Meta Knight Artwork ofMeta Knight fromKirby Air Riders Details First appearance Kirby's Adventure (1993) Latest appearance Kirby Air Riders (2025) Other appearance(s) (click to navigate) Copy Abilities Sword(offered sword before battle, or from projectiles) Cutter(Crescent Shot,Kirby Super Star only) Stone(boulders,Kirby Star Allies) Meta Knight Sword(Galaxia,Kirby and the Forgotten Land) Related Dark Meta Knight Mecha Knight Parallel Meta Knight Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight Phantom Meta Knight Similar Galacta Knight Metal General Morpho Knight Voice actor(s) Anonymous HAL Laboratory staff member(Kirby series) Atsushi Kisaichi(Super Smash Bros. series; Japanese) Eric Newsome(Super Smash Bros. series; English)

Theme music https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:My_Friend_and_the_Sunset_KF2.mp3 "My Friend and the Sunset" Clip of "My Friend and the Sunset" fromKirby Fighters 2. Though introduced as a cutscene theme inKirby Super Star, the song was established as Meta Knight's personal theme beginning inKirby Star Allies.

"Meta Knight" on otherNIWA wikis: SmashWiki Super Mario Wiki

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This article is about the character. For the group named after and led by him, seeMeta-Knights.

Meta Knight (occasionally formatted asMeta-Knight in older media) is a masked, winged swordsman who serves as a recurring character in theKirby series, first appearing inKirby's Adventure. He is a mysterious figure, and his backstory is not clearly shown in the game series. The installments he appears in usually feature him as aboss, but sinceKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, there have been instances where he is playable in alternate modes, or even teams up withKirby directly. Though most of his schemes originate from arguably good intentions, the ways he tries to accomplish his goals are often very extreme and poorly understood by others. Meta Knight is also the leader of a band of warriors known simply as theMeta-Knights, and he owns a giant warship designed after himself, known as theHalberd.

Along withKing Dedede and theWaddle Dees, Meta Knight serves as one of the most recognizable characters in theKirby series aside from Kirby himself. Despite this fame, he was not very prevalent in the early days of the series, making his only major appearances in titles likeKirby's Adventure andKirby Super Star (he is notably absent from any of the titles directed byShinichi Shimomura). However, he would become much more prevalent in the series following his role inKirby: Right Back at Ya!, becoming playable for the first time in an unlockableExtra Game inKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land,Meta Knightmare. He would appear more regularly in the series from that point onward, and would often be playable. Meta Knight is famous for his expert swordsmanship, and combined with his unparalleled aerial mobility, he is a force to be reckoned with. He wieldsGalaxia, which is a powerful mythical blade in the anime series and carries some of that mystique to the main series as well.

Physical appearance[edit]

Meta Knight appears as a blue, roundish creature, with a physique similar to that ofKirby. His most prominent feature is his silver mask. He also wears purple sabatons, metal pauldrons, and a purple cape, which he can transform into two large bat wings. He is often seen wielding his trademark sword, theGalaxia. This legendary golden blade is usually depicted with prongs on each of its sides. When Meta Knight is defeated, his mask usually splits in two and falls off, revealing a face similar to Kirby's own, except blue and without cheek blush. In earlier games, his eyes were white under his mask and he did have cheek blush, but this was changed to have his eyes always be yellow inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, and he later appeared that way inKirby: Planet Robobot and subsequent games. InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, the mask is shown to give his eyes a yellow tint, as Kirby's blue eyes turn green when he wears it after copying him. The reason behind the color change was addressed in a developer Miiverse post: there was a limit of the number of colors at the time that could be used due to technical limitations, and white was chosen because "it stood out more". HAL was concerned about fan reactions but decided to change the color to yellow for the aesthetic purposes of his 3D model.

In games where he speaks, he is shown to have a deep voice and can talk in full sentences, which makes a sharp contrast to the usual depiction of Kirby.

Changes in design[edit]

When Meta Knight first debuted inKirby's Adventure, he was defined only by his round body, cape, mask, gloves, and sword. He originally had a jet black body color and lacked wings entirely, and would discard his cape when battling Kirby. Since then, subsequent games in theKirby andSuper Smash Bros. series would make alterations and additions to his design. The following is a timeline of each notable change to Meta Knight by game since his debut (though these changes would not be consistently applied across games after being introduced):

• Kirby Super Star - Meta Knight's body hue is adjusted to a deep navy blue, and more details are added to his mask, sword, and gloves. He also gains his wings and distinct pauldrons. This design first appeared inKirby's Avalanche, but likely was designed specifically forKirby Super Star. This design has gone on to become the modern standard, and what every future redesign of Meta Knight would be based on.
• Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land - Meta Knight's sword is redesigned in promotional artwork to be based on its appearance inKirby: Right Back at Ya!, and would later be canonized asGalaxia. Despite this, it was not untilKirby Air Ride that Galaxia appeared distinctly in-game.
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Meta Knight is given more details unique to this game, such as his cape specifically transforming into his wings and back. He also gains distinct armored boots, his emblem on his left pauldron, and a bat symbol added to the back of his cape. This is the first game where Galaxia is referred to by name.
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U - building on his previousSuper Smash Bros. appearance, Meta Knight is given gauntlets on his gloves, a detail previously seen in official artwork for Meta Knight fromKirby: Squeak Squad andKirby Super Star Ultra. His pauldrons and cape are also given a black color.
• Kirby: Planet Robobot - Meta Knight's design is made consistent with hisSuper Smash Bros. appearance, featuring more detailed pauldrons and boots as well as gauntlets on his gloves, though his coloration is retained from the previousKirby games. Additionally, his eyes under his mask are changed from white to yellow.
• Kirby Star Allies - Meta Knight's armor gains a rougher texture, and Galaxia is redesigned slightly. Beneath his mask, his blushes have been removed.
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Meta Knight's body color is adjusted to a dark indigo, matching the color of his wings and pauldrons.

Personality[edit]

Meta Knight is what can be described as a passionate swordsman, and a well-intended extremist. He features a quite combative personality and is constantly striving to be the best sword fighter inDream Land. This is especially shown inKirby Super Star Ultra, where he wishes to bestGalacta Knight, the 'Greatest Warrior in the Galaxy'. He also seems to despise laziness, as shown byhis attempt to take over Dream Land inKirby Super Star andits remake. Meta Knight is very well known for following a stern warrior code; when he challenges someone, he is usually looking for a fair and equal match. Whenever Kirby has to fight him for different reasons depending on the situation, heprovides Kirby with a sword and insists that he use it to make the battle fair. Meta Knight also has a habit to conceal his face for unknown reasons. Whenever his mask breaks during a fight, he hides his face in his cape and instantly leaves the battlefield.

