For fans of good old arcade chaos, Kirby Air Riders offers a lot of fun and excitement. The game has that iconic Nintendo and Sakurai charm to it, and it features plenty of great unlockable courses. The game features enhanced graphics, new characters, and expanded game modes. Fortunately, Nintendo hasn’t lost focus with Amiibo with the advent of the Switch 2, and their integration with Kirby Air Riders is quite good.
These collectible statues have long served as physical keys to digital content, and their inclusion in Kirby Air Riders is a welcome one. Here’s a quick look at the compatible amiibo, how you can use them, and some fun facts along the way.
Currently Available Amiibo, With More To Come
The game features an entirely new line of amiibo figures specifically designed for Kirby Air Riders, which are distinct because now the rider and the machine can be physically separated and swapped between figures. The game also has compatibility with older, existing Kirby and Smash Bros amiibo.
The new Kirby Air Riders amiibo are larger and more detailed than previous ones. As of now, there are only two amiibo that add meaningful content to the game. The first available one is Kirby and Warp Star, which features Kirby on his signature Warp Star machine. The other Amiibo is Banana Waddle Dee and Winged Star, which features Banana Waddle Dee on the high-flying Winged Star machine. Both of these amiibo were released just earlier in November 2025.
Apart from the two already released amiibo, there are already a couple of unreleased ones available for preorder. Here are the upcoming confirmed amiibo for 2026:
- Meta Knight & Shadow Star – March 5, 2026
- King Dedede & Tank Star – 2026
- Chef Kawasaki & Hop Star 2026
Amiibo Functionality In Kirby Air Riders
For someone who’s played the most recent Super Smash Bros, you’ll have a good idea of how amiibo function in Kirby Air Riders. When you scan a Kirby Air Rider amiibo, the main function is to create and train a Figure Player (FP). This FP will gain FP levels and machine proficiency when they’re trained up. These FPs can be raced against in matches, and the more you race, the higher your level will be.
You can physically remove the rider from their machine and place them on a different machine for another Air Riders amiibo figure. Once this is done, the FP character maintains its level, but its machine proficiency begins from zero on the new vehicle. Through this option, you can explore many unique custom combinations.
While the newer amiibo offer unique new rewards such as FP, machine proficiency, swappable combinations, and training and levelling, that’s not the case with the older amiibo. Older amiibo figures primarily grant instant, consumable, or cosmetic rewards that help with in-game progression or customization.
Scanning the old Kirby series amiibo provides alternate character colours, decals for machine customization, and in-game currency to spend in the shop. The same goes for Super Smash Bros amiibo and other Nintendo amiibo, where you get decals, cosmetic items, or general daily bonuses in the form of in-game currency.
In summary, the most valuable reward is the FP system from the new Air Riders line. In comparison, older amiibo serve as a convenient way to instantly acquire customization items, which might be locked behind the game’s extensive checklist otherwise.
