Burning Leo
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- This article is about the standard enemy with the fiery headdress, and should not be confused with Fire Lion.
Burning Leo, originally named Burnin' Leo, is an enemy in the Kirby series, who debuts in Kirby Super Star. He grants Kirby the Fire ability if swallowed.
Characteristics[edit]
Burning Leo's physical appearance is similar to that of Kirby's. He has salmon-pink skin, dark eyes (he has blue eyes as of Kirby Star Allies) dark-colored shoes and a dark-colored headband with many flames coming out of it, resembling hair. The headband also has a circular red gem on the middle. His mouth only appears when he exhales fire.
As a Helper in Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra, his skin becomes blue and his headband and shoes, green. In Kirby Star Allies, Burning Leo can appear in four different colors (normal, yellow, blue, green) depending on which player slot he is occupying.
In Kirby Super Star Ultra, a green-colored Burning Leo with purple shoes is a playable character in Helper to Hero along with the other helpers.
Game appearances[edit]
| Burning Leo's video game appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game | Role | Notes |
| Kirby Super Star | Enemy and playable character | Burning Leo can be played as when recruited as a Helper. |
| Kirby Super Star Ultra | Enemy and playable character | As this is the remake of Kirby Super Star, his role doesn't change. |
| Kirby Mass Attack | Cameo | Briefly appears as one of the enemies sucked into Marx's black hole attack in the Sub-Game Kirby Brawlball. |
| Kirby: Triple Deluxe | Cameo | Appears as a collectible Keychain. |
| Kirby Star Allies | Enemy and playable character | Burning Leo can be recruited as a Friend. |
Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]
Burning Leos are regular enemies in Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra. They can be found in stages walking back and forth, and attack in a similar manner to Hot Heads by attempting to shoot fireballs or breathing fire cones at Kirby if he gets close. Burning Leo also serves as the helper for the Fire Ability, gaining access to Fire Kirby's move-set, and also gaining access to the Infinity Jump. Unlike Fire Kirby, Burning Leo as a helper can breathe fire underwater, which is needed for a particular Cannon puzzle in the Old Tower region of The Great Cave Offensive.
| Burning Leo's moveset in Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill | Button Execution | Skill | Button Execution |
| Fire Breath | B
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Aim Fire | Fire Breath + a direction
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| Fireball Inferno | Hold B + ←
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Burn | Dash + B
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| Fireball Spin | B in air
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Fireball Roll | B prior to landing
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Locations[edit]
Burning Leo can be found in the following places in Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra:
| Burning Leo locations in Kirby Super Star & Kirby Super Star Ultra | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage | Appearance? | Stage | Appearance? |
| Green Greens | 
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RoMK Chapter 4 | 
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| Float Islands |
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RoMK Chapter 5 |
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| Bubbly Clouds |
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RoMK Chapter 6 |
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| Mt. Dedede |
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RoMK Chapter 7 |
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| Peanut Plains |
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Floria |
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| Mallow Castle |
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Aquarius |
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| Cocoa Cave |
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Skyhigh |
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| Candy Mountain |
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Hotbeat |
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| Trial Room 1 |
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Cavius |
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| Trial Room 2 |
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Mekkai |
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| Sub-Tree |
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Halfmoon |
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| Crystal |
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??? |
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| Old Tower |
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Purple Plants |
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| Garden |
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Illusion Islands |
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| RoMK Chapter 1 |
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Crash Clouds |
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| RoMK Chapter 2 |
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The Revenge |
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| RoMK Chapter 3 |
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Burnin' Leo helping Kirby battle Jukid
Burnin' Leo can breathe fire underwater, which is necessary to get one of the Old Tower treasures.
Kirby Mass Attack[edit]
Burning Leo makes a tiny cameo appearance in the Kirby Mass Attack Sub-Game Kirby Brawlball, as one of the enemies that gets sucked into Marx's Black Hole attack. Here, his body color is much more orange than in other games.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]
In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Burning Leo is represented in one of the collectable keychains, depicted as his Helper sprite from Kirby Super Star Ultra.
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
| “ | "You set fire to my heart!" Burning Leo, proud of his blazing mane, declares from his heart, "I will go on an adventure and share my flames!" But don’t get carried away. He might burn you! |
” | — Guest Star Burning Leo Roaring Fire Pause Screen description in Kirby Star Allies |
Burning Leo returns after a long absence in Kirby Star Allies, appearing for the first time in 3D. He acts the same as in the previous games, and is recruitable as a Friend. Additionally, he can mix his own ability with others to create Friend Abilities.