Meta Knight appears to be quite prideful and relies heavily upon his image as a stern and mysterious swordsman, which would explain why he hides his face. Despite his desired image, however, he is often brash and short-tempered. In the spin-off titleKirby Battle Royale for instance, one of theWaddle Dee Report Crew members remarks that Meta Knight has a tendency to curse when he is stressed out during the games (though obviously, the player never hears this). Additionally,Kirby Star Allies states that Meta Knight has a "secret wild streak" and "hidden fury" that was brought out by theJamba Heart; accordingly, he will lose his temper if Kirby refuses to pick up theSword given to him before his boss fight, causing him to kick it away.

Signature attacks[edit]

Due to being a boss in so manyKirby games, Meta Knight 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. Due to his sword and wings, his moveset is typically portrayed as a combination ofSword andWing Kirby, though he does have a number of attacks unique to himself. The following table lists all of his most notable attacks, in alphabetical order:

Variants[edit]

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

Alternate versions of Meta Knight[edit]

• Dark Meta Knight: A shadowy evil version of Meta Knight that was created by theDimension Mirror and first appeared inKirby & The Amazing Mirror. This version of Meta Knight is recognizable by his darker appearance, silver sword, tattered wings, and slash mark on his mask.
• Mecha Knight: When Meta Knight is captured by theHaltmann Works Company inKirby: Planet Robobot, he is mind-controlled and mechanized, then sent after Kirby. This version of Meta Knight has the ability to fire missiles and shoot lasers from an eyepiece on his mask. Two more versions of Mecha Knight were made, known asMecha Knight+ andStock Mecha Knight, the latter of which is a fully robotic duplicate.
• Parallel Meta Knight: Referred to as the "Otherworldly Frost Blade", this parallel version of Meta Knight fromAnother Dimension has a darker color scheme and a brown mask, and appears inKirby Star Allies.
• Waxing Crescent Masked Meta Knight: Meta Knight puts on a cursed relic called the Mask of Dark Bonds along with King Dedede in the final boss encounter in thestory mode ofKirby Fighters 2.
• Phantom Meta Knight: Referred to as "The Lone Illusion", this illusory version of Meta Knight is encountered in the Ultimate Cup Z and The Ultimate Cup Z EX of theColosseum inKirby and the Forgotten Land andKirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World.

Enemies that resemble Meta Knight[edit]

• Galacta Knight: Termed "The Greatest Warrior in the Galaxy", this magenta warrior resembles Meta Knight but sports a lance and shield, along with a horned mask and angelic wings. He wields immense magic power in addition to his mobility and swordsmanship.
• Metal General: The security guard ofEgg Engines onHalcandra, who appears inKirby's Return to Dream Land and its remake. Metal General uses some attacks similar to Meta Knight, most notably a variant ofShuttle Loop called "Electro Shock Shuttle Loop".
• Morpho Knight: The rebornbutterfly and "knight ofYomi" that first appeared inKirby Star Allies. Morpho Knight flies in from another dimension to cast judgment on powerful foes such as Galacta Knight andSoul Forgo. It resembles Meta Knight — differing through its largely black body, bright red sword, ornate mask, and butterfly wings — and attacks with vicious fiery magic.

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby's Adventure[edit]

Meta Knight makes his first appearance inKirby's Adventure. He is one ofKing Dedede's friends who guards one of the seven pieces of theStar Rod in order to keepNightmare sealed away. Before his boss battle, Meta Knight appears in several stages, where he either directs his minions, theMeta-Knights, to fight Kirby, or assists Kirby by throwing anInvincible Candy to him. In the boss stage ofOrange Ocean, Meta Knight challenges Kirby to a duel, throwing a sword that Kirby mustpick up to get theSword ability and begin the fight. During the fight, Meta Knight attacks and blocks with his sword. He notably lacks his wings and projectile attacks seen in future battles in the series. Once defeated, his mask splits in two, revealing, for the first time, his appearance similar to Kirby. He then wraps himself in his cape and flees.

If Meta Knight is defeated on the first try, Kirby's original ability will be returned to him after the fight. Either way, he cannot keep the sword.

Kirby's Pinball Land[edit]

InKirby's Pinball Land, Meta Knight appears as anEaster egg in the upper board ofKracko Land if Kirby breaks all of the stars that appear alongsideMr. Shine, accompanied by theMike scream sound effect and 77700 points. This only happens when revisiting the board after defeating King Dedede, and Meta Knight himself cannot be interacted with after appearing.

Kirby's Dream Course[edit]

InKirby's Dream Course, Meta Knight appears as one of the five placeholder icons on the scoreboards for each course.

Kirby's Avalanche[edit]

Meta Knight (referred to in the manual as "Metaknight") is the second-to-last opponent inKirby's Avalanche. He is more skilled than other opponents at making a comeback when most of his playing field has been covered in Garbage Puyos. HisPuyo Puyo equivalent is Rulue.

Kirby Super Star[edit]

Meta Knight reappears as an antagonist inKirby Super Star, where he has an entire mode dedicated to him, calledRevenge of Meta Knight. In this mode, with the help of theMeta-Knights and his warship theHalberd, Meta Knight attempts to conquerDream Land in order to end the inhabitants' lazy lifestyles. However, as the Halberd is about to launch, Kirby intervenes and boards the ship. Kirby proceeds to destroy the Halberd piece by piece, while Meta Knight and his crew attempt to stop him. When it becomes apparent that the ship is going to crash, Meta Knight orders his crew to evacuate before engagingKirby in a duel on the Halberd's bridge, a fight reminiscent of their duel inKirby's Adventure. Again, he offers Kirby a sword. UnlikeKirby's Adventure, the player can opt to refuse the sword by not taking it within several seconds. Upon being defeated, Meta Knight's mask splits open, revealing his face once more, before he disappears in a swirl of his cape. While Kirby rushes to escape from the descending warship on aWheelie, Meta Knight, in a last desperate bid, unveils his bat-like wings for the first time in the series and attacks. However, his attempt fails. The Halberd plummets into the ocean as Kirby successfully lands on dry land and Meta Knight flies off in the distance.

Meta Knight also appears in the Sub-GameSamurai Kirby, where he appears as the last opponent sporting a samurai outfit.

