirby's weaknesses are ever-present, as he continues to have poor endurance and mobility. Kirby's light [[weight]] leads to Kirby dying earlier than most characters on the roster. Kirby's poor speed on the ground and in the air presents a host of problems in [[Neutral game|neutral]] and offstage. Kirby has great difficulty fighting opponents that can [[Camping|camp]] and edgeguard. Though Kirby's short stature and low [[Crouching|crouch]] alleviates this some, it is not enough for Kirby to effectively counter. Kirby's lack of a fast projectile or a ranged attack hinders him further in neutral, and make it difficult for him to [[approach]]. Kirby's recovery, though far-reaching, is as predictable as ever. Though Kirby has multiple jumps at his disposal, his poor air speed and [[floatiness]] make Kirby very vulnerable to edgeguarding. Kirby also received several nerfs alongside his numerous buffs. Kirby's [[grab|grabs]] and [[Throw|throws]] are overall worse than in ''Smash 4'' due to a reduction in his already weak grab range and inability to perform specific combos off of certain throws, most notably his [[back throw]]. Though Kirby's specials were largely buffed, [[Stone]] can no longer hit shields twice, making it worse against shielding opponents.

 

Despite Kirby's numerous flaws, he has a small but dedicated player base in [[competitive play]], with players such as [[Smasher:JeJaJeJa|JeJaJeJa]], [[Smasher:Jesuischoq|Jesuischoq]], and [[Smasher:Konokururu|Konokururu]] obtaining impressive results with the character. Kirby also received several buffs in various [[List of updates (SSBU)|patches]] that have given him a far more positive competitive reception compared to early in the metagame. As such, Kirby's tournament viability and placement on the tier list has been subject to debate.

Kirby is known for being a small [[weight|lightweight]], being tied for the eighth-lightest character in the game. True to his franchise, Kirby is a slow, yet floaty character. He has the 26th slowest [[walk]]ing speed, 33rd fastest [[dash]]ing speed, and 37th slowest [[Dash#Initial dash|initial dash]]. He also has the 5th slowest [[air speed]], 15th highest [[air acceleration]], 3rd lowest [[gravity]], the 5th lowest [[falling speed|falling]] and [[fast fall]]ing speeds, and above average [[traction]]. Due to these statistics, Kirby has difficulty approaching opponents. Kirby's [[recovery]] is versatile: despite his slow air speed and low jump height rendering him susceptible to edgeguarding, his five midair jumps, slow falling speed, long vertical airdodge, and [[Final Cutter]]'s decent distance give him good stalling capabilities and decent safety.

Kirby's greatest strengths are his fast frame data, high combo potential, and the versatility of his moveset. The majority of Kirby's attacks are characterized by speed, with his tilts being among the fastest in the game, while his slowest moves instead boast high power as a trade-off, while still being quite fast for their power. Neutral attack and forward tilt are fast and have decent range, allowing Kirby to quickly distance opponents, with the latter being used for tech chase setups. Up tilt's low knockback and high speed allow it to combo into multiple moves, such as itself, an aerial attack, or an Inhale. Down tilt's low power is compensated by its very fast speed and it launching opponents at the [[Sakurai angle]], which allows it to [[trip]] most opponents even over 80%. Should he trip his opponents with it, he can follow up with a variety of attacks, such as a dash attack, grab, or forward smash. Dash attack’s early hit is excellent for whiff punishing and scoring a KO, potentially KOing opponents starting at 90%, while the late hit can set up into an Inhale. His smash attacks have good range, high power, and great speed, making them excellent at scoring a KO. Kirby is also very small, making him hard to hit, and his very low crouch allows him to avoid almost all grabs and several attacks. As a result, Kirby has an excellent ground and defensive game thanks to his quick frame data and evasive crouch, requiring opponents to be careful when approaching him in neutral.

The usefulness of Kirby's ground game also extends to his grab game. His grabs have short range but are among the fastest, while his pummel's meager damage output is counterbalanced by its very fast speed. His forward throw, unlike most other forward throws in the game, has combo potential, leading into aerial attacks from low to mid percentages. Back throw can be followed up by a back aerial at 0% on certain characters, can KO at high percents, and can send opponents offstage. Up throw is his strongest throw and is able to KO almost all characters around 170%, or even earlier if it lands on a platform. Lastly, down throw is reliable for damage racking when no other throw can yield better results.

