Dragoon
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| “ | This legendary machine rips through the sky like a hot knife through butter! It's been said that this machine resembles a phoenix when it's slicing up the sky at unimaginable top speeds! | ” | — Kirby Air Ride North American instruction booklet, page 35 |
The Dragoon is a rideable machine in Kirby Air Ride. It is one of two extremely powerful legendary machines in the game, the other being the Hydra. As a legendary machine, it can only be used in the main mode of City Trial if all three of its parts have been obtained by a single player, or after it has been unlocked for use in City Trial's Free Run mode. It is best known for having, far and away, the most outstanding gliding capabilities in the game, able to zip through the air at very high speed and stay airborne for over a minute at the least.
Since its appearance in Kirby Air Ride, the Dragoon has also made a handful of cameos in subsequent Kirby titles, and has been featured as an item in the Super Smash Bros. series since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where it is used to ram other fighters at high speed.
Overview[edit]
The Dragoon is the second largest machine in Kirby Air Ride, in terms of lateral width and apparent mass, second only to its fellow legendary machine, the Hydra. Its main body is composed of a pink shape, loosely resembling the form of a bird with its wings spread, sporting a mysterious, red, symmetrical design across it. Each of its "wings" possess a large, curved talon of a steel-like color, and texture, protruding forward. The rear of the main body is adorned with a single jet-propulsion-style engine, which expels a pink gas at a speed which follows the machine's velocity. Extending out from the rear of each wing are four tear-drop shaped spikes, which hover mere inches from the body itself, composed of various warm colors (the spikes near the exterior of the wings being larger).
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby Air Ride[edit]
Assembly[edit]
Like its fellow legendary machine, the Hydra, the Dragoon can normally only be brought into existence by assembling three different parts found throughout City Trial. These three parts are found only in red boxes, as opposed to green or blue boxes, and are comprised of the two pieces which connect to form the main body, and the eight spikes which extrude out the back. The parts are picked up by touching them, like all collectible items in the game, and each part collected appears in the player's heads-up-display. When the player takes damage, there is a chance they will drop one or more of the parts they have collected, which can then be picked up again by that same player or a different player. The parts are able to appear in roughly half of all city trials.
When one player holds all three parts, a short cutscene of the machine assembling itself will play, and the rider's machine will be replaced with the Dragoon. In addition, the city's music will change to The Legendary Air Ride Machine theme until the Stadium segment of the trial begins.
Although the Dragoon is particularly durable, it can still be destroyed like any other machine.
Mechanics[edit]
The Dragoon handles like a traditional star in most regards. However, all of its attributes are above-average. Its gliding capability in particular is by far the best in the game, as it can reach heights and distances no others can, and can maintain a very fast speed in the air, up to 56.35 mph (90.68 km/h) without patches.
On the ground, its top speed is 37.28 mph (59.99 km/h), matchable only by its fellow legendary machine Hydra, the Bulk Star, and the Formula Star. Unlike those machines, however, it can quickly accelerate to this speed and do so without needing to store fuel. Though in essence it turns well, that attribute is often made less apparent by its high speed and tendency to drag on the ground. Its boost and charge are notably superior to most machines, including the Hydra. Its HP, offense, defense, and weight are also high, but exceeded by the Hydra, the Bulk Star, and certain other machines.
How to Unlock[edit]
This machine cannot be used in Air Ride mode.
In City Trial's main mode of play, the Dragoon is bestowed upon any player who has assembled its three parts. Unlocking it in City Trial's Free Run mode, however, requires three different challenges to be completed on the checklist--each one representing one of the three different parts of the Dragoon. Those challenges are as follows:
- Glide higher than 1,000 feet in a single flight of High Jump.
- Within the course of a single City Trial, fly through rings in the sky at least five times.
- Glide more than 1,300 feet in a single flight of Air Glider.
Once unlocked in City Trial's Free Run, this machine can be selected in the menu, stored in the same basement with the other machines if not selected.
