| “ | This naughty shadow was said to have been born from the mirror reflecting Kirby's innocently pure soul. He has all the powers of the real Kirby and uses his mirror-copying technique to thwart you!” |
| — VS Shadow Kirby • Kirby Fighters 2 (Chapter 4) |
Shadow Kirby (also referred to as Mirror-world Kirby) is the clone of Kirby that exists in the Mirror World, debuting in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror. He also appears in Kirby: Triple Deluxe as the final boss of the Kirby Fighters sub-game, and as an unlockable "palette" in Kirby Fighters Deluxe.
Physical Appearance
In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Shadow Kirby is like that of most members of the Kirby species, but colored dark gray with black feet and eyes. In Kirby: Squeak Squad, using "Shadow" paint on Kirby makes him look exactly like Shadow Kirby.
In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Shadow Kirby's eyes are pure white, and his skin is translucent and an alien purple shade. Shadow Kirby's body visibly swirls about like a vortex. In Kirby Fighters 2, he is now a gray shade instead of a purple one, likely to be more consistent with his Kirby & The Amazing Mirror design.
Games
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
At the beginning of the game, Kirby and Shadow Kirby believe each other to be enemies. Shadow Kirby appears once in each of the mirror world's areas to attack Kirby, and if Kirby defeats him in combat, he will drop a random power-up, such as an Invincibility Candy or a 1UP.
However, Kirby discovers Shadow Kirby wants his world to be saved just as much as Kirby wants his own world to be saved, so they ally with each other to take down the one true villain: Dark Mind.
During the fight with the final boss, Dark Mind, Shadow Kirby will appear if Kirby loses the Master Sword and throw it back to Kirby.
At the end of the game, it is revealed that the only reason Shadow Kirby attacked Kirby is that he just wanted to protect the mirror world and keep any foreign being out of it. Shadow Kirby decides to continue to protect the mirror world after Dark Mind is defeated just in case he returns. His relationship with Dark Meta Knight is not elaborated on.
When encountered, Shadow Kirby will jump out of hiding and proceed to attack Kirby by using a Copy Ability. If Shadow Kirby is not defeated within a short time limit, he will jump back into hiding and not reappear until the player re-enters the level. Notably, the Copy Abilities used by Shadow Kirby use the effects of their respective enemies. For example, when Shadow Kirby uses Fire, the fire stream produced will have the same appearance as that of the fire used by Hot Head.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
| This section contains information that does not coincide with the main series canon. | (Similar) |
Shadow Kirby appears as the seventh and final opponent of the Kirby Fighters sub-game when playing in single-player mode. He is fought in Another Dimension, and uses the same Copy Ability the player chose at the beginning of the mode. After being defeated, Shadow Kirby rises into the air and explodes.
Kirby Fighters Deluxe
| This section contains information that does not coincide with the main series canon. | (Similar) |
Shadow Kirby reappears in Kirby Fighters Deluxe as an alternate skin for Kirby, unlocked by beating single-player mode on Very Hard difficulty once with any Copy Ability. The game treats Shadow Kirby solely as a cosmetic color scheme, and he no longer appears as a named adversary, with Team DDD replacing him as the final single-player opponent.
Kirby Star Allies
As of version 4.0.0, Shadow Kirby makes a cameo appearance in the world map of Fortress of Shadows - Jambastion, where there is a chance of seeing him riding a warp star in the distance. He seems to have returned to his original appearance from Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, rather than his nebula appearance from Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
Kirby Fighters 2
| This section contains information that does not coincide with the main series canon. | (Similar) |
Kirby Fighters 2
Shadow Kirby returns as a boss in Kirby Fighters 2, behaving the same way as he did in Kirby Fighters, in which he uses the same Copy Ability as the player against them; he also wears the same Rare Hat if applicable. When copying the ability of a Buddy, Shadow Kirby instead wields a Copy Ability similar to the Buddy's powers; when copying Bandana Waddle Dee, he uses Staff; when copying Gooey, he uses Whip; when copying Magolor, he uses Beam; when copying Meta Knight, he uses Sword; and when copying King Dedede, he uses Hammer.
