King Birder

King Birder
Sprite(s)
Attributes
Type(s)	NPC (Specter of Torment) Main Boss and NPC (King of Cards)
Gender	Male
Affiliation(s)	Joustus Judges (formerly) The Enchantress's army (formerly, as King Birder) The Glidewing's crew (as Birder)
Occupation(s)	Lord and high ruler of the Birder Bluffs Joustus Judge (formerly)
Weapon(s)	Bouncing Laser, Energy Spheres, Energy Birders
Hit points
Game Information
Appears in	Specter of Torment King of Cards
Stage(s)	Tower of Fate (hub) (Specter of Torment) Birder Bluffs: King's Roost Glidewing (King of Cards)
Music Track(s)	The Oblique Angel

“	Sit?! You need only kneel before your new master, King Birder, and prepare for an eternity of servitude .	”
— King Birder, Shovel Knight: King of Cards

King Birder is the third Joustus Judge as well as a king ruling over the Valley in King of Cards. As his name implies he is, allegedly, the ruler of the Birders, residing in the Birder Bluffs.

Appearance

As King Birder, he has a slender and tall figure in a long pink and dark purple robe with a hood. His head is luminous and filled with electricity.

After being reverted to his true self, he looks just like any other Birder, and it's revealed that his robe was completely empty the whole time.

Personality

As King Birder, he is cruel and tyrannical, loyal to The Enchantress and ready to do anything to serve her and her plans.

However, after being freed from The Enchantress's magic he becomes friendly and energetic, willing to collaborate with King Knight to defeat The Enchantress.

Story

Specter of Torment

After completing the Lost City, a talking Birder appears in the Tower of Fate hub. As King Birder is the only other Birder capable of speech, it's clear that they are the same individual.

King of Cards

The King Birder is first mentioned after King Knight defeats the Troupple King, at which point King Pridemoor informs King Knight that King Birder is the last Joustus Judge to defeat, and also comments that King Birder has only recently emerged in the Valley so not much is known about him. The Troupple Acolyte expresses his concern, telling King Knight that the Troupple King suspects something may be amiss about this mysterious third ruler.

After King Knight makes his way through the Birder Bluffs, King Birder appears in a brief conversation with Specter Knight and a mysterious figure about their plan to conquer the Valley. King Knight and the Glidewing's crew then arrive at the King's Roost so that King Knight can challenge King Birder. King Pridemoor tries to invite King Birder to a Joustus game, but King Birder instead declares that he'll enslave the entire crew, forcing King Knight to fight him.

King Knight manages to defeat King Birder and destroys the enchantment, freeing the feathery fiend from The Enchantress's spell. The Enchantress then shows up and reveals that she was the one who created Joustus as a ploy to gain power over the Valley. She taunts the crew and leaves to complete her plan, and the former King Birder (who has retained his ability to speak) agrees to team up with King Knight to stop The Enchantress.

King Birder comes along with the rest of the Glidewing crew to help King Knight against The Enchantress. But the latter laughs at the Three Kings, considering them weak and deciding to curse them to create a monster. The bodies and Essences of King Pridemoor, the Troupple Acolyte (spokesman of the Troupple King) and the former King Birder are merged in The Grand Triumvirate, a golden giant. King Knight destroys the creature and frees the kings, but then betrays them to steal Pridemoor Keep and become a true king.

Joustus Deck

Note: This is King Birder's deck from Challenge Mode, he can't be battled in the normal campaign.

King Birder	Birder	Birder	Birder
Birder	Birder	Birder	Birder
Rookie	Rookie	Rookie	Rookie
Rookie	Rookie	Rookie	Rookie

