| “ | There are several special actions that can only be performed in multiplayer. For example, if all players Piggyback on one another, hold A, and then release at the same time, they will perform a powerful Team Attack.” |
| — Special Multiplayer Actions • Kirby's Return to Dream Land Instruction Booklet |
Piggyback is a technique that Kirby and his friends can preform in the Kirby series, debuting in Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Kirby and friends can ride the backs on one another to stack up. The stack will be forcibly broken if it cannot fit through a sizable gap. If all players in a Piggyback hold guard and then release at the same time, the group will perform a Team Attack.
Games
Kirby GCN
| This section is about an unreleased or cancelled game | |
The ability to ride other players was first depicted in the first iteration of the canceled Kirby title for the Nintendo GameCube. It is unclear what its exact purpose would be, although it seems to be a successor to the Wheelie Rider ability debuting in Kirby Super Star, allowing the whole group to stay together while moving along quickly. This ability would be carried over into Kirby's Return to Dream Land for the Wii.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Piggyback makes its official debut. In multiplayer, one player can jump onto/land on another player's head to Piggyback; up to four players can make one Piggyback. The player at the bottom of the Piggyback has a minor change in that the player no longer enters Quick Fall when falling from a certain height; some moves are also capable of dismounting Piggybacking players. The riding players have no control other than to dismount by jumping off or hold the guard button to charge up power for a Team Attack. Depending on which character is in control of the Piggyback, the Team Attack will be different.
Techniques
| Move | Controls | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Piggyback | Climb on an ally's back | The player sits on top of an ally player's back. |
| Team Attack | During Piggyback, hold  , release at same time
|
The Piggybacking players charge up and then release a powerful attack, with its exact power and effect depending on how many characters are Piggybacking and which character is at the bottom. |
| Move | Controls | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| Piggyback | Climb on an ally's back | The player sits on top of an ally player's back. | |
| Team Attack | During Piggyback, hold  / / / , release at same time
|
During Piggyback, hold  / , release at same time
|
The Piggybacking players charge up and then release a powerful attack, with its exact power and effect depending on how many characters are Piggybacking and which character is at the bottom. |
Kirby Star Allies
Players can now Piggyback CPU players, allowing the first human rider to control the CPU at the bottom of the piggyback; no moves can dismount riding players, as this could disrupt riding CPU players. Piggybacking now requires the player to additionally press down to ride, and dismounting instead uses up, the Drop Ability button, or the Friend Heart button, likely due to the Jump button serving a purpose when controlling a CPU player; however, this instead means controlled CPU players cannot activate Friend Abilities by holding up. Team Attacks return, but they are all identical, being a rainbow laser with flowing yellow and pink stars.
Techniques
| Move | Controls | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| ||
| Ride Piggyback | Jump on top of friend + 
|
The player sits on top of an ally player's back. | |
| Control Piggyback | Piggyback on CPU | The first human player riding on the CPU can control the CPU. | |
| Dismount | During piggyback, press and hold  /
|
During piggyback, press and hold /
|
The riding player dismounts. CPU players will automatically dismount if a piggyback does not contain a human player. |
| Team Attack | During piggyback, press and hold /, then release at same time with friends
|
During piggyback, press and hold /, then release at same time with friends
|
The piggybacking players charge up and then release a powerful attack, with its exact power depending on how many characters are piggybacking. The attack can only be performed by human players, as CPU players are unable to contribute to the charging. |
| Move | Controls | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
| ||
| Ride Piggyback | Jump on top of friend +
|
The player sits on top of an ally player's back. | |
| Control Piggyback | Piggyback on CPU | The first human player riding on the CPU can control the CPU. | |
| Dismount | During piggyback, press and hold /
|
During piggyback, press and hold /
|
The riding player dismounts. CPU players will automatically dismount if a piggyback does not contain a human player. |
| Team Attack | During piggyback, press and hold /, then release at same time with friends
|
During piggyback, press and hold /, then release at same time with friends
|
The piggybacking players charge up and then release a powerful attack, with its exact power depending on how many characters are piggybacking. The attack can only be performed by human players, as CPU players are unable to contribute to the charging. |
Trivia
- In Kirby Star Allies, when Piggybacking on Parasol Waddle Dee, the parasol will always be put behind the Waddle Dee's back when not attacking as to not obstruct the Piggybacking character(s).
Gallery
