Mix is the term used to describe the state whereKirby gets a randomCopy Ability by swallowing enemies with two or more abilities at once. It was first introduced inKirby's Adventure. When a Mix begins, the game pauses while a roulette decides what ability Kirby will get. While seemingly random, this roulette always occurs in the same order in most games, so it can be carefully timed to gain the desired ability. If no action is made, the roulette will stop on its own after a while.

The function of the Mix has varied slightly over the course of the series. In older games, the enemies swallowed can be ones that both provide the same ability, but starting withKirby: Triple Deluxe, they need to provide Kirby with different Copy Abilities in order for a successful Mix to occur. Otherwise, Kirby will simply obtain the Copy Ability as normal. Additionally, in older games, the roulette's starting and stopping point correlate to the enemies that were inhaled, and thus are deterministic. Beginning withKirby's Return to Dream Land, the roulette's starting point is randomized, so the outcome is also random.

This mechanic is present in most games in the mainKirby series that feature Copy Abilities. It is, however, absent from the following main series games:

• InKirby's Dream Land 2, the ability Kirby receives when swallowing multiple ability-granting enemies is chosen at random between them.
• InKirby's Dream Land 3, when multiple enemies are swallowed, the first ability-granting one that was inhaled takes priority.
• InKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Kirby will receive the appropriatePower Combo when inhaling two ability-granting enemies, and any beyond the first two will be ignored.

Last Battle Abilities, like theStar Rod andMaster, never appear in the roulette. A discardedAbility Star will almost always take priority over a Mix, even if swallowed with multiple enemies.

Specifics by game[edit]

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

The Mix debuted alongside the Copy Ability system itself. When two or more enemies that provide abilities are swallowed simultaneously, even if both provide the same ability, a roulette will start to determine which ability Kirby will receive. The player can stop the roulette by pressing a button, but if the roulette is allowed to stop itself, the resulting ability of the Mix will depend on the ability of one of the swallowed enemies.

During the roulette, certain icons only appear for one frame and cannot be stopped on. These include the non-Ability icons "Normal", "Cannon", "Mix", and "Warp Star". "Cannon" is notable because it is unused in the rest of the game. Presumably it was planned to have this icon appear whenever Kirby hopped into a Fuse Cannon, as the icon is used in the European versions of the games under those circumstances^[1], as well as in the3D Classics version. The first proper use of such an icon in all versions of an actualKirby game is inKirby Super Star.

In these games, each Copy Ability has a numerical value assigned to it, and the Mix roulette's starting and default stopping points are determined by these numbers. One ability is prioritized (the first one to enter Kirby's mouth inKirby's Adventure, the last one to enter Kirby's mouth inKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land and3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure). The starting point is the value of the prioritized ability + 1 (minus 24 if the sum is 25). The default stopping point is the value of the prioritized ability + 7 (minus 24 if the sum is 25 or greater). InKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Mix can be initiated using an Ability Star; in this case, it becomes the prioritized ability for the Mix.

Kirby's Adventure's Mix roulette is as follows, with the inaccessible icons initalics:

1. Fire → 2. Spark →Normal → 3. Cutter → 4. Sword →Cutter → 5. Fireball → 6. Laser → 7. Mike →Parasol → 8. Wheel → 9. Hammer → 10. Parasol → 11. Sleep →Crash → 12. Needle → 13. Ice → 14. Freeze → 15. Hi-Jump →Ball → 16. Beam →Tornado → 17. Stone → 18. Ball →Stone → 19. Tornado →Needle → 20. Crash →Cannon → 21. Light → 22. Backdrop →Warp Star → 23. Throw →Mix → 24. U.F.O. ↩

InKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land and3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure, no inaccessible icons appear, which makes the Mix easier to predict. These games' Mix roulette is as follows:

1. Fire → 2. Spark → 3. Cutter → 4. Sword → 5. Fireball/Burning → 6. Laser → 7. Mike → 8. Wheel → 9. Hammer → 10. Parasol → 11. Sleep → 12. Needle → 13. Ice → 14. Freeze → 15. Hi-Jump → 16. Beam → 17. Stone → 18. Ball → 19. Tornado → 20. Crash → 21. Light → 22. Backdrop → 23. Throw → 24. U.F.O. ↩

As an example, starting the Mix roulette with Spark as the prioritized ability will always have the roulette start on Cutter (because 2+1=3) and end on Hammer (because 2+7=9).

