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Needle
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Needle is a Copy Ability that allows Kirby to protrude sharp spikes from himself, making its debut in Kirby's Adventure. It can typically be obtained by inhaling a Tick, a Togezo, or a Needlous, though there are other enemies that also provide it. Depending on the game, when Kirby uses this ability, he either generates the needles from his skin or from the hat he obtains, with the latter case also often allowing him to shoot the needles at opponents along with other prickly attacks. Despite being one of the original Copy Abilities and recurring regularly throughout the series, it does not appear as often as many others.
Characteristics[edit]

Depending on which game the ability appears in, Needle can have many different functions and utilities, with some games focusing more on its defensive aspects while others focus more on its mobility. Regardless of the particulars, Needle Kirby always has at least one basic move, which is to sit in place and protrude needles outward in all directions, damaging any enemies that touch them.
Up until Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Needle was always defined solely by that one move, though Kirby: Canvas Curse put a spin on it by allowing Kirby to do a rolling dash with it. In some games - most notably Kirby's Dream Course, Kirby's Block Ball, and the aforementioned Kirby: Canvas Curse - Needle Kirby can stick to surfaces in order to better control his movement. When Kirby's Return to Dream Land released, Needle Kirby finally gained an expanded Kirby Super Star-style moveset. Among these new moves were the ability to shoot larger needles upward or downward to attack more distant foes, roll up into a needle ball for a quick dash, or even shoot needles outward like projectiles, similar to some of the Animal Friend combinations in Kirby's Dream Land 2 and Kirby's Dream Land 3. In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Needle was overhauled once again, this time placing a lot more emphasis on movement. In this game, Needle Kirby rolls toward enemies with his needles out and catches them, carrying them with him. He can then throw them at other enemies or obstacles when he retracts his needles.
Traditionally, Kirby would turn yellow when gaining the Needle ability, though this is not nearly as common in games from Kirby's Return to Dream Land and onward.
Game appearances[edit]
Needle Kirby's video game appearances | ||
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Game | Role | Notes |
Kirby series | ||
Kirby's Adventure | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Togezo. |
Kirby's Dream Land 2 | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Spikey and Captain Stitch. Can be paired with an Animal Friend. |
Kirby's Block Ball | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Spikey or an Ability Changer. |
Kirby's Dream Land 3 | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Togezo, lance-wielding Bukiset, Tick, Boten, and Captain Stitch. Can be paired with an Animal Friend. |
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Tick, Ghost Knight, Kacti, Punc, and some boss attacks. Can be combined with itself or other abilities to make Power Combos. |
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Needlous. |
Kirby Air Ride | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Pichikuri. Needle is limited-use in this game. |
Kirby: Canvas Curse | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Needlous and Tick. |
Kirby's Return to Dream Land | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Needlous, Tick, and Totenga. |
Kirby: Triple Deluxe | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Tick. |
Kirby and the Forgotten Land | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Needlous, Jabhog, and Totenga. Can be evolved into Clutter Needle and Crystal Needle, or powered up. |
Kirby's Dream Buffet | Copy Food Ability | Activated using the Needle Candy Copy Food item for a single use. |
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Needlous, Tick, and Totenga. |
Super Smash Bros. series | ||
Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Reference | Needle Kirby appears as a trophy and a sticker. |
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | Reference | Needle Kirby appears as a trophy. |
Kirby's Adventure / Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land[edit]
Needle makes its debut appearance in Kirby's Adventure. Kirby surrounds himself with needles, hurting any enemy that is too close to him. If Kirby is falling, the spikes hit enemies from below. Needle is provided in this game by the enemy Togezo.
Needle also reappears in the remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. There, Kirby is colored yellow, and he wears a pink-colored cap filled with golden needles. This would be the first such appearance of this hat in the Kirby series (previously, it was introduced outside of the video games in the anime, Kirby: Right Back at Ya!). In this game, Needle is provided by the enemy Needlous, who has replaced Togezo from the original version.
Kirby's Dream Course[edit]
Needle is one of the abilities in Kirby's Dream Course, provided by Togezo, where it has a primarily movement-oriented function rather than an offensive one. When Kirby activates the Needle ability, he can pin himself to any surface, preventing him from moving, bouncing, or sliding. This is handy to prevent Kirby from rolling too far or bouncing off a ledge. In the 2P Game, the Needle ability can be held through the other player's turn, and the other player will take 4 tomatoes of damage if he runs into the needles.
