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Morpho Knight

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Morpho Knight
Splash image of Morpho Knight and Morpho Knight EX in Kirby Star Allies
Details
First game Kirby Star Allies
Other game(s) Kirby (cancelled)
Super Kirby Clash (reference)
Relative(s) Butterfly
Galacta Knight
Similar to Meta Knight
Dark Meta Knight
Parallel Meta Knight
Theme music

Clip of Morpho Knight's theme from Kirby Star Allies

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On the day of judgment, this fluttery fiend will fly into action. Brought into existence by "the greatest warrior in the galaxy" and reborn as a knight of doom through years of adversity—now begins an epic battle with a pure being twisted by a dark past.
— VS Morpho Knight


Morpho Knight, titled Reborn Butterfly, is a surprise boss who appears in Kirby Star Allies, at the end of Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!. It is a masked sword wielder created as a result of a Butterfly from paradise[1] resonating with the screams of the most powerful warrior in the galaxy[2][3]. Morpho Knight primarily utilizes fire as its element of choice in combat. In Guest Star The Three Mage-Sisters and The Ultimate Choice's Soul Melter EX difficulty, a stronger form called Morpho Knight EX (titled Dark-Winged Disaster) is fought instead.

Physical appearance

Like Galacta Knight (and Meta Knight), Morpho Knight has a Kirby-like body shape, but its body is completely black with white eyes and pauldrons, and yellow gloves and boots. Despite having gloves and shoulder pads, it has no visible arms, similar to Sir Kibble and Blade Knight. Its red mask and wings have a butterfly motif to them. It also carries a serrated red sword, which it can split in two or enlarge when necessary. Morpho Knight's sword in Kirby Star Allies combines the motifs of butterfly wings (the guard, with an eye on it) and the phoenix (the blade, which looks like a bird feather). Several of its unused designs have the guard part featuring the Master Crown[4].

Etymology

Where Morpho Knight got its name from is unknown. "Morpho" means "changed" or "modified," referencing to how the butterfly transforms into Morpho Knight upon making contact with Galacta Knight. Morpho is also genus of tropical butterflies, although most appear in a blue color instead of Morpho Knight's orange; some, however, such as the Morpho hecuba, do appear in an orange color. However, it should be noted that Morpho butterflies have ocelli (eye spots), which Morpho Knight's butterfly form lacks, and Morpho butterfly wings don't have tails, unlike Morpho Knight's.

Morpho Knight's Japanese name is バルフレイナイト (Barufurei Naito). Barufurei is a corruption of the English word "butterfly" (バタフライ, batafurai). Baru appears to be derived from the loanword "valkyrie" (バルキリー, barukirī), referring to the Norse deities who choose warriors to ascend to the afterlife in preparation for Ragnarök (the "day of judgment"). Relating to this, the furei may be derived from the Japanese name for the Norse goddess and leader of the valkyries, Freyja (フレイヤ, Fureiya); "Valfreyja" (ヴァルフレイヤ, Varufureiya) is an obscure alternate name for the goddess. Naito is the English word "knight".

Game appearances

Morpho Knight's video game appearances  
Game Role Notes
Kirby Star Allies Surprise boss and final boss Morpho Knight is the final boss of Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!
Super Kirby Clash Reference Morpho Gear is based on him

Kirby Star Allies

File:Morpho Knight Fight.jpg
A still from the battle with Morpho Knight.
Come judgement day, this fluttery fiend will fly into action. Will it land in a dream world, or a nightmare? It has mastered its new abilities, now all will witness its true power!
— VS Morpho Knight EX

Morpho Knight debuts in Kirby Star Allies. He is primarily faced at the end of Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!. In The Three Mage-Sisters' route, Morpho Knight EX is fought instead. As Morpho Knight EX, it is explained that the power it received from Galacta Knight has grown and fully become its own, which is only mentioned in the Japanese and the Chinese versions[5]. Morpho Knight EX has a much darker colTemplate:Our scheme compared to its original form, and its eyes are red rather than white.

Morpho Knight appears in the following game modes:

Form Mode Level HP
(Star Bullet=52)
Notes
Morpho Knight Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!
(all but The Three Mage-Sisters)
Level 5 1380 It appears as the final boss.
The Ultimate Choice Fiery Showdown
Infernal Crisis
Soul Melter
920 In Fiery Showdown, it appears in the final battle.
In Infernal Crisis and Soul Melter, it appears in the 12th battle, right after Hyness is beaten and before Void Termina is fought.
Morpho Knight EX Guest Star The Three Mage-Sisters Level 5 2070 It appears as the final boss.
The Ultimate Choice Soul Melter EX 1380 It appears in the 13th battle, after The Three Mage-Sisters are beaten and before Void Termina, True Destroyer of Worlds is fought.

