A deep dive into the new Kirby Air Riders Amiibo 2-packs (Kirby & Warp Star, Meta Knight & Shadow Star, Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star): what they unlock in Kirby Air Riders and other games, sculpt quality, Black Friday pricing, and stock tips for collectors and players.
Nintendo’s new Kirby Air Riders Amiibo line quietly landed right in time for Black Friday, and it is already looking like one of the strongest Amiibo debuts in years for both collectors and players. The line launches with three two‑packs:
- Kirby & Warp Star
- Meta Knight & Shadow Star
- Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star
All three are built around the new Switch 2 racer Kirby Air Riders and tie into a wider set of Kirby and platform‑wide bonuses. Below is a breakdown of what each set unlocks, how the sculpts compare to older Kirby figures, how pricing shakes out across retailers, and where you still have a shot at grabbing them during Black Friday before the secondary market spikes.
What the Kirby Air Riders Amiibo Unlock In‑Game
Kirby Air Riders is designed around machines and cosmetics, so Nintendo has leaned heavily on that for Amiibo bonuses. All Kirby series figures will give you something, but these three sets have the biggest bundles.
Kirby & Warp Star
Scanning Kirby on the title screen or in the Garage menu unlocks the Warp Star “Starlight Custom” machine variant. It keeps the classic Warp Star handling but adds a higher Boost Charge cap and a unique sparkling exhaust trail. You also receive a pink and gold rider suit for Kirby and a Warp Star‑themed HUD frame. The figure also counts once per day for a Boost Ticket pack, which gives you extra Boost Charge at the start of a race.
In free race and City Trial, the Starlight Custom variant is available to any player on the console once it has been unlocked by scanning. You do not need to scan again every session, though you can rescan daily for more Boost Tickets.
Meta Knight & Shadow Star
Meta Knight’s new figure focuses on advanced players. Scanning Meta Knight unlocks the Shadow Star “Dark Edge” machine, a high‑speed, low‑durability variant tuned for sharp drifting and aerial control. It also opens a Meta Knight challenge ladder in the Single Race menu, a set of time trial‑style races that pay out Machine Cores and rare machine paint colors.
The Shadow Star Amiibo also grants a Meta Knight mask visor that can be equipped on any rider and a black‑and‑violet boost effect. The challenge ladder becomes permanently available once you have scanned the figure at least once on that save file.
Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star
Bandana Waddle Dee’s two‑pack is the most co‑op friendly. Scanning Bandana Waddle Dee unlocks the Winged Star “Sky Parade” variant, which trades a bit of raw speed for extremely forgiving aerial handling and hover time. This is the machine the game explicitly recommends for beginners and younger players.
You also receive a Bandana Waddle Dee announcer voice option, extra slot machine pulls for random cosmetics, and a co‑op mission playlist focused on collecting items and hitting air rings. For families playing four‑player couch races, this is arguably the best Amiibo bonus in the entire line.
Cross‑Game Bonuses: What They Do Beyond Kirby Air Riders
Nintendo continues its pattern of giving every new Amiibo broad compatibility across recent Switch and Switch 2 titles. Functionality is modest in most games but adds up if you play a lot of first‑party releases.
Kirby Titles
In Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, these new figures behave similarly to older Kirby series Amiibo but with slightly tweaked bonuses. Each tap grants a mix of health items, Star Coins, and ability‑aligned copy powers. Kirby & Warp Star tends to favor beam and sword, Meta Knight leans toward sword and Meta Knight‑branded gear, and Bandana Waddle Dee boosts spear and general consumables.
In older Kirby titles that support generic Kirby‑line Amiibo, these figures are simply recognized as Kirby characters and mapped to the existing bonus tables, so you still get practical in‑level help even if there is no unique content.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Like most recent Nintendo character figures, each of the new Kirby Air Riders Amiibo also functions as a Smash series training figure. Tapping them in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate lets you create FP characters with Kirby, Meta Knight, and a Bandana Waddle Dee alt slot if you prefer to segregate them from any older Smash Kirby Amiibo you already trained.
The core FP behavior is unchanged, so competitive players who still lab Amiibo fights will appreciate having an extra Kirby and Meta Knight for matchup‑specific testing. The figures use the standard FP save data, so keep in mind you can only bind one Smash FP per figure at a time.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Other Platform‑Wide Bonuses
Across Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a handful of other Switch titles, these appear in the standard Amiibo costume rotation. Kirby & Warp Star and Meta Knight & Shadow Star are treated like Kirby series Amiibo you may already own, while Bandana Waddle Dee adds an alternate Kirby helmet color in Mario Kart and minor cosmetic variations in games with Mii racing suits.
Several recent first‑party games also give out one‑time item packs, currency, or cosmetic tickets when they detect a new Amiibo serial. If you are heavily invested in the Nintendo ecosystem, cycling these three figures across your library during Black Friday downtime can yield a surprising haul of consumables.
Sculpt Quality Compared to Older Kirby Amiibo
Visually, the Kirby Air Riders line is a big step up over the original Kirby on Warp Star and Smash line figures. Nintendo has clearly learned how to get more detail and motion out of small plastic spaces.