Kirby's Dream Land 2[edit]

Needle reappears in Kirby's Dream Land 2, where it can be acquired from Captain Stitch and Spikey. By itself, this ability is similar to how it works in Kirby's Adventure, though Kirby has a more even spread of spikes that jut from his body and his limbs disappear while they are out. When on an Animal Friend, however, Kirby can perform variations of the ability, as detailed in the following table:
Animal Friend | Appearance | Description |
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Coo | Kirby shoots out a large spike from his body which can harm foes below. | |
Kine | Using this power causes Kirby and Kine to grow spikes all around them. | |
Rick | Rick extends quills from his back, but leaves his front vulnerable. |
Throughout Kirby's Dream Land 2, there are specific blocks which can be broken only with the Needle ability. They are marked with a series of dots on them.
Kirby's Block Ball[edit]
“ | Press the B button just before the ball hits the paddle, then re-launch the ball. | ” | — Kirby's Block Ball North American instruction booklet |
Needle appears in Kirby's Block Ball, obtainable from Spikey or an Ability Swap item. When Kirby has this ability, he can flare up in spikes, temporarily halting his movement (though not altering his course) when doing so. This can be used to break certain blocks and deal increased damage to bosses, though its most unique use comes with its ability to re-attach Kirby to a paddle when he uses it near one. Once attached, Kirby can be served as if he was starting a new ball or entering the area, granting much more control over where Kirby goes.
Kirby's Dream Land 3[edit]

Needle makes another appearance in Kirby's Dream Land 3, here provided by Togezo, Tick, Boten, Bukiset with the needle lance, and Captain Stitch. It functions similarly to its previous appearance in Kirby's Dream Land 2. New Animal Friends, though, create more Needle-related abilities with Kirby or Gooey, as follows:
Animal Friend | Appearance | Description |
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ChuChu | ![]() |
ChuChu shoots out five needles around herself which travel a short distance and hurt enemies on contact. |
Coo | Kirby shoots out a large spike from his body which can harm foes below. | |
Kine | Using this power causes Kirby and Kine to grow spikes all around them. | |
Nago | ![]() |
Kirby rapidly launches harmful pink spikes forward from his face as long as the Y button is held, but cannot move while doing so. |
Pitch | While the Y button is held, Pitch flies forward in a straight line, continuously pecking at the air before him and defeating opponents in his path. | |
Rick | Rick extends quills from his back, but leaves his front vulnerable. |
Throughout Kirby's Dream Land 3, there are specific blocks which can be broken only with the Needle ability. They are marked with the Needle icon on them.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards[edit]
Needle Kirby returns in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, provided the enemies Tick, Ghost Knight, Kacti, and Punc. Here, activating the ability causes Kirby to flare up and then retract on a timer, rather than holding it for as long as the button is held down. Kirby also retains his aerial momentum when using the ability in midair, making it useful for attacking while on the move. Enemies that are hit by Needle Kirby will stick to him for a moment before being defeated, traveling with him if he is moving at the time. Like with other Copy Abilities in this game, Needle can be combined with others or itself to make Power Combos as follows:
- Needle-Needle - Combining Needle with itself creates a larger attack involving various pointy objects emitting from Kirby's body.
- Needle-Bomb - Using this combo, Kirby turns into a Gordo-like entity and can float through the air for a moment before detonating and shooting his spikes out.
- Needle-Cutter - Kirby's hands turn into a gaping maw full of sharp teeth which he can clamp above himself to defeat enemies.
- Needle-Burn - Kirby can transform into a bow and arrow, shooting flaming arrows in an arc.
- Needle-Ice - Kirby turns into a giant spiky snowflake that grows outward, freezing any enemies it touches.
- Needle-Spark - Kirby turns into a pointy lightning rod and shoots a lightning bolt upward.
- Needle-Stone - Kirby gains a drill which he can use to bore through obstacles or shoot as a projectile that passes through walls.
Kirby Air Ride[edit]
Needle returns in Kirby Air Ride, accessible when Kirby swallows Pichikuri or if he touches a Needle Copy Ability Panel or Copy Chance Wheel. If Kirby charges with the Needle ability, his spikes extend, hurting any opponent or enemy that is nearby, similar to the Freeze ability in this game. Needle Kirby will also automatically hurt any enemies or rivals that run into him while he has the ability. Like other Copy Abilities in this game, Needle only lasts a short time before it vanishes.
