King Dedede Artwork ofKing Dedede fromKirby Air Riders. Details First appearance Kirby's Dream Land (1992) Latest appearance Kirby Air Riders (2025) Other appearance(s) (click to navigate) Copy Abilities Stone(rocks,Kirby Star Allies) Hammer(dropped hammer,Kirby and the Forgotten Land) Similar (click to navigate) Voice actor(s) Shinya Kumazaki(Kirby series, sinceKirby Super Star Ultra) Masahiro Sakurai(Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards and theSuper Smash Bros. series)

Theme music https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:King_Dedede%27s_Theme_KDL3.mp3 "King Dedede's Theme" Clip of "King Dedede's Theme" fromKirby's Dream Land 3

"King Dedede" on otherNIWA wikis: SmashWiki Super Mario Wiki

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"DDD" redirects here. For information about theSub-Game, seeDedede's Drum Dash. For other uses of "DDD", seeDDD (disambiguation).

King Dedede (King DeDeDe in some older games; sometimes shortened toDedede) is a portly, blue, penguin-like creature who wields a hammer and proclaims himself as king ofDream Land. He is a recurring character who serves asKirby's "arch frenemy"^[1] and is usually fought as aboss. He often engages in trouble-making, such as stealing all of Dream Land's food and theSparkling Stars or shootingMr. Star with a cannon. However, over time he began to perform more noble deeds, such as trying to seal awayNightmare, helping Kirby battleQueen Sectonia, and accompanying Kirby in several of his adventures. Because of this, he is considered a protagonist, despite his greediness and egotism. King Dedede lives ina castle atop a mountain with a retinue ofWaddle Dees acting as his servants.

Having debuted in the series' first installment,Kirby's Dream Land, King Dedede is arguably the most recognizable character from theKirby series besides the pink hero himself, having appeared in one form or another nearly every game in the series (exceptKirby & The Amazing Mirror andTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe), though not all of those appearances are major roles. He is also the series' only character besides Kirby to have starred in his own game, namely the spin-offDedede's Drum Dash Deluxe. He is often portrayed as a comic foil to Kirby, especially in spin-off titles. In older games, he was seldom playable, but this changed starting withKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, with the king being playable in many of his subsequent appearances.

Physical appearance[edit]

King Dedede's appearance varies from game to game, usually bringing out characteristics distinct to each title. This can be seen through his official art fromKirby's Dream Land (left),Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (middle), andKirby Star Allies (right).

King Dedede is a birdlike creature who greatly resembles a penguin, although his exact species is unclear;Snake inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl assumes that Dedede is a penguin, and becomes confused upon learning that he is not. On one occasion, theNintendo Power magazine referred to him as a bird, specifically a "regal eagle", but it is unclear if this was the designers' intent or if it was intended to be taken literally to begin with.^[2] He has a large and round belly, blue eyes, a yellow mouth (which, according to a memo from HAL Laboratory, is not a beak^[3]), and yellow feet which resembleKirby's. He wears a kingly red coat with white trim and a red tuque with a golden crown-like ridge. The coat's back bears his signature V-sign emblem (or in earlier appearances, a portrait of himself). In most appearances, he also wears yellow gloves on his hands, and a beige undershirt under his coat; occasionally, it is designed as an elaboratekimono instead. Around his belly is anobi (patterned belt) with a tessellated red-and-yellow design on it, somewhat resembling pointed teeth. When he is possessed byDark Matter inKirby's Dream Land 3 andKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, this obi will open up like a big mouth to chomp at Kirby or fire projectiles.

King Dedede, like Kirby, caninhale andhover by expanding his belly. According to his trophy inSuper Smash Bros. Melee, King Dedede could not hover initially but taught himself how after beingbeaten by Kirby for the first time. However, in most games, King Dedede is not able tocopy abilities like his pink rival (according to flavor text inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, this is because he's "already perfect"). To make up for this, he carries a large wooden mallet, which he uses for most of his attacks. When that is not enough, the king can use his portly size to performgreat leaps andbody slams.

Changes in design[edit]

In each game, the specifics of the king's design may differ, but his portly figure, regal hat and robe, and his large wooden mallet are all characteristically "Dedede". While the most basic aspects of King Dedede are more or less consistent throughout the series, his design tends to change notably with each game, as his body proportions and the particulars of his wardrobe are given tweaks and adjustments more so than many other characters. This is most notable when comparing his portrayal in games such asKirby Super Star versusKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, or his appearance inKirby Star Allies versusKirby and the Forgotten Land. In the June 2022 edition of Nintendo Dream Magazine, in theKirby and the Forgotten Land developer interview,Shinya Kumazaki explained that the reason for this was because it was King Dedede's "destiny" since he has more details than Kirby, and with each new game, he is designed to "...bring out the worldview of that particular work".^[4] Despite this statement, King Dedede has been known to receive substantial design changes in remakes of games compared to his look in the originals, withKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe being the most prominent example.

Personality[edit]

King Dedede is often portrayed as egocentric, stubborn, and also gluttonous. This is evidenced by his self-proclaimed status as the King of Dream Land, and how he selfishly stole all of the food in Dream Land in the past. He also views Kirby as his rival, and often competes against him to prove his superiority. However, he is not evil. Over time, his selfish tendencies have faded away, and he has been portrayed and described as a heroic and dependable leader who is willing to protect Dream Land from outside threats, such asNightmare andQueen Sectonia. He is also willing to accompany Kirby on his quests, such as inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards (where he is "worried" about safety of others going on such a dangerous trip, according to the Japanese website), and inKirby's Return to Dream Land, where he eagerly joins Kirby,Bandana Waddle Dee andMeta Knight in order to collect pieces of theLor Starcutter forMagolor (Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe implies that, like inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, he worries that the others "won't get far without [him]").

While King Dedede considered Kirby one of his enemies in the past, he resolved his grudge with Kirby inRevenge of the King, a sub-game added inKirby Super Star Ultra. After that, their relationship became much friendlier, and he became one of Kirby's close companions. Dedede views Kirby as his "destined rival," as the games phrase it sinceKirby Fighters 2, and the two are often described as "buddies" or "friendly rivals". Their bond has grown to the point that when King Dedede arrived in thenew world inKirby and the Forgotten Land, he was "crestfallen" that he couldn't find Kirby, and is genuinely happy to see him once he breaks free from the Beast Pack's brainwashing.

Ultimately, despite his rocky past, Dedede grew to understand that Kirby is the true savior of Dream Land, and does not hesitate to assist him during times of peril. He is also very caring and protective of the Waddle Dees who serve him. For example, he spares Bandana Waddle Dee from fighting Kirby in Revenge of the King, and risks his own life for the safety ofa single Waddle Dee inKirby and the Forgotten Land.

Dedede's personality in the anime,Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, is significantly different from his contemporary portrayal within the games. In the series, his bloated ego and regal persona often shines, along with his jealousy of Kirby's power and popularity. This personality carries over toKirby Battle Royale, which plays out very similarly to an episode from the anime: King Dedede hatches a ludicrously complicated (and expensive) plot to lure Kirby into a public spotlight and try to humiliate the pink puffball in a series of games, only to have it backfire in his face, resulting in Kirby coming out on top once again.

