Editing Meta-Knights

{{Infobox-MidBoss
|image=[[File:KSSU Meta-Knights artwork.png|300px]]
|caption=Artwork of the '''Meta-Knights''' from ''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''
|game1=''[[Kirby's Adventure]]'' (1993)
|lastgame=''[[Kirby's Dream Buffet]]'' (2022, reference)
|game=<small>''[[Kirby Super Star]]''<br>''[[Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land]]''<br>''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''<br>''[[Kirby Mass Attack]]'' ([[Sub-Game]]s)<br>''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'' ([[keychain]])<br>''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]''<br>''[[Kirby Battle Royale]]'' <small>(Axe Knight only)</small><br>''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' ([[smashwiki:Spirit|Spirit]])</small>
|copy ability=None
|similar=[[Axe Knight]], [[Javelin Knight]], [[Mace Knight]], [[Trident Knight]], [[Meta Knight]]
}}
{{About|the four types of knight that appear in ambushes|their masked leader|[[Meta Knight]]}}
The '''Meta-Knights''' are an enigmatic group of knights who are led by [[Meta Knight]] himself. They first appeared in ''[[Kirby's Adventure]]'', where they were frequently fought as [[Mid-Boss]]es in their own distinctive arenas. However, their biggest role was in ''[[Kirby Super Star]]'' (and by extension, its [[Kirby Super Star Ultra|remake]]), in the [[Revenge of Meta Knight]] [[Sub-Game]], where they served as the primary antagonists. Outside of the occasional cameo, the Meta-Knights have largely been absent from the series since ''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''.

When fought, they typically attack as a group, fighting until their last member is defeated. They possess formidable weapons, but, unlike their leader, are not immune to being inhaled and spat out. Despite their arsenal, none of them yield [[Copy Ability|Copy Abilities]] when swallowed.

==Members==
===Axe Knight===
[[File:KSS Axe Knight.png|left]]
{{main|Axe Knight}}
Axe Knight's basic appearance is that of a minuscule skull, sporting a viking helmet atop his head and wielding an axe. Axe Knights normally appear in randomized areas. However, one particular Axe Knight assists Meta Knight in the main cabin of his battleship, the [[Halberd]].

Axe Knight typically moves back and forth, and tosses his axe like a boomerang, similar to [[Sir Kibble]]. He may also swing his axe in a forward motion as he sweeps across the floor.

===Mace Knight===
[[File:KSS Mace Knight.png|left]]
{{main|MAce Knight}}
Mace Knight is the largest in size, sporting heavy blue armor and wielding a large flail. He moves back and forth, swinging the flail above his head, then letting it fly a fair distance. Mace Knight is perhaps the most dangerous of the knights in close range, and has more hit points than the other knights. Like Axe Knight, one particular Mace Knight assists Meta Knight in the main cabin of the Halberd.
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===Trident Knight===
[[File:KSS Trident Knight.png|left]]
{{main|Trident Knight}}
While somewhat short in stature, Trident Knight is distinguished by his bright purple armor, the crescent on his helmet, and the tridents he tosses toward [[Kirby]]. These go for decent range, traveling upward, then downward in a large arc, and will zap [[Kirby]] if they hit him. While they can be a nuisance, the tridents' slow speed make them easy to avoid.

===Javelin Knight===
[[File:KSS Javelin Knight.png|left]]
{{main|Javelin Knight}}
The rarest of the Meta-Knights, this creature resembles a robot more than the others. He bounds across the air, spinning his javelin around in an attempt to hit Kirby with it. He will also toss his javelin on occasion.
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===Other members===
{{multiple image
|align=right
|width=56
|direction=horizontal
|footer='''Captain Vul''' (left) and '''Sailor Waddle Dee''' (right)
|image1 = KSSU Captain Vul Portrait 3.png
|image2 = KSSU Sailor Waddle Dee Portrait 1.png
}}

