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There it is, the mischievous yo-yo! Yo-Yo Up, Yo-Yo Orbit, Break Spin, Walk the Dog—it's all child's play! Add an attribute to make it even more powerful. With a variety of moves at your disposal, looking cool has never been easier.
— Flavor Text • Kirby Star Allies

Yo-Yo is a Copy Ability in the Kirby series, debuting in Kirby Super Star.

Games[]

Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra[]

Yo-Yo first appears in Kirby Super Star. Here, Kirby gains a yo-yo that he can throw around him. Yo-yo is gained from Gim, who is its helper, as well as the Combo Cannon's cannonballs.

Yo-Yo also appears in the remake, Kirby Super Star Ultra, where it functions the same way, except it is no longer provided by Main Cannon #2's cannonballs, which now give Bomb instead.

Techniques[]

Move Controls Description Damage
Yo-yo Throw Y Kirby throws his yo-yo out which damages any enemy who comes into contact. 16
Break Spin Dash + Y Kirby does a breakdancing spin on his yoyo. If done in the air, Kirby has more momentum and does slightly more damage. 10 (grounded), 12 (aerial)
Up throw attack ↑ + Y Kirby throws his yo-yo above him, damaging any enemy who comes into contact with it. 18
Down throw attack ↓ + Y Kirby throws his yo-yo in a small arch downwards, damaging any enemy who comes into contact with it. 18
Hammer Drop →/↑/↓ + Y (Near enemy) Kirby grabs enemies or mid-bosses (the latter only when defeated), and slams them against the ground. 60
Gazer Spiral ↓ + (↑ + Y together) Kirby spins around in the air, using his yo-yo as a weapon, and damages any enemies that come in contact with him. After the move, he is left vulnerable. At the highest point of his attack, the two stars that spin with him go opposite directions, and have the range to hit both Twin Woods if used in the center. 26 (going up, stars); 6 (going down)

Move Controls Description Damage
Yo-yo Throw B Kirby throws his yo-yo out which damages any enemy who comes into contact. 16
Jump Spin Dash + B Kirby does a breakdancing spin on his yoyo. If done in the air, Kirby has more momentum and does slightly more damage. 10 (grounded), 12 (aerial)
Yo-yo Up Directional Pad Up + B Kirby throws his yo-yo above him, damaging any enemy who comes into contact with it. 18
Yo-yo Down Directional Pad Down + B Kirby throws his yo-yo in a small arch downwards, damaging any enemy who comes into contact with it. 18
Hammer Drop Directional Pad Right/Directional Pad Up/Directional Pad Down + B (Near enemy) Kirby grabs enemies or mid-bosses (the latter only when defeated), and slams them against the ground. 60
Gazer Spiral Directional Pad Down + (Directional Pad Up + B together) Kirby spins around in the air, using his yo-yo as a weapon, and damages any enemies that come in contact with him. After the move, he is left vulnerable. At the highest point of his attack, the two stars that spin with him go opposite directions, and have the range to hit both Twin Woods if used in the center. 26 (going up, stars); 6 (going down)

Kirby Star Allies[]

Yo-Yo reappears in Kirby Star Allies, where it is once again obhtained from Gim, who is again its Helper. Yo-Yo can be enhanced with Friend Abilities to gain elements.

Techniques[]

Move Controls Description Damage[1]
Pro Controller Joy-Con
Yo-yo Throw B Down Button Kirby throws his yo-yo out which damages any enemy who comes into contact. 16
Jump Spin Dash + B Dash + Down Button Kirby does a breakdancing spin on his yoyo. If done in the air, Kirby has more momentum and does slightly more damage. 20
Yo-yo Up Up + B Up + Down Button Kirby throws his yo-yo above him, damaging any enemy who comes into contact with it. 18
Yo-Yo Orbit Down + B Down + Down Button Kirby throws his yo-yo in a circle around him. 18
Hammer Drop Left Stick Right/Left Stick Up/Left Stick Down + B (Near enemy) Left Stick Right/Left Stick Up/Left Stick Down + Down Button (Near enemy) Kirby grabs enemies or mid-bosses (the latter only when defeated), and slams them against the ground. 16 (held enemy), 45 (slam, thrown object)
Gazer Spiral Left Stick Down + (Left Stick Up + B together) Left Stick Down + (Left Stick Up + Down Button together) Kirby spins around in the air, using his yo-yo as a weapon, and damages any enemies that come in contact with him. After the move, he is left vulnerable. At the highest point of his attack, the two stars that spin with him go opposite directions, and have the range to hit both Twin Woods if used in the center. 16 (all hits)
Walk the Dog Left Stick Down + (Press and hold B) Left Stick Down + (Press and hold Down Button) Kirby holds his yo-yo in place on the area directly in front of Kirby. The yo-yo will stay in place, even if (without moving) Kirby raises up or falls down, although the yo-yo will come back to Kirby if it strays too far away from Kirby. 16
Dog Walker Walk the Dog + Left Stick Right/Left Stick Left After performing Walk the Dog, Kirby can move both left and right while still holding B/Down Button. If Kirby is some how seperated from his yo-yo, as long as the yo-yo is within the vicinity of Kirby, you can still move both yourself and the yo-yo. 16