Morpho Knight fights very similarly to Meta Knight in Kirby Star Allies and Galacta Knight from previous titles. Its main repertoire includes sword slashes, guards, teleporting, and flying maneuvers. Morpho Knight's attacks can also release butterfly-shaped waves of fire, which can be difficult to dodge.

Similar to the Meta Knight boss battle in Star Allies, Morpho Knight's sword-based attacks can be interrupted by the Sword ability (including Friends like Blade Knight, Meta Knight, and Dark Meta Knight), which creates a sword clashing effect and stuns it for a while, enabling its other opponents to strike its vulnerable backside.

When its Stamina falls below 60%, Morpho Knight enters its second phase, taking 1/5 damage during phase shifting. Now, the boss can split its sword in two, and use a wider variety of upscaled attacks which cover a large portion of the screen. It can also hypnotize Friends with sound waves, turning them against Kirby and other allies, though their heroic personality is recoverable.

When Morpho Knight is defeated, it gracefully disintegrates into a cloud of red butterflies and vanishes.

Attacks

The following lists all of Morpho Knight's attacks. Attacks in red are used during the second phase only.

Morpho Knight's Attacks in Kirby Star Allies  
Attack Description
Teleport Morpho Knight may teleport at any time.
  • When it teleports as Morpho Knight EX, it will create a damaging shockwave.
Backhand Slash Morpho Knight performs a backhand slash.
Backhand Slash - Triple Slash Morpho Knight performs a backhand slash followed by Triple Slash.
Hyper Rush - Crescent Shot Morpho Knight performs a multithrust and then fires a crescent-shaped energy wave.
Triple Crescent Shot Morpho Knight fires 3 Crescent Shots in a row.
Aerial Crescent Shot Morpho Knight jumps and fires 2 Crescent Shots at the same time.
  • Morpho Knight EX fires 3 shots instead and may perform the attack twice in a row; teleporting to a different location before doing the attack again.
Glide Sword Morpho Knight glides while thrusting its sword, similar to Meta Knight's same attack as a boss.
Down Thrust Morpho Knight jumps and thrusts down its sword, leaving two stars on impact.
Tornado Morpho Knight requires charging to use this attack, similar to Meta Knight's same attack as a boss.
  • Morpho Knight takes 0.4× damage during the Tornado attack.

After releasing its charge, Morpho Knight stabs its sword into the ground to summon giant red tornado(es) that travel across the stage.

  • In the first phase, one tornado is summoned.
  • In the second phase, multiple tornadoes are summoned, and their number depends on how many allies are in the battle; Morpho Knight EX will always summon 5 tornadoes in a row.

If the allies are hit by the tornado, they will be thrown into the air and take damage when crashing onto the ground.

  • The tornadoes cannot be guarded since their attack is a "throw".
  • The tornadoes ignore the allies' invincibility frames, so Stone and attacks like Sword's Drill Stab will fail to dodge the tornadoes.
Upper Calibur Morpho Knight requires charging to use this attack.

After releasing its charge, Morpho Knight dashes and performs an upper slash (it may teleport before dashing.)
If the upper slash connects to any allies, it will then perform a multi-slash combo to them in midair.
If the allies avoid the upper slash, Morpho Knight will end this attack.

  • The upper can only be guarded by special guards. (Prior to Version 4.0.0, it could not be guarded by any means.)
極楽ごくらく冥獣めいじゅう[6]
Sukhavati Underworld Beast
Morpho Knight requires charging to use this attack.

After releasing its charge, Morpho Knight summons red, butterfly-shaped ghosts that travel slowly in various patterns. This leaves three stars in front of it.

極楽ごくらく鱗波りんぱ[6]
Sukhavati Scale Wave
Morpho Knight releases sound waves with its wings. Each sound wave drop two stars.
  • If any ally is hit by the sound wave, they will be turned against other allies. This can be undone by either tossing a Friend Heart at the affected ally or by depleting all of its HP and then reviving it.
  • In the first phase, it releases one sound wave.
  • In the second phase, it releases several sound waves in a row, teleporting to different locations of the stage.
極楽ごくらく冥王めいおう斬閃ざんせん[6]
Sukhavati Underworld-King Slash Flash
Morpho Knight always begins with this attack in the second phase.

