Kirby Air Riders may seem like a game made for a younger audience, but dominating its colorful chaos can get a bit complex. The overall chaos is fun and accessible, but some characters simply offer better tools when you start chasing challenges, speed goals, or City Trial wins. Sure, victory isn’t about sweating every corner, but it can be about picking the best character that matches your playstyle.
Each character has unique abilities, stats, and specials that can seriously influence how your machine handles. When paired with the right ride, the end combination can be highly satisfying. Keeping that in mind, this guide breaks down the best characters in Kirby Air Riders, why they stand out, and exactly how you can unlock them. To further improve at the game, consider checking out our beginner tips.
Noir Dedede — The Shadow Emperor
Starting with someone whom you might have expected, Noir Dedede, the mystifying and statistically superior shadowy doppelgänger. Possessing this character basically guarantees a dominating run in the City Trial and securing top positions in Racing Challenges.
What sets him apart from his competitors is the deadly combination of his boost, top speed, and raw power. To unlock this juggernaut, you have to achieve the hidden ending in Road Trip Mode by collecting 22 different machines in the first playthrough to unlock the last chapter.
Once unlocked, pairing him with the Rex Wheelie will turn him into an unstoppable force, as they both complement each other’s abilities. Noir Dedede’s brutality and Rex Wheelie’s heavy weight and insane offensive stats fit perfectly together.
Starman — The Sky Dominator
Starman is renowned as the undisputed king of aerial battles, dominating the City Trial mode by conquering the Flight Challenges. His greatest move is a Hi-Jump special that, when done on an Air Ride machine, can reset the vehicle’s Glide Decay Timer.
This ability allows him to reach high-value, far-off Sky Islands and the Sky Garden earlier than anyone else, gaining an upper hand by attaining important machine parts and boosts sooner than others.
Starman can be made the most effective by pairing him up with the Jet Star, maximizing his flight speed and lift. To field this aerial unit, you must perform a specific action in City Trial: Fall for 6 seconds after only boosting once.
King Dedede — The Juggernaut
The only top-tier character that is available from the get-go, King Dedede, is a golden standard for offensive ground play. His massive hammer slam special is the perfect weapon for both combat and item collection, making him efficient in attaining quick stat bursts in Crystal Caves.
King proves his worth across Battle Challenges, Racing Challenges, and City Trial. To make him even more impactful, he should be paired with the good old Wheelie Bike, a machine famous for its high charge and grip. These two are the perfect match, as Wheelie Bike allows King to use his special attack consistently, all while covering its own slow speed.
Rocky — The Defensive Disruptor
Rocky is a character who truly embodies the “tank” archetype, as he has insanely high base defense and uses his high weight to engage in battle. This colossus is a nightmare, especially for your enemies in Battle Challenges and clashes in the City Trial mode.
If you’re confused about who to pair him with, the best choice would be the Battle Chariot. This machine focuses on attacking and HP, and when paired with Rocky, you can perform the rolling stone special attack without any worries.
Unfortunately, unlocking this character is a matter of luck instead of skill; you can get him by simply opening a treasure chest in Road Trip Mode.
Marx — The Chaos Harvester
Marx is a deceptively strong character who is sort of a dark horse for City Trial. He’s also a force to reckon with in the Racing Challenges. Though he has a low base HP and requires a cautious start, his aggressive special attack and high agility make up for it.
On top of that, he can also perform aerial actions just like Starman due to his high mobility. This lets him secure high-value items easily. You can unlock this character by doing a specific Air Rider challenge: complete Frozen Hillside (Time) in under 1 minute and 15 seconds.
To properly make use of Marx’s balanced stats and high speed, you should pair him up with the Warp Star, as this machine allows him to instantly reposition for a furious attack.
Daroach — The Item Thief
A character that thrives in chaotic modes like the City Trial and Battle Challenges, benefiting from their disruption. He’s a master of cunning, with a devious special attack that slashes and steals his opponent’s Copy Ability, turning their power against them.
If you’re a player who prefers this type of playstyle, pair him up with the Vampire Star; the machine’s dash attacks the enemy for a temporary stat gain. If you want to unleash the wrath of Daroach, you must win a race in the Top Ride mode after lapping one other rider.
Taranza — The Web Slinger
Taranza is an underrated character that deserves more attention. He’s a technical phenomenon that rewards you for focusing on tight cornering and high-speed maneuvers. This makes him a horrific opponent in all Racing Challenges and Air Ride circuits.
A pair befitting Taranza’s special ability is the Turbo Star, as this machine has incredible top speed. The turning is terrible for this machine, but you can nullify this with Taranza slinging web onto corners and minimizing friction.
Unlocking this master of momentum is a test of your endurance; you have to ride for a total of 5,469 yards in Air Ride: Beanstalk Park (Time).
