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Turn into a wheel and roll around at high speed!
— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll

Wheel is one of Kirby's Copy Abilities, debuting in Kirby's Adventure.

General Information[]

The Wheel ability is made for getting to places fast and taking out enemies along the way. Normally wearing a backwards red baseball cap, Kirby can turn into a big pink wheel that zooms along the ground, destroying nearly any foe or obstacle and making Kirby almost completely invulnerable - he is susceptible to damage only when turning. An obvious downside to this is that although he is fast and damages enemies on contact, he is very hard to control, especially because he is incapable of jumping in some games. The Wheel ability is best used on flat terrain and in places where projectile-throwing enemies are sparse.

The Helper for this ability is Wheelie. Kirby can board this Helper to become Wheelie Rider, a pseudo-ability that behaves very similar to the regular Wheel ability.

With the Copy Scroll in Kirby: Squeak Squad, whenever Kirby drives over sparks, flames, or ice, he will take on the properties of the element. Ice Wheel can freeze water he rides over, Fire Wheel can burn bushes, and Spark Wheel generates sparks on water and metal. If Kirby is colored using Spray Paint, the Wheel will change to match that color.

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Wheel received a charge move which increases Kirby's speed. The ability hat was given extra detail as well; it now has white lines and a star on it.

Wheel is a Mode for Robobot Armor in Kirby: Planet Robobot.

In Kirby's Dream Course[]

Lets_Play_Kirby's_Dream_Course_part_1B_Demo_Videos_16.mp4

Lets Play Kirby's Dream Course part 1B Demo Videos 16.mp4

In Kirby's Dream Course, Wheel is an ability to be used with planning and caution, though it has a built-in safety feature that no other ability possesses. When activated, Wheel Kirby will continuously drive in a straight line towards the same direction that regular Kirby was moving, and he cannot be controlled in this form. Sand bunkers and water hazards will be ignored and treated the same as regular terrain. It is a risky ability, as Kirby will not stop before driving off the edge of the course, or stop at all without falling off or hitting something immovable. However, when Wheel Kirby hits a bumper or wall, he will immediately lose all speed, then jump and spin in the air before coming to a rest. This makes it a somewhat safer ability than Burning in Kirby's Dream Course.

Moveset[]

Move Controls (While facing right) Description Element Damage
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Dash B/Y Kirby transforms into a wheel and rolls forward at high speed, and can even drive on water. When his path is obstructed by a wall or dangerous obstacles like spikes, he crashes and his roll ends.
Kirby: Squeak Squad
Having the Copy Scroll allows Kirby to roll over certain terrain and imbue himself with elemental properties.
*Sizzle
*Zap
*Blizzard
26 (start), 18 (late), 15 (repeat hits)
Stop Dash B/Y during Dash Kirby stops rolling and transforms back to normal.
Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star Ultra
None 0
Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Break
Dash + A/Y Kirby slows down briefly. This move also takes away some of his invincibility frames. None N/A
Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Go Slow
Dash + Hold A/Y Kirby's speed slows down. This move also takes away some of his invincibility frames. None N/A
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Kirby: Squeak Squad
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Jump
A during Dash Kirby jumps while rolling, allowing him to go up steps or over gaps. None 22
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Downshift
↓↓ while dashing in midair Kirby drills straight downwards before continuing to dash. None 22 (first hit), 20 (second hit)
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Rocket Start
Hold and release ↓ during Dash Kirby charges up, then dashes forward at a high speed for a short time. None 8 (initial hit during start-up), 2 (multi-hits during start-up), 30 (release)
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Sky Wheel
A during Rocket Start Kirby jumps and soars through the air, flying farther and higher than a normal jump, all the while doing flips. None 30, 18 (combo'd from Rocket Start)
Turn ← while dashing Kirby turns around to roll the other way. Kirby's speed goes up after a turn. None N/A
Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Turn Jump
While dashing, press ↔ repeatedly Kirby jumps and rolls into the opposite direction.
Kirby Super Star
Kirby Super Star Ultra
This also erases invincibility frames from Kirby, making him open for damage.
None 22, 16 (repeat hits)

Robobot Armor Mode[]

Move Controls Description Element
Turbo Accelerate B The Robobot Armor accelerates forward for as long as the B button is held. None
Speed Burst B + A The Robobot Armor jumps forward and accelerates. None
Burn Rubber B repeatedly The Robobot Armor does a series of donuts for as long as the B button is repeatedly pressed, creating fire. Sizzle
3D Spring Hopper ↑/↓/Left trigger/Right trigger The Robobot Armor jumps from one plane to another. None

Kirby Air Ride[]

In Kirby Air Ride, Wheel can be obtained by inhaling a Wheelie (or Wheelie Bike) in Air Ride mode, or by collecting its patch in City Trial and in several of its Stadiums. As it is a Copy Ability, only Kirby can transform, and not Meta Knight and King Dedede.

