Meta Knight

Meta Knight in Kirby Super Star
Meta Knight
Eye color	White
Voiced by	Eric Newsome (2008-Present)
Debut	Kirby's Adventure

Meta Knight is a supporting character appearing throughout the Kirby series as one of its main recurring cast. He is very mysterious and seems to waver between being a friend or being a foe depending on his appearance. He has always been depicted with a strong sense of honor and seems to seek out what he thinks is best. When he battles Kirby, he usually gives Kirby a sword.

Background

Not much is known about Meta Knight's background. In the past, he has fought both against and alongside Kirby. He wears a blue cloak and a light gray mask as well as shoulder pads with his personal emblem: a M with a sword in the middle. When the cloak and mask are removed, Meta Knight is shown to be creature that resembles a blue version Kirby with white markings, implying that they are of the same species. Meta Knight leads a small army with several unique characters. The most important of these characters are the Meta-Knights. The Meta-Knights are made up of Meta Knight himself as well as Meta Axe, Meta Mace, Meta Lance, and Meta Droid. The Meta-Knights refer to their leader as Sir Meta Knight. His forces also include an eagle-like character and a sailor Waddle Dee who pilot the Halberd.

The NES/Super NES Era

Meta Knight first appeared as a boss in Kirby's Adventure (as well as the remake Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland). In the Orange Ocean level, he guarded a Star Rod piece. He sent the Meta-Knights after Kirby at different points throughout the level. At the end of the level, he and Kirby dueled with swords. Later in the game, he had a change of heart and helped Kirby by giving him a special Invincibility candy. It was possible that Meta Knight's motives in trying to stop Kirby from fixing the Star Rod were pure, as he might have been aware that Nightmare was sealed within the Star Rod. In the Nightmare in Dreamland remake, there was also an alternate version of the game called "Meta Knightmare" which starred Meta Knight as the playable character instead of Kirby and was unlocked by completing the main game with 100%.

Meta Knight made his return in Revenge of Meta Knight, one of the games in Kirby Super Star. Intent on challenging Dream Land's laidback lifestyle, Meta Knight flew his ship, the Halberd to conquer the land. Kirby managed to destroy the ship's main engine, and both Kirby and Meta Knight proceeded to escape before the ship fell into the ocean. Meta Knight also appeared in Kirby's Avalanche as the twelfth opponent faced by Kirby and the second-to-last one in the game (with the final one being Dedede).

The GBA/Gamecube/DS/Wii Era

When evil threatened the Mirror World in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, Meta Knight was the first to helpl, but he was soon captured his own Mirror World self, Dark Meta Knight. Dark Meta Knight disguised himself as the real Meta Knight and battled Kirby. When Kirby rescued the real Meta Knight, he loaned Kirby his sword for his battle with Dark Mind. After Kirby managed to defeat Daroach in Kirby: Squeak Squad, Meta Knight stole the treasure that they were battling for and escaped through a door sealed by five colored stars. Kirby collected them and followed Meta Knight to Secret Sea and then onto the Halberd. As the ship sailed into Gamble Galaxy, Kirby and Meta Knight battled once more, only for Daroach to reclaim the prize. In truth, the chest did not contain ultimate power, as Daroach believed, or cake as Kirby thought. It contained Dark Nebula, and Meta Knight had been trying to prevent its release.

In Kirby Air Ride, he appeared as a playable racer, who could be unlocked by accumulating 30 minutes of glide time or by opening 1000 boxes in City Trial. He was also included as a playable character in ball form in Kirby: Canvas Curse, where he had no storyline role, but he could be unlocked by purchasing him for 25 medals. He was shown to be faster and lighter, at the cost of having low HP. Meta Knight also appeared in Kirby's Epic Yarn, where he was ambushed by Yin-Yarn aboard the Halberd and sent to Patch Land. There he was controlled by yarn and forced to act as the boss of Space Land, being the final boss faced in Patch Land. Kirby and Prince Fluff defeated him, at which point Meta Knight apologized for his actions and warned him about Yin-Yarn's plans to conquer Dream Land. They then returned to Dream Land, after which Meta Knight only briefly showed up in the final battle to drop a Tankbot metamortex for Kirby.

He was absent from the main game of Kirby Mass Attack, but he appeared made appearances as a boss in two of the game's sub-games: Strato Patrol SOS (as the second-to-last boss) and Kirby Quest (where he was faced in the third chapter and possibly the fourth chapter, unless a Galaxia Knight fight was unlocked instead). In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Meta Knight joined Kirby and the others in their quest to help and later defeat Magolor. He could be controlled by other players when playing mutiplayer.

