“ | A giant hammer inherited from the king himself that can pound pegs flat! You can charge it up for a pulverizing blow, but be careful not to overdo it. Imbue it with a friend's power and use it to fight!” |
— Flavor Text • Kirby Star Allies |
Hammer is a Copy Ability in the Kirby series, debuting in Kirby's Adventure.
Contents
- 1 Games
- 1.1 Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
- 1.2 Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra
- 1.3 Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Kirby: Squeak Squad
- 1.4 Kirby's Return to Dream Land
- 1.5 Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Kirby Fighters Deluxe, and Kirby: Planet Robobot
- 1.6 Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash
- 1.7 Kirby Battle Royale
- 1.8 Kirby Star Allies
- 1.9 Kirby Fighters 2
- 1.10 Kirby GCN
- 2 Damage
- 3 In the Super Smash Bros. series
- 4 In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
- 5 Flavor Texts
- 6 Related Quotes
- 7 In Other Languages
- 8 Trivia
- 9 Videos
- 10 Concept Artwork
- 11 Artwork
- 12 Gallery
- 13 Sprites
- 14 Other Ability Icons
- 15 External Links
- 16 References
Games
Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Hammer focuses on using a wooden mallet to deal damage. It is very powerful, and is capable of pounding stakes and destroying Metal Blocks. It is also one of the few Copy Abilities that has more than one move, and can also be used underwater. Hammer can be obtained from the Bonkers mid-boss and the Heavy Mole boss's yellow Drill Ball spawns.
In Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Kirby wears a headband made from a white and a blue chord twisted around each other and forming a knot at the back. It is based on the Hachimaki headband, a type of traditional headband associated with laborers in Japan (who often use hammers).
Techniques
Move | Controls | Description |
---|---|---|
Hammer | B | Kirby swings his hammer downward. |
Giant Swing | B in midair | Kirby swings his hammer 360° around him in the air. |
Underwater Wheel | B underwater | Kirby swings his hammer 360° around him underwater. |
Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra
Hammer now has many moves at its disposal. Hammer now has access to Hammer Flip, one of the most powerful attacks in the series, which has the fire element, allowing Hammer to also light cannon fuses and candles. Hammer is obtained from Bonkers, who is its Helper.
In Kirby Super Star Ultra, King Dedede offers Kirby a hammer before their fight in Revenge of the King.
Techniques
Move | Controls | Description | Element | Damage | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer nail | Hammer | Y | B | Kirby swings his hammer downward, reaching one tile in front of him; the backswing can also hit behind him. If Kirby does this against a wall or at an edge, Kirby's hammer will not slam onto ground, causing Kirby to sweep his hammer underneath and behind him, as well as no stars to appear. | None | 30 (hammer), 12 (star) | 34 (hammer), 12 (star) |
Hammer swing | Hammer Swing | Dash + Y | Dash + B | Kirby swings his hammer around horizontally. Kirby has control over how much he moves while swinging his hammer around. Kirby can travel up to 5 tiles forward or 1 tile backward while spinning. Kirby rebounds off walls during this move. This move will end prematurely if going over an edge. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 26 (1st hit), 20 (2nd and 3rd hits), 16 (2nd and 3rd hits with hammer tip) | 28 per hit, 12 (hammer tip hits) |
Giant swing | Giant Swing | Y (in the air) | B in air | Kirby swings his hammer vertically around him in the air. Kirby spins 720° in Kirby Super Star and 360° in Kirby Super Star Ultra. Kirby performs this when underwater in Kirby Super Star. | None | 20 per hit | 34 |
Ultragiant swing | Ultra-Giant Swing | Dash + Y (in the air) | Dash + B in air | Kirby more rapidly swings his hammer vertically around him in the air. Kirby spins up to six times in Kirby Super Star and twice in Kirby Super Star Ultra. Kirby performs this when underwater in Kirby Super Star Ultra. | None | 14 per hit | 16 per hit |
Hammer flip | Hammer Flip | ↑ + Y | ↑ + B | Kirby sets his hammer on fire before swinging it upward. | Sizzle | 4 (charging hits), 16 (back hit), 80 (flip) | 16 (charging hits), 80 (flip) |
Hammer throw | Hammer Throw | Dash + A | Dash + X | Kirby Hammer Swings before throwing him hammer away, causing him to lose the ability. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 26 (1st hit), 20 (2nd and 3rd hits), 16 (2nd and 3rd hits with hammer tip), 80 (thrown hammer) | 28 per hit, 12 (hammer tip hits), 80 (thrown hammer) |
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Kirby: Squeak Squad
Hammer retains most of its techniques present in Kirby Super Star; it lacks Ultra Giant Swing and Hammer Throw.