Signature attacks[edit]

Due to being a boss in so manyKirby games, King Dedede has a large number of signature attacks which he uses in most of his fights, and in some games can be used when he is playable. The following table lists all of his most notable attacks, in alphabetical order:

Variants[edit]

Due to King Dedede's ubiquity as a character, there are several other entities that resemble him, as well as alternate versions of the King himself. The following lists all of the different versions of King Dedede along with other characters or entities that resemble him throughout theKirby video game series:

Dedede alter egos and lookalikes[edit]

• Masked Dedede: King Dedede wears a special mask when he is serious about fighting, and also carries a special mechanical hammer. This version of Dedede first appeared inKirby Super Star Ultra.
• Shadow Dedede: A dark version of King Dedede that emerged from theDimension Mirror inKirby: Triple Deluxe.
• Team DDD: An army of smaller Dededes who accompany the King inKirby Fighters Deluxe.
• Dedede Clone: A gelatinous replica of King Dedede fabricated by theHaltmann Works Company using Dedede's DNA to battle Kirby inKirby: Planet Robobot.
• King D-Mind: The king of darkness resembling both King Dedede andDark Mind which hails fromAnother Dimension beyond theBlack Mirror, first appearing inTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe.
• Giant King Dedede: King Dedede becomes giant after absorbing aSparkling Star inKirby's Blowout Blast.
• Parallel Dedede: A different more powerful version of King Dedede who hails from Another Dimension, first encountered inKirby Star Allies.
• Waning Crescent Masked Dedede: King Dedede puts on a cursed relic called the Mask of Dark Bonds along with Meta Knight in the final boss encounter in thestory mode ofKirby Fighters 2.
• Forgo Dedede: Another variant of Masked Dedede who wields two hammers and can produce fiery projectiles, encountered inKirby and the Forgotten Land.
  • Phantom Forgo Dedede: An illusory double of Forgo Dedede who is more powerful.
• Phantom King Dedede: An illusion of the king formed from powerful psychic energy and memories of his turn underFecto Forgo's control inKirby and the Forgotten Land.
• Noir Dedede: A fragment ofZorah's will that copied the form of King Dedede, who appears as a major character inRoad Trip and is later unlocked as a playable rider inKirby Air Riders.

Robots[edit]

TheKirby series' fascination with King Dedede's visage as a giant robot has wrought several iterations ofKirby-squashing mecha, with varying relations to the king himself:

• Robo Dedede: This giant robot made to resemble King Dedede appears as the boss ofKirby's Dream Course.
  • Robo Dedede also summons smaller robotic Dededes, known asChibi Dededes.
• Dedede Robo: A giant robot inKirby Mass Attack that somewhat resembles Dedede and bears its emblem.
• Robo Dedede: A giant robotic Dedede appears inScope Shot inKirby's Return to Dream Land.
  • A smaller version of this robot appears in theEgg Catcher subgame inKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
• HR-D3: A giant robot similar-looking to Dedede Robo used byMetal General EX in theExtra Mode ofKirby's Return to Dream Land andKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
• Dededestroyer Z: A robot that King Dedede pilots inKirby Battle Royale with the ability tomake clones of Kirby.
• Robo Dedede: A boss that appears inKirby Air Riders which can transform between Dedede Form and Car Form.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby's Dream Land[edit]

King Dedede first appears inKirby's Dream Land, where he serves as the main antagonist and final boss. Prior to the game, King Dedede had stolen all of the food in Dream Land and left the population hungry, and had also stolen the land'sSparkling Stars.Kirby sets out to defeat Dedede and give the people back their food and their stars. After traveling through the different regions of the land, Kirby finally confronts the king in his castle atopMt. Dedede. The two of them engage in battle in a wrestling ring. Kirby manages to defeat him and the food supplies of Dream Land are saved.

Kirby's Adventure /Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land[edit]

InKirby's Adventure and its remakeKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, King Dedede reappears as the apparent final boss of the game. The game begins with him stealing theStar Rod from theFountain of Dreams, which he then divides into seven pieces, giving six of them to his trusted allies and keeping the last for himself. This causes Kirby to assume ill will from his enemy, and he sets out and tries to restore the broken artifact.

However, unknown to Kirby, King Dedede stole the Star Rod in order to safeguard Dream Land from the clutches ofNightmare. The misunderstanding results in Kirby defeating King Dedede atRainbow Resort and retrieving all seven pieces of the Star Rod. As Kirby walks towards the Fountain of Dreams to return the Star Rod, King Dedede tries to hold him back and begs him to drop his ambitions. However, Kirby refuses to listen and releases Nightmare as a result. After Dedede inhales Kirby and fires him in the direction Nightmare went, Kirby manages to defeat Nightmare with the help of the Star Rod, and at the end, King Dedede's motivations of stealing it are finally revealed. He and Kirby can be seen flying next to each other during the credits.

King Dedede also has minor appearances during some of the game's sub-games and appears on the top of every boss level door.

Kirby's Pinball Land[edit]

King Dedede serves as the primary antagonist ofKirby's Pinball Land, escaping from Kirby via a series of bumpers in the intro cutscene. Once all three of the Pinball Lands have been cleared, Kirby can take aWarp Star from the main level hub to encounter Dedede in a special boxing ring stage.

This fight takes place in two phases. In the first, King Dedede poses in a spotlight and tosses bombs at the flippers to temporarily disable them. After five hits, the spotlight gives way to the fully-lit wrestling ring. Here, King Dedede has two different methods of attack. He can either puff up and chase Kirby around, or cast lightning from his hands to disable the flippers while held. He can also use hisSuper Dedede Jump to reposition himself. After eighteen more hits, Dedede is defeated. He lands out in a checkerboard field, and Kirby has him cornered, when aKabu jumps from behind and flattens Kirby, allowing Dedede to escape with his entourage. From there, the game resets.

This is one of the few games in the series where King Dedede is without his hammer. This game also marks the only time that King Dedede has ever been able to shoot lightning bolts from his hands.

Kirby's Dream Course[edit]

InKirby's Dream Course, King Dedede has once again stolen all of Dream Land's stars, and is hoarding them in his castle. Kirby sets off to defeat him and get the stars back, facing him down at the end of the 1P Game ina giant robot that the King pilots. King Dedede also makes a small appearance in the opening cutscene forCourse 8.

Kirby's Avalanche[edit]

King Dedede is the final opponent inKirby's Avalanche. When Dedede's Puyos land, his half of the screen shakes slightly. This has no effect on gameplay, however. HisSuper Puyo Puyo equivalent is Dark Prince, though his screen-shaking effect comes from Zoh Daimaoh.

Kirby's Dream Land 2[edit]

Dedede does not appear until the final level ofKirby's Dream Land 2,Dark Castle. He acts as the final boss if Kirby has not collected all of theRainbow Drops yet. If all have been collected and Kirby emerges victorious, the piece ofDark Matter that had possessed Dedede will leave the defeated king's body, enabling Kirby to fight it. Later on, King Dedede can be seen in the ending cutscene, looking on as Kirby repairs the bridges between theRainbow Islands.

King Dedede battles in a similar manner to his fight inKirby's Dream Land, but there are a few notable differences. During the fight, he changes between a drowsy "hypnotized" state where he is relatively slow and easy to avoid to a more aggressive state where his attacks speed up and create fiery projectiles that need to be avoided.

Kirby's Block Ball[edit]

InKirby's Block Ball, King Dedede is the main villain, having once again stolen theSparkling Stars and hidden them in his castle. King Dedede is the final boss in this game and is encountered in the seventh round ofStage 11. King Dedede has 24 hit points in this game, as opposed to other bosses which only have 12.

King Dedede has a number of different methods of attack, which he uses at different intervals of remaining health. King Dedede starts by pulling out and tossing bombs at the paddles to shrink them. Further in, he puffs up and starts hovering around the area. While doing this, he will eat Kirby if he approaches from below and then spits him out again. In the final phase, King Dedede jumps from place to place and uses a rocket launcher to shoot missiles at the paddles to shrink them.

Kirby's Toy Box[edit]

King Dedede makes three appearances out of eight originalKirby's Toy Box mini-games. He acts as the Boss on the sixth stage ofStar Breaker, a rewarding higher-difficulty target inPinball, as well as an alternative variety of balls inBall Rally which are worth ten times more than standard Kirby balls if led all the way to the exit.

Kirby Super Star[edit]

InKirby Super Star, King Dedede appears as the central opponent in two main game modes, and also makes minor appearances in some other modes.

