| “ | Gives Kirby a new Copy Ability when swallowed.” |
| — Items • Kirby Super Star Ultra Instruction Booklet |
An Ability Item is an item that corresponds to a certain Copy Ability, first introduced in Kirby Super Star. They serve as an alternative way of dropping a Copy Ability.
Games
Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra
In Kirby Super Star, pressing 
while possessing a Copy Ability will transform that Copy Ability into its corresponding Helper; in Kirby Super Star Ultra, this is done by pressing 
. If Kirby obtains a Copy Ability and presses this button again while in the presence of a Helper, Kirby will instead discard his ability as an Ability Item; in Kirby Super Star, this is Kirby's only method of discarding his Copy Ability, whereas Kirby Super Star Ultra also allows the player to drop a Copy Ability as a star by pressing Select. If Kirby performs the Normal Beam nearby a Helper, that Helper will be transformed into an Ability Item.
If Kirby inhales an Ability Item, he will obtain the Copy Ability it corresponds to (except in Milky Way Wishes, where Kirby cannot inhale to obtain Copy Abilities except for limited-use ones). If a Helper touches an Ability Item, it will be transformed into the corresponding Helper (unless that Helper already has that ability, in which case nothing will happen).
When Kirby throws an Ability Item, it usually follows an arcing path, but most Ability Items have unique trajectories they take when being thrown. Ability Items resemble various objects associated with the respective Copy Ability/Helper.
| Copy Ability | Ability Item | Trajectory | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beam | Beam's scepter | High upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Bomb | A bomb | High upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Copy | Tac's thief sack | Slowly ascends straight up, than slowly descends straight down; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Cutter | Cutter's hat | High upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Fighter | A boxing glove | Upward arc; bounces once in an uppercut upon landing. | 
|
| Fire | Fire's hat | Upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Hammer | A hammer | High upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Ice | Ice's hat | High upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Jet | A jet toy | Flies forward and then up, before falling straight down; does not bounce upon landing. | 
|
| Mirror | Mirror's scepter | High upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Ninja | A kabuto | Upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Parasol | A parasol | Flies straight up before descending straight down. | 
|
| Plasma | Plasma's hat | Upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
| Stone | A stone with Rocky's headband | High upward arc; does not bounce upon landing; occasionally shakes in place if left alone. | 
|
| Suplex | A wrestling belt | High upward arc; bounces once with no horizontal movement after landing. | 
|
| Sword | A sheathed sword | Upward arc; does not bounce upon landing. | 
|
| Wheel | A wheel | High upward arc; bounces switch upon landing. | 
|
| Wing | A bird similar to Dyna Blade | Low upward arc; bounces twice upon landing; wings flap during the throw; wings flap if left alone. | 
|
| Yo-Yo | Yo-Yo's hat | High upward arc; bounces once upon landing. | 
|
Kirby Star Allies
With the return of Helpers, Ability Items also return. Kirby can no longer drop his ability as an Ability Item, but he can still transform helpers into them with unfriend. As with before, if a Helper touches an Ability Item, it will become the corresponding Helper (except Player 1's Helper in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go!); this also does not occur with Dream Friends. Kirby can still inhale Ability Items to obtain its Copy Ability, but he can also do this by simply touching them as well. Defeated Mid-bosses will drop Ability Items, and any ability-bearing enemies will drop them during Friend Star segments, as Kirby and co. have no other methods of changing abilities. Ability Items in this game resemble the Copy Ability's hat.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Since Helpers did not return, Ability Items replace Ability Stars in this game, and they also resemble the Copy Ability's hat. Copy Essences use Ability Items on their pedestals most likely due the unique designs of each evolved Copy Ability.
Gallery