Kirby's air game is also notable, despite his poor air speed, due to the versatility of his aerial attacks. Neutral aerial has a long-lasting hitbox, high knockback on the clean hit, very low landing lag, and good coverage, making it a safe landing option. The weak hit of neutral air can combo into his tilts, grab, or even a smash attack. It can also be used as a combo finisher and can be used as a KO move at high percents. Due to the move lasting longer compared to his other aerials, it can safely pressure shields. Forward aerial is a powerful combo tool, can pressure shields, be used as a respectable KOing option, and its first two hits can allow additional follow-ups due to its low landing lag. Up aerial has good vertical knockback, low landing lag and a fairly quick [[auto-cancel]] window, allowing for many potential follow-ups and even opportunities to KO when near the upper blast line. Back aerial has decent range, high knockback on the clean hit, and is Kirby's fastest aerial, making it one of his strongest options overall. Lastly, down aerial has considerable startup, but has multiple hits that drag opponents downward before the final hit [[meteor smash]]es them and has low ending lag, making it a deceptively powerful [[edgeguarding]] tool as well as a reliable combo starter with follow-ups on grounded opponents.

Kirby's special moves can provide some unique strengths. {{B|Inhale|Kirby}} is his most notable example; it allows him to either [[List of Copy Abilities|copy]] the [[neutral special move]] of any character he inhales, or spit them out as a weight-dependent [[projectile]]. Depending on what character he inhales, the copy ability can give Kirby a move that helps him in matchups to various degrees, such as useful projectiles to counter-camp his opponent ([[Needle Storm]], [[Charge Shot]], {{SSBU|Wolf}}'s {{b|Blaster|Wolf}}), powerful punish options ([[Giant Punch]], [[Homing Attack]]), a reflector ([[Nayru's Love]]), or other benefits ([[Monado Arts]]). In addition, Kirby's version of the opponent's neutral special has a 1.2x damage multiplier. Kirby can also inhale projectiles; smaller projectiles will be swallowed, allowing him to heal himself, while larger ones (such as a fully-charged Charge Shot) can be stored in his mouth and spat out, essentially giving Kirby a reflector. The spat projectiles can be used to punish opponents at mid-range and can launch them away with high knockback. Inhale can also be used to [[Kirbycide]] or spit the opponent out offstage, although the opponent can escape by mashing. [[Hammer Flip]] is very powerful, especially when fully charged, and Kirby can move and jump while charging. However, its high startup and endlag, along with its short range and Kirby's already-sluggish movement being further slowed when charging, makes it difficult to land outside of a [[shield break]], covering ledge options, or after a jab lock. Final Cutter is his primary [[recovery]] move, granting good vertical distance, as well as a disjoint in front of him during his ascent and descent. It also emits a shockwave projectile upon landing, making it difficult to [[punish]] if the opponent is not behind Kirby. Lastly, [[Stone]] causes Kirby to turn into an object and ignore up to 25% damage. It is also a strong attack, especially in the air, and can be canceled shortly after Kirby begins his descent, although these benefits are limited by its slow startup and ending lag, and Kirby is still vulnerable to grabs while transformed.

Kirby’s most notable flaw, however, is his poor approach. Characters who have high mobility or who can camp with projectiles can wall out Kirby, such as {{SSBU|Mii Gunner}} and {{SSBU|Samus}}. Kirby's lack of reliable burst options makes his approach in these matchups problematic and sometimes predictable. In addition, characters with long [[disjointed hitbox]]es such as {{SSBU|Ike}} can outrange and wall out Kirby since his range is short relative to the cast. Final Cutter's projectile has decent range and moves quickly, but has somewhat slow startup due to it requiring Kirby to perform the entire rising and falling portions of the move beforehand, and he lacks other projectiles outside of spitting inhaled projectiles/opponents, or from a copy ability. This requires conscientious use to avoid punishment. Despite having great air acceleration, Kirby's air speed is also too slow for him to take advantage of it, hindering his aerial approach and recovery despite possessing five midair jumps. Kirby also has several KO moves, but some can be hard to land without a setup due to their short range. [[Rage]] further compounds these issues, as Kirby will be launched even further by a high-damage opponent, and his low weight means he will sometimes not survive long enough to take advantage of his own rage.