Spring Breeze[edit]

Spring Breeze, being a re-imagining ofKirby's Dream Land, features King Dedede in his old role as the food-stealing villain. He engages Kirby in a boxing ring inside his castle onMt. Dedede, acting as the final boss of this game mode. Much like inKirby's Dream Land, King Dedede attacks Kirby with his hammer as well as attempting to jump on or inhale him (as this is a retelling ofKirby's Dream Land, Dedede does not have access to his hover here). Unlike inKirby's Dream Land, however, King Dedede is generally slower and is stunned whenever he is hit (even being knocked out of his Super Dedede Jump if hit), meaning that if Kirby attacks fast enough with a Copy Ability, Dedede will be entirely unable to retaliate.

Gourmet Race[edit]

InGourmet Race, Kirby confronts King Dedede in three different stages:Pumpkin Grand,Corn Hall, andOnion Garden, where the two of them engage in a race forfood. Unlike in Spring Breeze, King Dedede does have use of his hover here, and he also uses his hammer to clear away obstacles, but does not attack Kirby directly. In order to emerge victorious, Kirby must score more points than Dedede by eating more food and/or beating Dedede to the finish line in the three rounds.

Additional roles[edit]

King Dedede makes two other appearances inKirby Super Star. InSamurai Kirby, he appears as the penultimate opponent where he is depicted wearing samurai-styled clothing. InThe Arena, King Dedede from Spring Breeze appears as one of the bosses Kirby must defeat.

Kirby's Star Stacker (Game Boy)[edit]

In theGame Boy version ofKirby's Star Stacker, King Dedede is the one responsible for pounding the boards and causing rows to be added to the bottom of the board during gameplay. In theRound Clear mode, Dedede also has a number of lines of dialogue which display at the beginning of each difficulty. His facial expression changes during Round Clear rounds depending on how well or poorly the player is doing. King Dedede also appears in the ending illustration for Super Hard difficulty, where he has been made into a snowman.

Kirby's Dream Land 3[edit]

WhenDark Matter takes control ofPop Star duringKirby's Dream Land 3, it possesses several of the planet's denizens, one of which is King Dedede. He is fought in level 5,Iceberg, and is simultaneously the last boss of the game if Kirby didn't complete all of the errands in the numerous stages.

The fight against King Dedede is separated into two different phases: A battle on the ground, and a battle in the air. While being on the ground, Dedede uses his usual strategy of lunging at Kirby, trying to crush him with his mallet, and using his powerful suction attack. After taking several hits, the King switches to the second phase and begins floating in the air. His move pattern strikingly departs from his usual behavior in that phase, and he is capable of performing some gruesome attacks like opening his stomach area like a maw with pointy teeth and chasing Kirby, trying to eat him, or shooting black orbs of energy from a giant eyeball in his belly. The battle ends once Kirby manages to defeat King Dedede in this state.

Usually, the game ends at that point, but if Kirby managed to complete all the errands from the previous levels, he will get access to the actual final fight of the game, located inHyper Zone. King Dedede can then be seen in the Hyper Zone introduction scene, and once Kirby defeats thefinal boss, Dedede will appear in some of the drawings shown during the credits.

Kirby's Star Stacker (Super Famicom)[edit]

King Dedede is the final opponent in the Story Mode of theSuper Famicom version ofKirby's Star Stacker. He is the one responsible for blastingMr. Star out of the sky in the first place and scattering his pieces, and King Dedede ends up with the last piece that Kirby needs to recover. Once Dedede is defeated, Mr. Star is restored to his former self, and the game is over (thoughone more opponent awaits after the credits if Story Mode was completed without failing a round).

In addition, King Dedede is the opponent in theRound Clear modes, with the score Kirby needs to clear each round represented as King Dedede's "HP". Unlike in the Game Boy version, King Dedede has no remarks in this version.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards[edit]

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is notable in that it is the first game in theKirby series where King Dedede is playable in any meaningful respect, and the only game where Dedede is lacking his gloves. In addition, this game also marks the first time that King Dedede is given voice acting, provided byMasahiro Sakurai. In the main game, Dedede is first seen at the end ofthe third stage of Pop Star atop another one of his castles. There, he and Kirby run into a misunderstanding when they both spot aCrystal Shard. King Dedede takes it for himself and keeps Kirby from having it untilDark Matter shows up and possesses him (again). Kirby then has to fight him as amid-boss, where he has two distinct battle phases that are very similar to his fight inKirby's Dream Land 3, though much slower and easier. Kirby manages to defeat him, drive out Dark Matter, and get back the Crystal Shard, but King Dedede snaps after the battle and refuses to look at the group any further. After they leave, he can be seen visibly struggling, until he makes the decision to follow them along, because he was worried about Kirby's group going alone.^[5]

After that, King Dedede becomes playable in areas of stages, allowing Kirby to ride him piggyback and to use his hammer to break through obstacles. King Dedede's moveset is relatively simplistic, being able only to make single jumps, attack with his hammer, and climb up poles. He can also be seen in the background at other points of stages, where he occasionally helps Kirby progress via short cutscenes. Outside of the main game, Dedede is playable in theMinigames that are accessible from the main menu, coming with up to four differentcolor palettes.

Following a slight hint of such in the credits ofKirby's Dream Land 3, this is the first time Dedede is directly depicted as an ally of Kirby, albeit only because he is worried about his wellbeing. This is referenced by the name of the cutscene where he joins Kirby's group, "A Reluctant Ally," orついていってやるよ (I'm Coming Too) in Japanese. Dedede's Japanese pause screen descriptions as an ally inKirby's Return to Dream Land andKirby Star Allies both reference the idea that he is worried about the other heroes and include ついていってやるぜ ("I'm coming too"), maintaining this as a consistent part of his character.

Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble[edit]

King Dedede serves as the main villain and final boss ofKirby Tilt 'n' Tumble. The intro cutscene and the instruction booklet explains that he has robbed Popstar of its stars yet again, so Kirby must venture to defeat him and get the stars back.

King Dedede can be found at the end ofLvl 8-4. He attacks Kirby by charging at him and swinging his hammer, sometimes by throwing it like a boomerang. Once King Dedede is defeated, he starts crying, prompting Kirby to go and comfort him, and the two walk off-screen together. King Dedede trips briefly while walking away with Kirby.

King Dedede also appears in theSub-GameKirby's Hurdle Race as the main opponent.

Kirby Air Ride[edit]

Main article:King Dedede (Kirby Air Ride)

King Dedede makes a relatively minor appearance inKirby Air Ride as an unlockable character. Once unlocked, he can be selected as anAir Ride Machine in the game'sAir Ride mode or inCity Trial mode'sFree Run. Unlike Kirby, he cannotinhale enemies, copy abilities, or dismount his vehicle. However, he rides a powerful bike (known as the "Wheelie Bike Dedede Custom") and is capable of wielding his hammer as an effective weapon at all times, similar toSword Kirby.

Aside from his role as a playable character, a larger and more powerful version of the King appears as an opponent inVS. King Dedede, aStadium round in City Trial .

Kirby: Canvas Curse[edit]

In-game sprite of Ball King Dedede

In-game sprite of King Dedede inCart Run

InKirby: Canvas Curse, King Dedede appears as a boss painted by Drawcia to engage Kirby in a Gourmet Race-esque challenge calledCart Run. In it, Kirby needs to race King Dedede using mine carts while eating food in two different stages in order to advance through the levels.

Further, if purchased in theMedal Swap, Dedede can become a playable character, being inflicted with the same curse as Kirby has. As a ball, King Dedede moves slower than the other characters, has a larger hitbox, and immediately sinks underwater, but can use his hammer to attack enemies and has seven hit points, much more than other characters (by default).