Meta Knight's moves in Revenge of Meta Knight[edit]

Meta Knight's boss battle in Revenge of Meta Knight introduced his several trademark moves in the series, including:

• Mach Tornado - Meta Knight turns himself into atornado, which cannot beguarded. IfKirby is hit by the tornado, he will be thrown into the air and will take damage when he crashes onto the ground. This would later becomeMeta Knight's neutral special move in theSuper Smash Bros. series.
• Tornado Slash/Summon - Sometimes simply calledTornado. Meta Knight requires charging to use this move. After releasing his charge, he stabs his sword into the ground to summon a giantunguardable tornado. Like Mach Tornado, Kirby will be thrown into the air and take crash damage when hit by the giant tornado. This move has since appeared on various Meta Knight-esque bosses, such asDark Meta Knight andGalacta Knight.
• Glide Sword - Meta Knight performs a quick glide to thrust his sword at Kirby. In older games, Meta Knight requires charging to perform this. In modern games, this move, when used by Meta Knight-esque bosses, is in a similar fashion toShuttle Loop ofWing Kirby. When Meta Knight is a playable character in modern games, he replaces it with Shuttle Loop directly.
• Crescent Shot - Meta Knight fires a crescent-shaped energy wave from his sword. Meta Knight's Crescent Shot is green-colored in the originalKirby Super Star but has become yellow-colored to match the color of hisGalaxia sword since its remakeKirby Super Star Ultra (and remains so inKirby Star Allies). The Crescent Shots from Meta Knight-esque bosses are usually in different colors instead.

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

Meta Knight appears as one of the opponents that Kirby must battle in the story mode of theSuper Famicom version ofKirby's Star Stacker. After being defeated, he relinquishes his piece ofMr. Star.

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land[edit]

InKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Meta Knight reprises his role as a boss and protector of a piece of theStar Rod fromKirby's Adventure. In this remake, he receives an updated design similar to his appearance inKirby Super Star. Like other bosses in this remake, he is larger and his battle is made easier. Unlike the original game, Kirby will keep the offered sword after his defeat if he entered the fight without a Copy Ability. Additionally, all of the sequences in which he gives Kirby an Invincible Candy have been removed. Instead, the candy appears out of thin air when Kirby approaches the relevant sections.

Main article:Meta Knightmare

Meta Knight also appears as a playable character in theMeta KnightmareSub-Game ofKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. He, as always, uses his sword instead of copy abilities. Interestingly, Meta Knight faces himself in Orange Ocean, instead of being replaced by another character to be the boss for the level.

Finally, Meta Knight appears as the final opponent in the new version of theQuick Draw Sub-Game.

Kirby Air Ride[edit]

Main article:Meta Knight (Kirby Air Ride)

Meta Knight makes a relatively minor appearance inKirby Air Ride as an unlockable character who can be selected as amachine in the game'sAir Ride mode. Unlike Kirby, he cannotinhale enemies, norcopy their abilities, and cannotboost. However, he effectively always has theSword andWing abilities, gaining all their benefits and drawbacks at all times.

Aside from his role as a playable character, Meta Knight makes a momentary appearance confrontingKirby during the game's opening sequence.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror[edit]

See also:Dark Meta Knight

Meta Knight appears again inKirby & The Amazing Mirror, where he plays one of his most significant roles in theKirby series to date. In the intro, Meta Knight is seen flying into theMirror World after sensing danger there. Meanwhile, a mysterious shadowy version of him, later revealed to beDark Meta Knight, slashes Kirby into four copies of himself. The doppelgänger then escapes into the Mirror World, but not before Kirby and his clones follow him. Shortly upon entering it, the shadowy doppelgänger defeats Meta Knight in a duel and throws him into theDimension Mirror. The doppelgänger then slashes the mirror into eight fragments, scattering them across the Mirror World.

When Kirby and his clones reach the penultimate level,Radish Ruins, they seemingly encounter Meta Knight under the alias "? ? ?". However, upon defeat, his colors change, revealing him to be the mysterious dark doppelgänger before he escapes.

When Kirby and his clones find all the mirror shards and enter the Dimension Mirror, they once again encounter Meta Knight, ready to battle. However, the real Meta Knight emerges and reveals the other to be a dark impostor, Dark Meta Knight. Kirby and his clones engage the impostor and defeat him, shattering him into pieces. Immediately after, a portal appears, sucking Kirby and his clones inside to face the final boss,Dark Mind. Meta Knight manages to throw his sword into the portal before it closes. On the other side of the portal, Kirby and his clones find Meta Knight's sword plunged into the ground nearby. Touching it grants Kirby theMaster ability, theLast Battle Ability of this game. After Dark Mind is defeated, Meta Knight is seen flying back home with the other Kirbys. On his way, he drops his sword down into the Mirror World so that its inhabitants can use it in times of need.

Meta Knight also appears when Kirby gets theMagic ability. There is a slight chance that Kirby will land on Galaxia, which summons Meta Knight to destroy all the enemies in the room. However, because he is trapped in the Dimension Mirror throughout the entire game, it is unclear how Meta Knight can be summoned in that manner.

Kirby: Canvas Curse[edit]

While not formally appearing duringKirby: Canvas Curse, Meta Knight is an unlockable playable character, appearing in ball form. He is the fastest and bounciest character, but also with the lowest health, only having three "bars". He, likeWaddle Dee andKing Dedede, can use only the dash attack, instead ofCopy Abilities, in a similar way to how he was playable inKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. When he collides with a stunned enemy or while dashing, a sword sound effect is heard.

Kirby: Squeak Squad[edit]

InKirby: Squeak Squad, Meta Knight makes a surprise appearance. After Kirby defeatsDaroach inIce Island and retrieves the chest Kirby believes to contain hisStrawberry Shortcake, Meta Knight suddenly swoops in and steals the chest. He takes the chest toSecret Sea, an area blocked by the star door, which can only be opened by finding the fiveStar Seals.

Upon unlocking the star door, it is revealed that Meta Knight's warship theHalberd is hidden at the bottom of the Secret Sea. Meta Knight serves as the boss of Secret Sea in a battle that takes place aboard theHalberd. In this fight, Meta Knight has many moves from previous games along with new elemental attacks in his arsenal, such as a fire Crescent Shot and a plasma imbued Down Thrust. Throughout the fight, the Halberd is seen ascending from the sea before eventually halting in space. When defeated, his mask once again splits open, revealing his face underneath and causing him to flee. It is later revealed that the chest was the prison ofDark Nebula, the lord of the underworld and final boss of the game, and that Meta Knight took the treasure chest and fought Kirby to prevent him from being released.

This appearance marks the only time when Meta Knight (while not possessed) does not offer Kirby a sword before battle.

Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

InKirby Super Star Ultra, Meta Knight reprises his role as the main antagonist ofRevenge of Meta Knight, in addition to reappearing in theSamurai Kirby Sub-Game. He is also depicted on one of the cards inKirby Card Swipe and appears as a target inKirby on the Draw.

Meta Knightmare Ultra[edit]

Main article:Meta Knightmare Ultra

Kirby Super Star Ultra introduces a new mode calledMeta Knightmare Ultra. In this mode, after being defeated byKirby in Revenge of Meta Knight,^[1] Meta Knight sets out on a journey to train to become stronger, doing so by retracing all of Kirby's steps by running through the stages ofSpring Breeze,Dyna Blade,The Great Cave Offensive, Revenge of Meta Knight, andMilky Way Wishes, similar toMeta Knightmare fromKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. By collectingMeta Points from defeating enemies, Meta Knight can use hisGalaxia sword to perform special techniques, like increasing his speed, restoring his health, summon aSword Knight orBlade KnightHelper, or performing the powerfulMach Tornado attack. At the end of the mode, Meta Knight uses the power of the stars to summonGalactic Nova, and wishes to fight the greatest warrior in the galaxy:Galacta Knight.

