Plasma
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- This article is about the green electrical copy ability that first appeared in Kirby Super Star, and should not be confused with Spark.
Plasma is a Copy Ability introduced in Kirby Super Star. The Plasma ability allows Kirby to charge up and fire beams and waves of electricity at various levels of strength, depending on how much energy has been built up. At maximum power, these shots are capable of going through walls and enemies alike, though charging them up requires the player to mash rapidly on the D-pad or analog stick.
In most iterations, Plasma is capable only of firing shots forward, but in Kirby Star Allies, shots can also be fired upward. Upward shots however do not pass through walls or ceilings.
In Kirby Air Ride, Plasma's shots have homing properties, but the ability is limited-use (like every other ability in that title), with the more powerful blasts causing the ability to be lost faster than lower-level ones.
In most titles where Plasma appears as an ability, it is provided by Plasma Wisp, who can also appear as the Helper for the ability. In Kirby Star Allies, Plasma is provided and represented by Plugg. When obtaining this ability, Kirby gains a jagged diadem with a green circular gem inset, topped by green frizzy energy that resembles flames. Early appearances of Plasma would also affect Kirby's skin color when equipping the ability: in Kirby Super Star, his skin becomes pale, while in Kirby Air Ride and Kirby Super Star Ultra, he turns green. The latter coloration is also present in artwork for Kirby Super Star, in the unreleased Kirby for Nintendo GameCube, and in Plasma Kirby's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Similarities to Spark[edit]
Although never appearing in the same titles together, Plasma and Spark have shared attributes numerous times in the Kirby series. The hats are similar, though Spark's is typically less green. In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Spark had gained an expanded move-set for the first time, and many of those moves were directly based on Plasma, giving the impression that the two abilities had been fused into one. This was seemingly solidified as Spark returned in Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Kirby: Planet Robobot with the same attributes. This trend was broken, however, when Plasma returned in Kirby Star Allies, gaining a number of new abilities. One of the most notable examples is that Plasma now maintains a constant barrier when charged to at least medium, which resembles Spark's, as it can damage enemies. As such, unlike Fire vs Burning and Ice vs Freeze where the latter was incorporated into the former, it is unclear what relationship Spark and Plasma will have in future titles.
Game appearances[edit]
| Plasma Kirby's video game appearances | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game | Role | Notes |
| Kirby series | ||
| Kirby Super Star | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Plasma Wisp. Can be used to create a Plasma Wisp helper. |
| Kirby Air Ride | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Plasma Wisp. Limited-use ability in this game. |
| Kirby Super Star Ultra | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Plasma Wisp. Can be used to create a Plasma Wisp helper. |
| Kirby Star Allies | Copy Ability | Obtainable from Plugg. Can be used to create a Plugg ally. Can provide the "Zap" Power Effect and be used for Zap Splasher and Thundersplash. |
| Kirby's Dream Buffet | Reference | Appears on a Character Treat. |
| Super Smash Bros. series | ||
| Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Reference | Plasma Kirby appears as a trophy. |
| Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | Reference | Plasma Kirby appears as a trophy. |
Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]
Plasma made its first appearance in Kirby Super Star, replacing Spark and provided by the enemy Plasma Wisp. In Kirby Super Star, the ability changes Kirby's body into pale pink. In its remake, Kirby Super Star Ultra, the ability changes Kirby's body to bright green and his feet to light orange.
Moveset[edit]
In these games, all Plasma attacks do electric damage, except the hand hitbox of Plasma Needle/Arrow.
| Plasma moveset in Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| * Rotate (+ Control Pad) to charge up! | |||
| Skill | Button Execution | Damage (Star Bullet=52) | |
| Plasma Needle | No charge + B
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Needle: 5 (KSS) / 8 (KSSU) Hand: 4 | |
| Plasma Arrow | Some charge + B
|
Arrow: 10 Hand: 14 | |
| Plasma Spark | More charge + B
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30 | |
| Plasma Laser | Lots of charge + B
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32 | |
| Plasma Wave | Max charge + B
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Wave: 40 Backfire: 40 (KSS) / 16 (KSSU) | |
| Plasma Barrier | Max charge will activate
|
6 | |
Kirby Air Ride[edit]
| “ | This allows you to release a plasma bomb with a press of A. By moving (the control stick) around, you can increase the power of the plasma bomb by five levels! | ” | — Kirby Air Ride North American instruction booklet, page 40 |
Plasma returns in this action racing spin-off game, and is once again provided by Plasma Wisp. Like other abilities in this game, it is limited use, being used up after a sufficient amount of time passes, or a sufficient number of attacks are performed. Unlike other abilities, the number of times Kirby can attack depends on the power level of the shots he fires. Like in Kirby Super Star, there are five levels of charge, though there is no Plasma Barrier this time around.
Interestingly, the instruction booklet refers to the plasma attacks as a "bomb", even though none of the attacks act like proper bombs would.
Kirby Star Allies[edit]
Plasma returns in Kirby Star Allies after a long absence from the series, this time being provided by Plugg. It once again replaces the Spark ability, though it has been given new moves based on Spark's appearance in prior titles. Plasma provides the Zap element like other electric-based abilities. In addition, Plasma has its signature Friend Ability: Thundersplash, which requires Plasma + any Splash element attack.
Moveset[edit]
| Plasma moveset in Kirby Star Allies | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill | Button Execution | Description | Damage (Star Bullet=52) |
| Plasma Needle | B
|
Kirby fires a short-ranged horizontal plasma needle. Can be fired rapidly. | 5 |
| Plasma Charge | Waggle control stick in various directions / Shake controller
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Kirby can make an electric charge up to 3 levels (small, medium, large). | N/A |
| Plasma Arrow | Small Plasma Charge B
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Kirby fires a middle-ranged horizontal plasma arrow. The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing. |
10 |
| Plasma Laser | Medium Plasma Charge B
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Kirby fires a long-ranged horizontal plasma laser. The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing.
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32 |
| Plasma Wave | Large Plasma Charge B
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Kirby fires a huge long-ranged horizontal plasma blast. The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing.
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Wave: 40 Backfire: 16 |
| Up Plasma Needle | ↑ + B
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Kirby fires a Plasma Needle upward. | 5 |
| Up Plasma Arrow | Small Plasma Charge ↑ + B
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Kirby fires a Plasma Arrow upward. The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing. |
10 |
| Plasma Scatter | Medium Plasma Charge ↑ + B
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Kirby fires 2 small plasma scatter blasts upward that create small explosions. The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing. |
Shot: 20 Explosion: 32 |
| Sparking Plasma Bullet | Large Plasma Charge ↑ + B
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Kirby fires a huge plasma blast upward that creates a huge explosion. The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing. |
Shot: 15 Explosion: 45 |
| Plasma Barrier | Medium Plasma Charge will activate
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Kirby's electric charge creates a barrier that deals minor damage. The barrier's size indicates the Plasma Charge level:
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8→6 (2nd hit onward) |
| Light-Speed Dash | L/R + any direction during Plasma Barrier
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Kirby can dash to 8 directions. Each Light-Speed Dash consumes one level of Plasma Charge.
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20 |
Kirby's Dream Buffet[edit]
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, Plasma Kirby appears on one of the Character Treats, using his artwork from Kirby Super Star Ultra. Plasma is not an ability in the game proper.
