Editing Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight

{{Infobox-Boss
|image=[[File:KF2 Moon Warriors Artwork.png|350px]]
|caption=Artwork of '''Waning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight''' from ''[[Kirby Fighters 2]]''.
|game1=''[[Kirby Fighters 2]]'' (2020)
|lastgame=''[[Kirby's Dream Buffet]]'' (2022, reference)
|relative=[[King Dedede]], [[Meta Knight]], [[King Dedede & Meta Knight]]
|similar=[[Masked Dedede]]
|theme music=[[File:Waning Crescent Masked Dedede and Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight Battle Theme KF2.mp3]]<br>"[[Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens (theme)|Stage of the Partners Who Shook the Heavens]]"
|description=Clip of the theme that plays when fighting the Moon Warriors, also used for the [[Stage of the Partners|eponymous stage]].
}}
{{Quote|Wearing the {{Color|orange|mysterious masks}} that hid the knight's true nature, they are like the {{Color|orange|waning and waxing crescent moons}} in the moonlight! Old rivals prepare to meet their destiny. The time is ripe. {{Color|orange|Let the battle be joined}}!|Pause screen caption for '''Waning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight''' in ''[[Kirby Fighters 2]]''}}
'''Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight''' (referred to in short as '''Waning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight'''), titled the '''Moon Warriors''', are the final [[boss]] of ''[[Kirby Fighters 2]]'', appearing at the end of [[Story Mode: The Destined Rivals]]. They are [[King Dedede & Meta Knight]] empowered by a cursed relic called the '''Mask of Dark Bonds''',<ref>''"The mask that King Dedede used was the Mask of Dark Bonds."'' <small>--ending [[Narrator|narration]] for Story Mode: The Destined Rivals, in ''Kirby Fighters 2''</small></ref> which also gives them new distinct weapons. The [[King Dedede|king]] and [[Meta Knight|knight]] have resorted to this tactic in order to finally gain the upper hand over [[Kirby]] and his buddy, and gain frightening power in battle. However, even this is not enough to best Kirby, and the Moon Warriors are dispatched using the [[Buddy Star Blaster]], destroying the mask in the process.

== Role in Story Mode: The Destined Rivals ==
Waning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight is the second phase of the final battle against King Dedede & Meta Knight in the Final Chapter of Story Mode: The Destined Rivals. The two partners put the masks on after their initial [[stamina|health meter]] is depleted, which rejuvenates them and fills them with immense energy. Aside from the increased attack power and speed, the battle is much the same as it was in the second half of Chapter 4's boss fight, though this time it ends with Kirby and his buddy using the Buddy Star Blaster to finish the two partners off, sending them flying into the heavens and leaving the Mask of Dark Bonds behind.