While in Wheel Form, Kirby turns into a red wheel with two circles containing a star on both sides. He has above average speed, and is slightly less maneuverable than most Air Ride Machines. The player can pick fast machines to cover straights and use Wheel (or Wing) to cover sections with turns - this is especially important in checking off several time attack checkboxes.

In Kirby: Right Back at Ya![]

Cannon DAuJLJbVYAER17h This section contains information that does not coincide with the main series canon. (Similar)
HnK Wheel

Wheel Kirby in the anime

KRBaY Wheel Form

Kirby in his Wheel form.

Wheel Kirby appeared in both racing-themed episodes of the anime, where it's naturally the most useful. It keeps the same look, with Kirby turning into a pink tire with a green and yellow hubcab with a yellow star on it, but gains no extra powers - just pure speed. Even when it looks like all is lost, Wheel Kirby can zoom past all opposition. It's his fastest ability after Jet, though he does still get tired after a while.

Transformation Sequence[]

In the transformation sequence, Kirby waves a checkered flag around until a tire hits him and he spins around, then the tire appears on his head where it turns into the red cap, which Kirby adjusts so it's on backwards.

Flavor Texts[]

GameFlavor text
Kirby's Adventure
Kirby turns into a wheel and can move at super speed! But watch for obstacles and excess speed!
Kirby Super Star
Roll over your enemies! Call a helper and ride the Wheel. Watch out for thorns and don't speed!
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
I ride like the wind! Fast! Too fast!
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Use lines to turn sharply!
Kirby: Squeak Squad
I ride like the Wind
FAST! TOO FAST!
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Roll to be nearly invincible or ride a Wheel Helper! Beware thorns and holes.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Kirby: Planet Robobot
Put pedal to the metal, and surge ahead with a Dash! As long as you've got speed, you're invincible, baby! Just watch out for potholes!

Related Quotes[]

The legendary racer zooms down the track. 3, 2, 1... Turbo Accelerate!
— Wheel Mode • Kirby: Planet Robobot
While using the Wheel ability, you can hold R to drift into a turn. If you drift long enough, you'll activate a Turbo Drift and get an extra boost!
— Tasty Tidbit • Kirby's Dream Buffet

In Other Languages[]

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology and notes
Flag JP ホイール Officially romanized as Wheel.
Flag USA Wheel
Flag KOR Translates to Wheel.
Flag GER Reifen
Kirby's Adventure

Rad
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Translates to Tire.
Kirby's Adventure

Translates to Wheel.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Flag FR
(General)
Roue Translates to Wheel.
Flag IT Ruota Translates to Wheel.
Flag ESP
(General)
Rueda Translates to Wheel.

Trivia[]

  • Wheel Kirby's artwork for Kirby's Adventure shows the wheel that Kirby turns into as gray instead of pink. The wheel also has a face in the artwork, which is not present in any game.
  • Wheel Kirby's hat looks similar to the hats of Yo-Yo, Paint, and ESP Kirby, but with a different color palette in each case (Yo-Yo's is purple, Paint's is gray, ESP's is blue); for the latter two, this is because of the limitations of the SNES.
  • Wheel's ability hat in Kirby Air Ride is only used for a few frames, during the flashing when the Copy Chance Wheel is passed through; the hat is not seen while the ability is actually in use, as Kirby automatically transforms into a wheel.
    KARWheelHat

    Wheel Kirby's hat in Kirby Air Ride

  • Like other Copy Abilities in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Kirby: Squeak Squad, part of the ability's color is affected by Spray Paint (in this case, the tire Kirby transforms into).
  • In Kirby: Squeak Squad, when Wheel Kirby is standing still, every few seconds he will fix his cap.
  • While Wheel did not appear in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Needle can roll into enemies with a dash attack similar to Wheel.
  • Wheel is the only Copy Ability in Kirby: Triple Deluxe that returned from a previous game that does not make an appearance in Kirby's Return to Dream Land.
  • In Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Kirby: Planet Robobot, Wheel Kirby is completely invincible when using most of its attacks. This includes Turn Hops, which keep Kirby in place, allowing him to constantly attack opponents from one spot. This is very useful for speedruns in The Arena and The True Arena, as well as avoiding damage. The only two bosses that are difficult to beat using this method are Dubior and the fourth phase of Star Dream Soul OS. This is because they are too high above the Turn Hop’s height, and the player must wait for them to reach the ground.
  • The "Rocket Start" move may be a reference to the Mario Kart series, although it also bears close resemblance to Sonic's Spin Dash move.

Videos[]

Artwork[]

Gallery[]

Sprites[]

Other Ability Icons[]

External Links[]

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