In addition, Kirby also has poor endurance. While being light and floaty can help him escape combos from other characters, this also means he risks getting KOed earlier. He is also vulnerable to [[juggling]], due to his aforementioned slow falling and air speeds. This imposes as a risk in approaching opponents in the air, while also preventing Kirby's aerials from being used effectively when in a disadvantage state, often forcing him to rely on his jumps, Stone, or neutral aerial to escape and return to the ground or ledge.

Overall, Kirby tends to run hot and cold. He can inflict an impressive amount of damage if he gets close to his opponent thanks to his excellent frame data and potent combo game, but doing so is challenging for him due to his poor approach. As such, Kirby functions well with a bait-and-punish playstyle, although being unprepared for an opponent's approach can be hazardous due to his low survivability.

Near the end of ''SSB4''{{'}}s metagame, Kirby had been considered a low-tier character in the game's most recent tier list (50th out of 55), due to a combination of lackluster attributes and underwhelming moveset despite its power. Likely as a result, Kirby has been granted a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate''; although he was noticeably buffed overall, especially compared to the game's initial release, many of his changes to gameplay mechanics were also a mixed bag.

Kirby's buffs lie in the increased utility of his moveset as a whole, with overall improved frame data and KO power on his finishers. The first two hits of his [[neutral attack]] can now [[jab lock]], and the looping hits connect into the opponent much more reliably (albeit at the cost of reduced damage output); [[forward tilt]] is a stronger neutral option and KO move due to its reduced endlag and its increased knockback; [[dash attack]] has been mostly reverted back to its ''Melee'' iteration — however, it is significantly stronger, dealing much more damage and knockback, has less startup compared to his previous dash attack in ''SSB4'', can cross-up on shields, covers more distance, and is more reliable for catching opponents thanks to only consisting of one, long-lasting hit. These changes make it a stronger punish tool and a much more versatile move overall than his previous dash attack. His [[smash attack]]s are also stronger punish options, with [[forward smash]] having an increase in range, [[up smash]] having reduced start-up, and [[down smash]] regaining its semi-spike angle that makes it better for edgeguarding, similarly to one of its hitboxes in ''Brawl''; all three also have improved KO ability, with forward and up smash dealing more knockback, and down smash KOing earlier at the edge due to its lower angle (and despite its reduced knockback). Many of Kirby's attacks, such as up tilt and all his aerials except for up aerial also have more range, partially reducing one of his weaknesses from ''SSB4''.

The universal reduction to landing lag has also exponentially benefitted his aerials, which already had among the lowest landing lag in ''SSB4''; his aerials are not only safer, but now capable of leading into followups, with forward aerial's first two hits now being able to follow up into forward smash. Notably, his neutral and up aerials -the former being one of his most situational attacks-, are now faster, deal more knockback (with the former's clean hit being one of the strongest neutral aerials in ''Ultimate'' and the latter had some of its lost KO power restored from ''Melee'') and have less ending lag, making them much better overall; neutral aerial also has more range, and up aerial deals higher damage which further improves its power. As for his special moves, [[Inhale]] has been significantly buffed with faster startup, less ending lag, a much longer grace period in which Kirby cannot lose his Copy Ability, a lower probability of losing said ability after this period has ended, and a new 1.2× multiplier to his copied [[neutral special]] compared to his opponent (albeit without a corresponding increase to knockback), giving him a greater incentive and a higher reward from inhaling opponents. Furthermore, he can now eat the projectiles he swallows to heal himself (and store certain ones in his mouth as well, enabling him to spit them out as stars). [[Hammer Flip]] now renders Kirby nigh-impossible to stop for a longer time as long as he's grounded; [[Final Cutter]] is faster and its landing hit is much more powerful, which improves its utility; and [[Stone]]'s aerial variant now has super armor during its startup, making it more difficult to interrupt Kirby out of the attack, as in previous ''Smash'' games he could be interrupted even when he fully transformed.