== Attacks ==
The following are all of Waning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight's attacks in ''Kirby Fighters 2'' in the order they are performed during the battle. Note that attack names are conjectural:
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellpadding="2"
!colspan=3|'''Waning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight's attacks in ''Kirby Fighters 2''''' &nbsp;
|-
! '''Attack'''
! '''Description'''
! '''Notes'''
|-
| '''Swirling Hyper Crescent Blast'''
| After a brief portrait freeze-frame, Waning Masked Dedede and Waxing Masked Meta Knight jump to each-other and grab hold, spinning around in the air as several crescent shots fire out from them.<br>They then rise up and charge energy while repositioning toward either the left or right side of the stage before slamming to the ground, creating a huge ripple and explosion that deals massive damage.<br>All crescent shots and the final explosion leave drop stars on impact, and Dedede is dazed after the attack.
|The Moon Warriors always open the fight with this attack.<br>On subsequent uses, the freeze-frame does not trigger again.<br>Sometimes, stars forming the HAL letters may briefly twinkle in the sky in the top-left corner right after the crescent shots but before the ground slam.
|-
| '''[[Inhale]]'''
| After repositioning to opposite sides of the stage, Waning Masked Dedede performs an inhale while Waxing Masked Meta Knight [[Guard]]s. <br>If Kirby or his buddy are caught in the inhale, Dedede will spit them back out the other side, and Meta Knight will swipe at them to finish the attack.
|
|-
| '''Force Falls'''
| Waxing Masked Meta Knight flies into the background and holds position briefly while Waning Masked Dedede takes one side of the stage. <br>Meta Knight then conjures six magical boulders and tosses them into a column in front of Dedede. <br>Dedede then bats each of these toward Kirby, leaving a drop star each time.
|
|-
| '''Hammer and Backhand Slash - Triple Slash'''
| Waning Masked Dedede and Waxing Masked Meta Knight position themselves at the center of the stage. Once done, Dedede charges up and slams the ground in front of himself with his hammer, sending out a shockwave and leaving a Dropped Star on impact. <br>Behind him, Meta Knight throws out four successive sword swipes and finishes with a Crescent Shot projectile that also leaves a Dropped Star.
|
|-
| '''Duplicate Inhale Attack'''
| Waxing Masked Meta Knight flies into the background and splits into four copies while Waning Masked Dedede takes to the air. <br>Dedede then inhales all four Meta Knights and spits them out as projectiles at Kirby and his teammate, one by one.
|
|-
| '''Aerial Crescent Shot and Bat'''
| Waxing Masked Meta Knight flies into the air and holds position briefly while Waning Masked Dedede takes the other side of the stage. <br>Meta Knight then throws out four Crescent Shot projectiles diagonally downward while Dedede charges his hammer. <br>Dedede then bats one of the shots to split it into nine more projectiles that fan out from him, leaving drop stars on impact.
|
|-
| '''Head Slide & Shuttle Loop'''
| Waning Masked Dedede runs forward and does a [[Head Slide]] while Waxing Masked Meta Knight flies above and does a [[Shuttle Loop]]. <br>Two [[Dropped Star]]s drop from Dedede on impact.
| 
|}

== Other appearances ==
*In ''[[Kirby's Dream Buffet]]'', Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight appear together on a [[Character Treat]], using their artwork from ''Kirby Fighters 2''. Here, their names are shortened to '''Masked D. & Masked M.'''