Move Controls Description Damage[1]
Pro Controller Joy-Con
Yo-yo Throw Y Left Button Kirby throws his yo-yo out which damages any enemy who comes into contact. 16
Jump Spin Dash + Y Dash + Left Button Kirby does a breakdancing spin on his yoyo. If done in the air, Kirby has more momentum and does slightly more damage. 20
Yo-yo Up Up + Y Up + Left Button Kirby throws his yo-yo above him, damaging any enemy who comes into contact with it. 18
Yo-Yo Orbit Down + Y Down + Left Button Kirby throws his yo-yo in a circle around him. 18
Hammer Drop Left Stick Right/Left Stick Up/Left Stick Down + Y (Near enemy) Left Stick Right/Left Stick Up/Left Stick Down + Left Button (Near enemy) Kirby grabs enemies or mid-bosses (the latter only when defeated), and slams them against the ground. 16 (held enemy), 45 (slam, thrown object)
Gazer Spiral Left Stick Down + (Left Stick Up + Y together) Left Stick Down + (Left Stick Up + Left Button together) Kirby spins around in the air, using his yo-yo as a weapon, and damages any enemies that come in contact with him. After the move, he is left vulnerable. At the highest point of his attack, the two stars that spin with him go opposite directions, and have the range to hit both Twin Woods if used in the center. 16 (all hits)
Walk the Dog Left Stick Down + (Press and hold Y) Left Stick Down + (Press and hold Left Button) Kirby holds his yo-yo in place on the area directly in front of Kirby. The yo-yo will stay in place, even if (without moving) Kirby raises up or falls down, although the yo-yo will come back to Kirby if it strays too far away from Kirby. 16
Dog Walker Walk the Dog + Left Stick Right/Left Stick Left After performing Walk the Dog, Kirby can move both left and right while still holding Y/Left Button. If Kirby is some how seperated from his yo-yo, as long as the yo-yo is within the vicinity of Kirby, you can still move both yourself and the yo-yo. 16

Elemental attributes[]
Element Blizzard Bluster Sizzle Splash Zap
Using the yo-yo The yo-yo is white, and is covered in ice. The yo-yo is green, and is surrounded by a miniature whirlwind. The yo-yo is red, and is covered in flames. The yo-yo is blue, and is encased in a bubble of water. The yo-yo is green, and is surrounded by electric sparks.
Yo-Yo Throw N/A Kirby's descent is slowed if used in midair. N/A N/A N/A
Yo-Yo Up N/A Kirby's descent is slowed if used in midair. N/A N/A N/A
Yo-Yo Orbit The yo-yo leaves a pile of damaging ice on either side of Kirby. The yo-yo stirs up a small burst of air around Kirby. The yo-yo leaves a trail of flame on the ground to either side of Kirby. The yo-yo releases a burst of water to either side of Kirby. The yo-yo leaves a trail of sparks behind on the ground to either side of Kirby.
Walk the Dog/Dog Walker The yo-yo becomes an icicle, and it leaves a trail of damaging ice on the ground when it is moved. Kirby is able to walk faster than usual. The yo-yo bursts into flame, and leaves a trail of fire on the ground. The yo-yo constantly spouts water upward. The yo-yo periodically summons a bolt of lightning down onto itself from a random angle.
Break Spin/Jump Spin Kirby leaves a trail of damaging ice behind him on the ground. Kirby stirs up a small whirlwind around himself, and gains slightly more lift with Jump Spin. Kirby creates a small explosion at the beginning of the move, leaves a trail of fire on the ground as he spins, and ends by creating a large explosion. Kirby releases two water drops that splash onto the ground, one to either side of himself, and leaves a trail of water on the ground behind him as he spins. At the end of the move, Kirby summons down a vertical lightning bolt onto himself, creating a large electrical explosion.
Hammer Drop The enemy or object thrown has the properties of an ice projectile. The enemy or object thrown has the properties of a wind projectile. The enemy or object thrown has the properties of a fire projectile. The enemy or object thrown has the properties of a water projectile. The enemy or object thrown has the properties of an electrical projectile.
Gazer Spiral Kirby builds up a pile of ice as he shoots upward, and at the apex of his jump, shatters some of the ice, releasing four chunks of ice, two to either side of himself. Kirby starts out slow and picks up speed, creating a cyclone around himself as he rises. Kirby creates a trail of fire as he rises, and at the peak of the jump, releases four fireballs that arc downward, two to either side of himself. Kirby creates a cyclone of water as he rises, and at the apex of the move, releases four water drops, two to either side of himself. Kirby summons a lightning bolt onto himself as he starts, then shoots a lightning bolt to either side of himself at the top of the jump; each lightning bolt creates a large electrical explosion.

Kirby Fighters 2[]

Yo-Yo returns as an ability in Kirby Fighters 2, unlocked at Fighters Rank 6. Its moveset is mostly the same as Kirby Star Allies.