However, Kirby has also received several noteworthy nerfs. The most notable were to his already below-average [[grab]] game: his already mediocre grab range has been worsened (most notably on his pivot grab), and [[forward throw]] has him jump up higher after the throw, which runs the risk of possibly landing on top of a soft platform, negating all follow-ups when it happens too early (although following up neutral air or up aerial can allow more follow-ups), while [[back throw]] has lost most of its combo setups due to changes to the animation. Altogether, this grants Kirby a less effective combo game off of his grabs overall. Other nerfs include Stone no longer hitting shielding opponents twice, reducing its shield pressure considerably; [[back aerial]] deals less knockback (although the clean hit now lasts for slightly longer to compensate); and [[down aerial]], one of his most reliable combo starters in ''SSB4'', has more range on the looping hits, but slightly less on the final hit and is less advantageous on landing due to the removal of [[frame cancel]]ing, reducing the effectiveness of its follow-ups since its landing lag was not reduced enough to compensate properly. Furthermore, he still retains many of the same issues that plagued him in ''SSB4'', with mediocre range, sluggish aerial mobility and a high susceptibility to being camped.

The changes to gameplay mechanics both help and hinder Kirby. The revamped [[air dodge]] mechanics have significantly improved his innate ability to [[edgeguard]] opponents more effectively, and directional air dodges have also given him a secondary recovery option, but this also makes him more susceptible to juggling and edgeguarding as well, due to his short-ranged aerials and predictable landing options. The changes to downwards velocity KOing opponents faster from the bottom blast line now render Final Cutter as a significantly more deadly edgeguarding and [[sacrificial KO]] option, further improving its utility. The increased [[shieldstun]] and increased startup on shield grabbing notably benefits Kirby's safety on hit, due to his moves' natural high damage and low ending lag, making him harder to get off and punish accordingly. Conversely, the changes to grabs' ending lag make Kirby's own grab riskier to throw out, as their ending lag can prove more punishable. The increase in mobility is a mixed bag for Kirby, as while his mobility has improved overall relative to the cast (most notably his aerial mobility), his problems with camping from the previous incarnation remain, exhibited with the increased prevalence of zoners. Overall, the two lattermost changes have resulted in his range issues being even more pronounced than in ''SSB4'', but the changed mechanics have also granted him additional edgeguarding tools and an improved defensive game.

Overall, Kirby's changes now render his punish game much more deadly, make him much harder to shake off once he gains the advantage, and allow him to seal stocks at much more varied percentages, but the universal changes to the game's engine have made it slightly easier for opponents to keep him away and have rendered said punishment game slightly more inconsistent. As a result, he has once again having earned some representation in all levels of competitive play with players such as {{sm|Komota}}, {{sm|Jesuischoq}}, and {{sm|Ferretkuma}} innovating his gameplay. Due to his somewhat rare tournament results at top levels of play, however, his perception in ''Ultimate''{{'}}s competitive scene has been somewhat negative much like in the previous game, as a number of players view Kirby around the same vein as in ''SSB4''. On the other hand, several game updates have handed Kirby a myriad of buffs (most notably update {{SSBU|6.0.0}} in recent times), which has caused other players to note the improvements and rank him higher. In the end, Kirby's overall viability remains questionable.

Kirby has been buffed once more in update 8.0.0, strengthening a handful of his finishers such as down smash, back aerial, and [[Stone]], with the former having decreased start-up, alleviating the nerfs they initially received in the transition to ''Ultimate''. Dash attack had its clean hit's knockback increased and its previously high endlag reduced, with cross-ups now being much safer and as well as giving the late hit follow-up potential. Although forward aerial's increased damage output and knockback makes it harder for him to follow up with his combos at low percents, it is an overall benefit since it renders his finishers to be more potent, while indirectly giving his other combo tools more flexibility. Update 13.0.1 added a minor buff/bug fix of Kirby's version of [[Lightning Buster]] less ending lag to match Mythra.