==Gallery==
<gallery>
KF2 Waning Crescent Masked Dedede render.png|Render of Waning Crescent Masked Dedede from ''Kirby Fighters 2''
KF2 Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight render.png|Render of Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight from ''Kirby Fighters 2''
KF2 MoonWarriors DarkMaskDedede.jpg|King Dedede pulling out the Mask of Dark Bonds in a cutscene
KF2 MoonWarriors DarkMaskMK.jpg|Meta Knight putting on his half of the mask in place of his broken one
KF2 MoonWarriors SplashScreen.jpg|Splash screen for the Moon Warriors
KF2 MoonWarriorsBattle.jpg|The Moon Warriors in battle atop the [[Stage of the Partners]]
KF2 MoonWarriors Run.jpg|The Moon Warriors are running and flying across the arena to prepare their positions
KF2 Moon Warriors super attack.jpg|The Moon Warriors preparing to use the Swirling Hyper Crescent Blast attack
KF2 MoonWarriors DuplicateInhale.jpg|The Moon Warriors perform Duplicate Inhale
KF2 MoonWarriors CrescentShotBat.jpg|The Moon Warriors perform Aerial Crescent Shot and Bat
KF2 Buddy Star Blaster finisher screenshot.jpg|Kirby and his buddy preparing to use the Buddy Star Blaster on the downed partners
KF2 MoonWarriors FinalDefeat.jpg|The Moon Warriors are blasted with the laser beam from the Buddy Star Blaster
KF2 Moon Warriors defeated.jpg|The Moon Warriors are sent packing by the Buddy Star Blaster to finish the fight
KF2 First Credits picture 7.png|Chapter 4 credits picture teasing Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight
KF2 Second Credits picture 6.png|Chapter 5 credits picture showing the duo right after finishing an attack
KF2 Second Credits picture 7.png|Chapter 5 credits picture featuring [[Sword]] [[Kirby]] and [[Bandana Waddle Dee]] after defeating the duo
KF2 Twitter - Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight Concept Art image 1.jpg|Concept art of Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight
KF2 Twitter - Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight Concept Art image 2.jpg|Concept art of Waning Crescent Masked Dedede & Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight's weapons
KDB Masked D and Masked M character treat.png|[[Character Treat]] from ''[[Kirby's Dream Buffet]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{Names
|ja={{furi|下弦|かげん}}のマスクド・デデデ&{{furi|上弦|じょうげん}}のマスクド・メタナイト<br>{{furi|下弦|かげん}}のマスクド・D&{{furi|上弦|じょうげん}}のマスクド・M
|jaR=Kagen no Masukudo Dedede & Jōgen no Masukudo Meta Naito
|jaM=Waning Moon Masked Dedede & Waxing Moon Masked Meta Knight
|de=Mond-Krieger, Abnehmender-Mond-Dedede Inkognito & Zunehmender-Mond-Meta-Knight Inkognito
|deM=Moon Warriors, Waning Moon Incognito Dedede & Waxing Moon Incognito Meta Knight
|frA=Guerriers lunaires, Dadidou Masqué Lune Descendante & Meta Knight Masqué Lune Croissante<br>D. Masqué Lune Descendante & M. Masqué Lune Croissante
|frAM=Moon warriors, Waning Moon Masked Dedede & Waxing Moon Masked Meta Knight
|frE=Guerriers lunaires, DaDiDou Masqué Lune Descendante & Meta Knight Masqué Lune Croissante<br>D. Masqué Lune Descendante & M. Masqué Lune Croissante
|frEM=Moon warriors, Waning Moon Masked Dedede & Waxing Moon Masked Meta Knight
|es=Dedede enmascarado menguante y Meta Knight enmascarado creciente<br>D. enmascarado menguante y M. enmascarado creciente
|esM=Waning Masked Dedede and Waxing Masked Meta Knight
|ko=하현의 마스크 디디디 & 상현의 마스크 메타 나이트<br>하현의 마스크 D & 상현의 마스크 M
|koR=hahyeon-ui maseukeu dididi & sanghyeon-ui maseukeu meta naiteu
|koM=Waning Masked Dedede & Waxing Masked Meta Knight
|zhTrad=下弦月蒙面·帝帝帝&上弦月蒙面·魅塔騎士<br>下弦月蒙面·D&上弦月蒙面·M
|zhTradR=xià xián yuè méng miàn dì dì dì & shàng xián yuè méng miàn mèi tǎ qí shì
|zhSimp=下弦月蒙面·帝帝帝&上弦月蒙面·魅塔骑士<br>下弦月蒙面·D&上弦月蒙面·M
|zhSimpR=xià xián yuè méng miàn dì dì dì & shàng xián yuè méng miàn mèi tǎ qí shì
|zhM=Waning Moon Masked Dedede & Waxing Moon Masked Meta Knight
|pt=D. mascarado e M. mascarado <small>(Shortened name from ''Kirby's Dream Buffet'')</small>
|ptM= Masked D. and Masked M.
|it=Guerrieri lunari, Dedede Mascherato Luna calante & Meta Knight Mascherato Luna crescente<br>D Mascherato calante & M Mascherato crescente
|itM=Lunar warriors, Waning Moon Masked Dedede & Waxing Moon Masked Meta Knight
|nl=Maanstrijders, Afnemende-maan-Dedede & wassende-maan-Meta Knight<br>Gemaskerde D. & gemaskerde M. <small>(Shortened name from ''Kirby's Dream Buffet'')</small>
|nlM=Moon warriors, Waning moon Dedede & waxing moon Meta Knight<br>Masked D. & masked M.
}}
{{ref}}
{{clear}}
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[[Category:Final bosses]]
[[Category:Bosses in Kirby Fighters 2]]