Kirby: Squeak Squad[edit]

InKirby: Squeak Squad, when Kirby'sStrawberry Shortcake is stolen, Kirby immediately assumes King Dedede is responsible for the theft of his cake and storms his castle. However, upon defeating Dedede, it turns out that he didn't have anything to do with Kirby's cake. Suddenly, the titularSqueaks come in carrying a treasure chest which Kirby believes to hold his cake, and who had also been stealing King Dedede's things. To try and stop them, King Dedede grabs Kirby and throws him at the Squeaks, causing them to fall down a deep hole into the next area:Nature Notch. Dedede doesn't appear after that point for the rest of the story.

King Dedede serves as the boss ofPrism Plains: the first area inKirby: Squeak Squad. His moveset is largely the same as it has always been, but he has been weakened in a similar way to his appearance inKirby Super Star's Spring Breeze mode, and suffers more recoil from damage in order to make him a more manageable first encounter. He can also summonParasol Waddle Dees. King Dedede also appears as the first opponent in theBoss Endurance mode.

Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

In the remake ofKirby Super Star,Kirby Super Star Ultra, King Dedede reprises his roles as the final boss ofSpring Breeze (where he gains new voice clips), Kirby's opponent inGourmet Race, the penultimate opponent inSamurai Kirby, and one of the bosses inThe Arena. In addition, one of the new modes in this game features King Dedede as the main antagonist yet again.

Revenge of the King[edit]

Main article:Masked Dedede

Kirby Super Star Ultra adds a new game mode calledRevenge of the King: a re-imagining of theExtra Mode ofKirby's Dream Land. Here, King Dedede is stated to desire revenge on Kirby, and has gathered his strongest minions to try and defeat his rival once and for all. During his boss battle, Dedede takes up a persona known asMasked Dedede and gives Kirby aHammer so they can have an honorable duel in a similar vein toMeta Knight. In this persona, King Dedede wears an intimidating horned mask and carries a special mechanical hammer which is equipped with a jet and a missile launcher.

Additional roles[edit]

King Dedede has a number of roles and appearances in some of the other new modes. He is featured on two cards in theKirby Card Swipe game; one of these cards depicts him in his Ball form fromKirby: Canvas Curse. Additionally, he appears as a target in theKirby on the Draw game wearing a cowboy inspired outfit. Finally, King Dedede appears as one of the bosses inHelper to Hero, while Masked Dedede appears as the first of the final four bosses inThe True Arena.

Kirby's Epic Yarn /Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn[edit]

Main article:King Dedede (boss stage)

InKirby's Epic Yarn andKirby's Extra Epic Yarn, King Dedede is initially seen through cutscenes inDream Land having his Waddle Dees managing his treasure hoard in his castle.Yin-Yarn starts creating fake yarn Waddle Dees which try to blend in at first, but then start to take over once enough of them are created. They tie up all of the real Waddle Dees, along with King Dedede, and then Yin-Yarn captures King Dedede with hisMagic Sock and forces the king to serve him while also taking over his castle.

King Dedede appears in-game as the boss ofSnow Land as a yarn outline while being controlled by wooden bars with strings, similar to a marionette. King Dedede attacks with his usual hammer, jumps, and body slams with some variations (e.g. upon landing from his jump attack, it causes shock waves to appear while also causingGordos to fall from above). To defeat him, Kirby andPrince Fluff need to find an opening to slam into King Dedede using theirWeight power and then pull off one of the four strings controlling him one by one. Once King Dedede is freed from the strings, he stops fighting, and Kirby and Fluff can obtain the next piece ofMagic Yarn and gain access toSpace Land. If enoughbeads were collected during the fight, they can also get thePenguin Patch to unlockFrigid Fjords.

In the cutscene "To Dream Land!", after Kirby, Prince Fluff, and Meta Knight use theMagic Sock to travel to the transformedDream Land, Dedede quickly follows them soon afterwards. Some of the obtainablefurniture in the game include his robes that can be found inCastle Dedede and a plush version of himself that can be bought in theFurniture Shop for 5000beads after defeating the eponymous boss.

InKirby's Extra Epic Yarn, King Dedede is playable in the Sub-GameDedede Gogogo. Here, he runs along four different courses themed after stages from the main game, collectingFuse Beads by jumping, sliding, and slamming enemies with his hammer.

In the voiced cutscenes of the Japanese version, King Dedede ends his sentences with "zoi", similar to his depiction inKirby: Right Back at Ya! in that same language.

Kirby Mass Attack[edit]

Main article:Dedede Resort - Boss Stage

In-game sprite of King Dedede fromKirby Mass Attack

King Dedede appears inKirby Mass Attack as the boss ofhis own resort. In the battle, King Dedede rides in a hot air balloon and tosses two types of timed bombs in bubbles down towards the Kirbys. Waddle Dees help by throwing their own bombs from the sidelines. To attack King Dedede, the Kirbys need to bounce the bubble bombs back at King Dedede's balloon and have them explode there. Once Dedede's hot air balloon is disabled, he resorts to the old method of fighting with his own strength, primarily using his hammer, but in this state, he can be pummeled by the Kirbys once he lets down his guard. After being defeated for the first time, a flame comes out of his body (implying that Dedede was possessed), and the way toVolcano Valley is opened. InNecro Nebula, King Dedede is fought again, but he and his hot air balloon now sport a purple color scheme.

King Dedede also appears in two of the subgames inKirby Mass Attack (not counting his appearance inSurvival Rush). The first is acting as the boss portal inKirby Brawlball, and the second is being faced multiple times inKirby Quest. If King Dedede gets to attack the Kirbys in this latter game, there's a chance thatEscargoon orCaptain Waddle Doo will appear, which is a callback to the anime series:Kirby: Right Back at Ya!. He also pilots theDedede Robo which appears in Kirby Quest.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land[edit]

King Dedede appears inKirby's Return to Dream Land, but acts as a playable protagonist rather than an antagonist, controllable by the second, third, or fourth player (though he can be controlled by the first player inThe Arena andThe True Arena). AlongsideMeta Knight andBandana Waddle Dee, King Dedede assists Kirby in finding the missing parts of theLor Starcutter and defeating several bosses, includingthe final boss.

King Dedede's moveset inKirby's Return to Dream Land is very similar to that ofHammer Kirby, and he also uses ahover very similar to Kirby's. The main difference is his increased size and the fact that he can use infinite Hammer Throws.

Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition[edit]

InKirby's Dream Collection Special Edition, King Dedede appears in the intro animation that carries into the title. When he is transformed from his 2D sprite into his 3D model form, he briefly laments about the belly he was given. From there, he helps launch Kirby into the title screen so he can become part of the emblem.

Dedede does not appear in theNew Challenge Stages (outside of thecredits), but naturally can be found in the main titles featured in the collection. The three episodes ofthe anime that are bundled with the collection also feature Dedede to some extent.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]

Story Mode[edit]

InKirby: Triple Deluxe, King Dedede is first shown in the opening sequence, being captured byTaranza, who mistook Dedede as the hero of Dream Land. Throughout the first five levels, he is seen in every boss stage, being carried by Taranza. In the final level, Taranza turns Dedede intoMasked Dedede and forces him to fight Kirby, but Kirby breaks his mask and knocks Dedede out for a while. AfterQueen Sectonia's initial defeat, Dedede comes back to his senses and helps Kirby defeat Queen Sectonia when she merges with theDreamstalk as a last resort. First, he mans a cannon that fires Kirby at Sectonia's vines, and then he helps Kirby escape from Sectonia's clutches and tosses him aMiracle Fruit with Taranza's help. Once the Queen is finally defeated for good, King Dedede is rescued from falling by Taranza.

Sub-Games[edit]

Main article:Dedede's Drum Dash

Main article:Dededetour

King Dedede has his own Sub-Games:Dedede's Drum Dash (a rhythm action game) andDededetour (a time attack mode, similar to theMeta Knightmare series). His likeness also appears in many of the game's collectibleKeychains.