*Kirby can perform [[Double jump#Multiple double jumps|5 double jumps]].

|ftiltdesc=Throws a spinning roundhouse kick. It is quick, due to coming out on frame 5, having very little ending lag and can be angled. The tip of Kirby's foot is a sourspot, but it's outprioritized by the other hitboxes. Due to its above average knockback, it can KO middleweights starting at around 140% at the edge of {{SSBU|Final Destination}} when sweetspotted; this makes it a useful 2-framing option when angled downwards.

|utiltdesc=A scorpion kick. Although its damage output is low, it is a very useful combo starter at low percents, especially on fast-fallers, due to it coming out on frame 4 and having both very minimal ending lag and disjointed range which additionally reaches behind him. It also renders Kirby's foot [[Intangibility|intangible]] throughout its duration, which can give him protection above him and allows it to be used as an anti-air tool despite its rather poor range.

|dtiltdesc=A crouching shin kick. It is fairly spammable due to coming out on frame 4 and having minimal ending lag. When coupled with its [[trip]]ping potential, and the fact that Kirby's crouch allows him to dodge many attacks with high hitboxes, it can be a very useful set-up option especially after a crouch.

|dashdesc=The Burn attack from the {{s|wikirby|Burning}} ability from ''Kirby's Adventure''. It has decent startup at frame 9 with a long-lasting hitbox that grows weaker over time. Its clean hitbox is one of the strongest dash attacks in the game, KOing middleweights at around 100% from the edge of Final Destination, though it is extremely punishable on shield due to its endlag. Unlike ''Melee'', it does not slide off of edges.

|fsmashdesc=Based on the Spin Kick from the Fighter ability from ''Kirby Super Star''. Due to becoming active at frame 13, it's fast for a forward smash. It can be angled and moderately moves Kirby forward, giving it deceptively good range. Its clean hitbox also deals respectable damage and has very high knockback growth, which makes it a powerful and reliable KOing option. While near the edge of Final Destination, it KOs middleweights starting at around 70%. However, its late hitbox lacks reliable KO potential due to its high base knockback but very low knockback scaling. The hitbox also has a deceptively short duration compared to what it seems, and has noticeable ending lag (29 frames), making it unsafe on shield and punishable if not used correctly. A powerful punish option that is also capable of 2-framing reliably if angled downwards.

|usmashdesc=A bicycle kick. It can hit behind Kirby, while its clean hitbox deals respectable damage and has very high knockback growth akin to forward smash, KOing middleweights at around 100% from anywhere on Final Destination. Kirby's foot is also rendered intangible throughout its duration. Has moderate startup and ending lag, coming out on frame 12 and having 27 frames of ending lag, which gives it the fastest interruptibility of Kirby's smash attacks. Its late hitbox is noticeably weaker but still has very respectable KO power for an up smash, KOing middleweights at around 120% from anywhere on Final Destination.

|dsmashdesc=A spinning split kick. It hits in front of and behind Kirby, and its clean hitbox deals respectable damage and has very high knockback growth like his forward and up smashes. Comes out on frame 7, with the fastest startup of his smash attacks. It semi-spikes with above average power, with its clean hitbox KOing middleweights starting at around 100% from the edge of Final Destination, and is additionally a reliable 2-framing option that is very useful for edgeguarding as a result. It also renders Kirby's feet intangible for 10 frames starting from frame 5 until the clean hit ceases at frame 14. However, its late hitbox has significantly lower KO potential due to its lower damage, not KOing middleweights on the ledge of Final Destination until around 140%. Due to it having 31 frames of ending lag, it has the highest ending lag of Kirby's smash attacks, and combined with its long duration, it's extremely punishable if shielded or whiffed.

|nairdesc= A cartwheel that also appears in the {{s|wikirby|Smash Bros.}} ability. Its very low landing lag makes it a decent set-up option at low percents or a tool for shield pressure when short hopped, while its high knockback growth makes it a decent anti-pressure and out of shield option. In addition, on Final Destination, it can KO middleweights under 160% at center stage and at around 110% at the ledge if hit cleanly, making it one of the strongest neutral aerials in the game. It has large hitboxes that cover Kirby's body, especially at the beginning, giving good protection and coverage around him. It can also edgeguard, but it has the highest amount of ending lag out of Kirby's aerials, although still significantly less than in SSB4. It has [[sex kick]] properties and autocancels in a full hop. Due to coming out on frame 8, it has the second fastest startup of Kirby's aerials, although this also makes it slower in comparison to other sex kicks.