While not officially considered part of the Meta-Knights, [[Captain Vul]] and [[Sailor Waddle Dee]] make up the rest of the [[Halberd]]'s crew, acting behind the scenes while the other members fight [[Kirby]] directly. Because of this, they are commonly grouped together with the Meta-Knights. Furthermore, [[Sword Knight]] and [[Blade Knight]] are also occasionally associated with Meta Knight and the group, most notably in the ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]'' anime.
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==Game appearances==
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellpadding="2"
!colspan=3|The Meta-Knights' video game appearances &nbsp;
|-
!Game
!Role
!Notes
|-
!colspan=3|''Kirby'' series
|-
|''[[Kirby's Adventure]]''
|Mid-Boss
|
|-
|''[[Kirby Super Star]]''
|Mid-Boss, enemies, supporting characters
|Meta-Knights are also encountered as standalone enemies. An [[Axe Knight]] and [[Mace Knight]] share dialogue with the other members of the Halberd Crew in [[Revenge of Meta Knight]].
|-
|''[[Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land]]''
|Mid-Boss
|As this is a remake of ''Kirby's Adventure'', they have the same role here as they did in that game.
|-
|''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''
|Mid-Boss, enemies, supporting characters
|As this is a remake of ''Kirby Super Star'', they have the same role here as they did in that game.
|-
|''[[Kirby Mass Attack]]''
|Bosses, enemies
|Appears only in [[Sub-Game]]s. They appear as bosses in [[Strato Patrol EOS]], and enemies in [[Kirby Quest]].
|-
|''[[Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition]]''
|Mid-Boss, enemy, supporting characters
|''Kirby's Adventure'' and ''Kirby Super Star'' are ported here, where they have the same role.
|-
|''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]''
|Reference
|Axe Knight appears as a [[Keychain]].
|-
|''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]''
|Cameo
|Appears in a screen-wiping attack in [[Meta Knightmare Returns]]. Also appears in the completion screen.
|-
|''[[Kirby Battle Royale]]''
|Opponent
|Axe Knight appears as [[Meta Knight]]'s partner in doubles.
|-
|''[[Kirby's Dream Buffet]]''
|Reference
|All four members appear on their own separate [[Character Treat]]s.
|-
!colspan=3|''Super Smash Bros.'' series
|-
|''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''
|[[smashwiki:Spirit|Spirit]]
|All four appear as one primary spirit.
|}
===''Kirby's Adventure'' / ''Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land''===
[[File:KA Ice Cream Island Stage 3 screenshot 06.png|thumb|150px|Kirby battling the Meta-Knights in ''Kirby's Adventure''.]]
The Meta-Knights made their debut appearance in ''[[Kirby's Adventure]]'', later reappearing in its remake, ''[[Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land]]''. They occasionally appear as Mid-Boss-like ambushes summoned by their leader, Meta Knight, to fight [[Kirby]]. When doing so, the health meter that appears for them in the [[heads-up display]] goes down in fixed increments as each is defeated. They appear in waves - with specific enemies appearing after previous ones are defeated - and each one has its own distinct position and attack pattern.

===''Kirby Super Star'' / ''Kirby Super Star Ultra''===
[[File:KSS Mallow Castle screenshot 02.png|thumb|150px|Kirby facing off against some Meta-Knights in ''Kirby Super Star''.]]
The Meta-Knights reappear in ''[[Kirby Super Star]]'' and its remake, ''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]'', Here, instead of having distinct attack patterns for each ambush, Meta-Knights merely appear and then attack Kirby like normal enemies would. Outside of the typical ambush scenario, Meta-Knights can also be seen as regular enemies in [[Revenge of Meta Knight]] and [[Milky Way Wishes]]. In Revenge of Meta Knight, Axe Knight and Mace Knight have dialogue along with the rest of the [[Halberd]]'s crew. 

Exclusive to ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'', clones of the Meta-Knights can also be summoned by [[Galacta Knight]] during his battle in [[Meta Knightmare Ultra]].

===''Kirby Mass Attack''===
The Meta-Knights appear as bosses in the ''[[Kirby Mass Attack]]'' [[Sub-Game]] [[Strato Patrol EOS]] in the Level 4, protecting the Halberd from the Kirbys.

