Editing Guard

{{image|more varieties of Guard}}
{{ImCap
|image=File:Guard KSSU artwork.png
|size=122px
|align=right
|caption=Artwork of Kirby in '''Guard''' from ''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''.
|captionalign=center
}}
{{About|the technique|the enemy from [[Kirby Star Allies]]|[[Guard (enemy)]]}}
{{Quote|To guard...Push L or R. It can reduce the enemy's attack power.|Tutorial from [[Beginner's Room|The Beginner's Show]], in ''Kirby Super Star''}}
'''Guard''' is [[Kirby]]'s primary defensive action that appeared in many games. By holding down the appropriate button, Kirby assumes a defensive posture until the button is released. While guarding, Kirby takes no [[damage]] from weak attacks and minimal damage from most stronger attacks, in addition to retaining his ability and not getting knocked off the ground. Enemies that contact a guarding Kirby also take minimal damage.

Generally, guarding is ineffective against attacks which involve grabbing. Guarding also has no effect on environmental elements such as wind or lava, and will typically not defend against the strongest boss attacks. Kirby can only guard while standing still. However, in ''Kirby: Triple Deluxe'' and beyond, if Kirby guards in midair or moves to the side while guarding, he will [[Dodge]].

In ''Kirby Super Star'' and ''Kirby Super Star Ultra'', guard does 1 [[damage]] to enemies including [[boss]]es. Starting with ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'', the default guard does 4 damage to enemies excluding bosses.

In ''Kirby and the Forgotten Land'', guarding is merged with [[crouch]]ing, and this is reflected in the Japanese name ('''しゃがみガード''' ''shagami gādo'', "Crouching Guard"). As such, all actions that would normally be taken by crouching (such as [[slide|sliding]] and swallowing) are now taken by guarding.

==Appearances==
[[File:KSA Tip Image Guard & Dodge.png|thumb|200px|[[List of Kirby Star Allies loading screen tips|Tip image]] of Kirby guarding against an attack from [[Blade Knight]] in ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'']]
*''[[Kirby Super Star]]'' / ''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''
*''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' / ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe]]''
*[[New Challenge Stages]] (''[[Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition]]'')
*''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]''
*''[[Kirby Fighters Deluxe]]''
*''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]''
*''[[Team Kirby Clash Deluxe]]''
*''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''
*''[[Super Kirby Clash]]''
*''[[Kirby Fighters 2]]''
*''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]''
=== Guarding in the ''Kirby Clash'' and ''Kirby Fighters'' games/sub-games ===
The [[Team Kirby Clash (series)|''Team Kirby Clash'']] and [[Kirby Fighters (series)|''Kirby Fighters'' games]] use a special version of Guard which more closely resembles the shield in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' games]]. In particular, with this guard, the player cannot hold it indefinitely, since a meter will decrease over time. When the meter is empty, the guarding character will be launched up then become dizzy after coming down and getting up, leaving them open to attacks from enemies or opponents for a while.

===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
{{SmashWiki|Shield}}
The shield mechanic in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]] is heavily based on the guard mechanic from the [[Kirby (series)|''Kirby'' series]], with the energy bubble very reminiscent of the [[Mirror]] ability's Reflect Guard. The primary difference is that shields shrink as they are held or take damage and will eventually break if not deactivated, stunning the user.

Eventually, this concept went full circle in ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'', when the ability to [[dodge]] after guarding, developed in ''Super Smash Bros.'', made its way into this game.