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

Main article:Meta Knight (boss stage)

Meta Knight once again appears inKirby's Epic Yarn andKirby's Extra Epic Yarn. He is not seen until late in the game, where he is found on the battleshipHalberd, confused as to why Dream Land is covered in patches and stitching.Yin-Yarn then suddenly appears and sucks up Meta Knight with his sock. Meta Knight is not seen after that until he is revealed to be the boss ofSpace Land, under Yin-Yarn's control. His fighting style is similar to how it was in previous appearances; he attacks with various sword techniques and uses tornadoes. None of the four swords he wields are Galaxia, but the final red sword he uses seems to be an equivalent. After he is defeated, Yin-Yarn's spell is broken and Meta Knight returns home to Dream Land viaPrince Fluff's sock, along withKirby, Prince Fluff, andKing Dedede.

Meta Knight also appears during the final boss. After Yin-Yarn is turned intoMega Yin-Yarn, Meta Knight flies in and drops aMetamortex, turning Kirby into theTankbot to fight Mega Yin-Yarn.

Exclusively inKirby's Extra Epic Yarn, Meta Knight is playable in his ownSub-Game calledSlash & Bead.

Kirby Mass Attack[edit]

While not appearing anywhere in the main story mode, Meta Knight has some high-profile appearances inKirby Mass Attack'sSub-Games. He appears as a boss inStrato Patrol EOS, withSailor Waddle Dee andBandana Waddle Dee cheering him on, andKirby Quest. In the former, he acts as the boss of Stage 5, and attacks using sword swipes and Mach Tornado blasts. In Kirby Quest, he is faced in Chapters 30 and 39, with the latter having him appear alongsideSword Knight andBlade Knight, referencing his apprentices from the anime series. Here, he has 2600 HP.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land[edit]

Meta Knight appears as a playable character inKirby's Return to Dream Land, along withKirby,King Dedede, andBandana Waddle Dee. He is seen in the introductory cutscene reading a book in the grass on a knoll, while King Dedede and Bandana Waddle Dee chase Kirby, who is carrying a piece of cake. A mysterious ship, theLor Starcutter, then exits a wormhole and crashes, leading to the four of them investigating. Upon entering the ship, they meet an alien,Magolor, who apparently needs help finding its missing ship parts. Kirby volunteers to help, and the rest, including Meta Knight, assist him in finding the ship parts.

After they find the ship parts, Magolor takes the four to his homeworldHalcandra, where he requests that they defeatLandia after the dragon shoots them out of the sky. However, after Landia is defeated,Magolor is revealed to be evil and escapes to theAnother Dimension. In a cutscene depicting this event, Meta Knight is shown using his skills with his sword to attempt to fend off Magolor's attacks while pursuing him, but eventually falls to the battlefield to fight him instead.

Gameplay-wise, Meta Knight uses his sword to fight. His fighting style is almost identical toSword Kirby's abilities, and appears to be similar to his techniques inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl. Meta Knight also uses his wings to fly in a similar fashion toWing Kirby.

Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition[edit]

Meta Knight appears in the opening scene forKirby's Dream Collection Special Edition, first appearing in his 8-bit form fromKirby's Adventure, then in his 3D appearance fromKirby's Return to Dream Land. Barring his appearances in the included games and bonus features, his only other appearance is in the credits roll forNew Challenge Stages, where he can be seen flying pastKirby andMagolor in the background ofRaisin Ruins and performing a Shuttle Loop. Meta Knight then appears among the crowd of other enemies and characters at the end of the credits.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]

Meta Knight does not appear inKirby: Triple Deluxe physically, but his likeness can be found in one of Kirby'sStone transformations, along withKing Dedede andBandana Waddle Dee. He also appears in Kirby'sCircus ability as one of several balloon pop arts. Additionally, many varyingKeychains of him can be collected. Also, Meta Knight appears in theKirby Master video. Finally, his dark alternate dimension doppelgänger,Dark Meta Knight, appears as the final boss ofDededetour, as Dark Meta Knight's Revenge.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse[edit]

While Meta Knight himself does not appear inKirby and the Rainbow Curse, there is a collectibleFigurine depicting him. His absence is explained in the Play Nintendo comicIn the Name of Fashion, where he andKing Dedede are revealed to have lost their colors at the beginning of the game.^[2]

Meta Knight also appears as a drawing inElline'sSecret Diary, though his depiction suggests that Elline has not actually seen him, as there are notable differences in his characterization. The page's writing seems to imply that the drawing of Meta Knight is based on Kirby's description of him.

• 
  Elline's illustration of Meta Knight in herSecret Diary.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

In the opening cutscene ofKirby: Planet Robobot, Meta Knight stands silently wrapped in his cloak when he notices a giant planet-sizedspaceship piloted by theHaltmann Works Company approachingPopstar. He promptly sends theHalberd after it to try and deter them, but is shot down before he can begin the attack.

Main article:Mecha Knight

Main article:Mecha Knight+

Later, it is revealed that Meta Knight was captured by the company, and mechanized by them, becomingMecha Knight. In this form, he is forced to fightKirby at the end of theGigabyte Grounds level, and again at the end ofAccess Ark as the upgraded versionMecha Knight+. After Kirby defeats Mecha Knight+, Meta Knight is freed and returns with the Halberd, inviting Kirby aboard. Kirby instead uses theRobobot Armor to scan the entire battleship, transforming the armor into the ship itself in order to take on thefinal boss of the game.

This iteration of Meta Knight takes heavy cues from his appearance inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, as his cloak transforms directly into his wings, and he is wearing armored gloves and boots. In addition, his mask is thicker, with the visor protruding a fair distance off his face. As a final touch, when his mask breaks, his eyes are now yellow, as opposed to white as they had been prior; according toShinya Kumazaki, the designers felt that white eyes didn't look right when creating the 3D model for this game.^[3]

Main article:Meta Knightmare Returns

Meta Knight is playable in the Sub-GameMeta Knightmare Returns, where he battles through the story mode stages in a time attack run and fights tougher versions of the bosses therein; in particular, the Mecha Knight fight is replaced withStock Mecha Knight, a mass-production model based on Mecha Knight. Meta Knight can useGalaxia Darkness (his Final Smash fromSuper Smash Bros. Brawl andfor 3DS / Wii U) andMeta Knightmares as his Meta Point special moves, both of which can damage all enemies on screen. At the end, instead of facing Star Dream directly, it tests Meta Knight by summoning three sword wielding bosses, whom Meta Knight must battle in succession.