Kirby: Canvas Curse[edit]
Needle is one of the few Copy Abilities that make an appearance in Kirby: Canvas Curse. If the player taps Kirby with the Nintendo DS stylus, Kirby turns yellow and spikes protrude from him. He can ride the Rainbow Lines and stick to walls, defeating enemies that touch him. Activating his spikes while riding a line can also give Kirby a momentary speed boost, allowing him to leap upward if going off a ramp. Kirby can receive this ability by colliding with Needlous or Tick.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]
Needle makes a prominent return in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and its remake, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Kirby can receive it by inhaling Needlous, Tick, or Totenga's head. Compared to its appearances in previous games, Kirby has more attacks at his disposal when using the Needle ability, but it still has less attacks overall than many other abilities in the game.
Needle moveset in Kirby's Return to Dream Land & Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe | |||
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Skill | Button Execution (KRtDL) | Button Execution (KRtDLD) | Description |
Needle Attack
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1
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B/Y
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Kirby protrudes needles all over himself, keeping them up as long as the button is held. |
Wall Stick
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Touch wall while using Needle Attack
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If Kirby is touching a wall when using Needle Attack, he will stick to it. This is a move in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, but is not listed in the movelist in that game. | |
Needle Burst
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Shake Wii Remote or mash +Control Pad during Needle Attack
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B/Y + move directions rapidly
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While holding his needles out, Kirby can slowly retract them then cause them to fly outward as projectiles in all directions. |
Rolling Needle
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Dash + 1
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Dash + B/Y
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Kirby rills up into a ball and rolls forward at high speed, similar to Needlous. |
Mega Needle
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↑ + 1
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↑ + B/Y
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Kirby shoots out a huge needle straight upward that can poke from long distances. |
Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]
Needle appears again in Kirby: Triple Deluxe. The ability has had a few changes: the Rolling Needle attack was removed (most likely due to its similarity to the Wheel ability), and a new move was added. Needle Burst has also been given some changes, as the move now only fires 5 needles instead of 6, and no extra needles are shot out in mid-air, making it so that the move always fires 5 needles no matter the situation.
Needle moveset in Kirby: Triple Deluxe | ||
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Skill | Image | Button Execution |
Needle Attack
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B
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Wall Stick
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Touch a wall during Needle Attack
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Needle Burst
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Hold B and mash +Control Pad
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Mega Needle
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↑ + B
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Falling Spine
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↓ + B
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Kirby and the Forgotten Land[edit]
After an 8 year absence, Needle Kirby returns in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Here, he gains the ability to roll along the ground with spines in all directions, catching enemies as he travels similar to Snow Bowl or Ice-Ice. In addition, Needle has a couple Evolved Copy Ability forms, those being Clutter Needle and Crystal Needle. Notably, when Kirby retracts his needles, any enemies or objects that were stick to him will be released, and can be flung as projectiles to hit other enemies or objects at a moderate distance. This "Roll up and Throw" technique can be used to solve certain puzzles, particularly in the Treasure Road stage Roll Up and Throw! Clutter Needle Trial.
In this game, Needle is primarily provided by the enemies Needlous, Totenga, and Jabhog.
Moveset[edit]
All attack names are conjectural unless otherwise stated.
Needle moveset in Kirby and the Forgotten Land | ||
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Move | Button execution | Description |
Needle Attack | Hold B | Kirby extends spikes all around his body. In this state, Kirby is able to ignore strong winds. |
Needle Dash | B in midair | Kirby spins and dashes in the direction the L-Stick is tilted, which then transitions into Needle Ball. |
Needle Ball | Move during Needle Attack or Needle Dash | Kirby rolls around like a ball and is able to catch enemies and objects with his spikes. As Kirby rolls, he gradually slows down, however catching enemies and objects also briefly speeds him up. |
Needle Jump | Jump while using Needle Ball | Kirby jumps while in ball form, allowing him to clear small ledges or hit high-up enemies. |
Roll Up and Throw | Release B after Needle Ball | Kirby tosses any enemies or objects stuck to his spikes ahead of him. |
Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

Needle Kirby makes another appearance in Kirby's Dream Buffet. Here, his appearance when using the ability hearkens back to earlier games in the series, since spikes that match his skin color pop out all over himself when he uses it instead of gaining a hat. He can charge up and perform a Needle Dash by pressing and holding the R button. In this game, the ability is acquired from the spiky Needle Candy found in Food Boxes, and can be used for only a limited duration.
