Summary

Waddle Dees are a staple species in the Kirby franchise, appearing in every game since the first ever Kirby title, Kirby's Dream Land. These inhabitants of Dream Land appear as both enemies and friendly NPCs. Many, but not all, Waddle Dees loyally serve King Dedede, the self-proclaimed ruler of Dream Land.

In many installments, they are both the most basic and common regular enemy. Most Waddle Dees wander around aimlessly and don't directly attack otherwise, and when inhaled, they don't give Kirby a Copy Ability unless they hold an item that does.

However, many Waddle Dees have been friendly NPCs. Most notably, in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, they have to be saved from the clutches of the Beast Pack. As Kirby frees them, they settle in the game's hub world, Waddle Dee Town, and rebuild its facilities, including shops, the Colosseum, and even a cafe.

Due to their simple, cute designs and ubiquotious nature, Waddle Dees are often front-and-center in Kirby merchandise and marketing alongside its titular character. For instance, the Kirby Cafe in Japan will seat Waddle Dee plushes with solo customers.

Illustrations