The world of Kirby has always been defined by its colourful allies and formidable rivals, but the original Air Ride roster was understandably limited to the classics. Kirby Air Riders fulfills fans’ wishes by transforming the starting grid into a truly star-studded affair, allowing us to race alongside modern fan favorites. The long-awaited launch of Kirby revives that beloved chaos, while packing in decades of new Kirby lore and a fresh roster of playable characters.
Taranza is one of the standout unlockables because of his fun playstyle and ability to maintain momentum through corners. He’s not about raw speed, but about control, agility, and timing. Here’s how to unlock him, and why he’s worth adding to your roster.
How To Unlock Taranza
There are two ways to unlock Taranza in Kirby Air Riders, and both are achievable early on if you know what to do. The first method involves the Air Ride Distance challenge. This challenge takes place in Beanstalk Park, where you have to ride 5,469 yards on the Beanstalk Park course. The best way to tackle this challenge is the Time Race or Free Run option on the course. Using a machine like the Jet Star or Wheelie Scooter should make it easier for you to cover the required distance efficiently without frequent crashes.
If you’d rather skip the distance grind, use the City Trial mode instead. Start a City Trial match and use the initial phase to collect power-ups and upgrade your machine. When the timer runs out, the game randomly selects a final Stadium event. All you have to do now is hope that you get the Short Race event and win it. This one does come down to a bit of luck, but it’s quicker than the 5,469-yard run in the Air Ride mode.
Taranza Special Moves, Vehicles, And Colours
Once unlocked, Taranza comes in two color options: the default purple-gold variation and a black alternate. There are no stat differences here, just a style preference. In Air Riders, if you unlock the same character twice, you unlock their alternate colors. So, if you want both versions of Taranza, you’ll have to complete both Checklist missions for Air Ride and City Trial.
The best machine to use Taranza with is the Wheelie Scooter. Taranza’s passive allows this machine to reach a higher top speed, and the exceptional turn stat enables better maneuvering around corners. The chemistry between Taranza and Wheelie Scooter allows for an advantage in courses with multiple turns and corners, which lets you overtake opponents without losing any momentum.
Taranza also has a really fun special, which you can use to your advantage. The move is called Spider Shots, and it breaks your opponent’s momentum by firing balls of sticky spider silk to tangle them up. If you’re enjoying Kirby Air Riders so far, make sure you check out our guides on how to unlock all courses and our beginner tips.