Needle Kirby also appears on a Character Treat, using his artwork from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Needle Kirby appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Needle Kirby also appears as a sticker. Equipping this sticker grants +29 to "head" attack damage for any fighter.
In Kirby: Right Back at Ya![edit]
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Needle appears as a Copy Ability in four episodes of the anime series Kirby: Right Back at Ya!. When Kirby acquires this ability, he gains several powers, many of which are not present in the video games. Needle Kirby is able to roll up into a ball, fling his needles out as missiles, and then guide them through the air as they slice through his opponents. Unlike in the games, Needle Kirby is not readily able to replenish his needles once using them, and often loses this ability quickly. In fact, the only enemy that Kirby defeats directly using his own needles is the Pukey Flower, and even then, Meta Knight still delivers the finishing blow.
Needle Kirby struggling against Amon in Sheepwrecked
Needle Kirby battling Togeira in Sweet and Sour Puss
Profiles[edit]
Flavor text[edit]
Image | Game | Flavor text |
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Kirby's Adventure | Lots of needles, just like a porcupine's, come out of Kirby! It's a great defense! |
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Kirby's Dream Course | Needle, when you have a grounder, will make Kirby stick to the ground. He can also stop while rolling down a hill. You can hit the next shot from there! |
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Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land | Hands off! Here: pointy spikes! There: pokey spikes! |
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Kirby: Canvas Curse | Spike anything! Ride rainbows! |
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Kirby's Return to Dream Land | Prick your foes with a thorny jab! Really stick it to 'em! Roll from a dash to bring the pain with a Rolling Needle! |
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Kirby: Triple Deluxe | Cover yourself in pointy needles to poke your enemies and attach to walls! You can also poke needles into the ceiling and floor! |
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Kirby and the Forgotten Land | Figure description: Ouch! Ooch! Careful with those spikes! Jab enemies in place, or pick 'em up by rolling around. Nab a whole bunch of 'em together, then launch them off all at once! POW! |
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Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe | Prick your foes with a thorny jab! Really stick it to 'em! Roll from dashing to bring the pain with a Rolling Needle! |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy[edit]
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy[edit]
Kirby's Dream Course manual[edit]
- "Using Needle will make Kirby come to a full stop even on a slope. Remember to make adjustments when Kirby is moving at a fast speed."
Kirby's Block Ball manual[edit]
- "Press the B Button just before the ball hits the paddle, then re-launch the ball."
Trivia[edit]
- So far, Needle and Spear are the only Copy Abilities which are translated as only one Chinese character (針/针) in the official localization, instead of two or three characters which are more common.
- Interestingly in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, Needle doesn't include Falling Spine in its moveset, unlike other abilities which contain moves that were not introduced until games released after the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land.
Gallery[edit]
Artwork[edit]
Figure from Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Treasure Road artwork from Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Copy Food from Kirby's Dream Buffet
Sprites[edit]
Icons[edit]
Other[edit]
Character Treat from Kirby's Dream Buffet
Model used for Needle Kirby's trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Videos[edit]
Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Needle
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Names in other languages[edit]
Language | Name | Meaning |
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Japanese | ニードル Nīdoru |
Needle |
Traditional Chinese | 針[1] Zhēn |
Needle |
Simplified Chinese | 针[1] Zhēn | |
Dutch | Stekel Prikker (Kirby and the Forgotten Land onward) |
Spine Poking |
French | Aiguille | Needle |
German | Igel | Hedgehog |
Italian | Spino | Thorn |
Korean | 니들 Nideul |
Needle |
Polish | Igła[2] | Needle |
Brazilian Portuguese | Ouriço Espinho[3] |
Hedgehog Thorn |
European Portuguese | Ouriço[4] | Hedgehog |
Russian | Игла Igla |
Needle |
Spanish | Erizo | Hedgehog |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Since Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- ↑ Nintendo Poland - Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- ↑ Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, Flower Power, Here Comes the Son
- ↑ Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
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- Good pages
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Dream Course
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Dream Land 2
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Block Ball
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Dream Land 3
- Copy Abilities in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- Copy Abilities in Kirby Air Ride
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Canvas Curse
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Return to Dream Land
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
- Copy Abilities in Kirby: Triple Deluxe
- Copy Abilities in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Copy Abilities in Kirby's Dream Buffet
- Copy Abilities which can cut ropes