Archer
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“ | Wait for the right moment, and open fire. Hide in the shadows, and become a Sharpshooter! Your precision aiming will let you hit a small target from long distance. | ” | — Kirby: Triple Deluxe pause caption |
Archer is a Copy Ability which gives Kirby a bow and arrow with which to sharp-shoot his foes with from a distance. The ability was first introduced in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, where it can be obtained by swallowing the enemy Spynum. Unlike with the relatively slow and clunky Cupid ability, Archer Kirby can shoot rapid-fire volleys of fast and straight-flying arrows from one end of the screen to the other. In addition, Kirby can carefully angle his arrows for a more precise hit, and can also charge them up to create powerful penetrating projectiles. Other moves include the ability to slash with an arrow like a sword at close quarters or don camouflage to avoid enemy attacks.
When Kirby gains the Archer ability, he obtains a fancy purple hat with a white trim and a big yellow feather sticking out the back. His bow is red with a star insignia in the center, and his arrows are silver-tipped with golden-brown shafts. Since its debut, Archer has only appeared one other time in the main series (in Kirby: Planet Robobot), with the rest of its appearances being in the Kirby Fighters games.
Overview and moveset
Since its debut in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Archer has remained more or less consistent in its look and functionality. Archer Kirby's moveset allows him to shoot different types of arrows in various patterns. He can also swing his arrows in close quarters or camouflage himself with a cardboard cutout. Archer Kirby's full moveset is as follows (excluding minor changes made in Kirby Fighters 2, detailed in a separate table below):
Archer move-set for Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Kirby Fighters Deluxe, and Kirby: Planet Robobot while facing right | |||
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Skill | Image | Button Execution | Description |
Shot | B
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Kirby fires an arrow straight ahead of him which flies until it leaves the screen or hits something. | |
Snipe Shot | Hold B to charge, and then release
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Kirby charges up and releases a more powerful arrow. | |
Magic-Star Arrow | Hold B longer before releasing
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After charging up further, Kirby releases a magical comet-like arrow that can pass through enemies it hits. | |
Sharpshooter | While holding B, press either of ↨
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While prepping a Shot, Snipe Shot, or Magic-Star Arrow, Kirby can aim up or down for more precision. | |
Sky Shot | ↑ + B
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Kirby quickly fires an arrow straight upward. | |
Sky-Shot Shower | Press ↑ and then hold B, and then release
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After charging up, Kirby shoots a magic arrow into the sky that then splits into four and rains down in a small perimeter around himself. | |
Arrow Slash | Dash + B
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Kirby makes two quick slashes using an arrow while stepping forward, dealing with foes up close. | |
Leaping Quiver | Dash jump + B in midair
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While in the air, Kirby shoots three arrows diagonally downward very quickly. | |
Camouflage | ↓
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Kirby hides behind a makeshift cardboard cutout meant to resemble an environmental object. While camouflaged, Kirby cannot be harmed by most attacks (not as effective in the Kirby Fighters games). Each time Kirby uses this move, the object he hides behind will be different (more details in the next table). | |
Hitman | B while camouflaged
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Kirby lobs an arrow straight forward while still hiding under his camouflage. This arrow travels close to the ground. | |
Crawl | Either of ↔ while camouflaged
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Kirby can slowly waddle left or right while holding his camouflage. |
When Archer Kirby uses his Camouflage, the object he hides behind can be a number of different things chosen at random (similar to the Stone transformations in many games). These are as follows:
Camouflage forms | |||
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Form | Description | Form | Description |
A green bush | The HAL logo | ||
A green bush with pink flowers | A picture of King Dedede (Not in Kirby: Planet Robobot) | ||
A short tree | A picture of King Dedede, styled from Dedede's Drum Dash (Kirby: Planet Robobot exclusive) | ||
A large rock | A picture of Taranza (Kirby: Planet Robobot exclusive) | ||
A Star Block | The Haltmann Works Company logo (Kirby: Planet Robobot exclusive) |
Game appearances
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
“ | Have you tried the new Archer ability yet? Doesn’t Kirby look charming wearing a fashionable hat while sniping enemies with arrows? The Archer ability enables three levels of attacks depending on the amount of power you charge up: the Shot, Snipe Shot, and Magic-Star Arrow. You can also use Arrow Slash to attack enemies up close. Kirby using his Hitman attack while hiding behind a bush is quite a sight, too! For the Archer ability, inhale a Spynum before it hits you! | ” | — Satoshi Ishida, Miiverse post on 05/23/2014 9:18 AM |
Archer makes its debut in this game, and can be obtained from the enemy Spynum. There are a number of puzzles in this game which specifically require the use of the Archer ability and involves the player tilting the Nintendo 3DS to line a pathway for Kirby's arrows.