In Dededetour, King Dedede plays Kirby's role in a retelling of the main story, with the goal of defeating Queen Sectonia himself. After defeating her, however, Dedede discovers aDimension Mirror which spits outa shadowy version of himself which he must then fight. After defeating this doppelgänger, King Dedede jumps into the mirror and finds himself in an eerie colosseum reminiscent of the same area fromKirby & The Amazing Mirror, and battlesDark Meta Knight's Revenge. After defeating this evil warrior, King Dedede seals him in another Dimension Mirror and then smashes it with his hammer, thus finishing this game mode.

Moveset[edit]

Dedede's moveset in Dededetour is largely the same as it was inKirby's Return to Dream Land, but he is made larger in size, comparable toBonkers, and is given a few new moves that allow him to solve puzzles that Kirby would normally requireCopy Abilities for. Firstly, likeSword Kirby, Dedede can shoot a projectile from his regular Hammer if he has full health. Secondly, he can charge up and release an aimed projectile similar toArcher Kirby that can cut ropes. Lastly, Giant Dedede Swing now has a wind property that can put out flames, likeIce Kirby. As always, Hammer Twirl and Dedede Hammer Flip can light things on fire.

The following table lists King Dedede's moveset in Dededetour:

King Dedede's Moveset inKirby: Triple Deluxe
Skill	Button Execution	Image	Skill	Button Execution	Image
Hammer	B		Hammer Twirl	↓ + B
Hammer Wave	B while at full health		Dedede Hammer Flip	↑ + B
Giant Dedede Swing	Dash + B		Dedede Hammer Cannon	Press and hold B, and then release
Quick Fall	↓↓ in midair		Aim Hammer Cannon	Either of ↑↓ while holding B
Giant Swing	B in midair		Dedede Hammer Throw	Dash + X
Ultra Swing	Dash + B in midair		Underwater Hammer Swing	B while swimming

Kirby Fighters Deluxe[edit]

Main article:Team DDD

InKirby Fighters Deluxe, King Dedede with his smaller clones are fought asTeam DDD (the number varies on difficulty, the hardest being Team DDD64) in the Final Round of Single Player mode. King Dedede has his usual set of moves here, but harder difficulties add more variations to his attacks.

King Dedede also serves as a stage hazard in the stageDedede Arena, where he tosses things at the Kirbys.

Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe[edit]

Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe is the first game to feature King Dedede as the main character instead of Kirby. The game has him bouncing across drums in seven distinct stages to earn as high a score as possible. This is a standalone upgrade toDedede's Drum Dash; the Sub-Game fromKirby: Triple Deluxe.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse[edit]

While King Dedede himself does not feature inKirby and the Rainbow Curse, he is represented by one of theFigurines. His absence is explained in the Play Nintendo comicIn the Name of Fashion, where he andMeta Knight are revealed to have lost their colors at the beginning of the game.^[6]

King Dedede also appears inElline'sSecret Diary, though his depiction suggests that Elline has not actually seen him, as there are notable differences in his characterization.

• 
  Elline's impression of King Dedede in theSecret Diary. Note the egg-shaped body, cape, and curly mustache.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

In the opening cutscene forKirby: Planet Robobot, King Dedede is seen playing a (simplified) game of chess with his Waddle Dees at his castle when theHaltmann Works Company invasion begins. He orders his Waddle Dees to fire cannonballs at theinvading ship, but to no avail. His castle is later destroyed by a laser from the ship.

Dedede himself does not feature in the game after this point, but his genetic information is stolen by Haltmann Works Co. to create theDedede Clone. By the end of the game, he is shown to have been unconscious the entire time and wakes up in his castle's rubble after Popstar is returned to normal.

King Dedede's likeness also appears on several of the game's collectiblestickers, which can be applied to theRobobot Armor. One of these stickers in particular is a doodle of his head, which is taken from a frame of theanime episodeCartoon Buffoon depicting his unchanged alter ego "DededeMan".

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe /Super Kirby Clash[edit]

King Dedede himself does not feature inTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe orSuper Kirby Clash. However,a dark lookalike is encountered as a powerful boss in both games.

InSuper Kirby Clash, King Dedede is depicted by multiplestickers, including "Macho King Dedede" fromKirby Star Allies.

Kirby's Blowout Blast[edit]

InKirby's Blowout Blast, King Dedede is faced as the last boss of the main series of levels, and has both a normal and a harder version namedKing Dedede's Revenge, with the latter having a purple color scheme and lacking a kimono (as a callback to his original artworks from earlyKirby games). He battles Kirby using his hammer and other techniques as usual, though in a 3D space.The following lists King Dedede's attacks inKirby's Blowout Blast. All attack names are conjectural unless otherwise stated.

When defeated, Kirby prematurely celebrates his supposed victory. However, one of theSparkling Stars falls in the same area where King Dedede fell and causes him to grow to a giant size as the second phase of the battle begins, now namedGiant King Dedede. This form also gets a harder version namedGiant King Dedede's Revenge (abbreviatedGiant K. Dedede's Revenge in the British English version) when fought in Level 5 EX.

The following lists Giant King Dedede's (and Giant King Dedede's Revenge's) attacks inKirby's Blowout Blast. All attack names are conjectural unless otherwise stated.

When defeated in this state, he returns to normal size and lays on the ground knocked out. In Level 5, King Dedede is knocked out in a fashion similar to other battles across the series. In Level 5 EX, King Dedede stands there dazed with his mouth open, similar to his shocked expression fromKirby's Dream Land.

At the end of theSecret Path, King Dedede alsodons his mask when he grows giant for the final encounter. When defeated in this state, King Dedede starts crying, much like in the Extra Game post-credits scene inKirby's Dream Land.

Kirby Battle Royale[edit]

Main article:Dedede's Cake Royale

King Dedede is the host of thegrand tournament featured in the story mode ofKirby Battle Royale, having set up this tournament in the hopes of humiliating Kirby in a series of elaborate (and expensive) games. He oversees theKirby Printer – which creates copies of Kirby to fight the real thing — and later engages Kirby himself at the end of the Platinum League. When Kirby beats him, he falls back and then pilots a giant robot, theDededestroyer Z, in a last-ditch effort to stop Kirby from claiming his cake.

King Dedede is a playable character in this title, unlockable after completingDedede's Cake Royale. He fights similarly toHammer Kirby, but has a unique charge attack. Additionally, a piece of alternateheadgear for Hammer Kirby is based on Dedede. Dedede himself also has alternate headgear, with one in particular making him resemble Masked Dedede.

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

King Dedede has an elaborate role inKirby Star Allies, serving first as a boss and later as aDream Friend that Kirby can recruit from theDream Palace:

As a boss[edit]

King Dedede starts the game being possessed by one of the fallingJamba Heart pieces and sets off Kirby's adventure by once again stealing all of the food in Dream Land via his Waddle Dee servants. When Kirby and friends arrive in the throne room of Castle Dedede, they can see King Dedede gorging himself on the (quite dirty) food, and King Dedede attacks Kirby's team immediately.

The first phase of the battle plays out as usual, with Dedede attacking using Head Slides, Dedede Jumps, his hammer, hovering, and his Hypernova Inhale. However, once the second phase begins, Dedede is consumed by the power possessing him and becomes considerably beefier; his arms becoming huge and ripping through his robe. In this form, Dedede uses his massive arms to pummel Kirby and friends, as well as toss food, swing around columns, and break the floor away to reveal new arenas and (momentarily) separate Kirby's teammates.

Once defeated, the dark heart pops out of King Dedede and he returns to normal (his robe also being inexplicably repaired), then passes out. If Kirby is fast near the end of this defeat sequence, he can toss a Friend Heart at King Dedede and recruit him right away as a Dream Friend. Kirby and co. then do their victory dance and pursue the dark heart after the credits roll.

King Dedede is also fought in the main credits after completing Story Mode, though here, he does not transform into his "macho" form. InThe Ultimate Choice, King Dedede and his "macho" form are faced in every difficulty except for "Soul Melter EX" (where he is replaced byParallel Dedede).

Moveset[edit]

The following lists all of King Dedede's attacks during his boss battle.