They also appear in [[Kirby Quest]], where they are fought in Stage 28.

===''Kirby: Triple Deluxe''===
In ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'', Axe Knight appears as a randomly-obtained [[keychain]], depicting his sprite from ''Kirby Super Star''. None of the other Meta-Knights appear in this manner.

===''Kirby: Planet Robobot''===
In ''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]'', the four knights appear in the [[Sub-Game]] [[Meta Knightmare Returns]], where they participate in the screen-clearing special attack '''Meta Knightmares''' alongside Meta Knight himself. They can also be seen when completing said Sub-Game, celebrating Meta Knight's victory with him. They also appear as [[Sticker (Kirby: Planet Robobot)|stickers]] for the [[Robobot Armor]] with notably different colors from the ones they are usually portrayed with.

===''Kirby Battle Royale''===
In the [[Dedede's Cake Royale]] mode of ''[[Kirby Battle Royale]]'', Meta Knight's doubles partner is Axe Knight, who plays identically to Cutter Kirby. The other three Meta-Knights do not appear.

===''Kirby's Dream Buffet''===
In ''[[Kirby's Dream Buffet]]'', the Meta-Knights each appear on their own separate [[Character Treat]]s, with each one depicting their artwork from ''Kirby Super Star''.

===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', the Meta-Knights appear as a primary Ace-class neutral spirit.

==In the ''Kirby'' novel series==
{{Infobox-NovelCharacter
|title=Meta-Knights
|image=[[File:V5 Illustration 6.png|250px]]
|caption=The '''Meta-Knights''', as they appear in ''[[Kirby: Big Race in Pupupu Land!]]''
|first=''[[Kirby: Big Race in Pupupu Land!]]''
|last=''[[Kirby: The Dream Onsen is a Good Hot Spring♪]]''
|role=Recurring side characters
|other=their video game counterparts
|similar=
}}
In the [[Kirby (novel series)|''Kirby'' novel series]], the Meta-Knights are [[Meta Knight (novel character)|Meta Knight]]'s trustworthy servants who work as the main combatants of the [[Halberd|Battleship Halberd]]. They are overwhelmingly stronger than [[Dream Land]]'s laid-back citizens. The four are lower-ranking and weaker than [[Sword Knight]] and [[Blade Knight]], but they are just as loyal to their master as those two are.

===Volume appearances===
The following is a complete list of every appearance the Meta-Knights have made in the ''Kirby'' novel series, along with the role they play and its details in the plot of each volume:

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellpadding="2"
!colspan=5|The Meta-Knights' appearances in the ''Kirby'' novel series &nbsp;
|-
!Volume
!Image
!Role
!Role details
!Notes
|-
|''[[Kirby: Big Race in Pupupu Land!]]''
|[[File:V5 Illustration 6.png|150px]]
|Tertiary supporting characters
|In this volume, the Meta-Knights compete in the big race that is held in [[Dream Land]]. They are first seen when [[Walky]] calls Meta Knight to ask him to commentate with him in the race. Meta Knight has no interest in the race, but just before he can hang up, the Meta-Knights chime in. The Meta-Knights want him to commentate because they all want to compete in the race. Meta Knight reluctantly accepts the offer, which makes everyone immensely happy. Throughout the race, the Meta-Knights are part of the many contestants, and they are usually grouped with the other racers without standing out.
|
|-
|''[[Kirby: Save the Rainbow Islands!]]''
|[[File:V14 Illustration 3.png|center|80px]]
|Tertiary supporting characters
|In this volume, the Meta-Knights go to get cake for themselves from [[Chef Kawasaki (novel character)|Chef Kawasaki]]. When [[Kirby (novel character)|Kirby]] asks about their intentions, [[Captain Vul]] tries to keep it a secret, but [[Trident Knight]] and [[Mace Knight]] tell him. They become mad at Kirby after learning that he ate all the cakes and scold him. Kirby and his friends tries to convince them to tell [[Meta Knight (novel character)|Meta Knight]] about the situation in the [[Rainbow Islands]], but the Meta-Knights deny their request. Later, Captain Vul steps in again to tell them that he is going to report to Meta Knight the situation, as much for their confusion. The Meta-Knights start to envision a vacation like the one that [[King Dedede (novel character)|King Dedede]] wants, implying that they want to save the Rainbow Islands only to get a vacation. When Meta Knight returns from the adventure, the Meta-Knights misinterpret Meta Knight's disclaim of accomplishment as modesty.
|
|-
|''[[Kirby: Uproar at the Kirby Café?!]]''
|[[File:V18 Illustration 10.png|center|120px]]
|Tertiary supporting characters
|In this volume, after Meta Knight agrees to be the judge, the Meta-Knights are excited by the thought of trying the desserts of the cooking competition. Meta Knight agrees to let them taste the dishes, but only if they think of it as part of their training. On the day of the competition, they come with Meta Knight. They wonder what he will choose as the winner of each round of the competition, and in the second round they are surprised that he picked the cute au lait.
|
|}