==Special Guard techniques==
===Copy Abilities===
[[File:KRtDLD Sand Challenge screenshot 04.png|thumb|250px|[[Sand]] Kirby using "Sand Hide" to solve a puzzle in the [[Sand Challenge]] in ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe]]'']]
These [[Copy Ability|Copy Abilities]] (and/or their respective [[Helper]]s) have their special version of guard with additional features. As a result of these particular guarding techniques, the user may be unable to [[dodge]] on the ground (or at all) when employing some of them.
*'''[[Bell]]''' - While guarding with Bell, Kirby hides inside of his bell helmet, and cannot be harmed. Releasing the Guard or being hit will cause the bell to reverberate, damaging nearby foes.
*'''[[ESP]]''' - If a foe hits Kirby shortly after the guard is activated, Kirby will vanish, then reappear and counter with a shock wave that deals substantial damage (PK Evade). When timed perfectly, the counterattack is more powerful, and Kirby will shout as he performs it (PK Insight).
*'''[[Gigant Sword]]''' - Kirby holds a spiked shield that fully absorbs damage. 
*'''[[Ice]]''' - From ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' onward, while guarding with Ice, Kirby produces a spherical ice formation around himself which blocks more damage than a regular guard.
*'''[[Leaf]]''' - While guarding with Leaf, Kirby is intangible instead of invincible; attacks will simply pass through him regardless of their power. This guard also makes Kirby immune to grabs. Releasing the guard causes minor damage to nearby foes.
*'''[[Mecha]]''' - This ability has a unique counterattack, Shock Counter, activated if B is pressed right after Kirby is attacked while guarding.
*'''[[Mirror]]''' - While guarding with Mirror, Kirby forms a shining bubble of energy around him. This bubble negates damage from even strong attacks and can reflect projectiles. In ''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]'', the shield will eventually vanish if held too long.
*'''[[Ninja]]''' - Starting with ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'', guarding with Ninja right before being hit by an attack will cause Kirby to use Clone Technique, which transforms him into a log that damages the attacking foe(s). However, it can only be used for a brief moment.
*'''[[Sand]]''' - While guarding with Sand, Kirby is intangible instead of invincible; attacks will simply pass through him regardless of their power. This guard also makes Kirby immune to grabs. Releasing the guard causes minor damage to nearby foes. He can also press B to use '''Sand Geyser''' while guarding, attacking nearby foes but also losing his guard in the process.
*'''[[Smash Bros.]]''' - In ''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]'', while guarding with Smash Bros., Kirby produces a bubble shield resembling the one from the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]]. ''(See [[Guard#In the Super Smash Bros. series]] section of this article.)'' This shield protects him from more damage than the standard guard, and can't break, unlike the ''Super Smash Bros.'' equivalent.
*'''[[Spider]]''' - While guarding with Spider, Kirby encases himself in a string pod, preventing more damage than a standard guard. The pod also shoots out small spikes when hit, dealing more damage than normal collision.
*'''[[Staff]]''' - If a foe hits Kirby shortly after the guard is activated, Kirby will perform a counterattack simply called Staff Counter.
*'''[[Sword Hero]]''' - In all three [[Team Kirby Clash|Team]] [[Team Kirby Clash Deluxe|Kirby]] [[Super Kirby Clash|Clash]] games, guarding as Sword Hero will create a large bubble shield which other Kirbys can take cover under to protect them from damage as well.
*'''[[Tac]]''' - Tac, as a [[helper]] for [[Copy]], becomes intangible while guarding.

There are some Copy Ability actions that provide similar functions, but are not true guards.
*[[Crouch]]ing with [[Archer]] causes Kirby to become intangible as long as he remains still, acting as a pseudo-guard. In this state, he can fire arrows or crawl along the ground, but doing either will make him vulnerable. 
*Trying to crouch with [[Parasol]] in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]'' makes Kirby or [[Gooey]] put their parasols in front of them similar to a guard, which deals damage to enemies and provides cover from any incoming projectile. Their backs aren't covered, however, so any attack coming from behind will hurt them as usual.