In the first phase, King Dedede attacks in a fixed order on loop as follows:

1. Head Slide x2
2. Dedede Jump x3
3. Hammer
4. Dedede Jump
5. Hypernova Inhale ~ Spit
6. Head Slide
7. Dedede Jump
8. Hover

In the first-third of phase 2, King Dedede switches to this pattern:

1. Dedede Jump
2. Desperate Dam Dam
3. Dispose Food x3
4. Dedede Jump x3
5. Dispose Food x3

After losing some of his health during phase 2 and after using the "Stage Transition" attack, King Dedede attacks in a fixed order on loop as follows:

1. Dispose Food x2
2. Desperate Dam Dam x2
3. Disaster Spin
4. Desperate Dam Dam x2
5. Dam Dam Turn
6. Disaster Spin
7. Desperate Dam Dam x2

After losing some more of his health during phase 2 and after using the "Stage Transition" attack for a second time, King Dedede switches to this fixed order on loop:

1. Disaster Spin x2
2. Desperate Dam Dam x3
3. Dam Dam Turn
4. Dispose Food
5. Disaster Spin x2
6. Desperate Dam Dam x3
7. Disaster Spin x2
8. Dispose Food
9. Desperate Dam Dam x3

As a Dream Friend[edit]

King Dedede also appears as a Dream Friend, recruitable from aDream Palace (or right after his boss fight as mentioned above). In this form, he can help Kirby and travel with him using a moveset similar to the one he had inKirby's Return to Dream Land. However, he is now able to use the Head Slide attack, which formerly could only be seen in his boss battles. In the latest update, he was also given the Super Dedede Jump. King Dedede as a playable Dream Friend can deal more damage thanHammer Kirby andBonkers when using the same moves.^[7] What's more, King Dedede has a larger attack range than those two characters thanks to Dedede being taller (i.e. better aerial range).

Outside of Story Mode, King Dedede can also be selected as a character (including for the first player) inGuest Star ???? Star Allies Go! andThe Ultimate Choice. He also has a dedicated section inHeroes in Another Dimension.

In his previous playable appearances inKirby's Return to Dream Land andKirby: Triple Deluxe, King Dedede's hitbox is the same size as Kirby's, despite his model being much larger. Due to this, he can squeeze through the same gaps that Kirby can, even when it appears as though he shouldn't. This was changed inKirby Star Allies however, due to the fact that a bigger hitbox wouldn't hinder the progression in that particular game.^[8]

Moveset[edit]

Other appearances[edit]

Outside of his physical appearances, King Dedede is depicted in many of the game'sCelebration Pictures. He can also be seen depicted with one of the hidden "murals" in the stages, most notably visible in Heroes in Another Dimension.

Kirby Fighters 2[edit]

King Dedede plays a prominent role inKirby Fighters 2, both as a playable character and as a boss,paired up withMeta Knight. King Dedede is unlocked as a playable fighter afterStory Mode: The Destined Rivals is completed. His moveset is largely the same as it is inKirby Star Allies. Notably, he has 15% morehealth than other playable characters, perhaps to help compensate for his larger size. Additionally, one of his battle entrance poses is the same pose he assumes in hisSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate render.

For more precise competitive-oriented information on King Dedede inKirby Fighters 2, seeMizuumi Wiki's page.

For more information about his role as a boss, seeKing Dedede & Meta Knight.

Moveset[edit]

Kirby and the Forgotten Land /Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World[edit]

King Dedede returns inKirby and the Forgotten Land and itsNintendo Switch 2 Edition as a boss, titledHis Royal Nemesis like inKirby Star Allies. His appearance is drastically different from previous games: he somewhat resembles hisKirby 64: The Crystal Shards design, but with more prominent fur, torn clothing, and a mottled orange leopard-skin robe with red feathers sticking out of the collar. In addition, his pupils are now red and he has a stripe of red war paint across his face, somewhat resembling a blush. However, the former seems to be an effect of his possession - once freed, his pupils return to being a dark blue.

As revealed through variousfigure description, King Dedede's first thought upon arriving in thenew world at the beginning of the game was to look for Kirby, who (to his misery) hadn't arrived yet. After a while, his mind slowly got controlled by telepathic waves fromFecto Forgo's larval state into helping theBeast Pack. Kirby first encounters him in theWinter Horns boss stage "An Unexpected Beast King" where – after seemingly being defeated – he successfully capturesElfilin and escapes to the Forbidden Island. The next time Kirby comes across King Dedede in the stage "In the Presence of the King", he is further corrupted by a mask resembling a hog, and is now calledForgo Dedede. After a hard battle, Kirby breaks this mask and frees King Dedede from his possession, allowing him to reunite with his Waddle Dees. However, this rejoice is abruptly interrupted when a stampede of Beast Pack members closes in on the group, and King Dedede decides to stay back and fight the beasts alone after saving one of hisWaddle Dees who tripped and fell behind Kirby and the others.

After defeating the Ultimate Life-Form, King Dedede is shown to have survived (despite the Beast Pack horde catching up to Kirby at the end of the battle ofLeongar), having moved intoWaddle Dee Town (along with the three Waddle Dees that were saved at the end ofRedgar Forbidden Lands), next to the Colosseum.

Illusory versions of King Dedede and Forgo Dedede, known asPhantom King Dedede andPhantom Forgo Dedede, appear as bosses inForgo Dreams. All Dedede boss fights also appear in the various cups of the Colosseum.

King Dedede has 1,600 HP inAn Unexpected Beast King and 1,120 HP in theColosseum. He enters the second phase when his health is less than 40% and takes 0.2X damage when he roars at the start of the battle and during the transition to phase 2.^[9]

The following lists all of King Dedede's attacks during his boss battle (attack names are from theKirby and the Forgotten Land Perfect Support Guide). He is accompanied by twoPrimal Awoofies at the start, both of which are ordered to immediately rush Kirby. Any Primal Awoofies still present by the time Dedede transitions to the second phase immediately disappear during the cutscene.

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

King Dedede does not appear directly inKirby's Dream Buffet. However, Kirby can dress up like him and take on his main body color using theCostumes &Colors menu. Additionally, King Dedede appears on severalCharacter Treats.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

King Dedede returns inKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, reprising his role fromKirby's Return to Dream Land. In this remake, King Dedede's design has been updated to more closely resemble his appearance inKirby and the Forgotten Land, rather than theKirby Super Star-based design of the original. Dedede also reprises his role as a challenger inSamurai Kirby as well as a target inKirby on the Draw. ThreeDress-Up Masks are dedicated to King Dedede himself, including ones based on his appearance in this game,Forgo Dedede, andMasked Dedede, and they can be unlocked by completingStamp Rally cards #10, #29, and #37 respectively. Wearing any of these masks will replace the wearer's voice with King Dedede's.

InKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, King Dedede was given a few more moves (Head Slide,Super Dedede Jump, and a chargeableHammer Flip) and adjustments to match his appearance as aDream Friend inKirby Star Allies:

Kirby Air Riders[edit]

King Dedede is a playable rider inKirby Air Riders, being one of the four starting riders alongside Kirby, Meta Knight, and Waddle Dee. His design is reminiscent of his appearance in theSuper Smash Bros. series. Unlike inKirby Air Ride, King Dedede is not selectable as a machine, but instead as a standalone character. This means that the king can now ride anyAir Ride Machine from the game. Like all riders, King Dedede is capable of using Copy Abilities. When not using a Copy Ability, he uses his hammer to hit riders and enemies directly in front of him. For hisSpecial, Jet Hammer, Dedede uses the propulsion of the Jet Hammer to increase his speed. If he performs aQuick Spin during this Special, his reach and damage is significantly increased. In contrast to most other riders, King Dedede has three other alternate color schemes, each of them based on one of his alternate colors in theSuper Smash Bros. titles. In theRoad Trip cinematics, itsChecklist image, and hisamiibo, he rides theTank Star.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros.[edit]

King Dedede makes a cameo appearance inSuper Smash Bros.. In the background ofDream Land, a King Dedede sprite can be seen flying around. In addition,King Dedede was planned to be a playable character but was scrapped later in development.