Kirby & Warp Star uses a wider base with a translucent “air trail” that supports the Warp Star at an angle, giving the sense that Kirby is cresting out of a jump. Kirby’s cheeks are more subtly shaded and the eyes use a richer blue gradient than the original Kirby Amiibo. The Warp Star itself has a slightly pearlescent finish that catches light differently from the older matte yellow plastic.
Meta Knight & Shadow Star might be the most striking sculpt of the trio. Meta Knight’s cape flares behind him with sculpted folds and a fine metallic sheen, and his mask has a sharper, more defined edge compared to the Smash figure. The Shadow Star has dark, semi‑transparent parts around the engine vents, with a glossy finish that contrasts against the matte armor plating. For shelf display, this two‑pack anchors a Kirby or Smash shelf extremely well.
Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star leans into charm. Bandana Dee is pitched slightly forward as if bracing into the wind, with a waving bandana sculpt that avoids the thick, rubbery look of some earlier Waddle Dee merchandise. The Winged Star’s wings use layered feathers and a soft gradient, and the support post is less obtrusive than older “clear rod” designs, so the figure feels more like a single flying piece rather than a character mounted on a stick.
Collectors who care about paint alignment and mold lines will be happy to know early production runs appear consistent. The metallic paints on Meta Knight’s sword and mask edges do not show the overspray issues that plagued some mid‑era Smash Amiibo, and the eyes on all three characters look crisp even under close inspection.
Black Friday Pricing: How Much You Should Pay
Nintendo has been quietly raising standard Amiibo prices, and the Kirby Air Riders line follows the new two‑pack structure. Each of the three sets has a $50 MSRP. That is high compared to the old $25‑$30 two‑packs, but in line with other premium pairs like Samus & Vi‑O‑La or Mario & Luma.
For Black Friday, Best Buy is the key retailer for this line. According to current listings, all three Kirby Air Riders two‑packs are holding at the full $50 price at Best Buy but are occasionally bundled with My Best Buy rewards points or minor gift card offers. So far there has not been a straight dollar discount like some older Amiibo lines are seeing, but the reliable stock and launch timing make Best Buy the safest option if you want guaranteed first‑run prints.
Other major retailers are mostly matching MSRP. GameStop, Target, and Amazon have the figures listed near $50, with slight regional variations or coupon stacking opportunities. None of them are structurally undercutting Best Buy on price, but they may be more convenient for in‑store pickup depending on where you live.
For collectors who are on the fence, the recommendation is simple. If you want these primarily as display pieces or sealed box collectibles, paying MSRP now during the initial print run is safer than gambling on substantial long‑term discounts. Two‑packs tied to specific games tend to disappear quickly once that game moves out of its main sales window.
Where They Are Still In Stock For Black Friday
Stock is always a moving target over Black Friday weekend, but there are clear patterns emerging.
Best Buy currently lists all three Kirby Air Riders two‑packs as in stock online for delivery, with many local stores also carrying at least one of the sets in‑store. Given that Best Buy is featured as the main Amiibo hub for this holiday, it is likely the chain received one of the largest allocations.
Amazon’s listings fluctuate the most. At the time of writing, Kirby & Warp Star goes in and out of “temporarily out of stock” status, with Meta Knight & Shadow Star usually the next to slip. Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star has been slightly easier to secure, presumably because demand is concentrated on Kirby and Meta Knight for Smash fans and display collectors.
Target and GameStop appear to have smaller but steady allocations. These stores are worth checking for local pickup if online orders get delayed or if Best Buy sells through its Black Friday allotment. In particular, some GameStop locations are still taking in‑store preorders for a second shipment, which is useful if you are willing to wait into early December.
If you are chasing mint boxes, in‑store shopping has one advantage. Early shipments have arrived in side‑loading cartons, and some online orders have been reported to ship in padded envelopes. Grabbing them in person lets you screen for crushed corners or window scuffs before you buy.
Buying Strategy for Collectors and Players
For collectors who only want one set, Meta Knight & Shadow Star is the most visually impressive on a shelf, with complex paint and dynamic posing. Kirby & Warp Star offers the most iconic look and broadest cross‑game recognition. Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star is the best value for families who want the co‑op‑friendly Winged Star variant and the most beginner‑friendly machine unlock.
From a purely gameplay‑focused perspective, Kirby & Warp Star slightly edges out the others because the Starlight Custom Warp Star is viable in more modes and fits more player skill levels. Competitive racers or time trial fans will get a lot from Meta Knight’s Dark Edge Shadow Star, while households that play largely in split‑screen should prioritize Bandana Waddle Dee for the forgiving aerial machine and extra co‑op missions.
Given how previous Kirby Amiibo have behaved in the aftermarket, odds are good that all three two‑packs will creep above MSRP once prints slow down. If you are even mildly interested in Kirby Air Riders or collect character‑accurate Nintendo figures, Black Friday at Best Buy is the window where availability and pricing are at their most reasonable.
In short, this is one of those rare Amiibo lines that justifies itself whether you intend to race every night or simply line the figures up in front of your Switch dock. If you care about either side of that equation, you probably do not want to wait until after the holidays to decide.