In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Hammer Flip's fire elements allows it can incinerate grass and bushes, vaporize clouds, and melt snow, ice, and certain Metal Blocks. Upon obtaining the Hammer Ability Scroll, located in Big Treasure Chest in Stage 2 of Vocal Volcano, Hammer can now charge up to increase the size of the hammer, giving it more range and power.
Techniques
Move | Controls | Image | Description | Element |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer | B | ![]() |
Kirby swings his hammer downward, with a 2 tile range; the backswing can also hit behind him. | None |
Giant Swing | B in the air | ![]() |
Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him in the air. Kirby performs this when underwater. | None |
Hammer Swing | →→ + B | ![]() |
Kirby swings his hammer around horizontally. Kirby travels 5 tiles forward while spinning. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None |
Hammer Flip | ↑ + B | ![]() |
Kirby sets his hammer on fire before swinging it upward. Kirby holds the hammer above his head when charging, and the downward swing of the flip covers the area behind him as well. | Sizzle |
Giant Hammer | B press & hold release | ![]() |
Kirby's hammer becomes larger before slamming it down, reaching 3 tiles. | None |
Kirby's Return to Dream Land
As with Kirby Super Star Ultra, which preceded it, Hammer now retains Ultra Giant Swing and Hammer Throw, having the most moves it has had in all of its appearances. It also received a twirl and the ability to charge the Hammer for a more powerful attack from Kirby: Squeak Squad, although instead of having a bigger hammer, Kirby can strike three times consecutively with increasing power. Hammer Flip's fire property allows it to melt Ice Blocks and illuminate dark areas. Hammer is obtained from Bonkers.
If Kirby had Hammer before the Super Ability portion of the Magolor (EX) fight, Magolor (Soul) will throw a hammer during his juggling attack, similarly to how Magolor EX summons a Super Hammer to obtain Grand Hammer.
King Dedede acts as a permanent version of Hammer, but with a few notable differences. King Dedede has more health than Kirby, has more range than Hammer, and can perform infinite Dedede Hammer Throws; however, he cannot Giant Swing, Ultra-Giant Swing, or Underwater Wheel, as he instead has Midair Hammer Swing and Underwater Hammer Swing, which behave identically to the normal Hammer attack, but without stars; his Dedede Hammer Flip lacks the fire element; and his attacks are weaker on average compared to Hammer.
Techniques
Move | Controls | Description | Element | Damage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer | 1 | Kirby swings his hammer downward, reaching one tile in front of him; the backswing can also hit behind him. If Kirby does this at an edge, Kirby's hammer will not slam onto ground, preventing stars from appearing. | None | 28 (hammer), 12 (star) |
Hammer Twirl | ↓ + 1 | Kirby twirls his hammer beneath him. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 16 (1st hit), 14 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th hits) |
Triple Hammer | Hold 1, release | Kirby charges up and then swings his hammer downward three time, with the final hit doing more damage and creating bigger stars. | None | 16 (1st and 2nd hammer hits), 40 (3rd hammer hit), 12 (1st and 2nd star hits), 28 (3rd star hit) |
Hammer Swing | Dash + 1 | Kirby swings his hammer around horizontally. Kirby has control over how much he moves while swinging his hammer around. Kirby can travel up to 6.5 tiles forward or 1.5 tiles backward while spinning. Kirby rebounds off walls during this move. By pressing - during this move, Kirby can also perform Hammer Throw. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 26 per hit |
Giant Swing | 1 in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him in midair. | None | 26 |
Ultra-Giant Swing | Dash + 1 in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 720° around him in midair. | None | 16 (1st hit), 14 (2nd hit) |
Hammer Flip | ↑ + 1 | Kirby sets his hammer on fire before swinging it upward. Kirby holds the hammer above his head when charging, and the downward swing of the flip covers the area behind him as well. | Sizzle | 80 (flip only), 8 (1st charge hit), 7 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th charge hits), 70 (flip if combo'd from charge hits) |
Hammer Throw | Dash + - | Kirby Hammer Swings before throwing him hammer away, causing him to lose the ability. Kirby's Hammer Swing during this move travels significantly less distance, moving only up to 2 tiles forward. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 26 (Hammer Swing hits), 80 (thrown hammer) |
Underwater Wheel | 1 underwater | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him underwater. | None | 26 |
Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Kirby Fighters Deluxe, and Kirby: Planet Robobot
Hammer is mostly unchanged from its appearance in Kirby's Return to Dream Land. However, it lacks Triple Hammer. Hammer is obtained from Bonkers.
