Water

This article is about the Copy Ability. For the Top Ride course in Kirby Air Ride, see Water (Top Ride course). For the recurring environmental element, see Water (environment).

Kirby Star Allies artwork
Water
Name (JA)	ウォーター (Wōtā)
- Meaning	Water
In Games
In the anime	#J97/#E51
Type	Elemental
Appearance	Anime: Golden tiara with a swirl on the center holding a central cresting wave. Kirby turns a translucent blue color. Games: Gold crown with a golden drop-shaped ornament on the center with two small golden waves on each side, holding a vortex of water similar to Tornado.
Properties	Splash
Other Powers	Extinguishes fire blocks
Ability Icon
Regular enemies	Water Galbo, Pluid, Driblee, Floaty the Cell Core
Mid-bosses	Water Galboros
Bosses	Fatty Puffer’s water blobs
Helper	Driblee

“	A positively refreshing ability with many applications! Harness the waves and surf along the ground. Enjoy a powered-up version of the Water Gun and carry heavy stones with ease! And make sure you find out what happens if you freeze a fountain...”
	— Flavor Text • Kirby Star Allies

Water is one of Kirby's Copy Abilities. It first appeared in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, but it also appeared in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and in Kirby Star Allies, making it the second anime-exclusive ability to cross into the games, the first being Kabuki.

General Information

Water's first appearance is in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, along with Top, Iron and Baton. All four appear in the episode Air-Ride-in-Style - Part II, and were all created by fans in a contest in Japan to decide on new ideas for Kirby to defeat the enemies.

	This section is about an unreleased or cancelled game

Water (or a very similar ability) was originally going to appear in Kirby GCN, its first appearance in a video game. It would have looked similar to the design in Kirby: Right Back at Ya! with shiny blue skin, except with a different crown housing what appears to be flowing water. Only one of its attacks was shown: Kirby blows bubbles that spread around a fairly short distance, similar to the later-revealed Bubble. However, the game was never released.

Water wasn't introduced to the games until Kirby's Return to Dream Land. It was first revealed in the game's teaser in Nintendo's quarterly investor report video, then later in the game's E3 2011 trailer where Water Kirby is seen battling a boss. Water Kirby's appearance in Kirby's Return to Dream Land lacks the translucency and blue tone from the anime, but his cap otherwise looks like the unreleased one from Kirby GCN with a larger size and more detail. He also cannot simply inhale seawater to get it like he did in the anime.

Water returns in Kirby Star Allies; it remains relatively the same, although water is more photo-realistic. It is also an element that can be combined with other Copy Abilities to create Friend Abilities.

Moveset

Move	Controls	Description	Element	Damage	Damage
Wave Attack	Button 1	Kirby shoots a pulse of water. It follows the terrain surface regardless of whether it goes uphill or not until it moves off-screen. The water moves at the same speed as Kirby's Surf.	Splash	12	12
Surf	Double ←/→	A special dash move. Kirby surfs on a wave. This move allows Kirby to travel over the surface of a body of water or a fiery platform.	Splash	16 (when Kirby turns around)	4 (normal hit), 16 (when Kirby turns around)
Wave Surf	Surf + Button 1	Raises Kirby's surf wave and deals damage for several seconds. Kirby is invulnerable during the attack.	Splash	32	32
Geyser	↑ + Button 1	Projects a column of water straight up, but Kirby cannot move while doing so. Pressing button 1 repeatedly maintains the column. If executed in mid-air, Kirby carries on moving in his original direction.	Splash	16 per hit	4 (start), 16 (during), 8 (end)
Fountain Hover	(midair) ↓ + Button 1	Kirby hovers by spitting water towards the ground. Hovers as long as Button 1 is depressed. After the hover starts, directional keys control Kirby's movement and hover distance.	Splash	8 per hit	8 per hit
Water Crown	↓ + Button 1	Splashes water at Kirby's feet, dealing damage to anything close to him. Has short range.	Splash	16, 14 (rapid subsequent uses)	16
Rainbow Rain	Hold ↓ then ↑ + Button 1	Kirby crouches, then projects a sphere of water around him and ends with a rainbow flourish. Has longer range than Water Crown. This move has difficult execution timing - the player needs to press ↑ before Button 1 or Kirby performs Water Crown instead, and Button 1 must follow suit a split second after ↑ or Kirby stands up and does nothing.	Splash	6 (1st hit), 5 (2nd & 3rd hit), 21 (4th hit); max. damage = 37	6 (initial hits), 24 (finish)
Enhanced Water Gun	(underwater) Button 1	Passively enhances Kirby's underwater-only Water Gun attack. Doubles its range and damage area.	Splash	20	20

Friend Abilities

Friend Ability	Mix	Description	Element
Zap Splasher	Plasma Beam ESP	When Kirby/Plugg/Waddle Doo/NESP uses any plasma attacks on Kirby/Driblee, they'll form a water pillar that shoots exploding electric bolts in a wide range.	Zap, Splash
Thundersplash	Plasma	When Kirby/Driblee uses any water attacks on Kirby/Plugg, they'll form a plasma barrier that shoots electric-infused puddles of water in a wide range.	Zap, Splash
Splash Curling	Stone	After using Stone Change, Kirby/Driblee can use their water attacks to make it a curling stone that does water damage to opponents in the way.	Splash

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Water Kirby in the anime

In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Water Kirby was a fanmade ability submitted in a contest in Japan to feature in the anime.

Water Kirby's body changes to a translucent blue gel, with a golden tiara containing a cresting wave on his head. Naturally, Water Kirby attacks by spitting geysers of water to blast the enemy away.

Transformation Sequence

Water Kirby Transformation (English)

Kirby Right Back at Ya Hoshi no Kaabii - Water Transformation

In the transformation sequence, Kirby spins around in a water tornado. His skin then turns translucent blue, and he gains a golden crown.

Flavor Text

Game	Flavor text
	Look out -- you're a water wizard! Ride the waves and cool down hot flames! Your Water Gun is supercharged too!
	A positively refreshing ability with many applications! Harness the waves and surf along the ground. Enjoy a powered-up version of the Water Gun and carry heavy stones with ease! And make sure you find out what happens if you freeze a fountain...

Related Quotes

“	Ride a wave and control water!”
	— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll

Names in Other Languages

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology and notes
	ウォーター	Translates to Water.
	Water
(Traditional)	清水	Translates to Clear Water.
	Вода	Translates to Water.
	Wasser	Translates to Water.
(General)	Eau	Translates to Water.
	Acqua	Translates to Water.
(General)	Agua	Translates to Water.

Trivia

• This is the second ability that had debuted in the anime to appear in the games. The first is Kabuki in Kirby Mass Attack’s Kirby Quest sub-game.
  • However, the Staff ability, introduced in Kirby Star Allies, shares some similarities to Baton.
• If Kirby has the Cleaning ability while holding the Animal Friend Pitch, he can use Pitch to throw a blob of water at foes.
• Excluding Super Abilities, Water is the only ability introduced in Kirby's Return to Dream Land that does not reappear in Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
• Though it doesn't appear in Kirby: Planet Robobot, the Poison ability seems to be based on the Water ability, in terms of its appearance and some of its attacks. Water was most likely excluded from the game for its destructive nature when contacted with electricity, and hence, would be a very powerful ability in a world of machinery.

Videos

Kirby of the Stars Copy Ability "Water" Introduction Video

Artwork

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Kirby Twitter

Waku Waku Works

Gallery

Kirby GCN

Kirby Star Allies

Other Ability Icons

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Kirby's Return to Dream Land