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Plasma

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Plasma
PlasmaKSSU.png
Artwork of Plasma Kirby from Kirby Super Star Ultra.
Details
First game Kirby Super Star (1996)
Latest game Kirby's Dream Buffet (2022, reference)
Other game(s) Kirby Air Ride
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Kirby Star Allies
Usage type Unlimited use
Obtained from Plasma Wisp, Plugg (Kirby Star Allies only), green Dropped Stars (Kirby Star Allies only)
Obtained by projectiles from Vividria (Kracko painting), Hyness, Zan Partizanne
Power(s) Performs plasma-based attacks; shots can go through walls.
Helper Plasma Wisp, Plugg (Kirby Star Allies)
Similar to Spark
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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 or triangular 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 moveset 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 Kirby clearing away Star Blocks in Kirby Super Star Ultra.

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
Needle: 5 (KSS) / 8 (KSSU)
Hand: 4
Plasma Arrow
Some charge + B
Arrow: 10
Hand: 14
Plasma Spark
More charge + B
30
Plasma Laser
Lots of charge + B
32
Plasma Wave
Max charge + B
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 Kirby using Plasma Wave in Kirby Star Allies.

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
Kirby can make an electric charge up to 3 levels (small, medium, large). N/A
Plasma Arrow
Small Plasma Charge B
Kirby fires a middle-ranged horizontal plasma arrow.
The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing.
10
Plasma Laser
Medium Plasma Charge B
Kirby fires a long-ranged horizontal plasma laser.
The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing.
  • Can pass through enemies.
32
Plasma Wave
Large Plasma Charge B
Kirby fires a huge long-ranged horizontal plasma blast.
The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing.
  • Can pass through enemies and walls.
Wave: 40
Backfire: 16
Up Plasma Needle
↑ + B
Kirby fires a Plasma Needle upward. 5
Up Plasma Arrow
Small Plasma Charge ↑ + B
Kirby fires a Plasma Arrow upward.
The Plasma Charge level is reset after firing.
10
Plasma Scatter
Medium Plasma Charge ↑ + B
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
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
Kirby's electric charge creates a barrier that deals minor damage. The barrier's size indicates the Plasma Charge level:
  • Level 1 (small charge) can't activate Plasma Barrier;
  • Level 2 (medium charge) creates a small barrier; can fire Plasma Laser/Scatter;
  • Level 3 (large charge) creates a full barrier; can fire Plasma Wave / Sparking Plasma Bullet.
8→6 (2nd hit onward)
Light-Speed Dash
L/R + any direction during Plasma Barrier
Kirby can dash to 8 directions. Each Light-Speed Dash consumes one level of Plasma Charge. 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
KSS Box NA.jpg 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.
KSS Ultra box art.png Kirby Super Star Ultra Tap the +Control Pad to make and store an electric charge! Plasma shots go through walls.
KSA Boxart NA.jpg 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 Plasma Kirby - Brawl Trophy.png 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
PlasmaTrophyKirby3DS.png
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]

Sprites[edit]

Icons[edit]

Other[edit]

Videos[edit]

Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Plasma

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 -