In Dededetour, King Dedede acts as a permanent version of Hammer, but with a few notable differences. King Dedede can perform Hammer Wave at full health, similarly to Sword's Sword Beam; Giant Dedede Swing has the Bluster element; Hammer Twirl has the Sizzle element; he can perform Hammer Cannon to fire a projectile that can cut grass and ropes; and he can throw infinite Dedede Hammer Throws. King Dedede now has Giant Swing and Ultra Swing instead of Midair Hammer Swing, and his Dedede Hammer Flip now has the Sizzle element; however, he still has Underwater Hammer Swing instead of Underwater Wheel.
In Kirby Fighters Deluxe, Hammer's Rare Outfit gives it a headband with construction tape colors and a metal hammer. Hammer cannot use Hammer Throw, as that would discard the ability otherwise.
In Kirby: Planet Robobot, Hammer is the base for the Hammer Lord role in Team Kirby Clash. Hammer can also be obtained from the King Dedede amiibo; the Super Smash Bros. series amiibo turns Kirby yellow, and the Kirby series amiibo turns him blue with orange feet and gives Kirby King Dedede's hat.
Techniques
In Kirby Fighters and Kirby Fighters Deluxe, any invincibility granted by a move is removed, except when fighting bosses, i.e. Kracko, Team DDD.
Move | Controls | Description | Element | Damage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer | B | Kirby swings his hammer downward, reaching one tile in front of him; the backswing can also hit behind him. If Kirby does this at an edge, Kirby's hammer will not slam onto ground, preventing stars from appearing. | None | 28 (hammer), 12 (star) |
Hammer Twirl | ↓ + B | Kirby twirls his hammer beneath him. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 16 (1st hit), 12 (repeat hits) |
Hammer Swing | Dash + B | Kirby swings his hammer around horizontally. Kirby has control over how much he moves while swinging his hammer around. Kirby can travel up to 6.5 tiles forward or 1.5 tiles backward while spinning. Kirby rebounds off walls during this move. By pressing X during this move, Kirby can also perform Hammer Throw. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 26 (1st hit), 2 (repeat hits) |
Giant Swing | B in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him in midair. | None | 26 |
Ultra-Giant Swing | Dash + B in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 720° around him in midair. | None | 16 per hit |
Hammer Flip | ↑ + B | Kirby sets his hammer on fire before swinging it upward. Kirby holds the hammer above his head when charging, and the downward swing of the flip covers the area behind him as well. | Sizzle | 7 (1st charge hit), 3 (repeat charge hits), 80 (flip) |
Hammer Throw | Dash + X | Kirby Hammer Swings before throwing him hammer away, causing him to lose the ability. Kirby's Hammer Swing during this move travels significantly less distance, moving only up to 2 tiles forward. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | 26 (1st Hammer Swing hit), 2 (repeat Hammer Swing hits), 80 (thrown hammer) |
Underwater Wheel | B while swimming | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him underwater. | None | 26 |
Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash
Hammer serves as the base for the Hammer Lord role. Its charge attack now allows Kirby to move while charging, similarly to the Smash Bros. version of the move, but it lacks the Hammer Throw.
Techniques
Move | Controls | Description | Element | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer | B | Kirby swings his hammer downward; the backswing can also hit behind him. | None | ||
Hammer Flip | ↑ + release B | ↑ + hold B, then release | Kirby sets his hammer on fire before swinging it upward. Kirby holds the hammer above his head when charging, and the downward swing of the flip covers the area behind him as well. Kirby can slowly walk while charging. | Sizzle | |
Hammer Swing | Dash + B | Kirby swings his hammer around horizontally. Kirby has control over how much he moves while swinging his hammer around. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None | ||
Giant Swing | B in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him in midair. | None | ||
Ultra-Giant Swing | Dash + B in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 720° around him in midair. | None | ||
Hammer Twirl | ↓ + B | Kirby twirls his hammer beneath him. Kirby is invincible during this move. | None |
Kirby Battle Royale
Hammer appears as an unlockable Copy Ability. It can be unlocked in The Cake Royale after obtaining 50 League Points in the Gold League. Hammer has multiple charge attacks, each with stronger and weaker variants depending on charge. It has Headgear based on King Dedede, a squeaky hammer, and Grand Hammer.