Just like in Kirby Super Star, Burning Leo can breathe fire even while underwater.
| Burning Leo's moveset in Kirby Star Allies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill | Button Execution | Skill | Button Execution |
| Fire Breath | B
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Fireball Spin | ↓ + B in midair
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| Target Fire | Fire Breath + a direction
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Fireball Roll | ↓ + B prior to landing
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| Fireball Inferno | Press and hold ← during Fire Breath
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Fireball Jump | Press A during Fireball Roll
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| Burn | Dash + B
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Fireball Climb | Touch a wall during Fireball Roll or Fireball Spin
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| Searing Burn | A during Burn
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Locations[edit]
Burning Leo can be found in the following places in Kirby Star Allies:
In the Kirby novel series[edit]
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In the Kirby novel series, Burning Leo is one of King Dedede's subordinates. Burning Leo is described as a ruffian who is uncontrollable if he gets too worked up. He is shown to spit fire even just out of excitement, and will brush off anyone who opposes him, even if they have a valid reason to do so. Burning Leo is hostile towards Kirby and loyal to King Dedede, despite seeing similarities between the two.
Burning Leo gives Kirby the Fire ability, and is the first character in the entire novel series to provide a Copy Ability.
Volume appearances[edit]
The following is a complete list of every appearance Burning Leo has made in the Kirby novel series, along with the role he plays and its details in the plot of each volume:
| Burning Leo's appearances in the Kirby novel series | ||||
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| Volume | Image | Role | Role details | Notes |
| Kirby and the Dangerous Gourmet Mansion?! | 
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Secondary antagonist | In this volume, Burning Leo is sent by King Dedede to destroy a stove that Kirby is setting up. He gets excited about this, and leaves with Waddle Dee tagging along. Burning Leo successfully destroys the stove, but the fire spreads to the nearby trees. Waddle Dee extinguishes the flames, which initially angers Burning Leo. He then gains the idea of having Waddle Dee extinguish a match that Kirby is holding. Waddle Dee does so with Kirby's approval, and Burning Leo celebrates. His delight is cut short as Kirby immediately inhales Burning Leo, and gains the Fire ability. Burning Leo makes his escape when Kirby loses the ability, and is later seen complaining to King Dedede about what happened. Dedede quickly blames Burning Leo for it, and angrily kicks him away. | |
| Kirby and the Big Panic in Gloomy Woods! | 
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Tertiary character | In this volume, when Kirby and Waddle Dee set out to make inquiries, Burning Leo is the first person they find. Kirby immediately asks if he and King Dedede are really alike. Burning Leo admits that he thinks so, which shocks Kirby. He prepares to inhale Burning Leo, but is quickly stopped by Waddle Dee. | |
| Kirby Clash Team Unite! | 
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Tertiary supporting character | ||
Trivia[edit]
- Burning Leo is one of the few friends in Kirby Star Allies that doesn't wear a Kirby-styled hat, the other two being Plugg and Parasol Waddle Dee. This is because Burning Leo's mane is already essentially the same as Kirby's Fire hat, Plugg can generate electricity, and Parasol doesn’t give Kirby a hat. He does, however, gain the Fire hat's spiraling golden headband and blue gem, Plugg gains the headband for Plasma, and Parasol Waddle Dee gains Kirby’s parasol.
- Alongside Chilly, Burning Leo is one of two enemies in Kirby Star Allies that doesn’t use his helper palette from Kirby Super Star.
Gallery[edit]
Artwork from Kirby Super Star
Artwork of an unused green variety from Kirby Super Star
Enemy sprite from Kirby Super Star
Helper sprite from Kirby Super Star
Icon from Kirby Super Star
Artwork from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Artwork with flames from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Key artwork for Kirby Super Star Ultra
Enemy sprite from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Helper sprite from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Helper to Hero sprite from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Icon from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Pause screen artwork of an allied Burning Leo from Kirby Star Allies
Tip image of a Burning Leo giving Sword Kirby the Sizzle enchantment in Kirby Star Allies
Tip image of a Burning Leo joining Kirby in Kirby Star Allies co-op
Kirby and three Burning Leos floating in space from Kirby Star Allies
Kirby and three Burning Leos riding a Warp Star from Kirby Star Allies
Artwork for Kirby's 20th Anniversary
Illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter commemorating the announcement of Kirby for Nintendo Switch
Burning Leo plushie, manufactured by San-ei
"Star Allies" miniature set from the "Kirby Popstar Night Cinema" merchandise line, featuring Burning Leo on the movie poster
"Iron Plate" miniature set from the "Kirby Pupupu Japanese Festival" merchandise line, manufactured by Re-ment
"Friend Train" Travel Sticker from the Kirby Pupupu Train 2018 events
Towels from Lawson's Kirby's 30th Anniversary Campaign, featuring Burning Leo on one of the towels
Dedede Directory about Burning Leo
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | バーニンレオ Bāninreo |
Burnin' Leo |
| Traditional Chinese | 燃燒鬃冠 rán shāo zōng guān |
Burning Mane Crown |
| Simplified Chinese | 燃烧鬃冠 rán shāo zōng guān | |
| Dutch | Burning Leo | - |
| French | Léo Laflam | "Laflam" is a diminutive for la flamme ("flame") |
| German | Leo Loder | Blazing Leo ("Loder" comes from "lodern" which means blaze) |
| Italian | Fiammelleo | From "Fiammella" (small flame) and "Leo" |
| Korean | 버닝레오 Beoningleo |
Burning Leo |
| Latin American Spanish | Leo Flama | Flame Leo |
| European Spanish | Burning Leo | - |
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