===Dream Friends===
Some [[Dream Friend]]s in ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'' also have their own special version of guarding.
*'''[[Animal Friend|Rick & Kine & Coo]]''' and '''[[Gooey#Kirby Star Allies|Gooey]]''' take cover in a burlap sack called the [[Protective Bag]] when guarding. This is a reference to ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]'', where they are found in bags after defeating a [[Mid-Boss]].
*'''[[Adeleine#Kirby Star Allies|Adeleine & Ribbon]]''' hide behind a canvas and become intangible like [[Tac]] and the [[Leaf]] ability do. The canvas shows one of Adeleine's illustrations from ''[[Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards]]''. When releasing the guard, paint sprays out, which damages nearby enemies.
*'''[[Dark Meta Knight#Kirby Star Allies|Dark Meta Knight]]''' hides in a mirror when guarding, similarly to his ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'' boss fight. It absorbs strong attacks and reflects projectiles, the same as the [[Mirror]] ability.
*'''[[Magolor#Kirby Star Allies|Magolor]]''' uses his 5-piece star-shaped super shield when guarding, which absorbs all damage, but can break. Every time a piece breaks, it does damage to nearby enemies. In [[Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler]], he starts out with a standard guard, but can upgrade to the special guard as the mode progresses.
*'''[[Taranza#Kirby Star Allies|Taranza]]''' has Magic Guard which absorbs all damage and shoots out spikes like the [[Spider]] ability does.

===Special Guard Properties===
The following summarizes properties of the above-mentioned special guards.
{|class="wikitable sortable" border="1" cellpadding="2"
|-
!User
!Guard
!class=unsortable|Description
!Immune to damage?
!Ground [[dodge]]?
!Air dodge?
!Counterattack?
|-
|'''[[Adeleine#Kirby Star Allies|Adeleine & Ribbon]]'''
|'''Canvas Cover'''
|Hides behind a canvas and becomes intangible. Releasing the guard causes paint to spray out.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(Also immune to grab attacks)
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|When released
|-
|'''[[Bell]]'''
|'''Bell Block'''
|Hides into the bell hat, which can reverberate to damage enemies in contact.
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|Contact<br>(No effect to [[boss]]es or [[mid-boss]]es)
|-
|'''[[Dark Meta Knight]]'''
|'''Reflector Shield'''
|Guards with an reflective shield that reflects projectiles.
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|Reflects projectile
|-
|'''[[ESP]]'''
|'''PK Evade<br>PK Insight'''
|Performs a special counter attack before/when getting hit.
|align="center"|Only during PK Evade/Insight
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|-
|'''[[Gigant Sword]]'''
|'''Shield'''
|Guards with a riot shield that negates all damage. Kirby can move while the shield is up, but can't dodge.
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|N/A
|align="center"|Contact
|-
|'''[[Ice]]'''
|'''Ice Block'''
|Guards with an ice shield. Releasing the guard (known as the move Ice Scatter) scatters the ice shield which deals minor damage and freezes nearby foes.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land]]'' onward)
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(except in ''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]'')
|align="center"|When released
|-
|'''[[Leaf]]'''
|'''Leaf Hide'''
|Hides into a pile of leaves and becomes intangible. Releasing the guard causes a burst of leaves that deal minor damage to nearby foes.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(Also immune to grab attacks)
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|When released
|-
|'''[[Magolor]]'''
|'''Magic Barrier'''
|Guards with a five-piece star shield, which deals damage when a piece breaks.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(With durability)
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|When a piece breaks
|-
|'''[[Mecha]]'''
|'''Shock Counter'''
|Performs a special counterattack after getting hit.
|align="center"|Only during Shock Counter
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|-
|'''[[Mirror]]'''
|'''Reflect Guard'''
|Guards with an reflective shield that deflects projectiles.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]'' only & with durability)
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|Reflects projectile
|-
|'''[[Ninja]]'''
|'''Clone Technique'''
|Performs a special counter attack before getting hit. (''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'' onward)
|align="center"|Only during Clone Technique
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|-
|'''[[Animal Friend#Rick & Kine & Coo|Rick & Kine & Coo]]<br>[[Gooey#Kirby Star Allies|Gooey]]'''
|'''Protective Bag'''
|Hides into a bag that resembles the one they are trapped inside from ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]''.
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|-
|'''[[Sand]]'''
|'''Sand Hide'''<br>'''Sand Geyser'''
|Hides into a pile of sand and becomes intangible. Releasing the guard or pressing B causes a burst of sand that deals minor damage to nearby foes.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(Also immune to grab attacks)
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|When released/pressing B
|-
|'''[[Smash Bros.]]'''
|'''Shield'''
|Guards with the shield from the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]]. (''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]'' only)
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|-
|'''[[Spider]]'''
|'''Pod Guard'''
|Hides into a string pod, which can spike out to damage foes in contact.
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|Contact<br>(No effect to [[boss]]es or [[mid-boss]]es)
|-
|'''[[Staff]]'''
|'''Staff Counter'''
|Performs a special counter attack before getting hit.
|align="center"|Only during Staff Counter
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|-
|'''[[Sword Hero]]'''
|'''Hero Shield'''
|Guards with the shield equipment to create a barrier that also protects teammates inside. Its durability decreases in time.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(With durability)
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|-
|'''[[Tac]]'''
|'''Tac Hide'''
|Becomes intangible.
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|align="center"|{{N}}
|-
|'''[[Taranza]]'''
|'''Magic Guard'''
|Guards with a magic shield, which can spike out to damage enemies in contact.
|align="center"|{{Y}}<br>(Also immune to grab attacks)
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|{{Y}}
|align="center"|Contact<br>(No effect to [[boss]]es or [[mid-boss]]es)
|}