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

King Dedede makes another cameo appearance inSuper Smash Bros. Melee, appearing as a random trophy and reprising his previous role as a sprite inDream Land.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

As a Playable Character[edit]

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

King Dedede makes his first appearance as a playable character inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl alongsideMeta Knight, who is also a new fighter, and Kirby, who has been a fighter since the first game. His attacks are especially strong, particularly his side Smash Attack, though the fact that he is slow can greatly lower the player's chance of winning. Like Kirby, he has the ability to jump multiple times.

Despite King Dedede's heavyweight status, his four midair jumps and very long-range up-special 'Super Dedede Jump' can allow him to come back from even the deepest parts of off-stage. As such, his survivability is quite high, even if he is often unable to get a hit against speedier characters. His ability to 'chain-grab' certain opponents (by grabbing and throwing them over and over again) makes him very dangerous in certain matchups, and in many cases makes up for his otherwise lackluster moveset. King Dedede is also infamous for his forward-tilt attack, where he juts his hammer out forward in a motion that can hit much farther than any other attack of its type in the game.

Role in The Subspace Emissary[edit]

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

In the Adventure Mode ofBrawl,The Subspace Emissary, King Dedede plays a major role in the story.

At the beginning of the gameplay, he is seen turning other protagonists into trophies and putting his badges on them. However, it turns out Dedede is actually not affiliated with the Subspace Army, similar to his role in his home series as surprise hero.

In the prologue, King Dedede accidentally allows the Subspace Army to capture the Halberd while distracting Meta Knight. Soon after, he learns of the presence ofTabuu, the final boss of the story who can turn any character into a trophy with his Off Waves. Dedede then develops badges calledDedede Brooches, which can revive the character trophies at a set time.

He manages to get Ness, Luigi, and either Peach or Zelda's trophy (which princess depends on player action), as well as steal Wario's transportation vehicle, a Cargo. He attempts to take Mario and Pit/Link and Yoshi's trophies, but Kirby slashes the Cargo claw, with an arrow from either Pit or Link slowing it down. He heads to his castle in order to place his brooches, but as he does, Bowser breaks the roof, crushing Dedede. Bowser steals the princess, and during an encounter with Kirby's group, the brooch falls off. Kirby inhales the brooch off-screen. His castle is absorbed by a Subspace Bomb.

The protagonists later face Tabuu, but all get knocked out and turned into trophies by his Off-Waves. Thanks to the Dedede Brooches, Luigi and Ness are revived. They revive King Dedede, and they revive several fighters, while the newly awakened Kirby also does so. King Dedede combats Bowser, showing him that Tabuu is a common enemy. Dedede reunites with Kirby joyously, and if Wario is revived, convinces him to join the team like with Bowser. The fighters go through the Great Maze, and defeat Tabuu, with the help of Sonic, Dedede gleefully viewing the sunset with the rest of the cast.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U[edit]

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

King Dedede inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

King Dedede was confirmed as a veteran fighter forSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U during the Super Smash Bros. Direct on April 8th, 2014. As his creatorMasahiro Sakurai stated, the king is now more expressive. Another major difference is that he throws Gordos instead of Waddle Dees. However, the Waddle Dees and Parasol Waddle Dees appear as enemies in Smash Bros 3DS' Smash Run, and the Gordos the king throws can be deflected back by his enemies.

Additionally, his Final Smash was changed to Dedede Burst, which involves him trapping his opponents using his Inhale, then hitting them with a giant bomb that pops out of his hammer. Unfortunately, whether by a bug or otherwise, this is the only trapping-type Final Smash in the game that can be jumped out of before all of the attacks connect.

Once again, King Dedede reprises his role fromSuper Smash Bros. andSuper Smash Bros. Melee inDream Land, which has been reintroduced as DLC content. However, if King Dedede is present in the battle, then the King Dedede sprite will not appear.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

King Dedede inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.

King Dedede returns inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, though this time he must be unlocked before he can be used. Although retaining his essential characteristics as a slow heavyweight with five jumps, he has had many important improvements to his moveset to help offset his status as one of the worst fighters in the previous game. His main improvements come in the form of stronger and safer hammer attacks, which can now properly ward off opponents in most cases. His mobility has also been improved somewhat and his already heavy weight increased even further, now equal to Donkey Kong. While still poorly regarded in the competetive scene, he is universally agreed to still be improved compared to his previous appearance.

King Dedede has had a couple of fundamental changes to his moveset as well. His Inhale can now catch projectiles and spit them back for increased damage, acting as a sort of reflector much like Kirby's. In addition, he was once again given a new Final Smash (this one known as 'Dede-Rush'), which allows him to throw his opponents into a caged boxing ring and assault them asMasked Dedede before launching them away.

InKirby: Right Back at Ya![edit]

Main article:King Dedede (anime character)

InKirby: Right Back at Ya!, King Dedede serves as one of the villains of the story, though the role of true villain belongs toeNeMeE. He rules overDream Land, which includes the residents ofCappy Town, though said residents do not treat him with much respect or loyalty. Hiscastle is situated on a high cliff overlooking the town. Other castle residents include his main lackeyEscargoon,Meta Knight and his apprenticesSword Knight andBlade Knight,Sir Ebrum,Lady Like, their childrenTiff andTuff, and a retinue ofWaddle Dees led byCaptain Waddle Doo.

King Dedede is characterized in the anime as a jealous, short-tempered, and foolish tyrant who tries constantly to removeKirby from Dream Land, whether that be by attempting to destroy him with amonster purchased fromNight Mare Enterprises or by attempting to subvert Cappy Town's support of the pinkStar Warrior. Most of his rage when these plans are foiled is directed at his assistant Escargoon, who puts up with this abuse on the regular. He is also shown to be extremely childish, and is prone to attacking other characters with his hammer when he doesn't get what he wants. He does, however, have a rarely-seen compassionate side, and is occasionally shown treating Escargoon or Kirby as a friend. He is shown to be unable to read or do even basic mathematics, though this trait is inconsistent between episodes. In the Japanese version of the show, King Dedede ends most of his sentences with "zoi".

In theKirby novel series[edit]

King Dedede from the novel series

Main article:King Dedede (novel character)

King Dedede is one of the main protagonists of theKirby novel series, along with being the star ofone of the novels. He lives inhis castle inDream Land as the self-proclaimed ruler. He gets along well withMeta Knight and sometimesKirby. He is identical in appearance to his game counterpart, and shares the same large appetite. He considers Kirby to be his rival.

Portrayals[edit]

King Dedede was first voiced byMasahiro Sakurai inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Since then, while Sakurai continued to voice Dedede in theSuper Smash Bros. series sinceSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, he has been voiced byShinya Kumazaki in all of hisKirby series appearances sinceKirby Super Star Ultra. Interestingly, however, Kumazaki is never credited in-game for his voice work.

InKirby: Right Back at Ya!, King Dedede is voiced by Kenichi Ogata in the original Japanese version and Ted Lewis in the English dub, where he was depicted with a distinct Texan accent.