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
In Kirby Star Allies (Version 3.0.0 onward), after clearing Story Mode, the Dragoon can be found flying in the space on the world map of Planet Popstar on occasion.
The Dragoon occasionally orbits around Planet Popstar in the stage select area.
Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, the Dragoon is depicted on a Character Treat, using its artwork from Kirby Air Ride.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
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SmashWiki has more information about this subject here. |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
As an Item[edit]
The Dragoon makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an item. It can only be activated once the player's character collects all three parts, similar to its appearance in Kirby Air Ride. When the character takes damage, there is a chance their collected parts will be dropped and could possibly be obtained by any character. When a character holding one or two parts is K.O.'d, they will always drop all their parts.
Once all three are collected, the character assembles the machine and flies off the screen and can target any player with a crosshair movable with the Control Stick. While the player is aiming, their character is completely intangible. Firing the Dragoon can be done by pressing the attack button, or will be done automatically if too much time passes. Firing the Dragoon will cause it to soar through the screen in a split-second. If the player hits any opponents on their pass, they will almost always be K.O.'d even if they have 0% damage. After the Dragoon soars through, it will disappear, and the character will drop down from the top edge of the screen.
Kirby also uses the Dragoon once in a cutscene of the Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary, in a similar assaulting fashion to how it is used in other areas of the game. The Dragoon helps destroy the Subspace Gunship that is hindering Kirby and his group to defeat the Subspace Army.
Trophy Information[edit]
| Name | Image | Game | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragoon | 
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GCN Kirby Air Ride | An attack-capable Air Ride machine you can assemble by combining parts A, B, and C. You can knock off parts held by foes in combat, so stealing parts is something that's sure to occur. In Kirby Air Ride, you control legendary machines, but the Dragoon not only towers above all others in terms of speed, it is also able to fly. |
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]
As an Item[edit]
The Dragoon makes an appearance once again in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, and has the same role as Brawl had.
Trophy Information[edit]
| Name | Image (Wii U) | Image (3DS) | Appears In/Related Games | American English description | British English/Korean description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragoon | 
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GCN Kirby Air Ride (10/2003) | Collect parts A, B, and C to assemble the legendary Air Ride machine known as the Dragoon. Take careful aim, and then ride it toward your target. A hit will send enemies flying out of the battle. Taking damage before you've collected all your parts can knock them from your grasp, however. | Collect parts A, B and C to assemble the legendary Air Ride machine Dragoon, which you can use to fly into an opponent. Aim well and they'll be long gone. If you're the one being aimed at, though, get out of the way, stat! By the way, if another player has one of the parts, attack them to steal it! |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
As an Item[edit]
The Dragoon returns and functions the same as an item in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
In addition, Pit's new Final Smash, the Lightning Chariot from Kid Icarus: Uprising, attacks in the same way as the Dragoon item.
Trivia[edit]
- Aspects of the Dragoon's design (namely the hovering feather spikes and the striped markings on the back) would be incorporated into both the Star Allies Sparkler and the Buddy Star Blaster.
Gallery[edit]
Model from Kirby Air Ride
Kirby collecting a Dragoon piece
Kirby riding the Dragoon
The Dragoon as seen in the City Trial ending
Stone sculpture from Kirby's Return to Dream Land
Stone sculpture from Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Model from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Model of the Dragoon claw from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Model of the Dragoon body from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Model of the Dragoon wings from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Model used for its trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
The Dragoon claw in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Dragoon body in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Dragoon wings in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ドラグーン Doragūn |
Dragoon |
| Chinese | 龙骑兵 Lóng qíbīng |
Dragoon |
| Dutch | Dragoon | - |
| French | Dragoon | - |
| German | Dragoon | - |
| Italian | Dragoon | - |
| Korean | 드래군 deulaegun |
Dragoon |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Dragão | Dragon |
| European Portuguese | Dragoon[1] | - |
| Russian | Драгун Dragun |
Dragoon |
| Spanish | Dragoon | - |
References
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