|fairdesc=A series of multiple aerial kicks. Due to coming out on frame 10, it has the second slowest startup of Kirby's aerials. The first two hits have low knockback, which allows them to connect reliably into the third hit; however, they are notably inconsistent and the move will frequently experience fallouts as a result. Its low landing lag also allows the first or second hit to be used as set-up options into other moves, such as an up smash or forward smash at high percents. A versatile aerial that is good for combos and edgeguarding, it is capable of connecting into itself for a [[wall of pain]] in certain instances. The third hit has enough knockback to KO middleweights near the edge of Final Destination at around 140% with no rage, making it fairly efficient for edgeguarding despite its average knockback. It can also be used as an out-of-shield option if Kirby is too far away to hit the opponent with neutral aerial or up aerial instead. Autocancels in a full hop.

|bairdesc=A fast backwards dropkick. It functions as a sex kick, but also has the lowest amount of start-up lag out of Kirby's aerials, due to it coming out on frame 6. It can autocancel in a short hop and its clean hitbox also deals the most damage out of his aerials, and possesses very high knockback growth, which make it a viable KOing option. While near the edge of Final Destination, its clean hitbox KOs middleweights at around 105-110%, which is around the same KO percentages of Kirby's clean neutral aerial. It also boasts good range due to its slightly disjointed hitbox, which makes it a viable edge-guarding option, and allows it use in a [[wall of pain]], as well as a good approach option if used in a reverse aerial rush.

|uairdesc=An aerial flip kick similar to his up smash. Comes out on frame 8, tied with neutral aerial for having the second lowest startup of Kirby's aerials. A decent juggling option, it can also be used for continuing a combo due to its low landing lag. Can be used as an out-of-shield option if the opponent has a large enough [[hurtbox]]. Due to its decent damage and knockback, it's strong enough to KO middeweights at around 150% on Final Destination on ground level, making it a useful KO option after a full hop, or above platforms. It can autocancel in a short hop fast fall.

|dairdesc=A diagonal corkscrew dropkick. A decent combo starter on grounded opponents and due its low ending lag, and the final hit is a weak meteor smash, which makes it useful for edgeguarding and allows it to gimp characters with short recoveries. It can even lead into a [[footstool jump]] on fast-fallers and heavyweights. While it has the highest amount of start-up lag out of Kirby's aerials and of his moveset due to coming out on frame 18, and not autocanceling in a short hop, it can be auto-canceled on landing, giving Kirby a decent window to safely land while tumbling. While having a rather good autocancel window, and being good for edgeguarding, its usage offstage is only serviceable against characters with slow or exploitable recoveries, as the final hit cannot reliably KO characters even as high as 180% offstage.

|grabdesc=One of the fastest grabs, but has short range. Based on the startup animation of the Torent Lariat from the Suplex ability from ''Kirby Super Star''.

|pummeldesc=A sequence of punches. Has average damage output, but is one of the fastest pummels.

|fthrowdesc=A throw resembling the Rock Drop from the Suplex ability from ''Kirby Super Star''. Unlike the majority of forward throws, it possesses combo potential. Its most reliable follow-ups are neutral, forward and down aerials at low percents, and up aerial and [[Final Cutter]] at medium percents. Using it below a {{SSBU|Battlefield}} platform will have Kirby land on said platform, hindering followups at lower percents, but extending them at higher percents.

|bthrowdesc=A back throw resembling the backwards dive from the Backdrop ability from ''Kirby's Adventure''. Despite having an average damage output and very low base knockback, it has very high knockback growth. As a result, it has decent KO potential. While near the edge of Final Destination, it KOs middleweights at around 140%.

|uthrowdesc=The Air Drop from the Ninja ability from ''Kirby Super Star''. Like {{SSBU|Meta Knight}}'s up throw, it can damage and launch bystanders upon landing. It is weaker than his back throw when used at the edge, but it is consistently strong regardless of where it's used on the stage. Great knockback, KOing middleweights at around 160% from anywhere on Final Destination without rage; though it is extremely susceptible to [[DI]]. Because Kirby jumps up to perform it, he can land onto platforms above him upon descending, which enables it to KO even earlier.