Kirby's Dream Course[edit]

Because Copy Abilities are obtained by defeating enemies rather than swallowing them, Mix cannot be obtained on its own inKirby's Dream Course. Instead, there is a unique enemy calledTransformer which yields the Mix ability when defeated, and can only be found in two-player mode. Transformer is the only example of a singular enemy in theKirby series who provides Mix. The roulette will not stop on its own in this game, and instead must be stopped manually. As expected, it provides a selection of any Copy Ability in the game, but can also potentially provide no ability, or simply get rid of the existing ability the player had.

Its Mix roulette is as follows:

Normal → Stone → Parasol → Burning → Needle → Tornado → Wheel → Spark → Hi-Jump → Freeze → U.F.O. ↩

Kirby's Block Ball[edit]

InKirby's Block Ball, picking up theChanger item will start a roulette similar to Mix. It cycles through Spark, Burning, Needle, and Stone, in that order, at a fairly leisurely pace.

Kirby Super Star /Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

InKirby Super Star and its remake, Mix functions similarly to how it did inKirby's Adventure. Rather than the first ability inhaled determining the (default) mix, here it's the last two (without regard for order). Exclusive to this game are two non-Ability icons in the roulette: "Super" ("Invincible Candy" in the remake) and "Ouch!". Landing on them will give theInvincible effect ordamage, respectively.Paint is the only Copy Ability not present in the roulette. In the originalKirby Super Star, Mix has priority over Ability Stars, unlike most other games; this change is reverted forKirby Super Star Ultra.

InMilky Way Wishes, activating a Mix is the only way to obtain a Copy Ability without collecting theCopy Essences Deluxe. This can only be done with certain enemies, likeNoddy.

These games' Mix roulette is as follows:

1. Mike → 2. Yo-Yo → 3. Ninja → 4. Sword → 5. Wing → 6. Wheel → 7. Jet → 8. Ouch! → 9. Beam → 10. Suplex → 11. Sleep → 12. Crash → 13. Stone → 14. Plasma → 15. Parasol → 16. Ice → 17. Mirror → 18. Hammer → 19. Cook → 20. Fighter → 21. Copy → 22. Super → 23. Bomb → 24. Fire → 25. Cutter ↩

In these games, the Mix roulette works by taking the internal numerical values of the last two enemy abilities that were swallowed and transforming these values. The starting ability of the roulette is determined by taking these two numbers and finding the sum, then matching that sum to the corresponding number on the roulette. The ending ability of the roulette is determined by taking these two numbers, multiplying them each by two, finding the sum, then matching that sum to the corresponding number on the roulette. If the sum is ever above 25, it is subtracted by 25 until it is within range.

These games' enemy ability values are as follows:

As an example, initiating a Mix with twoTacs will add together 16+16 (the enemy ability value of Copy), which is 32; this will then be subtracted by 25 to get 7, which results in the roulette always starting on Jet (the 7th ability on the roulette). Following that, the stopping point is found by adding together 32+32 to get 64, then subtracting 50 (as subtracting 25 would still be out of range) to get 14, which results in the roulette always landing on Plasma (the 14th ability in the roulette).

Interestingly, the credits ofRevenge of Meta Knight (which show all standard abilities and their helpers) match the enemy ability values exactly.

Kirby Air Ride[edit]

InKirby Air Ride, Mix can be activated by swallowing two or more enemies, or by passing through aCopy Chance Wheel. The Copy Chance Wheel simply selects a random ability upon being passed through, while swallowing multiple enemies uses the standard roulette.

This game's Mix roulette is as follows:

1. Plasma → 2. Needle → 3. Mike → 4. Freeze → 5. Tornado → 6. Wing → 7. Fire → 8. Wheel → 9. Sleep → 10. Sword → 11. Bomb ↩

InKirby Melee, the Mix roulette has a different order specifically designed to make it more difficult to get Mike and Bomb. Its order goes as follows:

Fire → Wheel → Sleep → Sword → Plasma → Needle → Freeze → Tornado → Wing → Fire → Wheel → Sleep → Sword → Plasma → Needle → Sleep → Tornado → Wing →Bomb → Fire → Wheel → Sleep → Sword → Plasma → Needle → Freeze → Tornado → Wing →Mike ↩