The 3DS/Wi U/Switch Era

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Meta Knight was regulated to a series of cameo appearances. He was seen in the audience during the 100% ending, and his image also appeared on a circus balloon and as one of the statues that Stone Kirby could turn into. His color scheme and mask could also be worn in the sub-games Kirby Fighters and Dedede's Drum Bash, respectively.

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, Meta Knight made an attempt to fend off the invasion of the Access Ark, but he was thwarted when the other ship managed to shoot down the Halberd. He was transformed by them into a cyborg known as Mecha Knight. As Mecha Knight, he fought Kirby and was defeated. He was later brought back to fight Kirby as an improved version known as Mecha Knight+, but he was defeated again. Once Kirby shattered his mask, Meta Knight was restored to normal. He lent Kirby the use of the Halberd and helped in the final battle. Afterwards, it was implied that he helped Kirby to land safely on the ground. Meta Knight later appeared as a playable fighter in Kirby Battle Royale, where he could be unlocked by having save data from the game's demo on the same system or by completing the Cake Royale.

Meta Knight was later corrupted by a Jamba Heart and acted as the third boss in Kirby Star Allies. He was fought at a stage called Sacred Square. His battle consisted of several phases, which included splitting into several copies of himself. After being defeated, Meta Knight's mask would break, and he would retreat. However, Kirby could also throw a Friend Heart at him to recruit him as a Dream Friend, who would help Kirby in his journey.

Bonus Appearances

One recurring trend in Kirby games has been an unlockable secondary mode in which the player plays as Meta Knight throughout the events of the game. In most cases, the game's events are altered to reflect the playable character being Meta Knight, and those versions of events do not seem to be canon.

• Meta Knightmare (Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land): An alternate version of Nightmare in Dream Land' (itself a remake of Kirby's Adventure) which is unlocked by beating the main game with 100% completion. The game is mostly unchanged, even down to another Meta Knight appearing in Meta Knight's role from the original game.
• Meta Knightmare Ultra ("Kirby Super Star Ultra): This mode consisted of Meta Knight playing through most of the different games from Super Star Ultra, and he could accumulate Meta Points that could be spent to activate certain skills for Meta Knight (Meta Quick, Heal, Summon Knight and Mach Tornado). In this quest, he was on a quest to become the strongest warrior. Rather than fighting Marx, Meta Knight ended up asking Nova to grant him a worthy opponent. Nova responded by summoning the deadly Galacta Knight, who acted as Meta Knight's final opponent.
• Meta Knightmare Returns (Kirby: Planet Robobot) This mode is an alternate version of Planet Robobot with Meta Knight as the main character. Once again Meta Points are used, with the skills this time being Meta Quick, Healing, Galaxia Darkness and Meta Knightmares. Mecha Knight is replaced by a Stock Mecha Knight in his version of the game, and the final enemies are shown to be copies of Dark Matter, Queen Sectonia and finally Galacta Knight.

Abilities

Meta Knight is skilled with a sword. When Kirby uses the sword in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, the ability is referred to as "Master", perhaps a nod to Link's Master Sword. Some games and the animated series name it the "Galaxia", Spanish for galaxy. He has also been seen using his sword to solve puzzles. This is probably an allusion to cutting the Gordian Knot.

Meta Knight also has the ability to fly. His wings, transformed from his cloak, resemble those of a bat. When Meta Knight runs, its roughly as fast as Kirby when Kirby uses the Wheel ability.

In his Smash appearances, Meta Knight uses the following moveset:

• Standard Special Move: Mach Tornado - Meta Knight briefly spins around in a tornado-like formation.
• Side Special Move: Drill Rush - Meta Knight lunges forward while stabbing his blade forth, in an attack that can double as a recovery move.
• Up Special Move: Shuttle Loop - Meta Knight takes flight and loops through the air, temporarily gliding while extending his sword to attack others.
• Down Special Move: Dimensional Cape - With this move, Meta Knight can use his cape to teleport elsewhere. This can be used as a recovery move.
• Final Smash: Galaxia Darkness - When using a Smash Ball, this move causes Meta Knight to wrap a player near him with his cape, and the screen will temporarily turn dark, at which point Meta Knight attacks with a powerful sword slash that can hit multiple enemies. This Final Smash was replaced in Ultimate.
• Final Smash: Darkness Illusion - Meta Knight's Final Smash in Ultimate. When used, he will grow an extra pair of wings and strike at the fighter. If successfully stricken, the background will turn dark while Meta Knight attacks the opponent with a series of slash attacks in the center of the stage.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• In NES Remix 2, one of the challenges involved Kirby's boss fight against Meta Knight from Kirby's Adventure.
• In Yoshi's Woolly World, a Yoshi design based on Meta Knight's appearance could be unlocked by scanning an amiibo of Meta Knight.
• In Super Mario Maker, Meta Knight's sprite from Kirby's Adventure appeared as one of the Mystery Mushroom costumes that Mario could transform into. The costume could be unlocked as a random prize for completing a 100 Mario Challenge on Normal or higher, or by scanning his amiibo.
• Meta Knight's amiibo could also unlock a special pose for Chibi-Robo known as the Meta Knight Pose in Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash. The pose matches the pose of Meta Knight's amiibo.
• In Bye-Bye BOXBOY!, Qbby could take on an appearance based on Meta Knight by scanning his amiibo.
• In the arcade version of Taiko no Tatsujin, a Meta Knight costume is available for Don Wada