Kirby Battle Royale[edit]

Meta Knight is a participant inDedede's Cake Royale inKirby Battle Royale. He can be seen observing the games at first, but then ends up taking part in the tournament himself, challengingKirby andBandana Waddle Dee at the end of the Gold League. He is partnered up withAxe Knight.

A save file from thedemo version ofKirby Battle Royale can be transferred to the full version of the game if save data of the full version is detected on the 3DS. This makes him playable from the start of the full game. Otherwise, he can be unlocked after beating him in the story mode. He plays similarly toSword Kirby, though he is capable of winged flight, and has some unique moves, like his dimensional cape.

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

Meta Knight appears in the intro cutscene forKirby Star Allies, dusting off his sword before witnessingJamba Heart pieces rain from the sky ofPopstar. At some point, he is corrupted by a piece of the Jamba Heart, and Kirby is forced to fight him as theboss ofSacred Square. Upon his defeat, Meta Knight is freed from the Jamba Heart piece's corruption and becomes a playableDream Friend.

It is later revealed inHeroes in Another Dimension throughParallel Meta Knight's special page that prior to the events of Story Mode, Meta Knight was at Sacred Square to protect its residents from the raining Jamba Heart pieces before getting corrupted himself. The Japanese, Chinese and Korean versions also state that after Meta Knight was saved by Kirby and friends, his thoughts and the Jamba Heart possessing him went toAnother Dimension and created Parallel Meta Knight.

As a boss[edit]

Meta Knight, titledThe Lone Swordsman, is fought at the end ofWorld of Miracles: Planet Popstar, in theSacred Square stage.

Kirby will be forced topick up theSword ability before fighting Meta Knight, like in the older games in the series. In the following two situations, however, Meta Knight will become irritated and kick away the sword, featuring a different splash screen:

• If Kirby doesn't take the sword and waits for a certain amount of time;
• If any player steps onto or attacks the platform where Meta Knight stands.

Meta Knight oftenguards so that he takes no damage at all, often signaled when he takes a defensive stance. His sword-based attacks can be interrupted by the Sword ability (includingFriends likeBlade Knight), which creates a sword clashing effect and stuns him for a bit.

When hishealth is at approx. 60% of his maximum, Meta Knight surrounds himself with a purple force aura under the influence of theJamba Heart piece (he takes 0.2× damage during phase transitions). In this phase, he begins with duplicating himself into up to four Meta Knights, depending on how many friends there are. The duplicated Meta Knights can also make boulders rain from the sky using the purple force.

Upon defeat, Kirby can optionally throw aFriend Heart at Meta Knight and make him a friend similar toKing Dedede at the end of theClash at Castle Dedede stage. Otherwise, Meta Knight's mask breaks and he flees with his cape. This is the first game to show Meta Knight without cheek blushes when he's unmasked, carrying over from Kirby's corresponding color change inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

The following lists all of Meta Knight's attacks in the boss battle. Most attack names are from theKirby Star Allies Perfect Support Guide or fromKirby Star Allies: The Original Art Book, while others are conjectural.

Unlike most other bosses in the game, Meta Knight doesn't attack in a set order every time he's fought. Specific attacks will always be performed at set intervals while all the others are performed randomly.

These attacks are always performed randomly:

• Backhand Slash
• Meta Quadruple Slash
• Hyper Rush
• Hyper Rush ~ Crescent Shot
• Aerial Crescent Shot
• Glide Sword
• Down Thrust

For phase 1, Meta Knight attacks in a fixed order on loop as follows:

1. Eight or nine random attacks
2. Upper Calibur
3. Ten random attacks
4. Tornado

Upon entering phase 2, Meta Knight begins the phase as such:

1. Four Bodies
2. Aerial Crescent Shot [two Meta Knights] + Down Thrust [third Meta Knight] or Glide Sword [the other two Meta Knights]
3. Three random attacks from all Meta Knights each

Then attacks in a fixed order on loop as such:

1. Force Force
2. One random attack
3. Force Holdings
4. Three random attacks
5. Upper Calibur
6. One random attack
7. Tornado
8. Four Bodies
9. Aerial Crescent Shot [two Meta Knights] + Down Thrust [third Meta Knight] or Glide Sword [the other two Meta Knights]
10. Three random attacks from all Meta Knights each
11. Simultaneous Glide Sword

As a Dream Friend[edit]

After being defeated as a boss in Story Mode, Meta Knight is unlocked as a playableDream Friend. He is recruitable by the Dream Rod from either theDream Palace in Story Mode, from certainBig Switches inGuest Star ???? Star Allies Go! or right after his defeat as a boss if a Friend Heart is tossed at him before his mask breaks in Story Mode and Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!.

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 andKirby: Planet Robobot.

According to the Japanese, Chinese and Korean versions, he is still in the service of King Dedede and the phrase "stir things up" originally refers to a "revolution", i.e. the events ofRevenge of Meta Knight.

As a playable Dream Friend, Meta Knight can deal more damage thanSword Kirby andBlade Knight when using the same moves,^[4] not to mention his access to even more moves. Meta Knight is also one of the fastest characters to beatThe Ultimate Choice, either solo or with friends.

Notably, when Meta Knight is given anelemental power, hisShuttle Loop will have additional effects:

• Blizzard Sword: Meta Knight fires three-way icicles from his sword while gliding.
• Bluster Sword: Meta Knight does a long-distance swoop instead of gliding.
• Sizzle Sword: Meta Knight's gliding speed is greatly increased, and he glides horizontally without falling down. When it ends, he brakes in the air and creates an explosion in a similar fashion to the Searing Burn move of theFire ability.
• Splash Sword: Meta Knight fires water balls from his sword in succession while gliding.
• Zap Sword: Meta Knight drops a lightning bolt on himself to surround himself with electricity before gliding.

Sizzle Sword Meta Knight's Shuttle Loop has one of the fastest movements among all playable characters, making him a popular choice in aGuest Star ???? Star Allies Go! speedrun, either as the main character or while ridingpiggyback.

Super Kirby Clash[edit]

InSuper Kirby Clash, Meta Knight appears in thePort Village afterPyribbit is defeated, behind the Quest Board. There are also fourstickers featuring him, one costing 30Gem Apples and the rest costing 20 each.

Kirby Fighters 2[edit]

Meta Knight features prominently inKirby Fighters 2, both as a playable character and as a boss, where he ispartnered up withKing Dedede. He is unlocked as a playable fighter upon completing Chapter 4 ofStory Mode: The Destined Rivals. His moveset is largely the same as it was inKirby Star Allies, though he has a new move: Crescent Shot, which works in a similar manner to Sky Knight Sword fromKirby: Planet Robobot.

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

For information about him as a boss, see theKing Dedede & Meta Knight page.

