King Dedede is the main boss of the Winter Horns area and is the fourth boss that players must defeat in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. He is Kirby’s long time nemesis and he’s back doing his shenanigans with his minions.
In this guide, we will look into King Dedede’s moves and attacks, as well as share some tips and tricks on how to easily win the fight.
How to Unlock King Dedede Boss Fight
The stage called An Unexpected Beast King is where you will fight King Dedede and to unlock it, you need to rescue 23 Waddle Dees in the Winter Horns stages. If you are short from the requirement, simply replay the stages where you have missed some Waddle Dees.
How to Beat King Dedede in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
To Beat King Dedede in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, you have to win against King Dedede’s fights which happens in two phases. He goes into his second phase once his health reaches <40%.
How to beat Tropic Woods Phase 1
King Dedede will be using his hammer smashes and body slam attacks in this first phase.
- Hammer Smash – King Dedede will wind up his hammer up high and smash it to the ground. He can chase you down and then bring down his hammer once you are in range. Keep running away to avoid getting hit.
- Body Slam – He will jump up high and slam himself to the ground at your position. He can also chain this attack thrice, with the last slam being a super slam where his shadow disappears for a few moments before crashing to the ground. Be aware of where his shadow is and stay away from it. Do not forget to jump over the shockwaves.
- Tackle – He will run at you and crash to the ground. Evade away or sidestep away from the path of his tackle.
- Hammer Swing – He will wind up his hammer to the side and do a wide 360-degree spin with it. Hover upwards to avoid the hammer or move away from the area of the spin.
How to beat Tropic Woods Phase 2
King Dedede will ditch his hammers and pick up a pillar instead.
- Icy Pillar Slam – King Dedede will jump and wind up his pillar up high before slamming it to the ground. Cracks will appear in a cone shape where ice crystals will appear some few moments after. Stay clear from the swing of the pillar and then move away from the ground cracks. You can also hover over the ice crystals as they show up..
- Pillar Smash – He will smash his pillar downwards and can chain this attack thrice. Always move sideways around him to avoid getting hit.
- Pillar Swing – He will wind up his pillar sideways and do a wide 360-degree swing with it. Time the jump to clear the swing.
Optional Missions for An Unexpected Beast King
- Swallow King Dedede’s Hammer
- Clear without guarding
- Clear within 1:30
- Clear without taking any damage
King Dedede Boss Fight Tips
- All optional missions for this stage can be done in one attempt, but it’s easier to do a separate run for the No Damage challenge if you are still trying to learn his moves.
- He will drop his hammer while going to phase 2. Don’t forget to swallow it for the mission. The Hammer ability also serves as a good ability against him.
- King Dedede will be accompanied by two Primal Awoofies at the start of the fight. You can swallow and spit them towards him to deal early damage and to get rid of them right away.
- Almost every attack spawns start which you can use against him in case you don’t have any copy abilities brought into the fight.
If you like this guide, check out our other Kirby and the Forgotten Land articles:
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land Release Date and Preorder Bonuses
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land Bosses
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land amiibo – How to Use & Rewards
- How Long to Beat Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Is Kirby and the Forgotten Land Multiplayer? Co-Op Guide
- How to Beat Gorimondo Boss Fight in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- How to Beat Clawroline Boss Fight in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- How to Beat Tropic Woods Boss Fight in Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Check out this video by NintendoBase showing all boss fights doing the No Damage challenge, including King Dedede: