Dropped Star - WiKirby: it's a wiki, about Kirby!
From WiKirby, your independent source of Kirby knowledge.
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- This article is about the star-like objects that spawn while fighting bosses and mid-bosses throughout the Kirby series, and should not be confused with Ability Stars or Assist Stars.
| “ | See the stars that keep popping up? You can use B to inhale them, then spit 'em back out with B again! If you don't have a Copy Ability handy, try to spit those stars back at the enemy. That'll show 'em! |
” | — Elfilin, regarding Dropped Stars, in Kirby and the Forgotten Land |
A Dropped Star[1] (referred to internally as a Drop Star,[from internal data][2] and often referred to as simply a star) is an object that appears in many games in the Kirby series. Originally depicted as two revolving stars in Kirby's Dream Land, in later games they resemble a single small Warp Star, or a stationary Star Bullet. They serve as the primary means for Kirby to attack a boss or mid-boss without the help of a Copy Ability.
Appearances and function[edit]
Dropped Stars were first seen in Kirby's Dream Land, and have since reappeared in every main series Kirby title. They appear whenever a boss or mid-boss performs an attack that makes hard contact with a surface - usually a floor - or may appear after a strong energy-based attack is executed. The most well-known example of this is when King Dedede uses his Super Dedede Jump attack, which causes a Dropped Star to appear on each side of him when he lands. Dropped Stars may also appear in midair, where they can either stay afloat, or fall to the ground, depending on the boss being fought.
Once they've appeared, Dropped Stars only last a few seconds at most before disappearing. During that timespan, Kirby can inhale them, and spit them back out as Star Bullets to do damage to his opponent. They are especially potent if Kirby inhales multiple stars at once before spitting them back out. Copy Ability moves that can grab enemies can usually also grab Dropped Stars, which can be used to attack with them as well. Projectiles similar to Dropped Stars can be produced by a few Copy Ability attacks, the most common example being Hammer, as well as when Kirby and other characters hit the ground. However, these cannot be inhaled.
In most games, Dropped Stars do not provide any Copy Abilities when swallowed, but there are some exceptions. In Kirby Star Allies, the color of the Dropped Star indicates the given ability, as follows:
- Indigo - Water
- Blue - Ice
- Orange - Beam
- Green - Plasma
- Red - Fire
- Purple - ESP
- Brown - Stone
- Black - Bomb
- Cyan - Wing
It should be noted, however, that Kirby & The Amazing Mirror has cases where regular Dropped Stars can still be swallowed for an ability, such as the ones dropped by Dark Meta Knight that grant Sword.
In early games of the series, touching Dropped Stars would cause damage, but starting with Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land they do not damage Kirby, nor do they hinder him in any way.
In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Kirby's Blowout Blast and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe specifically, Dropped Stars that linger for a while will repeatedly flash white for a few moments before disappearing.
Starting with Kirby: Triple Deluxe, some bosses drop smaller Dropped Stars, referred to as Mini Dropped Stars[from internal data][3] which are lighter-colored and disappear faster than their normal counterparts, but otherwise serve the same function.
In Kirby Fighters 2, Dropped Stars are again produced by bosses when they attack. Due to always being equipped with a Copy Ability for any given run of Story Mode, Kirby must rely on his Gobble move to spit them at bosses (if his current ability can't throw them), meaning he has to be closer to them than he needed to be in other games to use them. Similarly, fighters who use the equally-purposed Grab move can interact with Dropped Stars for the first time in the series, such as Bandana Waddle Dee, Magolor, and Meta Knight. With that, they can be used to deal massive damage to bosses, more than just spitting them out. In stages like Dyna Blade's Nest, the Dropped Stars that appear from Dyna Blade's various attacks can also be used to attack opposing fighters.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl onwards, King Dedede can make two Dropped Stars appear whenever he lands his Super Dedede Jump recovery move. Unlike in the Kirby series, these stars cannot be used against Dedede (unless they are somehow reflected), and will deal minor damage and knockback to any enemy fighter who touches them.
Yoshi can cause stars similar to Dropped Stars to appear when he does his Yoshi Bomb attack, with much the same effect as King Dedede's Dropped Stars, despite Yoshi not being a Kirby series character.
Gallery[edit]
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King Dedede creating Dropped Stars after using Super Dedede Jump in Kirby's Adventure
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Bonkers producing a Dropped Star with his hammer swing in Kirby Super Star
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King Dedede producing a Dropped Star with his hammer in Kirby's Dream Land 3
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Two Dropped Stars can be seen dropping out of the severely damaged Holo Defense API from Kirby: Planet Robobot.
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Kirby standing near some Dropped Stars produced by the impact of spears from Spear Waddle Dees in Kirby's Blowout Blast
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Blue Dropped Stars that emerge from one of Francisca's attacks in Kirby Star Allies, which grant the Water ability when swallowed.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | こぼれ星[4] kobore-boshi |
Dropped Star |
References
- ↑ "Dropped Stars: If a boss drops a star, Gobble/Grab it and Throw it back at them!" –Kirby Fighters 2 (loading screen tip)
- ↑ Taken from internal name "DropStar", from Kirby Star Allies and Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
- ↑ Taken from internal name "DropStarMini", from Kirby Star Allies.
- ↑ Kirby and the Forgotten Land Perfect Support Guide, p. 021