Super Smash Bros.

Meta Knight in Brawl.

Meta Knight appears as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He is known for quick movements and a variety of sword attacks that often utilize his wings. He also had alternate costumes based on Dark Meta Knight and Galacta Knight. Meta Knight's helmet has also been available as gear for Mii Fighters starting in the 3DS/Wii U game. Meta Knight was part of the initially playable cast in his initial appearances, but in Ultimate, he had to be unlocked through game's variable-based system for unlocking fighters or by awakening him in Adventure Mode (where he is found within the area of the Dark Realm known as the Mysterious Dimension).

In Ultimate, his Classic Mode route was "Two Sides of the Same Coin", and it consisted of three-way battles with the other two combatants being a character and their evil counterpart (such as Link and Dark Link, or Captain Falcon and Blood Falcon). The last pre-boss battle was against two duplicates of Meta Knight wearing the costumes of Galacta Knight and Dark Meta Knight. The route's final boss was against Master Hand and Crazy Hand.

Meta Knight's mask was also available as Mii Fighter headgear in the 3DS/Wii U game and Ultimate.

Trophies/Stickers/Spirits

Meta Knight has also appeared as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, two trophies (one being of his Final Smash) and two stickers (from Kirby Squeak Squad and of the Meta Knight Ball from Canvas Curse) in Brawl, two trophies in the 3DS/Wii U game, a trophy for his Final Smash in the Wii U game and a Fighter Spirit in Ultimate.

Brawl: The Subspace Emissary

Within Brawl's Adventure Mode, "The Subspace Emissary", the Halberd had been stolen by the Subspace Army, and Meta Knight set out to reclaim it. He eventually teamed up with Marth to fight off minions of the Subspace Army outside the Battlefield Fortress (after briefly mistaking each other as enemies), and they were then joined by Ike when they attempted to pursue The Ancient Minister. The three swordsmen traveled throughout the land fighting off more of the Subspace Army's forces, including the mechanical Galleom, and along the way Meta Knight was also able to save Lucas and Red from a deadly fall.

Meta Knight then departed from his companions when he saw the Halberd battling the Great Fox and began scaling the Glacial Mountain with the Ice Climbers to reach it. At the peak, he then battled Lucario seemingly due to accidentally disturbing his meditation. After a battle between the two, they became allies and stormed the Halberd together. They soon met a third teammate in the form of Solid Snake. Together they eventually claimed the bridge of the Halberd after defeating the massive boss Duon. With the Halberd back in his possession, Meta Knight then rendezvoused with the other heroes for the attack on Subspace. The Halberd and various other spaceships owned by the other heroes then made a daring stand against Ganondorf's massive battleship. The Halberd was shot down. It is unknown if Meta Knight was on board, but if he was he must have somehow escaped as he was among the other main party when they entered Subspace for the final battles.

Other Media

• Meta Knight appeared as a supporting character throughout the Kirby: Right Back at Ya! anime series. He is among the few surviving Star Warriors from the war with Nightmare. He and his Meta-Knights become King Dedede's servants in hopes that Dedede's love of monsters would draw in a young Star Warrior capable of defeating Nightmare, which it eventually does in the form of Kirby. Throughout the series, he trains Kirby in order to prepare him for the coming battle with Nightmare. Although he is more clearly an ally of Kirby in this canon, he is sometimes more aloof in order to help Kirby to become more independent and stronger. In the series finale, it was shown that he was secretly constructing the Halberd in order to battle Nightmare. Meta Knight lacks his wings from the games in this adaptation. However, his sword was named Galaxia in the anime, which influenced the sword's name in Brawl and later Kirby games.

Trivia

• In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Nintendo mistakenly says that Meta Knight first appeared in Kirby's Super Star. They also misspell his name by adding a hyphen.