Hornhead

Hornhead is an mid-boss in Kirby: Triple Deluxe. It yields the Beetle ability when inhaled. It first appears in Stage 4 of Fine Fields.

Physical Appearance
Hornhead is a large, blue beetle. It has two horns on the top of its head and one huge horn in front. It has two constantly-glaring eyes, each of which has a purple iris. The beetle's back is adorned with dark spots and a wavy pattern. Thin legs connect Hornhead's four purple feet to its underside. The mid-boss' shell can open up to reveal a cyan back and two wings.

Hornhead's appearance seems to pay homage to Bugzzy, a classic beetle character in the Kirby series.

Behavior
Hornhead has many attacks. It often begins a battle by rushing at Kirby. If Kirby doesn't get out of the way, the insect will pick him up with its horn and toss him into the top of the screen. If the pink puff dodges this attack, however, the mid-boss will crash into the wall (which produces stars for Kirby to use as ammunition). Hornhead can stick its horn into the ground and unearth it, tossing a rock (or two) across the stage.

Hornhead has several horn-based attacks that it can use with little to no warning. It may thrust upwards once, thrust forward once, thrust forward thrice in rapid succession, or unleash a flurry of slashes before finishing off with a strong thrust.

When its health is low, the mid-boss may lift off the ground and zigzag across the plane, darting from foreground to background repeatedly. When it reaches a wall, the mid-boss may turn around and zigzag back. It will eventually collide with a wall, dropping a star. When Hornhead's horn glows bright blue, it will launch a cutter beam (that produces a star when it touches the wall); it can fire up to three in rapid succession, aiming them straight across the ground or into the air.