The starting and stopping points of Mix in this game are variable depending on the mode, the current standings, and how many enemies were inhaled at once. Playing Kirby Melee, or being in first place inAir Ride, results in a different process being used which makes it more difficult to get Mike and Bomb. These are the processes to determine the outcome:

• If the player is in second place during an Air Ride race, playing Time Attack in Air Ride, or playing a Single Race inCity Trial:
  • If two enemies were swallowed, take the sum of the two abilities' numerical values in the Mix roulette; if the total is greater than 11, subtract 11 until it is within range. Call this number (x). The stopping point is the ability whose numerical value corresponds to (x) on the Mix roulette. The starting point is (x)-7 (plus 11 if the total is 0 or less).
  • If three enemies were swallowed, take the sum of the three abilities' values in the Mix roulette and add 4; if the total is greater than 11, subtract 11 until it is within range. Call this number (x). The stopping point is the ability whose value corresponds to (x) on the Mix roulette. The starting point is (x)-7 (plus 11 if the total is 0 or less).
• If the player is in first place during an Air Ride race or playing Kirby Melee:
  • If two enemies were swallowed, take the sum of the two abilities' values in the Mix roulette; if the total is greater than 11, subtract 11 until it is within range. Call this number (x). The starting and stopping points are determined by the following table.
  • If three enemies were swallowed, take the sum of the three abilities' values in the Mix roulette and add 4; if the total is greater than 11, subtract 11 until it is within range. Call this number (x). The starting and stopping points are determined by the following table.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror[edit]

InKirby & The Amazing Mirror, Mix functions much like it did inKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, but Kirby canSuper Inhalelarge enemies for a Mix as well. It can also be obtained by stoppingMagic's roulette on the ? icon, and by swallowingDark Mind's green stars; both of these will result in a random ability. Althoughmid-boss exclusive abilities cannot be Mixed by normal means, Kirby can allowDroppy to rob him one of these abilities and then inhale the enemy in a Mix.

Its Mix roulette is as follows:

Cook → Burning → Beam → Stone → Smash → Tornado → Crash → Bomb → Missile → Throw → U.F.O. → Fire → Spark → Cutter → Sword → Fighter → Laser → Cupid → Ice → Hammer → Parasol → Sleep → Magic → Wheel ↩

Kirby: Squeak Squad[edit]

InKirby: Squeak Squad, each ability is assigned a number, and when a Mix is activated by inhaling two ability-granting enemies, the resulting ability will always be the sum of those two numbers (minus 23, if the sum is 24 or above). If three or more ability-granting enemies are Mixed, only the first two are considered for the Mix.

There are some exceptions: after unlocking theGhost Medal, mixing any ability withSleep will always result inGhost. Also, after obtainingSword's andBomb'sAbility Scrolls, creating a Mix of either of those withFire,Spark, orIce will create the appropriate combination (such as Fire Sword or Ice Bomb). Moreover, much like inKirby & The Amazing Mirror, Mix can be activated by landing on the ? icon in Magic's roulette, which will randomly determine the ability.

The roulette is as follows:

1. Fighter → 2. Ice → 3. Bubble → 4. Metal → 5. Hi-Jump → 6. Laser → 7. Cutter → 8. Sword → 9. Magic → 10. Animal → 11. Sleep → 12. Throw → 13. Fire → 14. Spark → 15. Hammer → 16. Tornado → 17. Beam → 18. Parasol → 19. Wheel → 20. Bomb → 21. Cupid → 22. Ninja → 23. U.F.O. ↩

Main article:Copy Palette

In addition to the regular Mix, Copy Ability bubbles and other bubbles can be mixed together in the Copy Palette for various results. Mixing with the Copy Palette works differently to an ordinary Mix. For more details on how it works, check the Copy Palette page.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land[edit]

InKirby's Return to Dream Land, the Mix roulette is always random, regardless of the ability-providing enemies that are inhaled, making it the only game in the series to have this distinction. However, once all 23 abilities are generated in the Mix order, this order will continuously loop until slowing down and eventually landing on the tenth ability in the generated order. At least three enemies with abilities need to be swallowed in order to trigger the Mix, a trait unique to this game. ASuper Ability will always take priority over a Mix.^[2]

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]

InKirby: Triple Deluxe, Mix always starts at a random position, but runs in a fixed order. Only two enemies that yield different abilities are required to activate it this time, which carries over into future games.