Dialogue

Click to expand

Specter of Torment King of Cards Birder in Tower's dining hall after completing the Lost City "Birder: Woo! I'm bouncin' off the walls! I love bein' a Birder!" Before Specter Knight's wandering encounter in the Birder Bluffs "Cloaked Figure: Time flows ever on, Specter Knight. Is our grand plan proceeding as planned?" "Specter Knight: A contender has defeated two Joustus Judges. They now travel as one to the Birder Bluffs." "????: Ha ha ha... Splendid. Soon, everyone will be brought togheter. I'd feared ours would be a protracted struggle, but the Joustus Crown turned out to be the right angle! What fools, ha ha! " "Specter Knight: ..." "Cloaked Figure: Hmmm, is something wrong, Specter Knight? Is our cohort making you uncomfortable?" "Specter Knight: ...Toy with me no longer." "????: Enough of this tangent. Don't be obtuse, ghost! Stray not from your path. Come, now! It's time we up and left." "Cloaked Figure: Yes, I tire of this foolishness. Leave the Reaper to his task. Soon enough, we shall reveal our hand." [Cloaked Figure and ???? leave, King Knight arrives] "King Knight: Ah, it's that deathly-pale card courier from the Plains. Fetch me a drink, or clear my path!" "Specter Knight: My leader's power is growing unfathomably strong. If I were you, I'd show us both more reverence." "King Knight: My power has grown as well. And unlike you and your fetid frame, I kneel for no one." "Specter Knight: Arrogant fool! You will soon learn your place!" Before his fight "????: What took you so long, King Knight?! I've been expecting you. You're every bit as flashy as I've heard!" "King Knight: !! How did you know my..... My name precedes me, I see! Excellent! And you, you must be..." "????: That's right, it is I, the final Joustus Judge, lord and high ruler of the Birder Bluffs..." "King Birder: King Birder!" "King Pridemoor: Oh! Well, hello there! Greetings, fellow king! Let the final match begin! Hmm, where shall we all sit?" "King Birder: Sit?! You need only kneel before your new master, King Birder, and prepare for an eternity of servitude ." After his defeat "Troupple Acolyte: By frond and finn! It's a FAKE! A decoy! " "King Pridemoor: King Birder was merely an enchanted Birder? But then.. who is the final Joustus Judge?" [The Cloaked Figure appears] "Cloaked Figure: O ho ho ho. My poor, feathered puppet. Ah well, the ruse was great fun while it lasted." "King Pridemoor: King Birder was a deception! What's the meaning of this!? Who are you, witch!? " "The Enchantress: You may all pledge your loyalty now, for it is none other than I, the Enchantress!!" [The Cloaked Figure transforms into The Enchantress] "The Enchantress: The Joustus Crown was a contest of my own devising. I wanted the kings, the "Joustus Judges", lured into one place... ready to be controlled!" "Troupple Acolyte: No! Teachery!! " "The Enchantress: While the world obsesses over a silly card game, I've been amassing an invincible order of knights." "King Pridemoor: A rogue, recruiting evil knights in our kingdoms!? Disastrous! " "The Enchantress: I was going to control your minds, but the Joustus Crown has already afforded my plans ample time. Can't you see? I've already won. Soon, you'll feel the might of a true tyrant. Toodle-oo, imbeciles!" [The Enchantress leaves] "Troupple Acolyte: We must return and warn the the others! What will become of our kingdoms?" "Birder: What a strange dream.. Oh, and new friends are here! Are they the ones that rescued me?" "Troupple Acolyte: Pomaceous pufferfish! The Birder can still talk?!" "Birder: Wait. Are they talking about me? Can they hear me?! ..the Enchantress gave me a voice! It was her voice before... But now I have my own voice! And I've overheard her plans. Maybe I can help?" "King Pridemoor: King Knight, this birder has endured great hardship for his knowledge. Please, listen to him." "Birder: Hop on my back, friend. I'll tell you all I know about the Enchantress. Perhaps, with luck, we'll prevail." Returning to the Glidewing "Bard: You're back! Our cohorts just told us the awful news!" "Troupple Acolyte: It's all true! The Joustus Crown was a sham! The Enchantress distracted us all! We're doomed! " "Cooper: Everyone, settle down! Your attention, please! Hope is not yet lost. The Enchantress fooled us all... But unfortunately for her, she also brought us together." "King Pridemoor: Our captain is right, we must unify and fight for what we cherish! My kingdom, my Griffoths.." "Troupple King: My friends at the Troupple Pond, and our Majestic King!" "Birder: For Birders, and all those without voice. I may have just joined, but I bet your angle is true!" "Cooper: It's been quite a journey, but our goal is now clear. We can't let The Enchantress win. Now, who's with me!? " "Cooper: I'll fly us close to the Tower of Fate ahead. This is it, King Knight. We're all depending on you." Talked to aboard the Glidewing "Birder: Woo! I'm bouncin' off the walls! I love bein' a Birder!" Before The Enchantress's fight "The Enchantress: King Knight? It's impressive you've come this far. I apologize, I've underestimated you. King Knight" "King Knight: ..." "King Pridemoor: There she is! Follow me! This way!" [King Knight's followers enter the throne room] "The Enchantress: And you've brought your jesters as well? You know, you don't need them. You are the most important one here." "King Pridemoor: Preposterous!! We stand together as kingdoms and people.. as it should be!" "Troupple Acolyte: Our roots run deep in the waters, and our friendship has hatched and blossomed through respect!" "Birder: Now that i have my own voice, hear me clearly! I'm no king, but our flock flies in formation! " "The Enchantress: Under that bravery and conviction lies fear and uncertainty. Who among you is ready to meet their demise?" "King Pridemoor: Strike true, King Knight! All of our hopes lie with you!"

Gallery

King Birder's portrait after returning back into a normal Birder.

King Birder's Joustus card.

King of Cards intro cutscene.

King Birder's sprite after returning back into a normal Birder.

The King Birder statue in the Crag of Joustus.

The banners of the Joustus Judges.