Riki

Riki
Riki's official artwork from Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition.
Universe	Xenoblade Chronicles
Debut	Xenoblade Chronicles (2010)
Smash Bros. appearances	SSB4 Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (2020)
Console/platform of origin	Wii
Species	Nopon
Gender	Male
Place of origin	Bionis
English voice actor	Wayne Forester
Japanese voice actor	Yuki Kaida

Riki (リキ, Riki) is a character from the Xenoblade Chronicles universe. He is a Nopon and the supposed "Heropon" from his culture's prophecies and one of Shulk's party members.

Origin

Riki in Xenoblade Chronicles.

In Xenoblade Chronicles, Riki is one of Shulk's party members, being the second last playable character to join the team. He is a resident of Frontier Village, the Nopon village, and has been assigned the yearly position of "Heropon" by Dunga the village elder. As the Heropon, he is told to join Shulk and his party to help defeat the Telethia rampaging through the forest. Riki quickly reveals that he was selected as Heropon not because he is skilled or special, but as a way to work off the massive debts accrued by his many children's appetites. Once the Telethia is defeated, Riki is told to continue travelling with Shulk and assist him as needed, which while again framed by the elder as prophecy, is easily seen by everyone as a way to get rid of him. Afterward, Riki has almost no effect on the plot at large, and only serves as occasional comic relief.

Much like his appearance, Riki is a very childish character. He is very enthusiastic, gets hungry easily, speaks in a largely childish matter, refers to the party as "Heropon and sidekicks", and often thanks himself for contributing more than he actually did in any given situation. However, as a 40-year old married father of eleven (to the surprise of non-Nopon), he is surprisingly knowledgable with interpersonal relationships; he relates to Dunban's difficulties of taking care of younger family members, and tries to support Melia by reading her hidden emotions and weaknesses.

While Riki is presented as goofy and ineffective in plot, he has a variety of useful skills in battle. He wields several arts that have unusual effects that can be stacked together, many of which hit multiple foes. He has an even spread of physical and ether attacks, an effective healing move, and the most health of any playable character. His talent art is Yoink!, which allows him to steal items, stat boosts, and experience points from enemies. But while Riki can do a lot of things, he is not the best at any of them - he can't effectively use his high health to tank when several of his arts are best used without aggro, his other stats are very middling, and everything he can do can be done more consistently by someone else. As a result, he can fill a variety of roles in many party compositions.

Riki's six arts as an Assist Trophy all originate from his available arts in Xenoblade Chronicles, with similar effects. He also participates in Shulk's Final Smash, Chain Attack, in a similar way to the Chain Attack mechanic in the original game. During the Final Smash, Riki can be seen attacking with his Biter, a weapon specific to him, and also using a seventh art, Lurgy.

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Riki appears both as an Assist Trophy and part of Shulk's Final Smash. All of his voice clips are directly ripped from Xenoblade Chronicles. Upon being summoned, Riki will announce "Leave it to Heropon!", and once his time is up, he disappears while saying "All go to plan!"

As an Assist Trophy

Riki alongside Shulk in for Wii U.

Riki stands in place and randomly uses three of the following Arts:

• Happy Happy raises the launch and attack power of all fighters. Riki announces "Happy, happy time!" when using it.
• Freezinate can freeze nearby opponents. Riki will announce "F-f-f-Freezinate!" while using it.
• Yoink! pulls items close to Riki. Riki giggles before saying the name of the Art.
• Bedtime puts opponents to sleep. Riki says "Sleepy, sleepy... bedtime!" while using it.
• You Can Do It heals all fighters in a certain range. Riki announces the Art's name while doing so.
• Roly Poly trips opponents if they're on the ground. Riki says the line "Roly, poly, keep on rolling!" while doing so.

Assist role

Riki, alongside Shulk and Dunban during Chain Attack.

Riki appears in Shulk's Final Smash. He is summoned alongside Dunban to use a Chain Attack on the trapped opponent, before Shulk sends the foe flying. In this Chain Attack, Riki's appears to use his Lurgy Art.

In Smash Tour

Riki appears as a blue item: when selected, it draws all nearby items to the user as they walk.

As a costume

Shulk's yellow costume is based on Riki's color scheme.

Trophy

Riki trophy in for Wii U.

Riki trophy in for 3DS.

Riki

A Nopon from Frontier Village in Xenoblade Chronicles. Despite appearances, this year's legendary Heropon is actually a middle-aged father of 11. If you summon him in this game, he'll use Arts to knock over your foes, freeze them, and even send them to sleep. Riki can also heal you, but if he does, he'll heal everyone else too!

A Nopon from Frontier Village in Xenoblade Chronicles. Despite appearances, the current legendary Heropon is actually a middle-aged father to 11. Summon him in this game and he'll use arts to knock your foes over, freeze them, and even send them to sleep. Riki can also heal you, but if he does, he'll heal everyone else too!

: Xenoblade Chronicles (04/2012)

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

As an Assist Trophy

Riki reprises his role as an Assist Trophy.

In Ultimate, rather than raising attack and launch distance, Happy Happy raises speed and launch distance.

Training Mode describes his Assist Trophy with the following: Applies various effects to fighters. Can't be KO'd.

Assist role

Riki, alongside Shulk, Dunban, and Fiora during Chain Attack.

Riki also returns as part of Chain Attack, Shulk's Final Smash, this time with Fiora joining in.

Spirit

Riki appears as a Master Spirit.

No.	Image	Name	Facility	Series	Location	Music
958		Riki (Xenoblade Chronicles)	Dojo (Strategist Style) Increases special-move power, but decreases attack power, throw power, and item power.	Xenoblade Chronicles Series	In the Light Realm	Gaur Plain (Night)

Gallery

Xenoblade Chronicles

• 

  Riki using Happy Happy.

• 

  Riki using Freezinate.

• 

  Riki using Yoink.

• 

  Riki using Bedtime.

• 

  Riki using You Can Do It.

• 

  Riki using Roly-Poly.

• 

  Riki using Lurgy.

Smash

• 

  Shulk's introductory poster, also featuring Riki.

• 

  Riki in for 3DS.

• 

  Official artwork from Ultimate.

Trivia

• Riki is one of seven Assist Trophies to appear in a second capacity within a single game, appearing in Shulk's Chain Attack. The others are the Hammer Bro., the Starman, Lakitu & Spinies, the Chain Chomp, Rathalos, Spring Man and the Metroid.
  • Riki is also the first Assist Trophy to not appear as an enemy, being followed by Spring Man.
• Riki is the only Assist Trophy to run a facility in Ultimate.
  • Kat & Ana were an Assist Trophy prior to Ultimate, but they only appear as a Master Spirit in the game.

External links

• Article on the Xeno Series Wiki