Kirby is a jack of all trades. No matter what powers an enemy has, Kirby can copy them and use them for himself just as well if not better. This has been the little round ball of joy’s signature move for decades now, and over the years he’s utilized dozens of powers on his various adventures. Each new ability he copies gives him a new way to attack and interact with the world, as well as a stylish change in appearance. Part of the fun of any new Kirby game is discovering all the brand new copy abilities there will be, and that has never been more true than with Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
For the series’ first attempt at unleashing the pink puffball with an endless appetite in a full 3D environment, Kirby and the Forgotten Land had a major challenge in adapting the purely 2D combat of the past to fit the new perspective. Copy abilities in particular needed to be completely retooled to work, while also being fun, creative, and exciting to use in new ways. While the arsenal Kirby has access to this time around might not seem like a lot, each copy ability is far deeper than they’ve ever been. For a full breakdown of all the new tricks up Kirby’s sleeve, here are all the copy abilities explained in Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
Note: We will be listing every single copy ability and their evolutions below. If you don’t want certain ones spoiled, read on at your own risk.
See more
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Beginner’s guide
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land: How to play co-op
- How to upgrade abilities in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
How copy abilities work
In case you were curious, Kirby and the Forgotten Land doesn’t completely reinvent the copy ability formula. Kirby still has his signature sucking move to inhale, swallow, and absorb the powers of his foes. Once acquired, the B button, previously used to inhale said enemy, is now used to access the new ability. If you don’t like what you’ve picked up, you can always toss it by holding down the Y button to leave it behind in a bubble. You get a couple of seconds to grab it again before it vanishes, just in case you did so by mistake.
Once you’ve swallowed and used a new ability, it will appear in the Waddle Dee Weapon Shop in your hub. Here you can test out all the ones you’ve found, grab one for the next mission, and upgrade them. Each one has multiple evolutions that change how they function in some way, but by going to the weapon shop you can cycle between each form of ability if you prefer one style over the other.
Every copy ability and their evolutions explained
Ranger
The standard Ranger ability drew some eyes when revealed for giving Kirby essentially a gun. With this ability, Kirby can shoot a low damage, high rate of fire pistol. Alternatively, you can hold the button to charge and aim your shots. The default stats are:
- Power: 1/5
- Rapid Fire: 2/5
Noble Ranger is the first evolution that makes Kirby go full Dante by giving him dual pistols. They each are the same strength and shoot just as fast as the first, but having two obviously doubles their efficacy. The charge shot, though, now shoots a swarm of stars rather than a single blast. The default stats are:
- Power: 1/5
- Rapid Fire: 4/5
The last evolution for your gun-wielding style Kirby is the Space Ranger. This form is the most different — trading in a rapid rate of fire for much higher damage per shot. Not only that, but the charge shot can also deal damage over time thanks to a lingering lightning storm that forms upon hit. The default stats are:
- Power: 4/5
- Rapid Fire: 2/5
Hammer
The Hammer ability is one of Kirby’s oldest and most familiar. Whipping out a massive wooden mallet, Kirby gets a strong, if short-range, bashing weapon that can be charged up to unleash a spinning hammer strike called the Hammer Flip. You can also charge while in the air to slam down into the ground. The default states are:
- Power: 2/5
- Rapid Fire: 1/5
Toy Hammer might sound like a downgrade, but this big red squeaker is better in just about every way. It’s stronger for one thing, but also lighter so you can smash much faster for easier combo ability. The default states are:
- Power: 2.5/5
- Rapid Fire: 2.5/5
Wild Hammer is almost hard to recognize as a hammer rather than just a big slab of rock. That weight makes it one of the most powerful weapons in the game, but being a giant slab of stone, is also incredibly heavy and slow to swing. It also gives Kirby a striking pelt hood and face paint. The default states are:
- Power: 4.5/5
- Rapid Fire: 1/5
There’s one last Hammer evolution that is only accessible as an end game unlock called Masked Hammer. As such, this is a bit of a broken copy ability because of how strong it is. It’s faster than the Toy Hammer and just as strong as the Wild Hammer. The only slight downside, which is admittedly true for most Hammer abilities, is that it has a short range. Otherwise, this mallet is second only to one other end-game copy ability. The default states are:
- Power: 4.5/5
- Rapid Fire: 4.5/5
Crash
Crash is a somewhat unique style of copy ability in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It basically turns Kirby into a ticking time bomb. When used, Kirby will unleash a massive explosion all around them, which can be made larger if you charge it up. Don’t fret, though, because Kirby himself won’t get hurt by the blast, only enemies. However, and here’s the catch, for as strong as this power is, and it is incredibly powerful, you only get one use out of it before it’s used up. The default states are:
- Power: 4/5
- Rapid Fire: One-time use
The only evolution for Crash is called Time Crash. Unlike your regular explosion, Time Crash doesn’t explode to deal damage to enemies, but instead attacks time itself, so to speak. When used, time will temporarily stop for everything except for Kirby, with the duration being tied to how long you charge the ability. On one hand, this makes it very easy to avoid obstacles and enemies, but it also flips the usual script of enemies dealing damage on contact so that you are the one who deals damage just by touching enemies. The amount of damage is actually really high, too, making it great for melting down boss health bars. The default states are:
- Power: 5/5
- Rapid Fire: One-time use
Fire
Fire is a classic copy ability that gives Kirby the ability to spew flames from his mouth. This is obviously great for setting foes aflame, but will also come in handy for a bunch of puzzles. The longer you hold the fire out, the larger the flame becomes. If you use it while airborne, it can even help propel you around like an engine. It’s nothing too flashy, but an old reliable favorite.
The default states are:
- Power: 1.5/5
- Rapid Fire: 1.5/5
The first evolution of the Fire ability is called Volcano Fire. Now, instead of spe