==Trivia==
*In ''Kirby and the Forgotten Land'', guarding does not protect from attacks from [[Gnawcodile]], [[Sssnacker]], poison and lava puddles, getting [[Crusher|crushed]], getting eaten by [[Wild Frosty]], [[Fleurina]]'s Hurricane attack, getting grabbed by [[Gorimondo]], [[Meta Knight]]'s Force Falls and Upper Calibur attacks (the latter only when Sword Kirby isn't facing Meta Knight), getting caged by [[Sillydillo]], getting inhaled by [[Forgo Dedede]], [[Morpho Knight]]'s Infernal Wind attack, [[Leongar#Forgo Leon|Soul Forgo]]'s Soul Crash attack and [[Chaos Elfilis]]' "[[Black Hole|And Here We Are]]" and "[[Deadly Sun|Deadly Sun Grazer]]" attacks.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHCr0egcV1A</ref>

==Gallery==
{{ImCap|image=File:KPR Kirby Guard clip.png|size=100px||caption=From ''Kirby: Planet Robobot''}}
{{ImCap|image=File:KPR Shield clip.png|size=100px|caption=[[Smash Bros.]] Kirby uses his shield.}}
{{ImCap|image=File:KPR Ice Block clip.png|size=100px|caption=[[Ice]] Kirby using his Ice Block.}}
{{ImCap|image=File:KPR Clone Technique clip.png|size=100px|caption=[[Ninja]] Kirby using Clone Technique.}}
===Sprites===
<gallery style="image-rendering:pixelated;">
KSS Kirby Guard sprite.png|Sprite from ''[[Kirby Super Star]]''
KSSU Kirby Guard sprite.png|Sprite from ''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]''
</gallery>

===Screenshots===
<gallery>
KTD Kirby Guard.png|From ''Kirby: Triple Deluxe''
KTD Leaf Hide screenshot.png|"Leaf Hide", [[Leaf]]'s special guard, in ''Kirby: Triple Deluxe''
KSA PK Insight.png|Kirby using PK Insight in ''Kirby Star Allies''
KSA Staff Counter.png|[[Jammerjab]] using Staff Counter against a [[Blado]]
KSA special guard screenshot 1.jpg|Spider, Taranza, Magolor, and Dark Meta Knight
KSA special guard screenshot 2.jpg|Ice, Gooey/Rick & Kine & Coo, and Adeleine & Ribbon
SKC All Guard.jpg|All four Super Kirby Clash classes guarding, including the [[Sword Hero]] and its shield ability
File:KatFL Guard.png|From ''Kirby and the Forgotten Land''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{Names
|ja=ガード
|jaR=Gādo
|jaM=Guard
|fr=Se protéger
|frM=Guard
|es=Cubrirse
|esM=Guard
|pt=Defender-se
|ptM=Guard (yourself)
}}

{{ref}}
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{{Navbox-Moves}}
[[Category:Moves]]