ESP

“	Disappear with mind powers, just like magic, and revel in the effects when you use ↑ to tap into your powers! Also, use PK Insight to guard yourself, and release a psychokinetic charge with PK Electroshift! It's an ESPecially good time!”
	— Flavor text • Kirby Star Allies

ESP is one of Kirby's Copy Abilities, which debuted in Kirby: Planet Robobot and also appears in Kirby Star Allies.

General Information

Obtained from NESP or Telepathos, the ESP ability allows Kirby to use many psychic abilities. It is also usable as a Mode for Robobot Armor.

Moveset

Move	Controls	Description	Element
Psychokinesis	B	Kirby creates a bubble of psychic energy that explodes immediately.	Energy, electricity
PK Shift	Hold B + Control Pad	Kirby creates a bubble of psychic energy that can move around. The bubble explodes when B is released, after a short period of time, or after hitting an enemy or destructable object twice.	Energy, electricity
PK Electroshift	Hold B for a long time without moving the Control Pad	Kirby creates a massive bubble of psychic energy that deals more damage than PK Shift. Explodes when B is released or after a short amount of time.	Energy, electricity
Vanish/Reappear	Dash + B (Vanish) Vanish, then release B (Reappear)	Kirby instantly transports himself forward, causing damage to any enemies he transports near. The longer B is held, the longer Kirby stays invisible and the farther he goes. Holding up/down can make Kirby reappear above or below where he normally does. Pressing backwards makes Kirby go less distance. Using the + Control Pad doesn't work without holding B.	Energy, electricity
PK Evade	L/R right before getting hit	Kirby teleports quickly to dodge an attack, then creates a small bubble of psychic energy to damage enemies around him.	Energy, electricity
PK Insight	L/R when getting hit	Kirby teleports immediately to dodge an attack, then creates a large, powerful bubble of psychic energy to damage enemies around him.	Energy, electricity

Robobot Armor Mode

Move	Controls	Description	Element
Psithunder	Press and release B	Kirby raises the Robobot Armor's hands, forming one ball of energy above each. The energy is then released in an upward arc.	Energy, electricity
Psithunder Flash	Hold B longer, and then release	The Robobot Armor forms and releases four balls of energy.	Energy, electricity
Psistorm	↑ + B	Kirby raises and waves the Robobot Armor's hands, forming four balls of energy above that rain down randomly at the same time.	Energy, electricity

Damage Values

Move	Damage^[1] 20161006
Psychokinesis	16
PK Shift	16 (all hits)
PK Electroshift	24 (held), 32 (release)
Vanish/Reappear*	24 (all hits)
PK Evade	18 (all hits)
PK Insight	80 (all hits)

*If done in quick succession, Reappear's damage is only 18.

Friend Abilities

Friend Ability	Mix	Description	Element
Geokinesis	Stone	When Kirby or Rocky uses Stone Change, Kirby or NESP can psychokinetically move the stone and drop it where they want. Electric stakes can be activated using this move. If the stone hits enemies, projectiles, or destructable objects three times, it will drop automatically.	Electricity

Flavor texts

Game	Flavor text
	This psychokinetic ability allows you to turn invisible and produce shocking electric fields, just like a certain boy with PSI. This field of science is still largely unexplored.
	Disappear with mind powers, just like magic, and revel in the effects when you use ↑ to tap into your powers! Also, use PK Insight to guard yourself, and release a psychokinetic charge with PK Electroshift! It's an ESPecially good time!

Related Quotes

“	The mind is the ultimate weapon! Psithunder Flash!”
	— In-game description for the ESP Mode of Robobot Armor • Kirby: Planet Robobot

“	Use psychic powers to teleport!”
	— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll

In Other Languages

The meaning of ESP ability's name, ESP being an acronym for extrasensory perception, varies significantly throughout other languages. Its Japanese name is エスパー (Esupā), meaning Esper. The German name, Psycho, is derived from the Greek word meaning mind. The Spanish name, Psicopoder, means Psychopower. The French name, PSY, is a shortening of psychique, meaning Psychic. The Italian name, Sensitivo, also means Psychic. Finally, the Chinese name is 超能力 (Chāo nénglì), which means Superpower.

Trivia

The ESP ability appears to be a reference to Ness, a character from both the EarthBound and Super Smash Bros. series. The ability references Ness's psychic powers, particularly PK Shift and PK Electroshift referencing PK Flash, while the ability hat itself is the same as Ness's baseball hat, albeit with the colors swapped. The in-game description even references Ness. The Copy Ability can be gained instantly if scanning the Ness or Lucas amiibo.
- This is one of two abilities that reference EarthBound; the other is the Yo-Yo ability from Kirby Super Star (and its remake) and Kirby Star Allies.
ESP is one of only a few regular Copy Abilities whose English name differs from its Japanese name. The reason it was changed was likely because the term "Esper" is associated with the SNES RPG Final Fantasy VI, while the ability cap is instead a reference to the Mother series.
This is the only new Copy Ability being introduced in Kirby: Planet Robobot to also have a Mode for the Robobot Armor (which happens to be introduced in the exact same game as the new ESP ability).
When guarding with ESP, a small psychic swirl appears around Kirby. If he is hit during the swirl, he will initiate either PK Evade or PK Insight, depending on the timing.
This is one of the few abilities to change the appearance of Kirby's hands. Others include Ghost, where Kirby's hands become ghost-like, UFO, where his hands disappear entirely, Burning, where his hands catch flame, and Animal, where his hands have claws.
ESP is the only Copy Ability to debut in Kirby: Planet Robobot to be carried over to Kirby Star Allies.