Meta Knight

"Victory is my destiny."

- Meta Knight

Meta Knight is a recurring anti-hero character in the Kirby series, making his debut in Kirby's Adventure. He always wears his metal mask in his series, and usually appears as an antagonist or a boss Kirby must fight, but on occasions has had to team up with him. He and Captain Vul are captains of the Halberd ship. In certain games, after Meta Knight is defeated, his mask splits into two, revealing a face near identical to Kirby's, the main difference being his blue skin tone. He made a crossover debut into the Mario series as a fighter in the game Super Smash Bros. Brawl, where his ship, the Halberd, also appears as a stage.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Although he did not appear as a playable character, Meta Knight had a trophy dedicated to him in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It was randomly won through Collect the Trophies on Classic Mode, or the Lottery. The trophy's title says Meta-Knight, referring to the group rather than the individual, as there is a hyphen.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
However, Meta Knight appears as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. His purple cloak is able to transform into wings, just as his Trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee said. He utilizes his golden sword, the Galaxia, as his main weapon of choice. He can also multi-jump like Kirby and Jigglypuff and, by using his wings, he can glide. He also has a stage in his honor, his very own war ship called the Halberd. Meta Knight's voice actor from the Kirby anime series, Atsushi Kisaichi, provides Meta Knight's voice in the Japanese version Super Smash Bros. Brawl, while Eric Newsome, who did Bowser's voice in Super Paper Mario, in other versions.

The Subspace Emissary
Meta Knight's story starts before the events of the actual game, trying to defend the Halberd from Master Hand and the Subspace Army, but was unwittingly prevented from doing as such by King Dedede. His actual first appearance was when he runs into Marth, who was investigating the activity going on in the Battlefield Fortress. After a brief duel, they team up to take on the Subspace Army. Afterwards, they are chasing the Ancient Minister when Ike shows up to disarm the Subspace Bomb the Minister had been carrying.

Meta Knight and his cohorts ultimately lose the Ancient Minister near the edge of the Wilds, but they do find Galleom in the middle of the desert. After Meta Knight defeats him, Galleom goes to the Ruined Hall and comes out holding Lucas and the Pokémon Trainer in one hand, with a Subspace Bomb about to go off in his head. Although Lucas manages to free himself and the Trainer, Meta Knight saves them when they almost hit the ground.

Meta Knight finally finds the Halberd fighting the Great Fox above the Glacial Peak, and leaves his team behind to climb the mountain. As he does this, however, the Ice Climbers race him and beat him to the top. At the summit, Meta Knight discovers the Aura Pokémon Lucario, who challenges him to a fight. When Meta Knight gets defeated by Lucario, Lucario revives him by tapping on his trophy. When Lucario gets defeated by Meta Knight, Meta Knight revives him by tapping his trophy.

After the battle, Meta Knight and Lucario agree to team up and enter the Halberd, where they find Solid Snake thanks to the use of Lucario's Aura. The three of them rescue Princess Peach and Princess Zelda from their evil counterparts before heading to the cockpit to find many Mr. Game & Watches controlling the Halberd. Lucario and Snake take care of them while Meta Knight takes the Halberd back.

Eventually, Meta Knight goes into Subspace with everyone else, although the Halberd is destroyed by the Subspace Gunship as they do this. They find Tabuu, who fires his Off Waves at them and turns them into trophies. Kirby, however, is revived by one of King Dedede's badges and saves Meta Knight along with some of the others before going into the Great Maze to stop Tabuu.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Meta Knight returns as a playable character for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. His Shuttle Loop special no longer has gliding features. However, despite Shuttle Loop losing its gliding features, it was made stronger. One of Kirby's alternative palettes is identical to what Meta Knight looks like without his mask (though the palette has yellow eyes), armor and cape in the early Kirby games.

Mach Tornado


Mach Tornado is one of Meta Knight's Special Moves in the Wii game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is his Standard special move. During use, Meta Knight spins around really fast, whipping up a small tornado as he spins. This will draw players in the attack, and then launch them out again, causing a mild amount of damage. If the special button is tapped, Meta Knight will rise up in the air while twirling and the attack last longer. Kirby can use this attack as well, after absorbing Meta Knight's powers. Ending this move in the air causes Meta Knight to be put in a helpless state.

This move is Meta Knight's most powerful move in Kirby Super Star Ultra either when he is a boss or playable.

Drill Rush


Drill Rush (previously known as Triple Dash on the official site) is an attack used by Meta Knight in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is Meta Knight's Side special move. Meta Knight lashes forward with his sword, spinning around like a drill, hence the name. Although, it doesn't only go straight forward, Drill Rush's direction can be curved slightly, allowing him to aim upwards or downwards. This can help him toss opponents into the air, allowing for an easier KO damage. Ending this move in the air causes Meta Knight to be put into a helpless state.