King Dedede acts as a version of Hammer, but with a few notable differences. King Dedede uses Dedede Hammer Throw as his charge attack instead of Hammer Flip or Big Hamer Drop; King Dedede also has different Headgear than Hammer, one of which requires amiibo to unlock.
Techniques
Move | Controls | Description | Damage (Robo Bonkers) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Type A/Type C | Type B/Type D | |||
Hammer | B | Y | Kirby strikes the ground in front of him with his hammer. | 200 |
Hammer Twirl | B during jump | Y during jump | Kirby holds the hammer below him and twirls it around. | 55x2 (initial hits), 70 (final hit) |
Hammer Flip | Hold/release B (2 lvl.) | Hold/release Y (2 lvl.) | Kirby charges up his hammer until it is on fire, and then swings it upward. | 550 (1 lvl.) 950 (2 lvl.) |
Big Hammer Drop | Hold B, jump and release (2 lvl.) | Hold Y, jump and release (2 lvl.) | Kirby slams his hammer into the ground, creating a large shockwave that knocks opponents down. | 400 (1 lvl.) 600 (2 lvl.) |
Hammer Swing | Y | A | Kirby swings his hammer around him horizontally. | 20x3 (initial hits), 60 (final hit) |
Kirby Star Allies
Hammer can be enhanced by the elements from other Copy Abilities. Hammer Flip has been changed to be chargeable, like its Smash Bros. and Hammer Lord versions, although it now lacks the Sizzle element, similarly to the Dedede Hammer Flip in Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Hammer Throw can be used infinitely in The Ultimate Choice. Hammer is obtained from Bonkers, who is its Friend Helper.
The King Dedede Dream Friend acts as a permanent version of Hammer, but with a few notable differences. King Dedede has more health than Kirby, does more damage than Hammer, can perform infinite Dedede Hammer Throws, and can perform Head Slide and Super Dedede Jump (as of the 4.0.0 update); his Underwater Hammer Swing now behaves identically to Underwater Wheel.
Techniques
Move | Controls | Description | Damage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Type A | Type B | |||
Hammer | B | Y | Kirby swings his hammer downward, reaching one tile in front of him; the backswing can also hit behind him. If Kirby does this at an edge, Kirby's hammer will not slam onto ground, preventing stars from appearing. | 28 (hammer), 12 (star) |
Hammer Twirl | ↓ + B | ↓ + Y | Kirby twirls his hammer beneath him. Kirby is invincible during this move. | 16 per hit |
Hammer Swing | Dash + B | Dash + Y | Kirby swings his hammer around horizontally. Kirby has control over how much he moves while swinging his hammer around. Kirby can travel up to 6.5 tiles forward or 1.5 tiles backward while spinning. Kirby rebounds off walls during this move. By pressing X during this move, Kirby can also perform Hammer Throw. Kirby is invincible during this move. | 26 per hit |
Giant Swing | B in midair | Y in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him in midair. | 26 |
Ultra-Giant Swing | Dash + B in midair | Dash + Y in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 720° around him in midair. | 16 per hit |
Charge Hammer Flip | ↑ + B | ↑ + Y | Kirby holds the hammer above his head when charging up Hammer Flip. It has multiple levels of charge, but if charged for too long, the hammer head will be destroyed, leaving Kirby with just a stick. | 40 (1 lvl.) 60 (2 lvl.) 80 (3 lvl.) 8 (stick) |
Move while charging | During Charge Hammer Flip ←/→ | Kirby moves while charging the Hammer Flip. Kirby can also jump while charging. | N/A | |
Hammer Throw | Dash + Y | Dash + A | Kirby Hammer Swings before throwing him hammer away, causing him to lose the ability. Kirby's Hammer Swing during this move travels significantly less distance, moving only up to 2 tiles forward. Kirby is invincible during this move. | 26 (Hammer Swing hits), 60 (thrown hammer, explosion) |
Underwater Wheel | B underwater | Y underwater | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him underwater. | 26 |