He teleports to the center of the stage and splits its sword into two. It takes 0.4× damage when splitting its swords.
First, it teleports to one end of the stage and swings its now-enlarged sword.
Then, it teleports to the other end and performs another giant slash.
Finally, it teleports back to the center and slashes to both sides with dual swords. After that, the swords merge back into one sword.

  • Morpho Knight EX will create black holes to draw the allies into its sword's range.

Every slash leaves four stars on impact. The area directly underneath Morpho Knight is a safe zone where its sword's slashes cannot hit allies.

Knight Spin Morpho Knight can only use this as Morpho Knight EX.

Morpho Knight EX performs a vertical spinnning slash while jumping.

Counter Morpho Knight can only use this as Morpho Knight EX.

Morpho Knight EX enters a counter pose, like Meta Knight's Galactic Counter.
If it is attacked during this pose, it will counterattack with a random move of the following:

  • Slash(es)
  • Upper Calibur
  • Scale Wave
Sukhavati (極楽), or the Western Paradise, refers to the western pure land of Amitābha in Mahayana Buddhism.

Super Kirby Clash

Morpho Gear, which includes Morpho Doomblade (left) and Morpho Doomhelm (right).

One of the strongest gear sets for Sword Hero (called the Morpho Gear) is available for purchase in Magolor's Shoppe. This gear gives Sword Hero Kirby a replica of Morpho Knight's helmet and sword.

Other appearances

Morpho Knight's concept art for Kirby. Note that the sword differs in design compared to the Kirby Star Allies model.

Kirby (Nintendo GameCube)

Morpho Knight was originally a boss for the cancelled title Kirby for Nintendo GameCube.[7] Its concept art can be found on Meta Knight's page in the booklet from Kirby's Dream Collection. In its original design for Kirby GCN, Morpho Knight wields a straight sword. Given this connection to Meta Knight, Morpho Knight's English name can be seen as a pun, as both names fit into the word 'meta-morpho-sis' and follow each other.

Music

Morpho Knight is unique in that its battle music can change depending on its opponent.

Morpho Knight's Theme

Morpho Knight's Theme is composed by Hirokazu Ando and can be found as Track 173 in Kirby Star Allies Jukebox as of Version 4.0.0. It is titled 審判の夢見鳥:バルフレイナイト[8] (Butterfly of Judgment: Morpho Knight) in the Original Soundtrack. This track plays when all characters who are not Dream Friends fight Morpho Knight; prior to Version 4.0.0, the theme was also used when King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Bandana Waddle Dee fought it.

This track features keyboard, piano and notable use of bass guitar. Morpho Knight's Theme resembles "Vs. Meta Knight" from Kirby Super Star in some manner but they have different melodies and time signature (Morpho Knight: 4/4; Meta Knight: 5/8).

Dream Friend music change

During the Morpho Knight battle in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! and Soul Melter (EX) difficulty of The Ultimate Choice, if 1P is a Dream Friend, The Divine Terminus stage in which Morpho Knight is fought will feature a different background. In the case of Morpho Knight EX, the background will always be the Version 4.0.0 variant. Morpho Knight's theme will also be replaced by new music remixes (the music change only happens in The Ultimate Choice if 1P is a Dream Friend that has completed Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! at least once and is on Soul Melter or Soul Melter EX difficulty).

Dream Friend Tracks for Morpho Knight Battle (Version 4.0.0)  
1P Dream Friend Jukebox Track No. Official Title[8] Arrangement From Arranged by
King Dedede
Meta Knight
Bandana Waddle Dee
174 ナイトメアーズバトル
Nightmare's Battle
Vs. Nightmare (Wizard Form) This did not appear until Update 4.0.0. Kirby's Adventure Jun Ishikawa
Rick & Kine & Coo 175 ダーククラウディ
Dark Cloudy
Medley: Kirby's Dream Land 2 Hirokazu Ando
Marx 176 VS. マルク/スターアライズ ドリーム ver.
Vs. Marx / Star Allies Dream ver.
Vs. Marx (Meddlesome Marx) Kirby Super Star Jun Ishikawa
Gooey 177 ダークマター イン ザ ハイパーゾーン
Dark Matter in the Hyper Zone
Vs. Dark Matter (Hyper Zone 1) Kirby's Dream Land 3 Hirokazu Ando
Adeleine & Ribbon 178 おとめたちのやみとのたたかい
Maidens' Battle With Darkness
Medley: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Hirokazu Ando
Dark Meta Knight 179 ダークミラージュ
Dark Mirage
Medley: Kirby & The Amazing Mirror Yuuta Ogasawara
Daroach 180 真!ドロッチェ団のテーマ
True! Squeak Squad Theme
Squeak Squad Appears! / Squeak Squad Theme [[Kirby: Squeak Squad|Template:KSS KMA]] Jun Ishikawa
Magolor 181 覇王戴冠 ~OVERLORD~
Crowning of the King ~OVERLORD~
Medley: [[Kirby's Return to Dream Land|Template:KRDL KAW]] Hirokazu Ando
Taranza 182 月魄のファントム
Phantom of the Moon's Spirit
Medley: Kirby: Triple Deluxe Hirokazu Ando
Susie 183 幼き日に視たデウス・エクス・マキナ
Deus ex machina Seen in Childhood
Medley: Kirby: Planet Robobot Hirokazu Ando
The Three Mage-Sisters 195 三叉一閃の巫の熱情
Passion of the Tridental-Flashing Mages
Vs. The Three Mage-Sisters (Second Phase; original track) Kirby Star Allies Hirokazu Ando
Track title translations are conjectural.