==Trivia==
*The Meta-Knights are the first Mid-Bosses to not provide [[Copy Ability|Copy Abilities]] when swallowed.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
KPR Meta-Knights.png|The Meta-Knights appear during Meta Knight's 'Meta Knightmares' attack in [[Meta Knightmare Returns]].
Twitter commemorative - Hinamatsuri 2017.jpg|Illustration from the [[Kirby JP Twitter]] featuring the Meta-Knights
Twitter commemorative - Meta-Knights' party.jpg|Illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter featuring the Meta-Knights, [[Captain Vul]], and [[Sailor Waddle Dee]]
Kirbys 25th Anniversary artwork.png|Artwork for Kirby's 25th Anniversary
Dedede Directory 87 - Halberd Crew.jpg|Dedede Directory about the Meta-Knights, Captain Vul, and Sailor Waddle Dee
Kirby Popstar Night Cinema Meta Knight Figure.jpg|"Meta Knight" miniature set from the "Kirby Popstar Night Cinema" merchandise line, featuring the Meta-Knights on the movie ticket
Kirby Hanafuda Card Set 12.jpg|Set 12 of the Kirby hanafuda cards, featuring Meta Knight and the Meta-Knights.
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{Names
|ja=メタ・ナイツ<br>''Meta Naitsu''<br>メタナイト{{furi|軍団|ぐんだん}}
|jaR=Meta Naito Gundan
|jaM=Meta-Knights<br><br>Meta Knight Army (alternate; ''Super Smash Bros.'' series)
|fr=Méta-minnions <small>(''Kirby Super Star Ultra'')</small><br>Meta Knights
|frM=Meta Minions<br>-
|es=Meta secuaces
|esM=Meta minions
|de=Meta-Knights
|deM=-
|it=Tirapiedi di Meta Knight
|itM=Minions of Meta Knight
|nl=Meta-Knights
|nlM=-
|ru=Метанайты
|ruR=Metanayty
|ruM=Metaknights
|zhSimp=魅塔骑士团<ref name="SSBU">''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''</ref>
|zhSimpR=Mèitǎ Qíshìtuán
|zhTrad=魅塔騎士團<ref name="SSBU"/>
|zhTradR=Mèitǎ Qíshìtuán
|zhM=Meta-Knights
|ko=메타 나이츠<ref name="SSBU"/>
|koR=meta naicheu
|koM=Meta-Knights
}}

{{ref}}

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{{Navbox-Characters}}
{{Navbox-KA/KNiDL}}
{{Navbox-KSS/KSSU}}
{{Navbox-KMA}}
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{{Navbox-Novels}}

[[Category:Mid-Bosses in Kirby's Adventure]]
[[Category:Mid-Bosses in Kirby Super Star]]
[[Category:Mid-Bosses in Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land]]
[[Category:Mid-Bosses in Kirby Super Star Ultra]]
[[Category:Enemies in Kirby Mass Attack]]
[[Category:Bosses in Strato Patrol EOS]]
[[Category:Groups and civilizations]]
[[Category:Non-playable characters]]
[[Category:Novel characters]]