Guard
Guarding is Kirby's primary defensive action in games such as Kirby Super Star and its remake, Kirby's Return to Dream Land, the challenge stages of Kirby's Dream Collection, Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Kirby Fighters Deluxe, and Kirby: Planet Robobot. By holding down the guard 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. Kirby can only guard while standing still. However, in Triple Deluxe and beyond, if Kirby guards in midair or moves to the side while guarding, he will Dodge.
Special Guard
Copy Abilities
These Copy Abilities (and/or their respective Helpers) 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 - In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, while guarding with Bell, Kirby hides inside of his bell cap, and cannot be harmed. Releasing the Guard or being hit will cause the bell to reverberate, and damage nearby foes.
- ESP - If an enemy hits Kirby shortly after the guard is activated, Kirby will vanish, then reappear and counter with a shock wave that deals substantial damage. When timed perfectly, the counterattack is even more powerful, and Kirby will shout as he performs it.
- Ice - In Kirby Super Star (Ultra), as well as Kirby's Return to Dream Land and onward, guarding with Ice produces a spherical ice formation around Kirby which blocks more damage than a regular guard.
- Leaf - In Kirby's Return to Dream Land and onward, 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 enemies.
- Mirror - Guarding with Mirror provides a shining bubble of energy around Kirby's body. 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's Return to Dream Land, 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 enemy. However, it can only be used for a brief moment.
- Parasol - In Kirby: Triple Deluxe and onward, guarding with Parasol will cause Kirby to shield himself with his parasol.
- The Robobot Armor has a special Guard called Hunker Down, which causes its limbs to retract. If it is hit in this mode, it and Kirby take no damage, and it may rotate a short distance.
- The Stone Mode of the Robobot Armor also has a move called Rock Blocker, which acts similarly to a standard Guard.
- Smash Bros. - In Kirby: Planet Robobot, guarding with this ability produces a bubble shield resembling the one from the Super Smash Bros. series. (See Guard#In the Super Smash Bros. series section of this article.)
- Spider - Guarding with this ability encases Kirby 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 - Kirby can perform a counter attack called Staff Counter by using Guard before getting hit.
- Sword Hero - In Team Kirby Clash and its expanded spin-off, Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, guarding in this role will create a large bubble shield which other Kirbys can take cover under to protect them from harm as well.
Dream Friends
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This article or section is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it's being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible. No reason has been specified. |
Some Dream Friends in Kirby Star Allies also have their special version of guarding.
- Rick & Kine & Coo and Gooey take cover in a burlap sack called Protective Bag when guarding. This is a reference to Kirby's Dream Land 2, where they are found in sacks after defeating a Mid-Boss. Strangely enough, if Gooey is crushed by a wall while guarding, the game crashes.
- Dark Meta Knight hides into a mirror when guarding.
Special Guard Properties
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This article or section is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it's being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible. No reason has been specified. |
The following summarizes properties of the abovementioned special guards.
| Copy Ability / Character | Guard | Description | Complete invulnerability to damage? | Dodge on the ground? | Dodge in the air? | Special counter? |
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| Bell | Bell Block | Hides into the bell hat, which can reverberate to damage enemies in contact. | 
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| ESP | PK Evade PK Insight |
Performs a special counter attack before/when getting hit. Can only be used on the ground. | (Only when using PK Evade/Insight; the normal guard won't increase defense.) |
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| Ice | Ice Block | Guards with an ice shield. Released the guard (known as the move Ice Scatter) scatters the ice shield that deals minor damage and freezes nearby enemies. |
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| King Dedede | N/A | Guards with the hammer. Does not increase defense, however. |
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| Leaf | Leaf Hide | Hides into a pile of leaves hat and becomes intangible. Releasing the guard causes a burst of leaves that deal minor damage to nearby enemies. |
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| Mirror | Reflect Guard | Guards with an reflective shield that deflects projectiles. In Kirby: Planet Robobot only, its durability decreases in time. |
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| Ninja | Hide Guard | Performs a special counter attack when getting hit. Can be used both on the ground and in the air. |
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| Parasol | N/A | Guards with the parasol (since Kirby: Triple Deluxe). Does not increase defense, however. |
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| Rick & Kine & Coo Gooey |
Protective Bag | Hides into a bag that resembles the one they are trapped inside from Kirby's Dream Land 2. |
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| Smash Bros. | Shield | Guards with the shield from the Super Smash Bros. series. |
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| Spider | Pot Guard | Hides into a string pod, which can spike out to damage enemies in contact. |
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| Staff | Staff Counter | Performs a special counter attack before getting hit. Can only be used on the ground. | (Only when using Staff Counter; the normal guard won't increase defense.) |
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| Sword Meta Knight |
N/A | Guards with the sword. Does not increase defense, however. |
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| Sword Hero | Hero Shield | Guards with the shield equipment to create a barrier that also protects teammates inside. Its durability decreases in time. |
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Super Smash Bros. series
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SmashWiki has more information about this subject here. |
The shield mechanic in the Super Smash Bros. series is heavily based on the guard mechanic from the 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 Smash Bros., made its way into this game.
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