Its Mix roulette is as follows:

Leaf → Beetle → Needle → Fighter → Sleep → Crash → Sword → Whip → Ice → Bell → Bomb → Wing → Cutter → Circus → Wheel → Spark → Ninja → Stone → Mike → Spear → Parasol → Archer → Beam → Hammer → Fire ↩

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

InKirby: Planet Robobot,UFO andSmash Bros. cannot be obtained via Mix. There is aRandom Copy Essence that appears inAccess Ark - Stage 6,Access Ark - Stage 7 EX, The Arena and The True Arena, which cycles through all of the Mix abilities (except forSleep) in a roulette and grants Kirby whichever ability is being displayed when he touches it.

Its Mix roulette is as follows:

Fighter → Sleep → Crash → Leaf → Sword → Doctor → Whip → Ninja → Ice → Circus → Bomb → Mirror → Cutter → Mike → Wheel → Poison → Spark → Hammer → Stone → Archer → Parasol → Jet → Beam → ESP → Fire ↩

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

InKirby Star Allies, Mix works like it did in previous games. It cannot be activated in the game's demo.

Its Mix roulette is as follows:

Hammer → Plasma → Stone → Mike → Parasol → Suplex → Artist → Ninja → Beam → Beetle → Staff → Cleaning → Whip → Cook → Fire → Yo-Yo → Water → Bomb → Crash → Ice → Spider → ESP → Cutter → Fighter → Sleep → Festival → Sword → Wing ↩

Kirby and the Forgotten Land[edit]

InKirby and the Forgotten Land, Mix functions much like it does in previous games, with one major exception: the roulette will only cycle through abilities that the player has already copied, to avoid unlocking them inWaddle Dee's Weapons Shop early. If Kirby has obtained no Copy Abilities in the game prior to getting the Mix conditions, the game will cycle through the abilities granted by every enemy Kirby inhaled.

After obtaining all abilities, its Mix roulette is as follows:

Ranger → Hammer → Crash → Fire → Cutter → Sword → Bomb → Tornado → Drill → Sleep → Needle → Ice ↩

Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]

InKirby's Dream Buffet, the Mix roulette is used inBattle Royale stages to give items to Kirbys returning to the stage after being defeated by rivals. The items that can be awarded depend on which placing the Kirby is in, and can includestrawberries,Copy Foods, or anInvincible Candy. The Invincible Candy in particular can only be awarded to the Kirby in last place. Multiples of various Copy Foods can also be awarded, and will replace any previously-held Copy Food.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

InKirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, in addition to swallowing three or more enemies that provide abilities, the Mix can also be triggered by swallowing two enemies that provide different abilities, like in all games sinceKirby: Triple Deluxe. In addition, it now always runs in a fixed order (but still starts in a random position), namely:

Festival → Needle → Spear → Bomb → Sand → Sword → Water → Hammer → Spark → Mike → Parasol → Whip → Fire → Ninja → Hi-Jump → Ice → Mecha → Cutter → Leaf → Wing → Beam → Crash → Stone → Tornado → Fighter → Sleep ↩

TheRandom Copy EssenceSouvenir Item, obtained fromMerry Magoland, cycles through the same roulette at a slower pace. The Random Copy Essence can also be found inDangerous Dinner - Stage 3,Another Dimension,The Arena andThe True Arena, where it behaves much like it does inKirby: Planet Robobot.

Thedemo version of this game features a shortened version of the Mix order that only includes Abilities present in the demo. Notably, this Mix order is the same as the version in the full game, simply skipping over the Abilities not obtainable in the demo:

Needle → Sand → Sword → Water → Whip → Fire → Ninja → Hi-Jump → Cutter → Leaf → Beam → Tornado → Fighter → Sleep ↩

Trivia[edit]

• The icon for Mix inKirby's Adventure andKirby Super Star shows Kirby as a bartender, mixing a cocktail. This is one of the few references to alcohol in the mainKirby series.
  • An icon like this also appears unused in the files ofKirby's Dream Course.

Gallery[edit]

• 
  Icon fromKirby's Adventure
• 
  Unused icon fromKirby's Dream Course
• 
  Icon fromKirby Super Star
• 
  Icon fromKirby Super Star Ultra

Names in other languages[edit]

References

• Gameplay mechanics
• Methods of gaining abilities

• Articles which list Japanese names
• Articles which list German names
• Articles which list Korean names