Key Dee

Key Dee
KRtDLD Key Dee screenshot.png
Screenshot of Key Dee from Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Details
First game Kirby's Return to Dream Land (2011)
Latest game Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023)
Other game(s) Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Kirby's Blowout Blast
Kirby Star Allies
Copy Ability None
Similar entities Waddle Dee, Gold Waddle Dee
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Key Dee[1] (known as Carry Dee and Wonkey in internal game data) is a brightly colored enemy that resembles a Waddle Dee and sports a small tail and red swirls on its cheeks. It first appeared in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and has appeared in most main series installments (and some spin-offs) since then. It is almost without exception seen carrying items, usually keys. Kirby or another character is often tasked to collect the item in hand before the Key Dee gets away.

Game appearancesEdit

Key Dee's video game appearances  
Game Role Notes
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Enemy
Kirby: Triple Deluxe Enemy
Kirby: Planet Robobot Enemy Carries a battery instead of a key.
Kirby's Blowout Blast Enemy Carries a golden coin instead of a key.
Kirby Star Allies Enemy
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Enemy Reprises its role from Kirby's Return to Dream Land.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land DeluxeEdit

Key Dee, called Carry Dee in this game's internal files, can be found in many stages in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and its remake, usually inside a closed chamber—starting in a place where Kirby cannot reach it. From here, some mechanism can usually be tripped to set the Key Dee free, where it will then run off with its Key. Kirby will have to chase down the Key Dee and intercept it before it falls into a bottomless pit or other hazard, taking the Key with it. Other times, Kirby will have to stop the Key Dee from using the Key on the wrong door.

Key Dees can move at various speeds, and have the ability to jump over certain obstacles when their path is blocked. They tend to fall off cliffs, though, so Kirby may have to make them a path in some instances. In Extra Mode, Key Dees generally move faster, making it harder for Kirby to keep up. In Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler, some Key Dees can be seen carrying Magic Points.

LocationsEdit

In Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, Key Dee can be found in the following levels and stages:

Key Dee locations in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe  
Stage Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5
Cookie Country          
Raisin Ruins          
Onion Ocean         N/A
White Wafers          
Nutty Noon          
Egg Engines          
Dangerous Dinner       N/A N/A
Key Dee locations in Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler  
Stage Appearance? Stage Appearance?
Opening Stage   4-3  
1-1   4-4  
1-2   4-EX  
1-3   Sphere  
1-BOSS   Levitation  
2-1   Health  
2-2   Surge  
2-3   Bomb  
2-4   Upward  
2-BOSS   Needles  
3-1   Barrier  
3-2   Vanish  
3-3   Cannon  
3-4   Black Hole  
3-BOSS   Trickery  
4-1   Secret Stage  
4-2   Final Boss  

Kirby: Triple DeluxeEdit

Key Dee returns in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, performing the exact same function as in its previous appearance. However, the Key Dees found in Dededetour! are white instead of gold and move even faster than their regular counterparts. Key Dees can often be seen in the background, being a natural place where Kirby and Dedede would not have immediate access to them.

LocationsEdit

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Key Dee can be found in the following levels and stages:

Key Dee locations in Kirby: Triple Deluxe  
Stage Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 EX Stage 7 EX Stage 8 EX
Fine Fields         N/A   N/A N/A
Lollipop Land         N/A   N/A N/A
Old Odyssey           N/A   N/A
Wild World           N/A   N/A
Endless Explosions           N/A   N/A
Royal Road           N/A    

Kirby: Planet RobobotEdit

Key Dee makes a few small appearances in Kirby: Planet Robobot, serving the same function as before, though instead of Keys, they carry Batteries. In one particular instance, Kirby and Meta Knight have to guide an aspiring Key Dee through heavy traffic. When encountered in Meta Knightmare Returns, Key Dees are found with the same color scheme and move at the exact same speed as that of its Dededetour! appearance.

LocationsEdit

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, Key Dee can be found in the following levels and stages:

Key Dee locations in Kirby: Planet Robobot  
Stage Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 EX Stage 7 EX Stage 8 EX
Patched Plains         N/A   N/A N/A
Resolution Road         N/A   N/A N/A
Overload Ocean           N/A   N/A
Gigabyte Grounds           N/A   N/A
Rhythm Route           N/A   N/A
Access Ark           N/A    

Kirby's Blowout BlastEdit

 
Kirby chasing a Key Dee in Level 3-4 EX

In Kirby's Blowout Blast, Key Dee holds a golden coin and will attempt to run off an edge, either if Kirby gets too close or takes too long to dispatch it. Defeating it will automatically confer the coin upon Kirby.

Kirby Star AlliesEdit

Key Dee returns in Kirby Star Allies, where it carries Keys per the usual. To help Key Dee reach its destination, Kirby and his friends can form a Friend Bridge and guide it across gaps. This title features Key Dees who do not have items at first, and is actually the first time they are seen being able to pick up items, instead of just starting with one in their hands.

LocationsEdit

In Kirby Star Allies, Key Dee can be found in the following levels and stages:

Key Dee locations in Kirby Star Allies  
Stage Appearance? Stage Appearance?
Green Gardens   Falluna Moon  
Donut Dome   Planet Misteen  
Honey Hill   Mareen Moon  
Fruity Forest   Planet Caverna  
Clash at Castle Dedede   Grott Moon  
Extra Eclair   Planet Frostak  
Friendly Field   Blizzno Moon  
Reef Resort   Planet Towara  
Echo's Edge   Gabbel Moon  
Nature's Navel   Star Lavadom  
Sacred Square   Sizzlai Moon  
Inside Islands   Jambandra Base  
Duplex Dream   The Divine Terminus  
Gatehouse Road   Extra Planet α  
Eastern Wall   Extra Planet β  
Longview Corridor   Extra Planet γ  
Western Outer Wall   Extra Planet δ  
Inner Sanctum   Ability Planet  
Heavenly Hall   Dimension I  
Sector A   Dimension II  
Sector B   Dimension III  
Sector C   Dimension IV  
Planet Earthfall  

TriviaEdit

  • Key Dee's internal data and Japanese name, Wonkey, is a portmanteau of "Waddle Dee" and "monkey". It may also involve "wonky", describing something which is odd or unusual, and "key", referring to the item it is often associated with.

GalleryEdit

Names in other languagesEdit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ウォンキィ
Wonkī
Wonkey
From 「モンキー」 (monkey) and 「ワドルディ」 (Waddle Dee)
Spanish Dee Llave[2] Key Dee


References