Moveset[edit]

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

Meta Knight returns inKirby and the Forgotten Land and itsNintendo Switch 2 Edition, titledThe Lone Swordsman once again. Like many of the other Dream Land residents, Meta Knight was brought to the mysterious world by vortexes that opened in the skies aboveDream Land. Once theColosseum inWaddle Dee Town is built, Meta Knight can be fought as the final fight in Meta Knight Cup. He appears again in The Ultimate Cup, though not as the final opponent. After beating him the first time, Kirby is awarded theMeta Knight Sword blueprint. After clearing the main story and unlocking The Ultimate Cup, Meta Knight stays perched upon the entrance of the Colosseum.Elfilin explains that Meta Knight stays in Waddle Dee Town to protect the town from theBeast Pack while Kirby is away.

It is revealed through Meta Knight's collectiblefigure descriptions that Meta Knight arrived in the new world before Kirby (the original Japanese and localized Chinese and Korean versions instead state that Meta Knight arrivedafter Kirby). During his early scouting, he ventured as far asWinter Horns searching for a way back to Popstar. However, his exploration was interrupted when the Beast Pack attacked Waddle Dee Town, prompting him to commit himself to the town's defense. He is also mentioned as having beatenGorimondo 30 times in battle.

A more challenging doppelgänger of Meta Knight, known asPhantom Meta Knight, is encountered in the Colosseum as part of The Ultimate Cup Z and as part of The Ultimate Cup Z EX in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Phantom Meta Knight's figure description reveals thatFecto Forgo aimed to control Meta Knight in the same manner asKing Dedede. However, due to the knight's unbending will, the attempt failed, leading to the creation of Phantom Meta Knight.

Attacks[edit]

Meta Knight has 1,000 HP when fought in both Meta Knight Cup and The Ultimate Cup. He transitions to the second phase at 40% of his maximum health and takes 0.2x damage during the phase transition.^[5]

The following are all of Meta Knight's attacks inKirby and the Forgotten Land (attack names are from theKirby and the Forgotten Land Perfect Support Guide).

• 
  Kirby is offered a sword at the start, as usual. He can kick it away if he wants to.
• 
  Meta Knight's splash screen
• 
  Meta Knight using his Triple Slash
• 
  Kirby pushing back against Meta Knight, swords crossed
• 
  Kirby disarming Meta Knight, leaving his Galaxia open to retrieve
• 
  Meta Knight using his force technique to lift up boulders
• 
  Meta Knight striking the ground to throw out projectiles
• 
  Meta Knight usingUpper Calibur on Kirby
• 
  Meta Knight throwing out a series of crescent shots
• 
  Meta Knight unmasked upon his defeat

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

Meta Knight himself does not appear inKirby's Dream Buffet. However, Kirby can take on his likeness using the appropriatecostume andcolor. Additionally, Meta Knight appears on severalCharacter Treats.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

Meta Knight reprises his role from the Story Mode ofKirby's Return to Dream Land in its remake,Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. In this remake, Meta Knight's design has been updated to match his appearance fromKirby: Planet Robobot onward. Additionally, Mach Tornado and Sky Knight Sword fromKirby: Planet Robobot, and Galactic Counter fromKirby Star Allies have been added to his moveset, though Galactic Counter now deals a small amount of chip damage to Meta Knight upon successfully countering specific attacks. He also reprises his role inKirby on the Draw as a target. Meta Knight also has his ownDress-Up Mask that replaces the wearer's voice with his, unlocked by completing card #14 in theStamp Rally.

Kirby Air Riders[edit]

Meta Knight appears as a playable character inKirby Air Riders. Unlike his appearance inKirby Air Ride, Meta Knight is not selectable as a machine, and thus is capable of riding anyAir Ride Machine, no longer flying without one. Like all other riders in the game, he is capable of usingCopy Abilities. Without an ability, he uses his sword to attack, though it is not as effective as theSword ability. HisSpecial is Night Wing, in which he takes flight, operating much like he did inKirby Air Ride, though with dramatically improved speed, gliding, and the ability to perform a Drill Rush in place of aQuick Spin that homes in on targets. Once the move is over, Meta Knight returns to his machine.

Meta Knight has two alternate color schemes, one based onDark Meta Knight and the other based onGalacta Knight, both of which were also present inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. In theRoad Trip cinematics, itsChecklist, and hisamiibo, Meta Knight rides theShadow Star. In one scene, he is seen polishing the Shadow Star before he noticesGigantes's call.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

Meta Knight appears as a collectible trophy inSuper Smash Bros. Melee.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

Meta Knight is featured for the first time as a fighter inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl. His main attributes are his excellent aerial mobility, with five midair jumps, excellent airspeed, and special moves which can all assist further with recovery (most notoriously his glide following his up-special), as well as his quick and powerful sword swipes, many of which can beat out moves from other characters. All of these attributes put together make for a fearsome fighter when in the right hands, so much so that he is widely considered the best character in the game and is often banned from tournaments.

Unlike Kirby and King Dedede, Meta Knight speaks in full sentences, with lines such as "Know my power!" when using his Final Smash;Galaxia Darkness and "You've much yet to learn." in one of his victory poses. This is in stark contrast to theKirby series proper, where his only dialogue outside of the occasional grunt is entirely text-based. His association in the Story Mode withMarth andIke, along with his own unique version of the series victory jingle, help to further separate him from his cuter compatriots.

Role in The Subspace Emissary[edit]

Throughout the story ofThe Subspace Emissary, Meta Knight is chasing down the Subspace Army, as they had seen fit to steal his flagshipHalberd and use it to spread shadow bugs across the realm. He attempted to defend his ship, but was preoccupied with an attack from King Dedede. Along the way, he joins up with the two Fire Emblem swordsmen of Marth and Ike in pursuit of the Ancient Minister and his subspace bombs. One of these bombs resides in a giant transformable robot calledGalleom which Meta Knight fights. After Galleom transforms following a different battle, he takesLucas and thePokémon Trainer as hostages with it, activating a Subspace Bomb within his chest. Lucas breaks them loose, and Meta Knight catches them in midair while they fall.

Later on, Meta Knight catches up to the Halberd as it engages in an aerial battle with theGreat Fox by jumping up a mountainside along with theIce Climbers (who believe it to be a race). At the top, he battles and then allies withLucario before boarding the ship. From there, he encountersSnake and the two princessesPeach andZelda as he liberates his ship from Subspace control. He discovers that the ship was being piloted byMr. Game & Watch and several false counterparts. When kicked out of the pilot's cabin, the 2D collection dissolves into shadow bugs, forming a giant robotic boss namedDuon on the Halberd bridge.