Profiles

Flavor text

Image Game Flavor text
File:Star Allies Cover.jpg Kirby Star Allies Morpho Knight:

On the day of judgment, this fluttery fiend will fly into action. Brought into existence by "the greatest warrior in the galaxy" and reborn as a knight of doom through years of adversity—now begins an epic battle with a pure being twisted by a dark past.

Morpho Knight EX:
Come judgement day, this fluttery fiend will fly into action. Will it land in a dream world, or a nightmare? It has mastered its new abilities, now all will witness its true power!

Trivia

  • Morpho Knight's internal filename is called "Bknight" (B comes from the first letter of its Japanese name) or "SecretHades".
  • Morpho Knight's dual sword attack shares the last two kanji of Galacta Knight's "dimensional rift laser" attack from Kirby: Planet Robobot.
    • Galacta Knight: 時界大斬閃 Time-Border Great Slash Flash
    • Morpho Knight: 極楽冥王斬閃 Sukhavati Underworld-King Slash Flash
  • Morpho Knight is one of the few bosses in the Kirby series that can convert Kirby's allies into enemies during the battle. The others are Void Termina's Final Core (Phase 4) and Void Soul.
  • Morpho Knight EX's Japanese caption, 災来する黒き極蝶, can be literally translated as "Disaster Bringer Black Butterfly Returns" (災来 being a pun of 災 disaster and 再来 return). This format is shared by Francisca, Flamberge and Zan Partizanne in their Story Mode 2nd battle captions, in which 災来する— (lit. "Disaster Bringer XXX Returns") is localized as "Bringer of XXX" in the English version.
  • Morpho Knight EX's splash screen cannot be skipped in Soul Melter EX of The Ultimate Choice.

Gallery

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Japanese バルフレイナイト
バルフレイナイトEX
Barufurei Naito
Derived from English words:
  • バタフライ (butterfly)
  • バルキリー (valkyrie)
  • フレイヤ (Freyja)
    or ヴァルフレイヤ (Valfreyja)
Traditional Chinese 冥蝶騎士
冥蝶騎士EX
míng dié qí shì
Underworld Butterfly Knight
Simplified Chinese 冥蝶骑士
冥蝶骑士EX
míng dié qí shì
Dutch Morpho Knight
Morpho Knight+
French Morpho Knight
Morpho Knight EX
German Morpho-Knight
Morpho-Knight X
Italian Morpho Knight
Morpho Knight X
Spanish Morpho Knight
Morpho Knight+

References

  1. "A sword that resembles a butterfly of paradise." –Morpho Doomblade description (Super Kirby Clash)
  2. "銀河最強と言われる 白き騎士が もたらした、長年の 生命のさけびに 共めいし、黄泉からの騎士となって こうりんする。" –VS Morpho Knight (Japanese version)
  3. ""This helmet appeared in response to the screams of the most powerful warrior in the galaxy."" –Morpho Doomhelm description (Super Kirby Clash)
  4. Nintendo Switch News Channel - Kirby Star Allies Channel #23
  5. "白き騎士から 受けついだ パワーを 日々ぞうふくさせ、ついに その力を わがものにする。" –VS Morpho Knight EX (Japanese version)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 星のカービィ スターアライズ かんぺきサポートガイド (Kirby Star Allies Perfect Support Guide) (Famitsu), p.91
  7. "バルフレイナイトのデザインについては、実はゲームキューブ版の王道『カービィ』を考えていた時に敵の新型ナイトボスとして作られていたデザインなのですよ。" –Shinya Kumazaki (Nintendo DREAM July 2018 Issue )
  8. 8.0 8.1 Kirby Star Allies: The Original Soundtrack

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