|dthrowdesc=The Fury Stomp from the Suplex ability from ''Kirby Super Star''. It is Kirby's most damaging throw at 12%, which makes it useful for damage racking when his other throws can't do so. It can also damage nearby opponents. Due to its high knockback and unfavorable angle in comparison to other down throws, it launches too high for followups, so it's his most situational throw. However, it has enough knockback to KO middleweights at around 200% on Final Destination if Kirby has no rage, so it can be used as a situational KO option, but only on certain high platforms. On the top platform of Battlefield, it will KO middleweights at around 170-175% without rage.

|floorfdesc=Performs a spin kick before getting up.

|floorbdesc=Kicks on one side and then the other before getting up.

|floortdesc=The Break Spin from the {{s|wikirby|Yo-yo}} ability from ''Kirby Super Star''.

|edgedesc=Performs a cartwheeling kick while climbing up. It has surprisingly good range compared to many other characters' edge attacks.

|ssdesc=The attack of the same name from the {{s|wikirby|Hammer}} ability. It is chargeable and, when fully charged, Kirby's hammer will ignite and deal [[recoil damage]]. He can also slowly walk and jump while charging. When it is used in midair, Kirby will swing his hammer twice, with each hit being equally powerful. While near the edge of Final Destination, uncharged Hammer Flip KOs middleweights at around 65%. Fully charged Hammer Flip KOs middleweights at around 6%. Although weaker, aerial Hammer Flip nevertheless possesses impressive KO potential. While near the edge of Final Destination, it KOs middleweights at around 86%. Its fully charged version KOs them at around 33%. When fully charged and on the ground, it makes Kirby invincible from frame 2-10 and gives him super armor from frame 11-17. To counteract its power, it has lengthy startup and endlag, making its usage in competitive play outside of shield break punishes or covering get-up options from ledge very limited.

|usdesc=The attack of the same name from the {{s|wikirby|Cutter}} ability. It weakly meteor smashes any opponents he comes into contact with upon descending, which is somewhat useful as a sacrificial KO or to edgeguard opponents who run out of ledge invincibility, though not to the extent of similar moves like [[Aether]]. The sword also emits a shockwave upon hitting a solid surface, which is Kirby's only projectile aside from [[Inhale (Kirby)#Spitting characters|spitting out an Inhaled opponent]]. Solid vertical recovery distance and has serviceable horizontal distance when angled. Can also punish improper aerial approaches, but overuse will render Kirby vulnerable to punishment due to the high start-up. Kirby cannot [[sweetspot]] the edge until he starts to descend, and if the platform beneath him disappears or if he is pushed off while he is still in the landing animation, he will be rendered [[helpless]].

|dsdesc=The Stone Change (while Kirby is on the ground) and the Stone Smash (while Kirby is in the air) from the {{s|wikirby|Stone}} ability. Thanks to its high damage output, Stone Smash KOs middleweights at around 100% and deals considerable [[shield damage]]. It can also be canceled in midair by pressing the special button, which can be used for [[mindgame]]s. Although Stone Change is considerably weaker, it is still a relatively potent [[semi-spike]]. Kirby cannot be damaged while he is transformed, although his Stone forms have a set amount of durability, and he can be grabbed while transformed.

|fsdesc=The {{s|wikirby|Super Ability}} of the same name. Kirby wields a gigantic sword to repeatedly slash the opponent before enlarging the sword and then concluding with a powerful downward slash. While near the edge of Final Destination, it KOs middleweights at around 15%.

*'''Side taunt''': Spins around playfully, then says "Nyum!" while standing on one foot. Based on his "character chosen" animation in the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''

*Turns to face away from the screen, then turns back.

SSBUKirbyIdle1.gif|Kirby's first idle pose

SSBUKirbyIdle2.gif|Kirby's second idle pose

*'''Left:''' Moonwalks to the left, twists, slides to the right, and jumps into a pose where he stands on one foot. Based on Kirby's dances in ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land'' and ends with a pose similar to his Brawl render and his character select animation in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''

*'''Right:''' Jumps twice, shuffles backwards, does a breakdance, and poses while facing away from the camera. Based on Kirby's dances in ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land'', with the ending pose also appearing in said game.

