Star Rod

"This suddenly appeared at the Fountain of Dreams. Use it in your final battle against the Nightmares!"

- Star Rod's Flavour Text

Star Rod is a legendary item that Kirby wields to battle Nightmare. It is also considered a Copy Ability, though he doesn't need to inhale it to gain its power. The Star Rod is what powers the Fountain of Dreams and causes the magic waters to flow from it, giving good dreams to the people of Dream Land.

Kirby does not gain a hat with this ability, as with other final powers. The Star Rod is a simple red white swirled rod with a glowing star at the tip. It fires smaller stars to attack.

The icon in Kirby's Adventure shows Kirby wearing what resembles a witch's hat while holding the Star Rod (though he doesn't wear this in the game).

Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Kirby must find all of the fragments of the Star Rod in order to return power to the Fountain of Dreams. However, when he replaces it, it allows Nightmare to escape. Kirby takes the Star Rod in order to battle him.

Swinging the Star Rod makes it fire star-shaped projectiles, but the rod itself can be used to attack for higher damage. Jumping will make Kirby spin it around himself, which is useful for hitting Nightmare's second form.

In the Super Smash Bros. Series
The Star Rod is a wieldable weapon that anyone can use. attacking with it does damage comparable to hitting someone normally with the home-run bat, however, when used as a smash attack (or if a player holds a direction), it shoots out a star that sends enemies flying. If Sheik uses it as a Smash attack it shoots two stars and using a smash attack whilst Captain Falcon wields it shoots four. The Star Rod only has enough power for 16 Stars, then all you can do with it is hit people with the rod itself.

In the Anime
In the final episode of the series, Kirby confronts Nightmare in his dreams. There, Tiff summons his Warp Star, but instead of riding it, Kirby inhales it, granting him the Star Rod ability.

Kirby spins the Star Rod in an arc and unleashes a massive beam of stars which encircle Nightmare and destroy him.

Trivia

 * A similar item existed in Paper Mario. Whether this was on purpose or not is unknown.