Scarfy

"The face of an angel? Sure...as long as you don't get Scarfy mad!"

- Scarfy's Cast Description

Scarfy is an enemy character that appears in many games in the Kirby series. At first glance, Scarfy looks like an orange, floating, round ball, with a cute face, and pointy, cat-like ears. Under certain conditions (usually from Kirby trying to inhale Scarfy), he turns into a ghastly, beige-colored one-eyed creature with fangs. In this form, he is called a Mutant Scarfy, and he will begin to chase after Kirby, exploding on contact (A Mutant Scarfy will also explode if Kirby avoids him for a few seconds). Scarfy cannot be inhaled, but is vulnerable to all other attacks.

In all games after Kirby's Return to Dream Land (excluding Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition), when a Mutant Scarfy hits Kirby, he not only takes damage but also goes up in flames and has any Copy Ability he is carrying knocked out of him. There is also a darker-colored variant of Scarfys that exist, called Hunter Scarfys, that are more common in the Extra Modes of those games. They only turn into Mutant Hunter Scarfys when a key is obtained by Kirby.

Kirby's Dream Land
This was Scarfy's first appearance. Scarfy would explode upon defeat regardless of how they were defeated; in more recent games they no longer explode under normal circumstances.

Kirby's Block Ball
Scarfy appears as an enemy in Mr. Frosty's stage. He floats in one place and drops a Crash item when defeated. This item melts all Metal Blocks when obtained.

Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra
In these games, certain Scarfys turn into their one-eyed forms while Kirby's back is turned on them, or when Kirby gets too close to them regardless of whether he tried to inhale them or not.

Using the Copy ability on a Scarfy results in Kirby obtaining the Crash ability. However, by exploiting the hitstun mechanics of the game, Scarfy can also be inhaled. Kirby can use a quick attack that does not immediately defeat Scarfy, such as the Wing Copy Ability's Toss attack on him, then quickly drop his ability and inhale Scarfy to gain its ability.

Kirby's Dream Land 3
In this game, Scarfy can be eaten if Kirby (or Gooey) is teamed up with ChuChu or Rick, but he gives no ability when swallowed this way.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Scarfy reprises his role from Kirby Super Star.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Scarfys retain their usual role in this game, however they only turn into their Mutant form when Kirby tries to inhale them.

Kirby: Canvas Curse
Scarfy does not feature directly in Kirby: Canvas Curse, but a drawing of him can be drawn by Paint Roller in Paint Panic.

Kirby: Squeak Squad
In this game, Throw Kirby can grab them and use them as a projectile. Defeating them using Bubble only yields a normal Star bubble.

Kirby's Epic Yarn
Because Kirby does not have the ability to swallow enemies, Scarfys will chase Kirby when they get near him. Kirby cannot unravel or roll up a Scarfy, or even beam one up when he is in Saucer form, but the enemy can be defeated either using his Weight form or the Saucer's electricity attack on them. Scarfy is also one of the items to be purchased in the Furniture Shop.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land
Scarfys appear in this game, acting as they do in other games. Starting here, the enemy's Mutant form changed from a red or dark orange hue to a dark gray, almost like stone. Key-protecting Hunter Scarfys also make their debut in this game.

Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition
Scarfy appears in the New Challenge Stages. He appears in the Spark, Whip, Wing, and Normal Challenges. He also appears in the Smash Combat Chamber, as well as Magolor Race 1, 3, and EX.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Kirby: Planet Robobot
Scarfys return, retaining their typical role. Some Scarfys will turn hostile if Kirby passes them or nears one of them, mirroring their behavior seen in Kirby's Epic Yarn. Hunter Scarfys also return, chasing the hero whenever he grabs a key. A Scarfy in his Mutant form is able to pass from the background to the foreground (or vice-versa) in pursuit of Kirby.

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, most Scarfys have been turned into cyborgs by the Haltmann Works Company (though their Mutant forms are completely robotic). Aside from the Kirby 3D Rumble sub-game, regular Scarfys only appear in the Ability Testing Area and a secret area found in Stage 8 of Access Ark. Behavior-wise, some Scarfys slowly approach Kirby in their normal forms. No Scarfys transform without provocation unlike in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, and Hunter Scarfys do not appear.

Kirby's Blowout Blast
Scarfy first appears in Stage 3 of Level 2. He behaves like he does in Kirby 3D Rumble. Because he is one of the few enemies in the game that is immune to Inhaling, he is not necessary to defeat; if Kirby runs out of projectiles when facing Scarfy in a gauntlet, the enemy disappears in a puff of smoke. This prevents the hero from earning an Enemies Defeated bonus, however.

Mutant Scarfys grow larger than usual and are faster in this game, so provoking them is dangerous.

In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Dedede bought four Scarfys as pets in the episode Dedede's Pet Threat, but their Kirby-like appetites made Dedede bankrupt, so he released them. While in the wild, the Scarfys started eating animals and reproducing rapidly. The Scarfys then ate bones sent by Nightmare Enterprises that mutated them, giving them the second, mutated form. The original four became a small army overnight that only Hammer Kirby could stop. They were turned back into themselves by having the NME bones knocked out of their mouths. Even then, Dedede was forced to keep the army of hungry Scarfys. A running gag in the episode is that Scarfys seem to be fond of Kirby's arm, since they keep biting into it.

In the Super Smash Bros. series
Scarfy appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. A trophy of Scarfy also exists in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Like several of the other Kirby trophies in the game, Scarfy uses his model from Kirby's Return to Dream Land.

Related Quotes
"Scarfy is a deceiving character. He looks like a friendly sort of mutt, but don't try to inhale him—he'll get meaner than a bitin' dog and attack."

- Description

"This is what Scarfy looks like after Kirby tries to inhale him. He's mad! Scarfy will explode violently if he's touched by any object."

- Description

"At first glance, Scarfy appears to be a gentle cat-like creature. But wait—if Kirby gets too close, Scarfy shows it's [sic] huge teeth and chases him. Stay clear."

- Description

"Creatures with cute, catlike faces that float through the sky in a playful, gentle manner. Get close enough, however, and Scarfies take to the offensive in a new, scary form. They can't be inhaled and eventually explode on their own. This is one enemy that you should probably attack as little as possible. That's right--let sleeping Scarfies lie."

- Trophy description

"They look friendly at first, but just wait..."

- Official Kirby: Triple Deluxe website

"He looks almost as cute as Kirby himself, lazily floating in the air... but you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. If you try to inhale him, Scarfy will instantly turn into a terrifying, one-eyed monster before ruthlessly chasing you down and exploding! In Return to Dream Land, some kinds of Scarfy only chase you if you're holding a key."

- Trophy description

Trivia

 * Scarfy's name could be a pun on the phrase to scarf, which means to eat very quickly; since they are shown in the anime to eat just about everything. "Scarfy" is also scary with an f, which may refer to his one-eyed mutant form.
 * In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition, and Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Scarfy's mutant form is gray.
 * In Kirby: Right Back At Ya!, the Scarfys are some of the few monsters that weren't ordered by King Dedede specifically to destroy Kirby. Others include Crab and Honker Stomper.