Needle

Needle
Name (JA)	ニードル (Nīdoru)
In Games	Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Trophy)
In the anime	#J19/#E17 - #J18/#E16 - #J43/#E40 - #J55/#E55
Type	Melee
Appearance	Pink helmet with spikes on it. It may have a red visor. Kirby turns Yellow
Properties	None
Other Powers	Sticks to surfaces
Ability Icon
Regular enemies	Needlous, Togezo, Tick, Boten, Punc, Pichikuri, Spikey, Ghost Knight, Kacti, Changer, Bukiset
Mid-bosses	Captain Stitch
Bosses	None
Helper	None

“	Prick your foes with a thorny jab! Really stick it to 'em! Roll from a dash to bring the pain with a Rolling Needle!”
	— Needle's Flavor Text • Kirby's Return to Dream Land

General Information

Needle is one of Kirby's Copy abilities. It debuted in Kirby's Adventure. It is a defensive ability, much like Spark or Freeze. With it, Kirby covers his body in many retractable spines. The ability impales any enemy that draws near, so in most cases Kirby can only be harmed by projectiles. In Kirby: Canvas Curse, Needle Kirby's body is not only spiky enough to heavily damage enemies, but can also grip tightly to walls and other such surfaces. In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, there is an attack where Kirby turns the needles on his helmet into one large drill, hitting enemies directly above him. He can also roll along the ground while covered by the needles and firing small spikes from around his body at enemies.

The length of Kirby's spikes vary from game to game. The most noticeable difference is between Kirby's Adventure and its remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, where the short spikes in the original were changed to being over twice as long.

In games with ability hats, Kirby is sometimes portrayed with a pinkish-red helmet covered in spikes and occasionally with yellow skin as well. His spikes are either pink or a bright metallic gold. In games without ability hats, the spikes come out of Kirby himself.

Move Set

Move	Controls	Description	Element
Needle	B/1/Tap with Stylus	Multiple pointy spikes come out of Kirby, jabbing any nearby enemies. The nature of the spikes differ across games. Several require holding the button to keep the spikes out, the rest use it as a toggle. Kirby can roll on the ground even with spikes out. Kirby can keep the spikes out as long as he wants. Kirby can stick to vertical surfaces when the spikes are out.	None
Needle Burst	Hold 1 + shake Wii controller/press all directions on D-pad	Kirby shoots six spikes out from his hat.	None
Rolling Needle	Dash + 1	Kirby curls into a ball and can roll around at high speeds for a few seconds, similar to Wheel.	None
Mega Needle	Up + 1	Kirby's hat turns into one large spike and shoots straight up, attacking anything above him.	None

Animal Friends

Move	Controls	Description	Element
Rick	B	The hair on Rick's back sticks out, like a porcupine. This attack only protects Rick from behind, so he needs to turn around to get an enemy facing his front.	None
Coo	B	Kirby sticks his pins straight down. Coo can still move slightly. In the sequel Kirby makes one giant needle.	None
Kine	B	Kine pokes out many spikes from his body. This move is almost the same as Kirby's alone.	None
Gooey	B	Gooey's attack acts exactly as Kirby's.	None
Nago	B	Nago spins his partner who shoots a blitz of spikes quickly, launching at slightly varied angles.	None
Chuchu	B	Chuchu launches five needles out from herself, two going left/right, one straight up, and two covering the angles in between.	None
Pitch	B	Pitch flies straight forward until the button is released, sharp beak outstretched the whole time.	None

In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Needle undergoes the greatest visual change in the anime. It retains the look from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, with the helmet and yellow skin, and orange feet, but Kirby no longer turns into one giant spike ball (Spinning like one giant spike ball in the episode Flower Power). Instead, Needle is changed into a long-distance ability.

Kirby can launch the needles off the top of the helmet like tiny missiles, which he can then control. The needles 'grow back', but not always, leaving him defenseless at times. In the transformation sequence, a flash of red lightning forms his helmet and changes his skin color. Needles appear from the helmet, which shrink to their usual size seen in the games.

Transformation Sequence

Needle trasnformation
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Other Quotes

“	Spike anything! Ride rainbows!”
	— Needle's Flavor Text • Kirby: Canvas Curse

“	Hands off! Here: pointy spikes! There: pokey spikes!”
	— Needle's Flavor Text • Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

“	Lots of needles, just like a porcupine's, come out of Kirby! It's a great defense!”
	— Needle's Flavor Text • Kirby's Adventure

Trivia

• Needle Kirby appears as a Trophy & Sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The sticker uses his design from Kirby 64.

Artwork

Kirby's Adventure

Kirby's Dream Land 2

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Kirby Air Ride

Kirby: Canvas Curse

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Gallery

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Other Ability Icons

Needle Kirby's Adventure.png

Kirby's Adventure

Kirby's Dream Land 3

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Kirby Air Ride