Friend Ability changes
Move | Blizzard Hammer | Bluster Hammer | Sizzle Hammer | Splash Hammer | Zap Hammer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer Twirl | Wherever standing or in midair, Kirby creates four icicles, two to either side of him. | Kirby floats into the air, creating a whirlwind beneath him. | Kirby creates a brief fiery explosion around himself. | Kirby shoots out two droplets, one to either side of him. | Kirby summons down a bolt of lightning onto himself as he twirls his hammer. |
Hammer Swing | Kirby creates a trail of crystalline ice along the ground. | Kirby floats into the air as he spins, creating a small whirlwind. | Kirby creates a trail of fire as he travels along the ground. | Kirby creates a trail of water as he travels along the ground. | Kirby leaves a trail of sparks as he travels along the ground. |
Giant Swing, Ultra-Giant Swing | N/A | Kirby's aerial descent slows as he performs this move. | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Charge Hammer Flip | Kirby creates a series of increasingly-large icicles in front of him, the more the longer the move is charged. | Kirby's jumps are floatier while charging this move. For the first two levels of charge, he jumps up into the air and slams his hammer onto the ground, creating a whirlwind, while for the third level of charge he performs the move as normal. However, in update 3.0.0, it is fixed to act like the first two levels of charge, with Kirby jumping and slamming the hammer on the ground, creating more of a windy impact. This move is based on Big Hammer Drop. | Kirby shoots out fireballs as he swings, the number of which depending on how long he charges up, and the fireballs explode on contact. | Kirby shoots droplets forward as he swings, the more the longer he charges. | Kirby summons down a bolt of lightning onto himself as he swings, and the lightning creates electrical explosions above him, the more the longer he charges. |
Kirby Fighters 2
Hammer is unlocked after reaching Fighters Rank 13. It has two Rare Hat: the Black-Steel Hammer from Kirby Fighters Deluxe and the Masked Dedede Hammer 2.0.
Techniques
Move | Controls | Description | Damage |
---|---|---|---|
Hammer | B | Kirby swings his hammer downward, reaching one tile in front of him; the backswing can also hit behind him. If Kirby does this at an edge, Kirby's hammer will not slam onto ground, preventing stars from appearing. | 30 (hammer), 12 (star) |
Hammer Twirl | ↓ + B | Kirby twirls his hammer beneath him. Kirby is invincible during this move. | 10 (1st hit), 8 (repeat hits) |
Hammer Swing | Dash + B | Kirby swings his hammer around horizontally. Kirby has control over how much he moves while swinging his hammer around. Kirby can travel up to 6.5 tiles forward or 1.5 tiles backward while spinning. Kirby rebounds off walls during this move. By pressing X during this move, Kirby can also perform Hammer Throw. Kirby is invincible during this move. | 6 (1st hit), 4 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th hits), 16 (final hit), 20 (final hit if not combo'd) |
Giant Swing | B in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 360° around him in midair. | 22 |
Ultra-Giant Swing | Dash + B in midair | Kirby swings his hammer vertically 720° around him in midair. | 13 (1st hit), 12 (2nd hit) |
Hammer Flip | ↑ + B | Kirby holds the hammer above his head when charging up Hammer Flip. It has multiple levels of charge, but if charged for too long, the hammer head will be destroyed, leaving Kirby with just a stick. | 36 (1 lvl.) 48 (2 lvl.) 76 (3 lvl.) 8 (stick) |
Move While Charging | ←/→ during Hammer Flip | Kirby moves while charging the Hammer Flip. Kirby can also jump while charging. | N/A |
Kirby GCN
This section is about an unreleased or cancelled game | |
Hammer was slated to appear in Kirby GCN, now wearing a hardhat. Bonkers would have been its Helper. Hammer would likely have all of its moves from Kirby Super Star.
