What is City Trial?

City Trial is the ultimate chaotic mode in Kirby Air Riders, supporting up to 16 players simultaneously - the largest multiplayer capacity of any mode. Players spend several minutes freely exploring a massive city arena, collecting power-ups and items, before competing in a randomized final event.

Mode Overview:

• ⏱️ Exploration Phase: 5-7 minutes to gather power-ups
• 🎲 Random Events: Field events that grant bonus items
• 🏆 Final Competition: Random challenge determines winner
• 👥 16-Player Support: Massive multiplayer chaos
• 🤝 Team Battles: Optional team mode

City Trial Gameplay Walkthrough

Watch this complete City Trial match to understand the flow:

How City Trial Works

Phase 1: Exploration (5-7 minutes)

Goal: Collect as many stat-boosting items as possible

What You Do:

• Fly around the massive city arena
• Find and collect power-up boxes
• Survive random field events
• Attack opponents to steal their power-ups
• Find rare legendary items
• Avoid hazards and aggressive players

Phase 2: Final Event (2-3 minutes)

Goal: Win the randomly selected competition

Possible Finals:

• Air Race: 3-lap race around the city
• Stadium Race: Standard track racing
• Destruction Derby: Last machine standing
• Target Smash: Destroy the most targets
• High Jump: Reach the highest altitude
• Drag Race: Pure speed contest
• Combat Arena: Battle royale
• Glide Challenge: Longest glide distance

Power-Up System

Understanding Stats

City Trial uses 3 main stats that you build during exploration:

🏃 Speed Stats

• Top Speed: Maximum velocity
• Acceleration: How fast you reach top speed
• Affects racing finals

Priority: High for Air Race, Drag Race

⚔️ Attack Stats

• Offense: Damage dealt to opponents
• Defense: Damage resistance
• Affects combat finals

Priority: High for Destruction Derby, Combat Arena

🌟 Special Stats

• Glide: Air control and distance
• Weight: Resistance to knockback
• Charge: Boost charge speed
• Affects specialized finals

Priority: Depends on final event

Power-Up Types

Standard Power-Ups (Common)

• Speed Patch: Small speed boost
• Attack Patch: Small offense boost
• Turbo Fuel: Boost power increase
• Armor Plate: Defense increase
• Glide Wing: Glide improvement

Super Power-Ups (Rare)

• Speed Maxim: Huge speed boost
• Attack Maxim: Huge offense boost
• Size Up: Grow larger (all stats increase)
• Weight Up: Heavier machine (harder to knock around)

Special Items (Very Rare)

• Legendary Machine Parts: Unlock legendary vehicles
• Copy Ability Capsules: Specific abilities
• Protection Shield: Temporary invincibility
• Item Magnet: Auto-collect nearby items

Offensive Items

• Multi-Missile: Homing missiles
• Mega Cannon: Powerful single shot
• Laser Swiper: Beam weapon
• Dizzy Beam: Stun opponents
• Fireworks: Area damage

City Trial Map Layout

Key Locations

Stadium Area

• Items: Speed and boost items
• Events: Racing events common
• Hazards: Crowded, high competition

Industrial Zone

• Items: Attack and defense items
• Events: Combat events
• Hazards: Destructible buildings

Sky Garden

• Items: Glide and special items
• Events: Aerial challenges
• Hazards: High altitude falls

Downtown

• Items: Balanced mix
• Events: Various
• Hazards: Tight spaces, traffic

Underground Tunnels

• Items: Rare legendary parts
• Events: Few events
• Hazards: Dark, easy to get lost

Pro Tip: Memorize item spawn locations for efficient farming!

Field Events

Random events occur during exploration, offering bonus opportunities:

Combat Events

Meteor Shower

• What: Meteors rain from sky
• Strategy: Keep moving, collect debris for items
• Reward: Power-up boxes

UFO Invasion

• What: UFOs attack all players
• Strategy: Fight back or hide
• Reward: High-value items from defeated UFOs

Air Raid

• What: Missiles target all players
• Strategy: Use evasive maneuvers
• Reward: Dodge successfully for defense boost

Environmental Events

Earthquake

• What: Buildings collapse
• Strategy: Stay in open areas
• Reward: Items spawn from rubble

Twister

• What: Tornado appears
• Strategy: Avoid or use for vertical height
• Reward: Items scattered in aftermath

Blackout

• What: Lights go out
• Strategy: Navigate by memory
• Reward: Rare items more common in darkness

Bonus Events

Item Storm

• What: Power-ups rain from sky
• Strategy: Collect as many as possible!
• Reward: Massive stat boosts

Legendary Machine Appearance

• What: Legendary machine part spawns
• Strategy: Race everyone to grab it first
• Reward: Legendary machine unlock

King Dedede’s Waddle Dee Army

• What: Waddle Dees drop items
• Strategy: Attack them for items
• Reward: Guaranteed power-ups

Strategy Guide

Early Game (0-2 minutes)

Priority: Establish stat foundation

1. Pick a Route: Choose less crowded path
2. Collect Basics: Grab every power-up you see
3. Avoid Combat: Focus on collection, not fighting
4. Watch for Events: Position for early event rewards
5. Note Spawn Points: Remember where good items appear

Best Starting Areas:

• Sky Garden (less traffic)
• Underground (rare spawns)
• Outer edges (safer collection)

Mid Game (2-5 minutes)