Profiles[edit]

Flavor text[edit]

Image	Game	Flavor text
	Kirby: Canvas Curse	Big, heavy, and mallet-toting!
	Kirby's Return to Dream Land	Theking of Dream Land! Thisbig dude is onetough cookie. With histrusty hammer, it’s aim once, WHAM once!
	Kirby: Triple Deluxe	At long last--Dededetour! This land will not be ruled byQueen Sectonia. No! It will be ruled bythe king! The self-proclaimed Great King of Dream Land embarks on his ownadventure!
	Kirby and the Rainbow Curse	The self-proclaimed king of Dream Land loves to swing his giant hammer and breathe in lots of air. He spends countless hours in training in order to learn how to fly just like Kirby. He appears here in figurine form only.
	Kirby Star Allies	As a boss: Surely King Dedede would never steal all the food in the kingdom and hoard it for himself... Why would he do such a vile deed?! Such questions will have to wait, as the king is coming for his eternal rival with all the fury of a wild beast! As a Dream Friend: The rival to rival all rivals, ever since Kirby's Dream Land! This tough guy calls himself a king and can take a friend's power and add it to that of his hammer... Wait, rather than reading about it, you should just try it out! Go on! You know you can't resist! Guest Star King Dedede: "I'll be the one to keep the peace!" Kirby's first rival, from Kirby's Dream Land, wants to clean up his image, so he's set off to save his people. There's no stopping this self-made king, so watch out, world!
	Kirby and the Forgotten Land	His Royal Nemesis King Dedede (figure) King Dedede arrived in the new world shortly before Kirby and his friends! It looked like he joined forces with the Beast Pack, but that's no excuse for his mistreatment of the Waddle Dees! His iconic gown seems to have been altered to match his newfound allegiance...and he seems way, way stronger somehow! Destined Rivals (figure) "Planet Popstar's destined rivals!" That's how King Dedede usually describes this special relationship, so he was crestfallen when he arrived in the new world and couldn't find Kirby. By the time they finally met, Dedede had changed from friendly rival to menace!
	Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe	Make way for theking of Dream Land! I'mbig andburly, just like myhammer. You won't get far without me...soI'm coming too!
	Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World	Slobby King (figure) Bring more fruit! And make it snappy! It might seem as though this king is just lazin' around, but he's actually got a lot on his mind. Kings feel bad too, ya know. About the stuff they did to the Waddle Dees back in the day? Oh, yeah. Stirs up the emotions. This king is considering a royal, but brief, apology. The Rivalry Lives On! (figure) Rivals learned to survive in a new world. King Dedede was starving when he joined forces with the king of the beasts. But Meta Knight, sensing the sinister will of something to the north, shook it off and became a protector of Waddle Dee Town.
	Kirby Air Riders	A heavyweight rider who rules the raceway! Hits hard with his powerful hammer.

Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy[edit]

King Dedede's trophy inSuper Smash Bros. Melee
Name	Image	Appears In	Description
King Dedede		Kirby's Dream Land (08/92)	Dedede's the self-proclaimed king of Dream Land. While he says he's king, Dedede performs no administrative functions and the citizens of Dream Land continue to live as they always have. He's able to suck in air and fly like Kirby does, but only as a result of the vigorous training he undertook after being bested by Kirby.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy[edit]

King Dedede's trophy inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl
Name	Image	Appears In	Description
King Dedede		GB Kirby's Dream Land N64 Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards	The self-styled king of the amazingly peaceful Dream Land. He continually does things unbecoming a king, like stealing the kingdom's food supplies or all the stars from the sky. He's not all bad, though, and sometimes performs good deeds. While he and Kirby often battle, they've been known to compete good-naturedly at speed-eating contests and minigames.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U trophies[edit]

King Dedede's trophies inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Name	3DS Image	Wii U Image	Appears In	American English description	British English description
King Dedede			GB Kirby's Dream Land (08/1992) 3DS Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)	He calls himself the King of Dream Land, but he doesn't have a lot of interest in ruling. He really loves to eat, so it's no surprise he's a heavyweight fighter. Despite his size and low speed, he can easily recover with his four jumps. His Jet Hammer will leave a mark on everyone he meets.	Being a self-proclaimed king, Dedede clearly doesn't care too much about the whole "politics" things. He's just a bit greedy. In this game, his weight and hefty hammer make him slow, but he can still jump four times in mid-air anyway, making it easy for him to get back to the stage. Fully charge his Jet Hammer for ultimate destruction.
King Dedede (Alt.)			GB Kirby's Dream Land (08/1992) 3DS Kirby: Triple Deluxe (05/2014)	For the Gordo Throw side special, King Dedede sends a Gordo bouncing with a hammer strike. It bounces off walls—or sometimes gets stuck in them. After a while it'll disappear. If an enemy hits one, it'll bounce back toward you. Use the special again to whack it back at them!	For the Gordo Throw side special, King Dedede hits a Gordo with his hammer, sending it bouncing along the stage. It'll bounce off walls, or sometimes get stuck in them. Then, after a while, it'll disappear. If an enemy hits the Gordo with an attack, it'll fly back towards you. Use the special again to whack it back at them!

Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.

Kirby: Squeak Squad manual[edit]

• "From his castle high atop the mountains, King Dedede rules over all of Dream Land. Is he responsible for the theft of Kirby's Cake? Only time will tell..."

Kirby: Triple Deluxeelectronic manual[edit]

• "The self-proclaimed king of Dream Land and Kirby's archrival. Might he have a role to play?"

amiibo[edit]

• Every hero needs an arch frenemy, and King Dedede is Kirby’s! He calls himself the King of Dream Land, but he doesn’t have a lot of interest in ruling. His hobbies include eating, stirring up trouble, and yelling orders at his loyal Waddle Dees while bashing things with his huge hammer.

Play Nintendo[edit]

Every hero needs an arch frenemy, and King Dedede is Kirby’s!
The self-proclaimed king of Dream Land, King Dedede just loves stirring up trouble. His other hobbies include yelling orders at his loyal Waddle Dees and bashing things with his huge hammer.

Kirby Portal[edit]

• The greedy, self-proclaimed king of Dream Land, King Dedede is Kirby’s “arch-frenemy”. Armed with a giant hammer, King Dedede often causes trouble, but sometimes helps Kirby out in a pinch.

Nintendo Today![edit]

The self-proclaimed king of Dream Land. His star-stamped hammer is his pride and joy, but he can also inhale and spit out enemies just like Kirby. The hat he wears is actually his crown. He has a castle on Mt. Dedede, where he cooks up trouble with his minions.

He tries to keep Dream Land safe, and sometimes helps out Kirby in a pinch. Any way you look at it, he has a kind side too.

Music[edit]

King Dedede is often associated with the following musical themes:

• "King Dedede's Theme"
• "Gourmet Race"

King Dedede has also occasionally been related to"Masked Dedede's Theme", but that theme is usually reserved forhis alter ego.

Trivia[edit]

• While King Dedede's appearance inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards is the only time in which he does not wear gloves in-game, his artwork for earlier games such asKirby's Dream Land,Kirby's Adventure andKirby's Dream Land 2 also depicts him without gloves.
• King Dedede is often subject to possession and other forms of mind control. He has been unwillingly controlled byDark Matter inKirby's Dream Land 2 andKirby's Dream Land 3,Dark Rimuro inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards,Yin-Yarn inKirby's Epic Yarn,Taranza inKirby: Triple Deluxe, a piece of theJamba Heart inKirby Star Allies, andFecto Forgo inKirby and the Forgotten Land.
• SinceKirby: Triple Deluxe, King Dedede's inhale attack (including his other forms) has a significantly increased range; in Japanese material, it is namedビッグバンすいこみ (the Japanese name ofHypernova Inhale).Dedede Clone's inhale, meanwhile, is namedがんばり吸いこみ (the Japanese name of Super Inhale), reflecting its slightly reduced strength compared to most of Dedede's forms.
• King Dedede became the "Osaka Station Master", the icon for the Osaka fair of Japan's Pupupu Train merchandise event during June 15-25, 2018.^[10] Residents of Osaka are frequently stereotyped as loud and brash figures, similarly to Dedede's portrayal throughout the series.
• Several descriptions of theHammerCopy Ability imply or directly mention that the hammer Kirby uses is inherited from King Dedede himself.

Gallery[edit]

Main article:King Dedede/gallery

Quotes[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

King Dedede[edit]

Giant King Dedede[edit]

King Dedede's Revenge[edit]

Giant King Dedede's Revenge[edit]

His Royal Nemesis, King Dedede[edit]

References