In the Story Mode, Shadow Kirby is only fought in Floor 20 of Chapter 4 and Floors 25 and 45 of the Final Chapter. In the story, it is stated in pause screen descriptions that he thinks his battles with Kirby and his buddy are pranks of sorts, yet does not realize his strength and the trouble he is causing. Shadow Kirby also acts as the final foe in Single-Handed Mode. He is fought in his own exclusive stage, the Decisive Battlefield. Unlike in Kirby Fighters Deluxe, Shadow Kirby cannot be obtained as an alternate palette, as the color options are restricted based on player order.
Abilities
Shadow Kirby can use Copy Abilities just like Kirby. In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, he does not wear hats to show what Copy Ability he has. In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, he will mirror the ability the player selected at the start of Kirby Fighters Deluxe by clearly wearing a cap.
Related Quotes
| “ | Congratulations on finishing Very Hard mode! You've unlocked Shadow Kirby!” |
| — Unlock notification • Kirby Fighters Deluxe |
| “ | A naughty shadow has appeared. You suspect it was born from the mirror version of Kirby's innocent soul!” |
| — Shadow Kirby Appears • Kirby Fighters 2 loading screen description (Chapter 4) |
| “ | Once again, you cross paths with the one who lurks in Kirby's shade! Send that naughty shadow packing!” |
| — Another Shadow Encounter • Kirby Fighters 2 loading screen description (Final Chapter, 25F) |
| “ | Kirby's shadow is back for more! This sturdy gray ball seems to think he's pulling a little prank, but he's way too powerful for that!” |
| — Shadow Kirby • Kirby Fighters 2 (Final Chapter, 25F) |
| “ | A third encounter with Kirby's shadow?! Its power is off the charts, but you can still win with your buddy's help!” |
| — Max Power Shadow Kirby • Kirby Fighters 2 loading screen description (Final Chapter, 45F) |
| “ | The mightiest Shadow Kirby yet is back for another round! His devastating power suggests that he is a guardian of the Mirror World, found far beyond the sky.” |
| — Shadow Kirby • Kirby Fighters 2 (Final Chapter, 45F) |
| “ | This naughty shadow can appear anywhere, anytime. After a long absence, it has shown up again to join the battle tournament!” |
| — Kirby's Shadow • Kirby Fighters 2 loading screen description (Single-Handed Mode) |
| “ | Like Kirby's own shade, Shadow Kirby appears out of nowhere and vanishes again. This naughty shadow rejoins the battle after a long absence! Difficult though it may be, you must defeat this copycat!” |
| — Shadow Kirby • Kirby Fighters 2 (Single-Handed Mode) |
| “ | Don't just use normal attacks. Throw in some Gobble/Grab moves and Dodges too!” |
| — Defeating Shadow Kirby • Kirby Fighters 2 loading screen description |
Trivia
- In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Kirby can inhale and swallow Shadow Kirby for a Copy Ability (which depends on the Copy Ability Shadow Kirby is using). However, he will later appear unharmed regardless of whether Kirby inhaled him or not. He shares this trait with other inhalable characters, such as Bandana Waddle Dee, who have a significant role in the story of Kirby games.
- Shadow Kirby is seen cheering for Kirby and King Dedede in Kirby: Triple Deluxe’s "Kirby Master" video.
- Shadow Kirby is referenced in Kirby Star Allies where he can be seen in a mural along with Dark Meta Knight.
- Shadow Kirby's blushes are a darker color than the rest of his complexion in Kirby & the Amazing Mirror, but lighter in Kirby Star Allies.
- Shadow Kirby takes a similar pose in his artwork as Batamon.
- Batamon's artwork also has Batamon in the exact same pose as Kirby is in the Door artwork from Kirby Super Star.
- In Kirby Fighters 2, Shadow Kirby's battle theme for lower difficulties and in Chapter 4 of Story Mode is a remix of Taranza's theme, while his battle theme for Very Hard and the Final Chapter is a menacing medley remix of "Dark Meta Knight Appears", "Forest/Nature Area", the mid-boss theme, and Dark Meta Knight's battle theme.
- Shadow Kirby is the only boss in Kirby Fighters 2 that does not consist of a team.
Artwork
Gallery