Since the release of ''Ultimate'', many professionals immediately noticed Kirby's significant flaws from the previous installment had been retained, in spite of the mechanics suiting him better in comparison to ''SSB4''. As a result, his representation in regionals and nationals has been minimal, with his reception being negative across the community. Players noted his vulnerability to being camped, poor range, slow air speed, as well as platforms potentially negating all follow-ups should he start a combo with a forward throw. Throughout ''Ultimate''{{'}}s metagame, many considered him a low-to-bottom tier character, with some going as far as putting him as the worst character in the game due to these weaknesses and his sparse results and representation outside of locals.

 

Patches 6.0.0 and 8.0.0 gave Kirby some major improvements, including more KO power and versatility to his aerial attacks, partially restoring his ability to follow-up on platforms, and gaining additional options for kill confirms. Despite these positives, however, Kirby's player base remained small and he sees little results outside of dedicated mains such as {{Sm|Jesuischoq}} and {{Sm|Ferretkuma}}. As such, although some players believe Kirby has mid-tier potential due to having some niche top-tier matchups, most players still consider Kirby to be low tier at best.

Kirby's perception has interestingly grown more positive in the recent meta with many players placing Kirby in varied sections of lower-mid tier, which is a notable improvement compared to his perceived bottom tier status during the game's initial release. Ultimately, Kirby is generally viewed as a much more potent and improved character compared to initial release with his potential viability and placement in the meta being a topic for debate.  

===Most historically significant players===

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*{{Sm|Ferretkuma|Japan}} - Formerly the best Kirby player in Japan and one of the best Kirby players in the world. Placed 7th at {{Trn|Seibugeki 4}}, 17th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 7}} and 33rd at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 1}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Atelier}} and {{Sm|takera}}.

*{{Sm|JeJaJeJa|USA}} - The best Kirby player in the world. Placed 5th at {{Trn|The Box: Lunch Box 11}}, 7th at {{Trn|SWT: NA Northwest Ultimate Online Qualifier}}, 9th at {{Trn|The Box: Lunch Box 10}}, and 13th at {{Trn|Beyond the Spectrum}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Scend}}, {{Sm|Dabuz}}, and {{Sm|Chag}}. Offline, placed 2nd at {{Trn|Back in Blood}} and 4th in {{Trn|Back in Blood 2}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|BassMage}}, {{Sm|Ludo}}, and {{Sm|H4DS}}.

*{{Sm|Jesuischoq|France}} - The best Kirby player in the world during early metagame and currently the best Kirby player in Europe. Placed 2nd at {{Trn|Smash4Glory - Ultimate Edition}}, 9th at {{Trn|Ultimate WANTED 1}}, 13th at {{Trn|VCA 2019}}, as well as 25th at {{Trn|Ultimate WANTED 2}} and {{Trn|Ultimate WANTED 3}} with wins over players such as {{Sm|Glutonny}}, {{Sm|Homika}}, {{Sm|PeW}}, and {{Sm|Oryon}}. Ranked 17th in the [[French Power Rankings#Ultimate|French Ultimate Power Rankings]].

*{{Sm|Konokururu|Japan}} - The best active Kirby player in Japan. Placed 3rd at {{Trn|DAWN 3}}, 13th at {{Trn|Seibugeki 10}}, 17th at both {{Trn|Seibugeki 9}} and {{Trn|Kagaribi 7}} and 49th at {{Trn|Kagaribi 5}}. Has wins on players such as {{Sm|Abadango}}, {{Sm|Noi}}, and {{Sm|tk3}}.

Kirby was among the fighters summoned to the cliffside to assist in defeating an army of Master Hands.

After [[Galeem]] absorbed all of the Master Hands during the opening cutscene, he began to unleash beams of light that vaporized all of the fighters and later imprisoned all of them. Kirby was the sole survivor after escaping on his [[Warp Star]], barely warping away from the beams before they could engulf him. Despite being the sole survivor, Kirby is still seen as a puppet in a few areas of the mode. It was later explained that Galeem had analyzed Kirby at some point during the story and was able to make puppet fighters in his image without needing Kirby himself.

He is later seen alongside several other fighters, as they make their final stand against Galeem and [[Dharkon]].

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SSBUKirbyJPTwitter1.jpg|With Meta Knight and King Dedede on Green Greens.

**Ironically, Kirby has the most spirit battle appearances of all characters, with 60 total.