Needle

Needle Artwork of Needle Kirby from Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Details First game Kirby's Adventure (1993) Latest game Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023, upcoming) Other game(s) Kirby's Dream Course Kirby's Dream Land 2 Kirby's Block Ball Kirby's Dream Land 3 Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land Kirby Air Ride Kirby: Canvas Curse Kirby's Return to Dream Land Kirby: Triple Deluxe Kirby and the Forgotten Land Kirby's Dream Buffet Type(s) Unlimited uses Obtained from Boten, Bukiset, Captain Stitch, Ghost Knight, Jabhog, Kacti, Needlous, Pichikuri, Punc, Spikey, Tick, Togezo, Totenga Power(s) Surrounding Kirby with spikes and performing needle-based attacks. Similar to Spark, Freeze

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

Artwork of Needle Kirby from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

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

Kirby's Adventure / Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Kirby using the Needle ability to attack enemies in Kirby's Adventure.

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

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.

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  Kirby using the Needle ability in Kirby's Dream Course

Kirby's Dream Land 2

Kirby using Needle in conjunction with Coo to attack an enemy under some Star Blocks in Kirby's Dream Land 2

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
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

“

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

In Kirby's Dream Land 3, using Needle in conjunction with ChuChu causes the octopus to shoot pink spike projectiles in many directions.

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
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

Kirby using the Needle ability in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.

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

Kirby using the Needle ability in Kirby Air Ride

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

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

Kirby uses the Mega Needle in a pre-release version of Kirby's Return to Dream Land.

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
Skill	Button Execution	Skill	Button Execution
Needle Attack	1	Needle Burst	Shake Wii Remote or mash +Control Pad during Needle Attack
Rolling Needle	Dash + 1	Mega Needle	↑ + 1

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

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
Skill	Image	Button Execution
Needle Attack		B
Wall Stick		Touch a wall during Needle Attack
Needle Burst		Hold B and mash +Control Pad
Mega Needle		↑ + B
Falling Spine		↓ + B

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Needle Kirby catching enemies with a new rolling attack in Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

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

All attack names are conjectural unless otherwise stated.

Needle moveset in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
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

Close-up of Needle Kirby in Kirby's Dream Buffet.

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

Needle Kirby appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!

Needle Needle Kirby in Kirby: Right Back at Ya! Details First episode Flower Power Last episode Sweet and Sour Puss Other episode(s) Here Comes the Son and Sheepwrecked Obtained from Inhaling needles Power(s) Curling up into a spiked ball, shooting guided needles

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.

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  Needle Kirby struggling against Amon in Sheepwrecked

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  Needle Kirby battling Togeira in Sweet and Sour Puss

Profiles

Flavor text

Image	Game	Flavor text
	Kirby's Adventure	Lots of needles, just like a porcupine's, come out of Kirby! It's a great defense!
	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!
	Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land	Hands off! Here: pointy spikes! There: pokey spikes!
	Kirby: Canvas Curse	Spike anything! Ride rainbows!
	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!
	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!
	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! Weapons-Shop Waddle Dee: With the Needle ability, you can extend your roll a bit by picking up enemies and blocks as you go. Let go of B to throw stuck objects and enemies in front of you as powerful projectiles! The Needle ability will also let you roll through strong winds. It's so versatile!

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy

Name	Image	Appears in	Description
Needle Kirby		NES: Kirby's Adventure DS: Kirby: Canvas Curse	A Kirby ability made when Kirby inhales a spiked enemy. When attacking, the needles on Needle Kirby's body extend, giving him a porcupine-like look. This ability provides both offensive and defensive measures against nearby enemies. Plus, needles which extend on Kirby's underside when jumping eliminate any threats on landing.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy

Name	Image	Appears In	American English Description	British English Description
Needle Kirby		NES: Kirby's Adventure 3DS: Kirby: Triple Deluxe	Kirby normally looks as tasty as a big ol' marshmallow, but he's significantly less appetizing when he's copied the Needle ability. Those pokey spikes won't add any flavor at all. With this ability, Kirby can bash into enemies or launch the spikes at them. A great, easy-to-use ability!	Kirby's soft, fluffy and just...so huggable! Except when he's got the Needle ability, that is - then it's like there's a hug-free zone all around him. Being covered in spikes comes in handy, though, for rolling into enemies, and even shooting at them! However, whether that really makes up for his loss of huggableness is hard to say...

Kirby's Dream Course manual

• "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

• "Press the B Button just before the ball hits the paddle, then re-launch the ball."

Trivia

• Needle is the only Copy Ability that is translated as only one Chinese character (針/针) in the official localization, instead of two or three characters which are more common.

Gallery

Artwork

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  Kirby's Adventure

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  Kirby's Dream Land 2

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  Kirby's Dream Land 2

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  Kirby's Dream Land 2

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  Kirby's Dream Land 2

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  Kirby's Dream Land 3

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  Kirby's Dream Land 3

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  Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

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  Kirby Air Ride

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  Kirby: Canvas Curse

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  Kirby: Canvas Curse

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  Kirby: Triple Deluxe

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  Kirby and the Forgotten Land

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  Figure from Kirby and the Forgotten Land

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  Treasure Road artwork from Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Sprites

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  Kirby's Dream Course

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  Keychain from Kirby: Triple Deluxe

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  Keychain from Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Icons

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  Icon from Kirby's Adventure

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  Icon from Kirby's Dream Course

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  Icon from Kirby's Dream Land 2

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  Icon from Kirby's Block Ball

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  Icon from Kirby's Dream Land 3

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  Icon from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

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  Icon from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land.

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  Copy Ability Panel from Kirby Air Ride.

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  Icons from Kirby: Canvas Curse

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  Ability Star from Kirby's Return to Dream Land

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  Ability Star from Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Other

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  Model of Needle Kirby's hat from Kirby Air Ride

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  Character Treat from Kirby's Dream Buffet

Videos

Click to load content Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Needle

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ニードル Nīdoru	Needle
Traditional Chinese	針 Zhēn	Needle
Simplified Chinese	针 Zhēn
Dutch	Stekel	Spine
French	Aiguille	Needle
German	Igel	Hedgehog
Italian	Spino	Thorn
Korean	니들 Nideul	Needle
Polish	Igła	Needle
Brazilian Portuguese	Ouriço Espinho	Hedgehog Thorn
European Portuguese	Ouriço	Hedgehog
Russian	Игла Igla	Needle
Spanish	Erizo	Hedgehog