Damage
Move | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hammer | 30 (hammer), 12 (star) | 34 (hammer), 12 (star) | 28 (hammer), 12 (star) | 30 (hammer), 12 (star) | ||
Hammer Twirl | N/A | 16 (1st hit), 14 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th hits) | 16 (1st hit), 12 (repeat hits) | 16 per hit | 10 (1st hit), 8 (repeat hits) | |
Triple Hammer | N/A | 16 (1st and 2nd hammer hits), 40 (3rd hammer hit), 12 (1st and 2nd star hits), 28 (3rd star hit) | N/A | |||
Hammer Swing | 26 (1st hit), 20 (2nd and 3rd hits), 16 (2nd and 3rd hits with hammer tip) | 28 per hit, 12 (hammer tip hits) | 26 per hit | 26 (1st hit), 2 (repeat hits) | 26 per hit | 6 (1st hit), 4 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th hits), 16 (final hit), 20 (final hit if not combo'd) |
Giant Swing/Underwater Wheel | 20 per hit | 34 | 26 | 22 | ||
Ultra-Giant Swing | 14 per hit | 16 per hit | 16 (1st hit), 14 (2nd hit) | 16 per hit | 13 (1st hit), 12 (2nd hit) | |
Hammer Flip/Charge Hammer Flip | 4 (charging hits), 16 (back hit), 80 (flip) | 16 (charging hits), 80 (flip) | 80 (flip only), 8 (1st charge hit), 7 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th charge hits), 70 (flip if combo'd from charge hits) | 7 (1st charge hit), 3 (repeat charge hits), 80 (flip) | 40 (1 lvl.) 60 (2 lvl.) 80 (3 lvl.) 8 (stick) |
36 (1 lvl.) 48 (2 lvl.) 76 (3 lvl.) 8 (stick) |
Hammer Throw | 26 (1st hit), 20 (2nd and 3rd hits), 16 (2nd and 3rd hits with hammer tip), 80 (thrown hammer) | 28 per hit, 12 (hammer tip hits), 80 (thrown hammer) | 26 (Hammer Swing hits), 80 (thrown hammer) | 26 (1st Hammer Swing hit), 2 (repeat Hammer Swing hits), 80 (thrown hammer) | 26 (Hammer Swing hits), 60 (thrown hammer, explosion) | N/A |
In the Super Smash Bros. series

Hammer, as seen in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Kirby uses Hammer as his Side Special in the Super Smash Bros. series, starting with Super Smash Bros. Melee. Rather than swinging it vertically like he does in most games, Kirby swings the hammer horizontally, similar to Hammer Swing. The attack is slow, but powerful.
When used in the air in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the move instead resembles Ultra-Giant Swing; when used in the air in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, however, he spins horizontally twice.
Starting in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, Kirby's Side Special is now the Hammer Flip. This move can be charged, and Kirby can move and jump while charging, albeit at a slower pace than normal. When at full charge, Kirby performs the signature Hammer Flip, otherwise he will perform a horizontal swing (or two if in the air); when at full charge, Kirby will slowly take damage (unless at 100% or more). When performing the actual flip, Kirby is invincible.
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, Kirby can change his Hammer Flip using Custom Moves. Kirby can now also use Hammer Bash or Giant Hammer. Hammer Bash cannot be charged, but sends opponents skyward. Giant Hammer is simply a bigger and more powerful Hammer Flip move, and gives Kirby super armor, but it is much slower.
In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
This section contains information that does not coincide with the main series canon. | (Similar) |

Hammer Kirby in the anime
“ | That is Hammer Kirby.” |
— Meta Knight • Dedede's Pet Threat |
Obtained by inhaling King Dedede's signature mallet or Bonkers's hammer, Hammer Kirby in Kirby: Right Back at Ya! retains all of its game characteristics—most notably the ability to dish out a lot of damage very fast. The hammer's ends have a red star on a green background instead of yellow on pink as in the games, and the headband is completely white instead of alternating white and blue. Kirby has all the same attacks from Kirby Super Star including the most powerful, Hammer Throw, which also causes Kirby to lose the ability.
Transformation Sequence
During the transformation sequence, Kirby first ties the band around his forehead, and then a variety of different old fashioned tools appear in his hands, including a cleaver, a sodegarami, an ax, a rake, a sasumata, and a yubi-bo. He cycles through them as he poses, before the hammer appears.