This move is based on 'Kirbys Running-B move when he has the Master Ability (which he has when he uses Meta Knight's sword) in Kirby & the Amazing Mirror'', where he drills forward at high speed. The attack may have also derived from Kirby Air Ride, where if the player does a spin with Meta Knight, he will spin in a similar manner.

Shuttle Loop


Shuttle Loop is a Special Move used by Meta Knight in the game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Shuttle Loop is Meta Knight's Up special move, as well one of his recovery attack. When he uses Shuttle Loop, Meta Knight will slice upwards with his sword, pushing himself upwards and looping around, setting himself up for a glide. This allows him to get back to the stage after a fall. It appears the attack can cause damage to anyone hit by the attack on the way up. The first part is comparable to Marth's Dolphin Slash. If Meta Knight has used up all his mid-air jumps, he will be put into a helpless state once the glide finishes.

Shuttle Loop was originally a move used by Kirby with the Wing ability in Kirby Super Star, although it didn't make him glide.

Dimensional Cape


Dimensional Cape is a Special Move that Meta Knight can use in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, acting as his Down special move. After it is used, Meta Knight turns invisible, and can reappear anywhere nearby. Meta Knight moves in the direction the control stick is tilted. Using this effect, he can escape an opposing players attack, and then reappear behind him to attack the opponent. However, attacking the opponent from behind should only be done when the right opportunity arises. Meta Knight will be put into a helpless state if this move ends in mid-air.

The idea for Dimensional Cape most likely derived from the Kirby series where after Kirby defeats Meta Knight, Meta Knight will hide in his cape and disappear or he will turn into a bullet shaped object and fly off the screen (Coincidentally, Meta Knight's battle entrance and one of his taunts allow him to have this bullet shape form).

Galaxia Darkness
Galaxia Darkness is the name of Meta Knight's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It is a fairly difficult attack to use, as Meta Knight's range is very short, and he must hit someone for it to work. When used, he will swipe his cape around himself, but if he doesn't hit anyone with the cape, the attack will fail. If he does happen to hit someone with the cape, the screen will turn very dark. Then, the screen turns back to normal lighting, and he swipes his opponent with incredible force, causing either 40% damage, or usually, an instant KO.

It has a very high launch power as well. If opponents are nearby, any players who get hit by the cape will also get hit by the attack. Although it is hard to use, and the range is limited, it can damage several players in one attack, making it a very helpful Final Smash move. Unfortunately, this attack can harm teammates, regardless of if Friendly Fire is disabled or not, giving Meta Knight a chance of causing self-destructs to himself.

Galaxia happens to be the name of Meta Knight's sword in the Kirby anime, suggesting that is also its name in the game.

Snake's codec

 * Snake: Mei Ling, there's a mysterious masked man flying around here with a sword...
 * Mei Ling: That's Meta Knight. He's a knight from Dream Land. They say his sword swings can break the sound barrier. Whatever you do, don't get caught in one of his furious barrage attacks. He also commands the Halberd, a flying battleship.
 * Snake: Mm, I've seen it. The bow looks like his mask. What kind of weirdo puts his face on the bow of a ship, anyway?
 * Mei Ling: Umm, maybe he's a little narcissistic. Kind of like someone else I know.
 * Snake: Really... And who would that be?
 * Mei Ling: Use your imagination...

Palutena's Guidance

 * Pit: I wonder what Meta Knight looks like under that mask.
 * Viridi: Apparently quite similar to Kirby.
 * Pit: If he took off his mask, could he inhale things too?
 * Viridi: Maybe. And maybe he has Kirby's Copy Ability as well.
 * Pit: So if a maskless Meta Knight copied a masked Meta Knight...
 * Viridi: Well, then he'd just be back where he started.
 * Palutena: Anyway, be careful of his quick blade and his spinning attacks. They don't have a lot of power, so use your shield until you see an opening.

Quotes

 * "Fight me." - ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "Come!" - ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "Come back when you can put up a fight." - ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "You have much yet to learn." - ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "Know my power!" - ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "Behold!" - ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl
 * "Victory… is my destiny." - ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Trivia

 * Meta Knight is also in both versions of Nintendo Monopoly, where he takes the position of St. Charles Place, and costs $140.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Meta Knight was the only character who does not share a victory theme with the other characters from his series. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, other characters shared this trait as well, such as Rosalina and Dark Pit.
 * Meta Knight is the only Kirby character in the Super Smash Bros. series that speaks in full dialogue, unlike Kirby, who only says "Hi" or words based on the Copy attacks he gets from inhaling other characters.
 * In addition, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is the first game where Meta Knight has a voice actor.