How to Use Amiibo & What They Do in Kirby Air Riders: Completing & Solving

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More than any other Nintendo Switch 2 game we’ve seen so far, Kirby Air Riders really highlights amiibo features. The collection of Riders and Machines included with the game is the largest we’ve encountered yet.

As always, amiibo aren’t just for collecting (even though many people use them that way). They actually have an important role in Air Riders, and even some of the non-Kirby characters can be used with a purpose. Let’s dive into the details.

### What Amiibo Are Functional?

To get the most out of Kirby Air Riders’ amiibo features, you’ll want the new amiibo made specifically for this game. These amiibo are larger than usual and can even switch Machines if you have more than one. Currently, only two Air Riders amiibo are available, but more are expected soon. Here’s the upcoming schedule:

– Kirby & Warp Star – November 20
– Bandana Waddle Dee & Winged Star – November 20
– Meta Knight & Shadow Star – March 5, 2026
– King Dedede & Tank Star – 2026
– Chef Kawasaki & Hop Star – 2026

Other amiibo can also be used with Air Riders, but they work differently. We’ll explain how that works in the next section.

### How Do Amiibo Work?

If you’ve played recent Super Smash Bros. games, you already have an idea of how amiibo function here. When you scan an Air Riders amiibo into the game, it creates a Figure Player (FP). This FP levels up and gets better at machines as you train it, similar to Smash Bros.

The Rider and Machine combination that you create is saved, so if you change Machines, you can keep the Rider you’ve leveled up by placing it into the new Machine. The more you race with your FP, the higher its level becomes. To race against the amiibo, just scan it during setup mode, and it becomes your Active amiibo.

Beyond just earning a cool figure to display on the main menu, that’s the main way to use amiibo in this game. However, the game also supports other amiibo figures in a different way.

### Rewards from Other Amiibo

Any other amiibo you own — not necessarily Kirby or Nintendo — will also give you rewards when scanned. For example, scanning Smash Mario or Donkey Kong Amiibo might give you in-game gold and decals. Interestingly, scanning the original Smash Kirby unlocked Kirby’s alternate color and a license card theme. It appears that series-specific amiibo may unlock unique rewards or early content.