There are 21 playable characters in Kirby Air Riders, which can be combined with the top machines and vehicles for some fantastic results on tracks. This guide will provide you with a tier list of the best characters in the game, including their most powerful abilities and some weak sides that you should know about, too.
Top Characters Tier List for Kirby Air Riders
| Tier | Riders |
|---|---|
| S | Meta Knight, King Dedede, Kirby, Marx |
| A | Bandana Waddle Dee, Rick, Chef Kawasaki, Starman |
| B | Knuckle Joe, Daroach, Magolor, Susie |
| C | Gooey, Waddle Doo, Lololo & Lalala, Taranza |
| D | Rocky, Scarfy, Cappy, Waddle Dee, Noir Dedede |
S-Tier Characters
| Riders | Features |
|---|---|
| Meta Knight | Balanced all-rounder with excellent gliding and airborne performance, which has the Night Wing special skill that delivers massive speed bursts. Consistently strong across all modes, including races and City Trial, using drill rush for quick and confident overtakes. |
| King Dedede | Heavyweight tank with high defense and HP that has access to the Jet Hammer special, allowing this rider to rocket forward powerfully. Delivers strong attacks and has high damage output, which makes him excellent in combat-heavy modes like battles and stadiums. |
| Kirby | Versatile all-rounder with color variants, enabling Ultra Sword slashes, Snow Bowl control, etc. Has access to copy abilities for flexible powers, making Kirby the top beginner-friendly option with the most balanced stats. |
| Marx | Has very high base stats and speed, and his True-Form special jinxes competitors into debuffs and overall chaos on the tracks. Very strong when it comes to aggressive play in City Trial, making Marx the most high-risk, high-reward rider in the game. |
A-Tier Characters
| Riders | Features |
|---|---|
| Bandana Waddle Dee | Sturdy but lightweight rider with quick boosts and charge build-ups that enable Spear Cyclone spins of its propeller for both defense and offense. Low weight makes him fragile to direct hits, and Dee really struggles against heavyweights in battles. |
| Rick | Has a high top speed despite being a heavyweight rider with Rip-Roaring Dash, ditching his machine for ultra-fast sprints and knockouts. His bulky handling limits tight maneuvers without boosts, and acceleration could be a bit faster, too. |
| Chef Kawasaki | Speedy heavyweight with high power and Superspicy Curry skill that hurls fire projectiles at other riders, and he gets bonus health recovery from food items. Due to the bulky size, his turning can feel heavy and his special is less effective in pure speed races against airborne riders. |
| Starman | This glider excels in vertical tracks and City Trial events, as his Super Starman special boosts his speed mid-air over all other rivals. Unfortunately, he’s a bit too vulnerable to anti-air attacks in battles. |
B-Tier Characters
| Riders | Features |
|---|---|
| Knuckle Joe | Excels in close combat, utilizing his Knuckle Rush special that unleashes flurry punches with speed boost for quick overtakes and high damage. Lacks extreme speed in glides, vulnerable in open and airborne races, and can be underwhelming against ranged opponents. |
| Daroach | Strong in chaotic City Trial disruptions with his Sneaky Dash special that steals abilities, then vanishes for stealth passes and leeches energy on attacks. Can be very fragile without those steals, and his special is highly timing-dependent, which risks failure. |
| Magolor | His spell-based offense shines in technical races due to his high post-Star Slide acceleration, which is perfect for landing attacks on rivals ahead. Relies too much on precise slides and landings, taking into account his weak base handling, and that’s why he struggles in straight-speed battles. |
| Susie | Skilled rider for vertical tracks, using her Roboboosters propeller that enables floating and takeoffs into the air for quick shortcuts. Not recommended for beginner players, as she’s very difficult to master and inconsistent on ground-heavy courses. |
All other riders have very average stats and easily exploitable weaknesses, and most of them have low durability and speed, which isn’t optimal for competitive racing.