Lucario, the princesses, Fox, and Falco take on Duon. Once defeated, they revive Mr. Game and Watch, while Meta Knight regains control of the ship. From there, the Halberd lands alongside the Falcon Flyer on the coast overlooking the destroyed Isle of the Ancients. The Halberd is used as a decoy when approaching the Subspace bubble the island has become, being destroyed by the Subspace Gunship moments after it turns the entire island into Subspace. The destruction of the battleship reveals several vehicles (which contain most of the group) from within, including the Falcon Flyer, Samus's Gunship, Fox and Falco's arwings, and the Hocotate Ship piloted byOlimar. While they dodge the gunfire of the Gunship, Kirby uses theDragoon to destroy it, allowing access into Subspace.

Meta Knight appears alongside the other fighters when preparing to deep into Subspace, brandishing his sword at the unknown. He is unfortunately, turned into a trophy almost immediately upon encountering Tabuu, along with every other fighter. He can be revived by Kirby (having reawakened due to swallowing a timed device made by King Dedede), although in gameplay his revival can be skipped. If revived, he accompanies the other revived fighters into the Great Maze and the final confrontation with Tabuu.

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

Meta Knight inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

Following his uncontested status as the best fighter inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, Meta Knight suffered from several serious downgrades to his fighting ability inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, including taking away his ability to glide and giving most of his standard attacks less priority, power and range. Despite this, several of his moves, notably his special abilities, were strengthened to compensate, thus changing the strategies needed to play as him. Despite his reduced dominance, Meta Knight still ranks high compared to the rest of the cast in terms of competitive play, striking fear into his opponents with his dreaded up-air chain toShuttle Loop finisher.

UnlikeKirby andKing Dedede, Meta Knight retains his old voice clips and Final Smash fromSuper Smash Bros Brawl, but he was given an additional piece of armor in that his gloves are now gauntleted. This makes this incarnation of Meta Knight the most heavily armored to date.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

Meta Knight inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.

SmashWiki has more information about this subjecthere.

Meta Knight returns along with every other fighter in the series inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. Unlike previous appearances, Meta Knight must be unlocked before he can be used. Overall, he has become more polarized in this title when compared to his appearance in the preceding installment, with his mobility, range, and attack power becoming greater, but at the same time becoming more open to counterattacks if he misses his mark or overextends. His most notable changes come to his neutral special 'Mach Tornado' which now only hits once and travels quicker instead of catching opponents and his new Final Smash known as 'Darkness Illusion', which is a trapping flurry attack similar to Ike's 'Great Aether' where Meta Knight sprouts an additional pair of wings and barrages his victim(s) before sending them flying.

Taiko no Tatsujin series[edit]

Meta Knight costume in theTaiko no Tatsujin series

Meta Knight appears as an unlockable costume in two arcade titles of theTaiko no Tatsujin series:

• Taiko no Tatsujin: Yellow Ver.
• Taiko no Tatsujin: Blue Ver.

This costume is unlocked by clearing "Revenge of Meta Knight Medley" in the aforementioned two games.

InKirby: Right Back at Ya![edit]

Main article:Meta Knight (anime character)

Meta Knight appears inKirby: Right Back at Ya! as a major supporting character withSword Knight andBlade Knight as his loyal followers. Near the beginning of the series, he acts somewhat mysterious, seemingly servingKing Dedede, but also sometimes helpingKirby when he needs it. Later in the series, his role becomes that of a mentor to Kirby. Most of the time, he does not outright help Kirby, but sometimes gives him tips about how to defeat whatever opponent he is facing. In the rare occasions where he does fight Kirby, it is for training purposes.

In the series, Meta Knight is said to be aStar Warrior, a protector of the galaxy againstNight Mare Enterprises. However, most of the Star Warriors ended up being killed, leaving him as a survivor, training Kirby to become one too. Due to this, he displays very skilled swordplay. He is also very stealthy, being able to appear at scenes without being noticed until he speaks up. He wields the same sword from the games, theGalaxia, which is said in the series to be a legendary sword which only can be wielded by those destined to do so. When he first encounters Galaxia, it is being guarded by a fiercemonster calledKirisakin. His partnerGarlude resorts to sacrificing herself, but manages to get the sword to Meta Knight.

Meta Knight's eyes change color according to his mood. If he is happy or calm, they are blue. If he is thoughtful, they are green. If he is angry, they are red. If he is amused, they are pink. If he is confused, they are orange. If he is serious, shocked, or fearful for the lives of others, they are white.

Meta Knight's appearance is usually accompanied with a flamenco guitar sting. In the English dub of the anime, he is voiced with a Spanish accent, which is likely modeled afterAntonio Banderas' performance in the 1998 filmThe Mask of Zorro. In both Spanish dubs of the anime, he speaks with anAndalusian accent.

Meta Knight also appears inthe pilot episode, but here, he is portrayed as one of the enemies who Kirby fights. He is defeated when Kirby spitsCaptain Stitch at him.

In theKirby novel series[edit]

Meta Knight from the novel series

Main article:Meta Knight (novel character)

Meta Knight is one of the main protagonists of theKirby novel series, and also hasthreedifferentnovels that focus on him. His appearance is identical to the games, and similarly to the games he is a mysterious, skilled swordsman. He typically does not get involved in other people's problems, although will assist people if he has his own reasons for doing so. He also has a friendship withKing Dedede.

Profiles[edit]

Flavor text[edit]

Image	Game	Flavor text
	Kirby: Canvas Curse	Dash for a sword attack!
	Kirby Super Star Ultra	Unlimited power in yourblade. Command your calledknight.Train and journey the cosmos!
	Kirby's Return to Dream Land	Themasked knight cometh! His intense training allows him to soar through theair, swinging hissword withunrivaled speed!
	Kirby and the Rainbow Curse	This mysterious masked swordsman helms the battleship Halberd. He hasn't always been the most trustworthy ally, but you can count on him when you really need him. He appears in this game as a figurine.
	Kirby: Planet Robobot	The masked knight has returned to fight evil while Kirby takes a much-needednap. Collect Meta Points, and thentouch the lower screen to unleash hisspecial attacks.
	Kirby Star Allies	As a boss: Corrupted by the power of a dark heart, Meta Knight’s dedication to the purity of combat has been eclipsed by a secret wild streak that always lurked within him. This once-hidden fury is now unleashed with every stab and thrust of his sword! As a Dream Friend: First introduced way back in Kirby's Adventure, this warrior takes the spirit of chivalry to heart. He has set out on a journey of training, but he would never forget his connection to his friends. May new friend powers awaken and imbue his blade! Guest Star Meta Knight: "This darkness must meet my sword!" The knight that dates back to Kirby's Adventure joins the fray! This mysterious figure occasionally shows up in his massive ship to stir things up. Now, into darkness!
	Kirby and the Forgotten Land	The Lone Swordsman Meta Knight (figure) The mysterious vortex brought Meta Knight to the new world too! He quickly tasked himself with finding a way back to Popstar...until the Beast Pack attacked Waddle Dee Town. The besieged settlement needed protecting, and a swordsman never ignores a chance to train! A Duel with Meta Knight (figure) Meta Knight arrived in the new world shortly before Kirby. He did some early scouting and reached as far as the snowy north before deciding to return and protect the town. Now he keeps watch for beastly invaders from his perch by the Colosseum. He's battled Gorimondo 30 times—and won every bout!
	Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe	Themasked knight enters, soaring through theair and deftly swinging hissword. Hisunrivaled speed is the result of intense training!
	Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World	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 shadowy defender who slashes rivals with his sword and slices through the air on dark wings.

Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy[edit]

Meta Knight's trophy inSuper Smash Bros. Melee
Name	Image	Appears In	Description
Meta Knight		Kirby Super Star (09/96)	The mysterious head of the Meta-Knights, he wields his sword with dignity. He delivered his sword to Kirby and demanded single combat in a show of knightly honor; his strict adherence to his code of ethics makes him a rarity in Dream Land. Sometimes he throws off his cape in battle. It occasionally transforms into wings.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy[edit]

Meta Knight's trophy inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl
Name	Image	Appears In	American English Description	British English Description
Meta Knight		NES Kirby's Adventure SNES Kirby Super Star	The head of the Meta-Knights, and something of a rival to Kirby. He's quite an accomplished swordsman. Following his code of knightly ethics, he once delivered his sword to Kirby and demanded single combat. His giant cape transforms into wings, giving him the power of flight. He's shown his face briefly before, but his relationship to Kirby is still a mystery.	The head of the Meta-Knights, and something of a rival to Kirby. He's quite an accomplished swordsman. Following his code of knightly ethics, he once delivered a sword to Kirby and demanded single combat. His giant cape transforms into wings, giving him the power of flight. He's shown his face briefly before, but his relationship to Kirby is still a mystery.

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

Meta Knight's trophies inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Name	3DS Image	Wii U Image	Appears In	American English description	British English description
Meta Knight			NES Kirby's Adventure (05/1993) SNES Kirby Super Star (08/1996)	Kirby's mysterious rival, this masked swordsman appears in several Kirby games. His cape transforms into wings to grant him flight. In Smash Bros., his quick sword skills and aerial agility set him apart. He can jump up to five times in a row, and he has a special move to soar higher.	A mysterious masked swordsman from the Kirby series. His cape can turn into wings, which gives him the ability to fly. His swift swordplay and ability to stay in the air give him an edge in this game. He can combine five mid-air jumps with a special move to make recovering a cinch. If you use him, try to keep battle airborne!
Meta Knight (Alt.)			NES Kirby's Adventure (05/1993) SNES Kirby Super Star (08/1996)	Meta Knight's Dimensional Cape lets you teleport, changing where you'll reappear with directional inputs and attacking by holding the button! His Mach Tornado special can draw in and attack multiple opponents. Rise by pressing the button repeatedly, and press left or right to move.	Meta Knight's Dimensional Cape lets you teleport. After vanishing, you can move to reappear somewhere else. You can also keep holding the button to turn it into an attack! His Mach Tornado special can mix up multiple opponents in the fray. Press the button repeatedly to rise up, and move left and right to create extra havoc.

Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.

Kirby: Planet RobobotBritish English electronic manual[edit]

• "A masked warrior who tries to take on Haltmann Works Co. by himself. However, he's soon defeated by a mighty enemy..."

amiibo[edit]

• Kirby's mysterious rival, this masked swordsman appears in several Kirby™ games. His giant cape transforms into wings, giving him the power of flight. He also captains a giant battleship, the Halberd, in order to take control of Dream Land. Meta Knight has shown his face briefly before, but his relationship to Kirby is still a mystery.

Play Nintendo[edit]

Just who is Meta Knight? We’re not sure, since he usually wears a silver mask.
Sometimes Meta Knight shows up to help Kirby, but he usually prefers to fight. What better way to show off his awesome moves? He’s round, fast, and good with a sword!

Kirby Portal[edit]

• The mysterious swordsman is rarely seen without his iconic mask—and when he does lose it in battle, he runs away! He likes to test his sword techniques out on Kirby, but sometimes serves as an ally.

Nintendo Today![edit]

Meta Knight, a masked knight shrouded in mystery. He first appeared in Kirby's Adventure, but no-one knows his true identity. He is skilled in the art of sword fighting, and can unleash a barrage of attacks with his speedy movements. He has fought against Kirby a number of times, but also frequently serves as an ally.

Meta Knight also captains a large battleship known as the Halberd. He is relied upon by his four underlings, the Meta-Knights. He also actually has a sweet tooth.

Music[edit]

Meta Knight is often associated with the following musical themes:

• "Boarding the Halberd" and"Havoc aboard the Halberd" - The two stage themes inRevenge of Meta Knight, often rearranged and combined into one medley, e.g. the track "Meta Knight's Revenge" fromSuper Smash Bros. Brawl.
• "Revenge of Meta Knight (Map)" - This track from Revenge of Meta Knight often plays in other games when Meta Knight makes an appearance. As such, it can be considered to be one of his secondary theme songs.
• "VS. Meta Knight" - His boss battle theme from Revenge of Meta Knight, which has been used for several Meta Knight battles throughout the series.
• "My Friend and the Sunset" - The ending track of Revenge of Meta Knight, which has been remixed in several later games, including his boss battle themes inKirby Star Allies andKirby and the Forgotten Land. This track is considered one of Meta Knight's main themes, due to its use as hisDream Friend jingle.

Trivia[edit]

• Early games (andKirby & The Amazing Mirror) have Meta Knight hold his sword in his left hand, while later games have him hold his sword in his right hand. VariousKirby games lead to him being ambidextrous because when he faces left, his sword is in his left hand and vice versa. However, the sprites for Meta Knight are simply flipped, much as how Sword Kirby "switches" hands when he turns around, which is mainly the reason he can hold his sword in both hands.
• According toKirby Portal, the official Japanese Kirby website, Meta Knight actually loves sweet food.^[7]
  • TheKirby Café frequently features desserts themed after Meta Knight, including a chocolate au lait he drinks after training, a chocolate fondant he keeps secretly in his cape, and a parfait he indulges in every night.
• Meta Knight became the "Nagoya Station Master", the icon for the Nagoya fair of Japan's Pupupu Train merchandise event during July 24-30, 2018.^[8]
• Meta Knight's appearance in theColosseum ofKirby and the Forgotten Land marks the first time a boss has been exclusive to a regularBoss Endurance mode, rather than solely itsThe True Arena equivalent.
• When Meta Knight is damaged inKirby's Adventure, the screen briefly gets more pixelized to enforce the damage. The same effect occurs inKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, though even more brief.

Gallery[edit]

Main article:Meta Knight/gallery

Quotes[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Meta Knight[edit]

The Lone Swordsman, Meta Knight[edit]

References