Priority: Build specialized stats

1. Check Power Graph (Press +): See your current stats
2. Specialize: Focus on likely final event stats
3. Event Participation: Always join field events for bonuses
4. Strategic Combat: Attack weaker players to steal items
5. Machine Switch: Consider swapping for better stats

Machine Recommendations:

• Wagon Star: Best item collection range
• Shadow Star: Balanced combat + collection
• Gooey Character: Item range bonus

Late Game (5-7 minutes)

Priority: Final preparations

1. All-In on Specialization: Max out key stats
2. Legendary Hunt: If available, get legendary parts
3. Defensive Play: Protect your stats from thieves
4. Position for Final: Move toward Stadium (common final location)
5. Mental Prep: Prepare for any final event type

Final Event Strategies

Air Race

Winning Stats: Speed, Boost, Turn

Strategy:

• Take shortcuts through buildings
• Use boost on straightaways
• Draft behind leaders
• Save special for final lap

Best Machines: Formula Star, Jet Star, Slick Star

Destruction Derby

Winning Stats: HP, Attack, Weight

Strategy:

• Target weakened opponents first
• Use arena walls to trap enemies
• Save special for groups
• Avoid center (surrounded easily)

Best Machines: Battle Chariot, Bulk Star, Bull Tank

Target Smash

Winning Stats: Attack, Speed (to reach targets fast)

Strategy:

• Prioritize high-value targets (glowing)
• Use area attacks for clusters
• Don’t fight opponents, focus on targets
• Save special for final seconds

Best Machines: Battle Chariot, Turbo Star

High Jump

Winning Stats: Glide, Weight, Boost

Strategy:

• Build vertical momentum with boosts
• Use glide at peak height
• Winged machines excel here
• Timing is everything

Best Machines: Winged Star, Paper Star, Jet Star

Drag Race

Winning Stats: Speed, Boost, Acceleration

Strategy:

• Perfect boost timing
• Stay in slipstream
• No turning needed - max speed focus
• Use special immediately

Best Machines: Rocket Star, Jet Star, Rex Wheelie

Combat Arena

Winning Stats: HP, Attack, Defense

Strategy:

• Team up initially to eliminate threats
• Betray alliances at the end
• Control high ground
• Use environment as cover

Best Machines: Shadow Star, Battle Chariot

Team Battle Mode

Team Strategies

2v2v2v2 (4 Teams):

• Stick together during exploration
• Share items with teammates
• Coordinate final event tactics
• One attacker, one collector

8v8 (2 Large Teams):

• Assign roles: collectors, defenders, attackers
• Control key map sections
• Mass coordination in final
• Communication is crucial

Team Roles

Collector

• Focus on gathering power-ups
• Avoid combat
• Use Wagon Star or Gooey
• Share items with team

Defender

• Protect collectors
• Intercept enemy attackers
• Use high HP machines
• Stay near teammates

Attacker

• Hunt enemy collectors
• Steal valuable items
• Use fast, offensive machines
• Disrupt enemy teams

Character Tier List for City Trial

S-Tier

• Gooey - Extended item grab range
• Magolor - Portal mobility across map
• Daroach - Item radar ability

A-Tier

• Meta Knight - Escape capability
• Marx - Area control
• Kirby - Versatility

B-Tier

• Bandana Dee - Offensive clear paths
• Susie - Balanced stat boost
• Shadow Star pairing

Pro Tips & Tricks

Advanced Techniques

Item Route Optimization:

• Memorize spawn timers (items respawn every 45 seconds)
• Create efficient collection loops
• Avoid backtracking

Combat Tips:

• Attack from behind for bonus damage
• Use Copy Abilities strategically
• Steal items at the last minute (denies preparation time)

Event Mastery:

• Predict events by time elapsed
• Position near spawn points before events
• Some events give better rewards than others

Machine Swapping:

• Machines on the map have different base stats
• Swap to legendary if you find parts
• Match machine to likely final event

Common Mistakes

❌ Fighting Too Much: Wastes time, lose items when damaged
✅ Collect First: Build stats, then selectively attack

❌ Ignoring Events: Missing massive bonus opportunities
✅ Always Participate: Events give best rewards

❌ Random Collection: Inefficient pathing
✅ Route Planning: Optimize collection loops

❌ Over-Specializing: Might get wrong final event
✅ Balanced Approach: Cover bases, specialize late

Unlockables in City Trial

Achievements

• Win 10 City Trials → Unlock Wagon Star
• Survive 50 Events → Unlock Tank Star
• Collect 1000 Items → Unlock Taranza
• Win 5 Finals → Unlock Magolor

Legendary Parts

Finding all 3 legendary parts in single session:

• Unlocks that legendary machine permanently
• Parts location is random each match
• Very rare spawn rate
• High competition to grab them

Conclusion

City Trial is organized chaos at its finest. Success requires balancing collection efficiency, event participation, combat decisions, and final event preparation. The randomness keeps every match fresh, and 16-player multiplayer creates unforgettable moments.

Key Takeaways:

• Efficient collection routes beat aggressive play
• Always join field events
• Adapt strategy based on stat distribution
• Practice all final event types
• Communication wins team battles

Next Steps:

• Master All Characters for City Trial
• Learn Machine Stats for final events
• Check Tips & Tricks for advanced tech

See you in the City Trial arena! 🏙️✨

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