Ability Block

Kirby: Canvas Curse sprites
Ability Block
Name (JA)	能力ブロック (Nōryoku Burokku)
- Meaning	Ability Block 能力 = Ability, ブロック = Block
In Games
Properties	Can only be destroyed by a Copy Ability

An Ability Block is a Device in the Kirby series, debuting in Kirby's Dream Land 2.

General Information

Ability Blocks, as their name implies, are blocks that can only be destroyed by using a Copy Ability; in most cases, it requires a specific ability to be destroyed. Ability Blocks typically obstruct the player from getting important collectible items.

Games

Kirby's Dream Land 2

Ability Blocks in Kirby's Dream Land 2.

Ability Blocks almost always appear in rooms with the Rainbow Drops, in addition to being used as puzzles to get to the Rainbow Drop rooms to begin with. As Kirby's Dream Land 2 was released for the Game Boy, they do not have distinct colors, instead using the same palette as the background. Ability Blocks instead have various different appearances that reference the Copy Ability needed to destroy them:

• Burning: a block of ice
• Needle: a block with five holes in it
• Spark: a computer chip
• Cutter: a rounded block with a horizontal groove
• Ice: a rounded block with a bubble inside
• Parasol: a cloud block
• Stone: a cracked stone block

Kirby's Block Ball

“	This block can only be destroyed by using a special ability.”
	— Block Chart • Kirby's Block Ball Instruction Booklet

Ability Blocks appear to have a hollow interior, in contrast to other blocks. There are four types: 1x1, 1x2, 2x1, and 2x2; 1x1 gives 300 points, 1x2 and 2x1 give 500 points, and 2x2 give 800 points. Ability Blocks can only be destroyed by Copy Abilities, and as such are not required to be destroyed to get to the next round, as a Copy Ability may not always be available. This is the only game where Ability Blocks can be destroyed by any Copy Ability, due to how Copy Abilities work in this game.

Kirby's Dream Land 3

Ability Blocks in Kirby's Dream Land 3.

Ability Blocks work as they do in Kirby's Dream Land 2, however their appearances are more simplistic, simply having an icon of the Copy Ability required to destroy it. Ability Blocks often hide Point Stars, but are also used in puzzles for obtaining Heart Stars. The color of the block depends on the area it is located in, but does not affect its behavior. Despite this, Copy Abilities have specific colors associated with them:

• Burn: red
• Needle: black
• Spark: yellow
• Cutter: green
• Ice: blue
• Parasol: pink
• Stone: brown
• Cleaning: gray

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

While not blocks per se, there are certain objects that have colors that correspond to a Copy Ability or Power Combo, and require those specific Ability or Combos to be broken. Destroying these typically leads to a Crystal Shard.

• Burn: red
• Needle: orange
• Spark: yellow
• Cutter: green
• Ice: blue
• Bomb: black
• Stone: brown

Kirby: Canvas Curse

Ability Blocks return in their block state, featuring both icons and colors that correspond to the Copy Ability used to destroy them. Unlike in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3, not every Copy Ability has an Ability Block associated with it; only seven of the game's eleven Copy Abilities have one:

• Burning: red
• Needle: orange
• Beam: yellow
• Spark: green
• Freeze: blue
• Missile: pink
• Wheel: gray

Balloon and Tornado are both incapable of destroying blocks, Stone is instead used to pound Stakes (as can the Dedede Ball), and Crash can activate otherwise inaccessible Switches.

Trivia

• With the exception of Kirby's Block Ball, Ability Blocks appear in games that have a rainbow association. Despite this, there are never any violet- or indigo-colored Ability Blocks, instead opting for the colors pink (associated with Parasol and Missile), brown (associated with Stone), black (associated with Needle in Kirby's Dream Land 3 and Bomb), or gray (associated with Cleaning and Wheel).