Fighter

"Hi-yaa! Hold the B Button longer for a stronger blow! That punch is an instant KO!"

- Fighter's Flavor Text

General Information
Fighter is one of Kirby's Copy abilities, first appearing in Kirby Super Star. It is certainly one of his most versatile abilities and he can execute many different attacks with it.

Fighter Kirby gains the abilities of a martial artist and boxer, along with being able to fire energy blasts like standard chi/aura fighters, and shows it all off while topped with a red headband. He gains this ability by inhaling enemies with a knack for fighting.

The red headband used by Fighter Kirby is near identical to the one Kirby used for the Backdrop ability in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. Embellishments are added to fighter's headband in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, where it gets subtle pink banding along the sides and a frontal yellow star.

In the Super Smash Bros series
Some of Fighter's attacks are used as part of Kirby's regular attacks, in particular the Vulcan Jab and the Spin Kick. Fighter is one of the three Copy abilities featured as a Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the others being Fire and Ball. Fighter also appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Kirby: Right Back At Ya!
The Fighter ability in Kirby: Right Back at Ya! is most similar to the version in Super Star. The look of it is the same, with a simple red headband. Kirby uses all of the same attacks as the Super Star version at some point in the series.

He most often gets the ability in episodes featuring Knuckle Joe, from inhaling one of his attacks. Fighter is one of his strongest abilities, used against powerful demon beasts like Masher, with the strongest attack being the Rising Break.

Fighter Kirby's abilities are best displayed in episode 53, where he participates in a battle royale against the Martial Arts All-Stars.

In the transformation sequence, a band of light forms into the headband. It comically comes off his head, but he catches it and puts it on. He then makes energy pulses with his hands and does a little spin.

Appearances
Fighter, along with Bomb, is the third most frequently used copy ability in the Anime, with six appearances in total. The only time he spin kicks without Knuckle Joe is during the battle with Teacher Creature.


 * Here Comes the Son (First Use)
 * Monster Management
 * Snack Attack - Part II
 * eNeMeE Elementary
 * Masher 2.0
 * The School Scam

Kirby GCN
Fighter is seen in a screenshot for this game. It is unknown what moves he would've used, but he does use the Vulcan Jab move, as seen in the screenshot.

Other Quotes
"Go for it! CHAMPION"

- Fighter's Flavor Text

"Copy the abilities of Fighter and assume the role of a mighty karate expert. Increase your power with practice!"

Trivia

 * The red headband Kirby wears for this ability is said to be an homage to the Street Fighter character, Ryu, though it has been neither confirmed nor denied. Some say an even bigger reference to the series is that Fighter Kirby can fire energy blasts or "Hadouken". In addition, his Rising Break bears distinct similarities to Ken's "Shoryuken" attack and his Aerial Spin Kick resembles the Tatsumaki Senpukyaku or "Hurricane Kick". Kirby's Spin Kick is also exactly like Guile's Flash Kick. The idea that the Fighter ability is a homage to the Street Fighter series is further evidenced by the fact that to do an attack, the Instant Mega Blast in Kirby's Return to Dreamland, involves the same button input as the Hadouken.
 * If Red Kirby obtained Fighter, he would get a white headband instead of the trademark red.
 * The Energy Blast attack for Kirby's Fighter Ability is a similar condition to the Aura Sphere attack of Lucario, a well-known Pokémon character playable in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
 * The artwork of Fighter Kirby in the anime can be seen on the box art of Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, despite Fighter not being in the game (though it could be Backdrop given the very similar head band).