Archer is also available as one of the abilities in the sub-game Kirby Fighters.
Kirby Fighters Deluxe
Archer is one of the available Copy Abilities which can be selected in this game. It functions identically to the way it did in Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Archer returns in Kirby: Planet Robobot, and is still supplied by Spynum. Aside from gaining a few new Camouflage forms, it is unchanged from its appearance in prior titles.
Kirby Fighters 2
Archer returns in Kirby Fighters 2, playing largely the same way it did in its previous appearance. It is unlocked for use by the player upon reaching Fighters Rank 28. This game also features two alternate looks for the ability, those being the Hunter's Hat (unlocked at Rank 64) and the Cyber Hat (unlocked at Rank 92). Choosing the Cyber Hat also replaces the cardboard Camouflage cutouts with holographic equivalents.
For more precise competitive-oriented information on the Archer ability in Kirby Fighters 2, see Mizuumi Wiki's page.
Move-set
Archer move-set in Kirby Fighters 2 | |||
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Skill | Button Execution | Description | Damage (unmodified) |
Shot | Press and release B
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Kirby shoots an arrow straight forward. | 12 |
Snipe Shot | Hold B to charge, then release
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Kirby shoots a more powerful arrow which passes through opponents and other objects, but not walls. | 16 |
Magic-Star Arrow | Hold B longer before releasing
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Kirby shoots a powerful magic missile that passes through opponents and other objects, but not walls. | 32 |
Sharpshooter | While holding B, move ↑/↓
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Kirby can aim his bow up or down while holding an arrow to shoot. | N/A |
Sky Shot | ↑ + press and release B
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Kirby fires an arrow straight upward. | 20 |
Sky-Shot Shower | Move ↑ and hold B to charge, then release
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Kirby fires a magic arrow straight upward which causes four streams of energy to rain down around it. These energy streams also deal damage. | 26 (main arrow) 22 (energy streams) |
Arrow Slash | Dash + B
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Kirby pulls out an arrow and swipes opponents with it at melee range. After the first swipe, he steps forward and performs a second. | 8 (first hit) 12 (second hit) |
Leaping Quiver | Dash + B in midair
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Kirby fires three arrows in rapid succession diagonally downward. | 12 (first arrow) 7 (second arrow) 7 (third arrow) |
Camouflage | ↓
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Kirby hides behind a cardboard cut-out with crayon drawing on the front resembling a background object. He can still take damage, but has a lower profile. | N/A |
Hitman | B while camouflaged
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Kirby shoots a low-to-the-ground arrow, and can shoot them very rapidly. | 10 |
Crawl | Move ←/→ while camouflaged
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Kirby shuffles slowly to the left or right, keeping his low profile in the process. | N/A |
Kirby's Dream Buffet
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, Archer Kirby is depicted alongside Fighter Kirby on the "Archer vs. Fighter" Character Treat, using artwork from Kirby Fighters Deluxe. Archer does not appear as an ability in Kirby's Dream Buffet itself.
Profiles
Image | Game | Flavor text |
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Kirby: Triple Deluxe | Wait for the right moment, and open fire. Hide in the shadows, and become a Sharpshooter! Your precision aiming will let you hit a small target from long distance. | |
Kirby Fighters Deluxe | Wait for the right moment, and open fire. Hide in the shadows, and become a Sharpshooter! Use precision aiming to fire upward, across, and diagonally. | |
Kirby: Planet Robobot | Wait for the right moment, and open fire. Hide in the shadows, and become a Sharpshooter! Your precision aiming will let you shoot through tight spots. |
Trivia
- Archer is somewhat similar to Cupid, which also allows Kirby to fire arrows.
- The official Kirby Fighters 2 Copy Compendium #4 video refers to Archer by its Japanese name, Sniper. An updated version of the video released on February 3rd, 2021 fixed the error and refers to the ability by its English name.
- The same mistake was made in a listing of an Archer Kirby plush in the official Nintendo North American online shop, referring to it as "Kirby Sniper".
Gallery
- KFD Archer.png
Artwork from Kirby Fighters Deluxe
Banner from the Kirby Personality Quiz
Videos
Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Archer
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Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning |
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Japanese | スナイパー Sunaipā |
Sniper |
Traditional Chinese | 狙擊手 jū jī shǒu |
Sniper |
Simplified Chinese | 狙击手 jū jī shǒu | |
Dutch | Boogschutter | Archer |
French | Archer | Archer |
German | Bogenschütze | Archer |
Italian | Arciere | Archer |
Korean | 스나이퍼 Seunaipeo |
Sniper |
Portuguese | Arqueiro | Archer |
Russian | Лучник Luchnik |
Archer |
Spanish | Arquero | Archer |
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