| “ | Hi-yaa! Hold the B Button longer for a stronger blow! That punch is an instant KO!” |
| — Fighter's Flavor Text • Kirby Super Star Ultra |
Fighter is one of Kirby's Copy abilities. It is certainly one of his most versatile abilities and he can execute many different attacks with it.
In this form, Kirby gains the abilities of a martial artist and boxer, along with being able to fire energy blasts like stereotypical 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.
Attacks and Features
| Attack Name | Controls | Description | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vulcan Jab | B/Y | Kirby fires many weak, fast punches. In Squeak Squad and Amazing Mirror, an uppercut and then a lowercut are thrown by pressing B consecutively. | None |
| Nonstop Vulcan Jab | B/Y (repeatedly) | Kirby fires many weak, fast punches. In this way, Kirby can be invincible to the side his facing. This cannot be done in both Amazing Mirror and Squeak Squad. | None |
| Smash Punch | B/Y (Held) | Kirby throws a powerful punch. Does a one-hit kill on regular enemies. | None |
| Leg Sweep | ← or → + B/Y | Kirby slides along the ground, damaging enemies with his foot. Low damage, but quick. | None |
| Spin Kick | Dash + B/Y | Kirby gives a running kick to anything in his path. | None |
| Down Kick | ↓ + B/Y (Midair) | As Kirby falls anything he comes in contact with is attacked. | None |
| Double Kick | → + B/Y (Midair) | As Kirby falls he preforms a kick and then he fires off a second kick. | None |
| Rising Break | ↑ + B/Y | Kirby leaps up doing a large uppercut. | None |
| Arm Throw | B/Y (Near Enemy) | Kirby grabs an enemy, stars, & mid-bosses (when defeated) and tosses them forward, often into other enemies or mid-bosses. This move comes from Throw. | None |
| Judo (Overheap) Throw | ↓ + B (Near Enemy) | Kirby grabs an enemy & mid-bosses (when defeated) and throws them behind him, sometimes damaging other enemies & mid-bosses. This move comes from Throw. | None |
| Aerial Spin Kick | → + B/Y (Midair) | Kirby spins around in midair. | None |
| Energy Blast | B/Y (Held) | Kirby shoots an energy blast that requires less time to charge as his health depletes. In Amazing Mirror, the lower your health, the more powerful the blast will be. However, in Squeak Squad, getting the Copy Scroll makes this attack stronger, and it can achieve maximum power without being at low health. | None |
| Air Drop | →/↓/↑ + B | Kirby takes the enemy & mid-bosses (when defeated) high up into the air, and then slams it into the ground. This move comes from Ninja and functions exactly the same way. This move can only be used in Squeak Squad. | None |
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 the anime is most like 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.
Transformation Sequence
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 Wii
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", as seen in the screenshot.
Other Quotes
| “ | Go for it! CHAMPION” |
| — Fighter's Flavor Text • Kirby: Squeak Squad |
| “ | Copy the abilities of Fighter and assume the role of a mighty karate expert. Increase your power with practice!” |
| — Fighter's Flavor Text • Kirby Super Star |
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.
- 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).