Techniques[]

Move Controls Description
Yo-yo Throw Down Button Kirby throws his yo-yo out which damages any enemy who comes into contact.
Jump Spin Dash + Down Button Kirby does a breakdancing spin on his yoyo. If done in the air, Kirby has more momentum and does slightly more damage.
Yo-yo Up Up + Down Button Kirby throws his yo-yo above him, damaging any enemy who comes into contact with it.
Yo-Yo Orbit Down + Down Button Kirby throws his yo-yo in a circle around him.
Hammer Drop Left Stick Right/Left Stick Up/Left Stick Down + Down Button (Near enemy) Kirby grabs enemies or mid-bosses (the latter only when defeated), and slams them against the ground.
Gazer Spiral Left Stick Down + (Left Stick Up + Down Button together) Kirby spins around in the air, using his yo-yo as a weapon, and damages any enemies that come in contact with him. After the move, he is left vulnerable. At the highest point of his attack, the two stars that spin with him go opposite directions, and have the range to hit both Twin Woods if used in the center.
Walk the Dog Left Stick Down + (Press and hold Down Button) Kirby holds his yo-yo in place on the area directly in front of Kirby. The yo-yo will stay in place, even if (without moving) Kirby raises up or falls down, although the yo-yo will come back to Kirby if it strays too far away from Kirby.
Dog Walker Walk the Dog + Left Stick Right/Left Stick Left After performing Walk the Dog, Kirby can move both left and right while still holding Down Button. If Kirby is some how seperated from his yo-yo, as long as the yo-yo is within the vicinity of Kirby, you can still move both yourself and the yo-yo.

In the Super Smash Bros. series[]

The Break Spin is used as Kirby's dash attack in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, replacing his Burning-inspired attack from Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Flavor texts[]

GameFlavor text
Kirby Super Star
Use the awesome Yo-Yo to defeat your enemies in style!
Kirby Super Star Ultra
This isn't just any yo-yo! Swing up and down, or break-spin! Try 'em all to look cool!
Kirby Star Allies
There it is, the mischievous yo-yo! Yo-Yo Up, Yo-Yo Orbit, Break Spin, Walk the Dog—it's all child's play! Add an attribute to make it even more powerful. With a variety of moves at your disposal, looking cool has never been easier.

Related Quotes[]

Attack foes with yo-yo tricks and spins!
— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll

In Other Languages[]

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology and notes
Japanese ヨーヨー Translates to Yo-Yo.
American English Yo-Yo
Traditional Chinese 溜溜球 Translates to Yo-Yo.
Simplified Chinese 溜溜球 Translates to Yo-Yo.
Korean 요요 Translates to Yo-Yo.
Russian Йо-Йо Translates to Yo-Yo.
German Jo-Jo Translates to Yo-Yo.
Dutch Jojo Translates to Yo-Yo.
French Yoyo Translates to Yo-Yo.
Italian Yoyò Translates to Yo-Yo.
Iberian Spanish Yoyó Translates to Yo-Yo.
Latin American Spanish Yoyo Translates to Yo-Yo.

Trivia[]

  • The yo-yo, the ability cap, and the background of the ability picture are all direct references to EarthBound. The background depicts EarthBound's menu screen, and the yo-yo and ability cap come from Ness, who wears a remarkably similar cap and often uses a yo-yo as a weapon. This can be seen as an example of HAL referencing one of its own other games, because HAL was a co-developer of EarthBound, along with Ape (later known as Creatures, Inc.).
    • When Kirby inhales Ness in the Super Smash Bros. games, he wears Ness' sideways hat backwards, as if it was the Yo-Yo hat. Coincidentally, both Kirby and Ness are voiced by Makiko Ohmoto.
    • This is one of two abilities that reference EarthBound; the other being the ESP ability in Kirby: Planet Robobot.
    • Although the Yo-Yo ability was almost certainly intended as a direct reference to EarthBound, the idea of a yo-yo being used as a weapon was originally popularized in Japan by the Sukeban Deka manga series and its film adaptations.
  • Yo-Yo Kirby's hat is the same as those of Paint and Wheel Kirby's hats, but in a different color (Paint's is gray, Wheel's is red).
  • Though most of the artwork depicts the yo-yo having a star on it, it didn't have one in-game until Kirby Star Allies.
  • In the 25th Anniversary Poll that ran on the Official Kirby Website, Yo-Yo was unveiled on November 7, 2017 to have been the second place winner.[2]
  • The yo-yo Kirby uses was originally depicted as an "imperial" shape yo-yo, but has been changed into a "modified" shaped yo-yo in later artwork.
  • In Kirby Super Star/Kirby Super Star Ultra, the Break Spin was notable for not involving the yo-yo at all. This is changed in Kirby Star Allies, where Kirby actually spins on the yo-yo.

Videos[]

Artwork[]

Concept Artwork[]

Gallery[]

Sprites[]

Other Ability Icons[]

External Links[]

References[]

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