Super Smash Bros. series[edit]
Plasma Kirby appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
Profiles[edit]
Flavor text[edit]
| Image | Game | Flavor text |
|---|---|---|
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Kirby Super Star | Shock your enemies by firing sparks! Move the + Control Pad to store energy and really electrocute those enemies. ☆The more you press the + Control Pad, the more power is stored. |
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Kirby Super Star Ultra | Tap the +Control Pad to make and store an electric charge! Plasma shots go through walls. |
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Kirby Star Allies | The supercharged Plasma Ability returns! Waggle the control stick to build up energy, then fire it off. You can even shoot upwards! You can also zap your friends' weapons with a mighty jolt to grant them extra shocking powers! |
Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy[edit]
| Plasma Kirby Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Image | Appears In | Description |
| Plasma Kirby | 
|
SNES Kirby Super Star GCN Kirby Air Ride |
Kirby when he inhales Plasma Wisps, which glow with a neon green flame. Plasma Kirby can charge the plasma strength up to a maximum level of 5. In Kirby Super Star, your attack---be it a Plasma Laser or a Plasma Wave Cannon---varies with the length of time you charge it. |
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophy[edit]
| Plasma Kirby Trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Image | American English description | British English description |
| Plasma Kirby |  |
What does the aurora borealis have in common with lightning? Plasma! And what does Plasma Kirby have in common with them? Hrm. Maybe that was too easy... Anyway, Plasma Kirby can build up plasma using the +Control Pad and fire it with the B Button. You can look up more about plasma if you want, but firing plasma is what's important here. | In the Kirby series, Plasma Kirby is Kirby, but with the ability to fire plasma, and mashing the +Control Pad charges him up! "But what exactly is plasma?" you ask. Well, that's a very good question. Maybe you should look it up yourself. Can't be giving you all the answers, you know. |
Trivia[edit]
- The Plasma ability and the enemy/helper Plasma Wisp were originally planned to appear in the canceled Kirby for Nintendo GameCube game.
- For some reason, Plasma and Suplex don't receive any new official artwork in Kirby Star Allies, reusing their artwork from Kirby Super Star Ultra. The other returning abilities, Cleaning, Cook and Yo-Yo, do receive new official artwork, however.
- In the Japanese version of Kirby Star Allies, the move Light-Speed Dash is called でんこうせっか ("Lightning Speed"), which shares the same Japanese name of the Quick Attack move from the Pokémon series.
- Since Light-Speed Dash acts similarily to Pikachu's Up Special - Quick Attack in the Super Smash Bros. series, this could be a subtle Pokémon reference.
- Zan Partizanne's Lightning Dodge functions similarly to Plasma's Light-Speed Dash. Lightning Dodge doesn't require charging but does less damage than Light-Speed Dash in consecutive use.
- Unused data of the Spark Attack, Thunderbolt and Lightning Strike attacks from the Spark ability can be found in Plasma's Kirby Star Allies moveset files, possibly due to straight copying.
Gallery[edit]
Artwork[edit]
Smaller but transparent version of previous artwork
Ability Panel from Kirby Air Ride
Pause screen artwork from Kirby Star Allies
Sprites[edit]
Kirby Super Star
Ability Item from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Icons[edit]
Kirby Super Star
Kirby Air Ride
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Kirby Super Star Ultra (Copy Essence Deluxe)
Pause screen icon from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Milky Way Wishes icon from Kirby Super Star Ultra
Ability Star from Kirby Star Allies
Other[edit]
Model of Plasma Kirby's hat from Kirby Air Ride
Plasma Kirby in the cancelled Kirby for Nintendo GameCube
Model used for Plasma Kirby's trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Plasma Kirby in Find Kirby!!
Videos[edit]
Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Plasma
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Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | プラズマ Purazuma |
Plasma |
| Traditional Chinese | 電離子 diàn lí zǐ |
Plasma |
| Simplified Chinese | 电离子 diàn lí zǐ | |
| Dutch | Plasma | - |
| French | Plasma | - |
| German | Plasma | - |
| Italian | Plasma | - |
| Korean | 플라스마 Peullaseuma |
Plasma |
| Portuguese | Plasma | - |
| Russian | Плазма Plazma |
Plasma |
| Spanish | Plasma | - |
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