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Press B to make Kirby inhale enemies.
— Kirby inhales everything he can! • Kirby Star Allies loading screen

Inhale is Kirby's signature technique. By taking a deep breath Kirby is able to suck objects into his mouth like a vacuum, which stretches to fit large objects. Kirby can then swallow the object or enemy that is in his mouth to absorb it, or spit it out as a star to attack. In most games, stars will sink in water (though in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Kirby: Squeak Squad, and Kirby's Return to Dream Land, they will travel straight through water without sinking).

Many enemy characters have special powers that Kirby is able to copy once he's eaten them, known as Copy Abilities.

Inhaling has no effect on excessively large or heavy objects, such as a boss.

The main difference between the games and the anime is that Kirby's Inhale in the anime is equivalent to Kirby's Super Inhale in the games. Kirby's Super Inhale was absent from the anime. Also in the anime, before he inhales he holds his breath, screws up his face, does an "on the spot" run up, charges at the enemy, starts inhaling and steps backwards.

If Kirby inhales for extended periods of time in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, he becomes exhausted, resulting in panting. This also happens in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Kirby: Squeak Squad. Also, it is noticed that Kirby can still inhale while wielding a Copy Ability.

Inhale is a great defense as well as an attack, although it's impossible for Kirby to use while in yarn form in Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn as the air inhaled goes right through his body.

Kirby cannot usually inhale underwater without the help of Kine, although he can in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. He can also move while inhaling in that game, something that is impossible in most other titles.

Kirby's inhale is somewhat modified in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as in that game he is both able to inhale while walking as well as inhale while using a Copy Ability, provided he is near an item that gives him a Mouthful Mode.

Some objects or enemies, such as Mariels, Void Termina’s symbols, and Whispy Woods’ poisonous apples can damage Kirby when swallowed.

Other Users[]

Similar Techniques[]

  • Tac can perform Steal or Cat Magnum in order to take obtain Copy Abilities (excluding in Helper to Hero).
  • Rick in Kirby's Dream Land 3 only opens his mouth instead of inhaling; this allows him to spit out or swallow enemies that can't normally be inhaled, such as Scarfys.
  • Gooey can lash out his tongue to grab enemies and use as Star Spit or obtain Copy Abilities (except in Kirby Star Allies, where his tongue functions like Whip); can be used underwater, but cannot grab more than one enemy at a time. Like Rick, he can grab enemies that cannot normally be inhaled.
  • ChuChu’s grab behaves identically to Gooey's, and is required to use on MuchiMuchi for a Heart Star.

Super Inhale[]

Kirby Super Inhale Squeak Squad

Instructions for super inhaling

In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Kirby: Squeak Squad, Kirby can only inhale for a certain amount of time—but after inhaling for a while, it becomes a Super Inhale, which has slightly more range and strength, allowing him to inhale Large Enemies, Large Star Blocks, and Heave-Ho Blocks. Kirby can only use the Super Inhale ability briefly before stopping to catch his breath.

In Kirby's Return to Dream Land and the New Challenge Stages in Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition, the Super Inhale becomes even more powerful. Kirby performs it if, while holding button 1, the player shakes the Wii Remote or presses the buttons on the Wii Remote's +Control Pad repeatedly. It has further range, and allows Kirby to inhale the Super Inhale Blocks instead of moving them, as well as all enemies, 1UPs, food, and even other players, and spit them out as a star; how large the star is depends on how many objects Kirby inhaled. Very large stars roll through enemies and only stop when they hit a wall. In Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, it is instead performed by holding down B/Y, but instead of shaking, the player can also move the joystick or hold B/Y until Kirby automatically Super Inhales.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Kirby: Planet Robobot, Kirby Star Allies, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land utilize the method seen in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Kirby: Squeak Squad, although Kirby can Super Inhale indefinitely, similarly to Kirby's Return to Dream Land. However, it barely increases in range and doesn't have a noticeable impact in terms of power.

In the Super Smash Bros. series[]

KirbySSBBInhale

Kirby inhaling Mario in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Inhale is Kirby's and King Dedede's standard special move in the Super Smash Bros. series, working much the same as it does in their own games. Kirby sucks up his foes, after which he can then spit out or swallow them. If he spits out an enemy, he/she will turn into a star (temporarily) that can be used to hurt others. King Dedede can suck in foes and also shoot them out, but can't swallow or copy abilities. His stars are more powerful though and his inhale has greater range.

Though Kirby can't defeat other characters directly by swallowing them, he can still copy their abilities and gains the use of that opponent's standard special move, along with a hat that makes him look like that character (for example: inhaling Mario allows Kirby to use his Fireball attack and has him wear Mario's hat). Any ability that Kirby copies will be weaker in magnitude from the original move, however. The powers Kirby gets are dependent on Super Smash Bros. Abilities. However, in the Subspace Emissary, standard enemies cannot be inhaled.

Kirby is immobile with an enemy in his mouth in the original Super Smash Bros. (aside from changing direction), but in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Kirby can slowly walk around and even jump with a victim in his mouth, and may fall off of the stage and take his opponent with him. King Dedede cannot move with his opponent, only being able to turn around.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, Kirby can change his Inhale using custom moves. Kirby can now also use Ice Breath or Jumping Inhale. Ice Breath involves Kirby freezing enemies that come in contact with his icy breath. Jumping Inhale allows Kirby to inhale while lunging forward. However, exhaling a star won't deal damage. King Dedede can now also use Dedede Storm or Taste Test. Dedede Storm is an inhale that does repeated damage before launching opponents. Taste Test is a quick inhale that spits out opponents instantly.

Related Quotes[]

If you press the B Button, I can inhale any enemy that may be standing nearby. Can you see my cheeks puff out? If you press down on the +Control Pad, I can swallow an enemy.
— ACTION 2 •••••• Inhaling/Exhaling Enemies • Kirby's Dream Land Instruction Booklet
Press the B Button when Kirby is near an enemy or a block and he will inhale the object in one gulp!
★Some enemies cannot be eaten!
— Inhale • Kirby's Adventure Instruction Booklet
After inhaling opponents, press the button again to spit them out as a projectile. This way, you can hit your opponents with each other!
— Tips • Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U
Dedede is already perfect, so his Inhale won't copy abilities. Instead, it has a longer range than Kirby's.
— Tips • Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

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