Appearances
Flavor Texts
Game | Flavor text |
---|---|
This weapon is very powerful. Use it on stubborn bad guys to clear your path! | |
Break through solid obstacles and pound in stakes to take Kirby to hidden areas. | |
Pound 'em to the ground! Pound pegs and break open new areas! | |
Flatten your foes with these superspecial moves: → → + B ↑ + B | |
INSTANT K.O. It's almost unfair. | |
This hammer packs a wallop! Punish stakes and blocks! When it's on fire, foes beware! | |
Wield the hammer of kings! Pulverize hard objects! Drive down stakes! Light it on fire and you've got the Hammer Flip technique! | |
A giant hammer on loan from the king himself. Pound boulders into dust, or knock stakes flat into the ground. Send out a fiery burst with a special technique--the decisive Hammer Flip! | |
A giant hammer on loan from the king himself. Crush hard things into dust, or pound enemies into shape. Send out a fiery burst with a special technique—the decisive Hammer Flip! | |
A giant hammer on loan from the king himself. Pound boulders into the dust, or knock stakes flat into the ground. Send out a fiery burst with the decisive Hammer Flip! |
Related Quotes
“ | Swing a mighty hammer!” |
— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll |
“ | A big hammer and a headband. That look really suits you! If you've got a hammer, take a swing! Not at me, though!” |
— Knuckle Joe • Kirby Battle Royale |
“ | This weapon is slow, but when it hits, it HITS HARD. Charge up for a really powerful attack.” |
— Official Kirby Battle Royale Website |
In Other Languages
Names, etymology and in other regions | ||
---|---|---|
Language | Name | Definition, etymology and notes |
Japanese | ハンマー | Officially romanized as Hammer. |
Traditional Chinese | 鎚子 | Translates to Hammer. |
Simplified Chinese | 锤子 | Translates to Hammer. |
Korean | 해머 | Translates to Hammer. |
German | Hammer | Same as English. |
French | Marteau | Translates to Hammer. |
Italian | Martello | Translates to Hammer. |
Spanish | Martillo | Translates to Hammer. |
Trivia
- This is one of the only four abilities in Kirby: Triple Deluxe to be able to break ice blocks, the others are Fire, Fighter, and Circus.
- According to director Shinya Kumazaki, the Hammer ability was inspired by King Dedede's own hammer from Kirby's Dream Land.[1]
- The flavor text from Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Kirby: Planet Robobot seems to imply the hammer that Kirby uses is from King Dedede. This may be a reference to the Hammer ability being inspired by King Dedede's hammer.
- The two English localized versions of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U have a different way of referring to Kirby's Side Special. The American English version refers to the overall move as "Hammer Flip," While in the British English version, the overall move in general is instead called "Hammer" like in previous Super Smash Bros. games, and only the fully charged version is known as "Hammer Flip."
- Hammer is the only Copy Ability in the series to have a Super Ability in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, but not have a Robobot Armor mode in Kirby: Planet Robobot.
- The combination of a braided Japanese headband and a comically oversized wooden mallet is strongly reminiscent of Hammerin' Harry, the main character of a video game and pachinko series by Irem that began in 1990. Harry is known as Gen-san in Japanese, as well as in the English localization of the 2008 game Hammerin' Hero.
- Triple Hammer still exists in the code of Kirby: Planet Robobot and Kirby Star Allies. However, the move cannot be performed through means other than hacking. This is also true of Revolution Beam and Spinning Fire Breath.

Qbby dresses in Kirby's Hammer Ability Hat.
- In BYE-BYE BOXBOY!, the comic "So Close, Yet..." depicts Qbby trying on Kirby's Hammer Ability Hat and carrying the hammer itself. The comic ends with him turning around to find Kirby watching him.
Videos
Concept Artwork
Artwork
Gallery
Sprites
Other Ability Icons
External Links
References
- Copy Ability
- Articles with cancelled or unreleased content
- Articles with non-canonical information
- Weaponry Copy Ability
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Adventure
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
- Copy Abilities in Kirby Super Star
- Copy Abilities in Kirby Super Star Ultra
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Squeak Squad
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Return to Dream Land
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Triple Deluxe
- Copy Abilities in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Planet Robobot
- Copy Abilities in Kirby Fighters Deluxe
- Roles in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe
- Copy Abilities in Kirby Battle Royale
- Copy Abilities in Kirby Star Allies
- Super Smash Bros. series Copy Abilities
- Kirby Mass Attack
- Roles in Super Kirby Clash
- Kirby Twitter cameos
- Copy Abilities in Kirby Fighters 2