“ | Shock your enemies!” |
— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll |
Spark is one of Kirby's Copy Abilities. With this ability, Kirby is able to surround himself in sparks of electricity, shocking any enemy that comes near.
General Information
Plasma and Spark are sometimes seen as interchangeable, as Spark had later begun exhibiting properties previously seen only in Plasma. In the anime series, Spark Kirby uses long distance attacks like Plasma's energy blasts. In Kirby: Squeak Squad, Spark allows Kirby to charge up his attacks, and after obtaining the Ability Scroll, he can fire a long-range attack in addition to creating a barrier due to the charge. Spark is considered to be Plasma's answer to more defensive abilities like Needle or Freeze. Their own ability caps also had very similar designs, implying a larger connection. In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Plasma's moves from Kirby Super Star were fully integrated into Spark, effectively merging the two abilities. Despite this, however, Plasma returns in Kirby Star Allies, as opposed to Spark.
In earlier appearances, this ability didn't create a field of electricity but rather shot small, exploding blasts of electricity from Kirby (or Sparky). Since Kirby's Dream Land 3, it was changed into a shocking force field, sometimes with sparks trailing across the ground.
Spark is a Mode for Robobot Armor in Kirby: Planet Robobot.
In Kirby's Dream Course
In Kirby's Dream Course, Spark is the most powerful offensive ability, as it is the only means of defeating Whispy Woods and Kracko. However, it has no effect against Gordo. Some holes are designed to be very difficult if Kirby cannot smash through multiple Whispy Woods in his path. Unlike other abilities in the game, it does not modify Kirby's movement or speed at all.
Moveset
Move | Controls | Description | Element | Damage | Damage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spark Attack | B/Y/1/Hold stylus | Kirby immediately stops and projects an electric shield around him. This will block most projectiles. Kirby can move slowly while spark is active. While moving, its range decreases. |
Zap | 8 (1st hit), 7 (repeat hits) | 11 (1st hit), 4 (repeat hits) |
Charge Power | Control Pad / shake Wii Remote | Builds Kirby's charge exactly like Plasma. Shaking the Wii Remote means Kirby can move while charging, unlike previous incarnations of Plasma / Spark in Kirby Super Star or Kirby: Squeak Squad. | Zap | 0 | 0 |
Spark Arrow | Short Charge Power + B/1 | Equivalent of Plasma Arrow. Kirby fires off an electric arrow and drains all of his Charge Power. This time however, it flies until it moves off-screen. | Zap | 8 | 7 |
Spark Laser | Medium Charge Power + B/1 | Equivalent of Plasma Laser. Kirby fires off a large, powerful arrow which moves quickly and goes through enemies. The attack drains all of his Charge Power. | Zap | 18 | 15 |
Spark Wave | Long Charge Power + B/1 | Equivalent of Plasma Wave. Kirby fires his Spark Barrier and drains all of his Charge Power. Projectile is large, goes through enemies and walls, and travels fast. Kirby can perform this after obtaining the Ability Scroll |
Zap | 40 | 38 |
Spark Barrier | (passive) Medium / Long Charge Power | Equivalent of Plasma Barrier. As long as Kirby has enough Charge Power, a shimmering electric shield surrounds him, protecting him against enemies and projectiles by dealing damage to them. It is even more powerful than Plasma's version, as this time he is completely invulnerable to enemies, even if he runs into them quickly. It does not protect against certain hazards, such as spikes and falling rocks. Damage weakens the shield, and it disappears if Kirby uses any of his attacks. Maximum charge gives Kirby a shield as large as his basic Spark Attack, which makes offensive use easier since he can now effectively move around with the same effect. Kirby can perform this after obtaining the Ability Scroll | Zap | 8 (1st hit), 7 (repeat hits) | 7 |
Thunderbolt | ↑ + B/1 Tap with stylus | Projects a vertical thunderbolt upwards from Kirby's hat. Works like Lightning Rod. This attack has nearly infinite range in Kirby's Return to Dream land, but has very limited range in Kirby: Planet Robobot. | Zap | 14 | 13 |
Lightning Strike | (midair) ↓ + B/1 | Projects a vertical thunderbolt downwards. Like Thunderbolt, this attack has nearly infinite range in Kirby's Return to Dream land, but has very limited range in Kirby: Planet Robobot. | Zap | 16 | 16 |
Animal Friends
Move | Controls | Description | Element | Images | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rick | B/Y | Rick fires an electricity whip from his mouth, in a way similar to Beam. | Zap | ||
Coo | B/Y | Coo and his partner shoot a lightning bolt at the ground. Coo will lose altitude while using this move. In the sequel, Coo will not fall. | Zap | ||
Kine | B/Y | Kine sticks a light bulb out from his mouth and is free to move about as normal, although he cannot turn. This power will light up dark areas, and when B/Y is released create an explosive projectile. In the sequel it will not launch off, but after a while, will explode in Kine's mouth. | Zap | ||
Nago | Y | Nago rubs his partner, building up a static charge, they can then move around freely and sparks will shoot out and damage enemies. | Zap | ||
ChuChu | Y | ChuChu aims with her arm and launches an electric blast. When charged, the blast will bounce off slopes. This attack is similar to Laser. | Zap | ||
Pitch | Y | Pitch becomes an RC toy that his partner steers. He will damage anything he touches while in vehicle mode. His partner is left exposed while using this ability. | Zap |
Robobot Armor Mode
Move | Controls | Description | Element |
---|---|---|---|
Sharpshooter | Release B | The Robobot Armor fires an electric shot. | Zap |
Cannon Blast | Hold B a little longer, and then release | The Robobot Armor fires a larger electric shot. | Zap |
Super Cannon Blast | B + mash D-Pad, and then release | The Robobot Armor releases a wide energy beam. | Zap |
In Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
In Kirby: Right Back At Ya!, Kirby has green skin. The crown is changed slightly to just a round blue orb in a simple circlet. It also becomes more of a long-distance defense move like Plasma, with Kirby launching orbs of crackling energy and shooting electric beams at his foes. He also retains the ability to sprout electricity from his body exactly like in the games. In the transformation sequence, the orb slams onto Kirby's forehead. The top of his head catches on blue fire. The blue fire disappears as soon as the blue sparks appear and Kirby turns green. Spark is one of two abilities in the anime to successfully defeat a threat every time Kirby uses it (the other being Crash).
Transformation Sequence
Flavor texts
Game | Flavor text |
---|---|
Kirby can create fireworks-like sparks from his body! This is a great defense! | |
BZZT! BRRRRZZZT! BRRRZZPPP! ZZZT! | |
Shoot sparks! Hold to hover! | |
CHARGE! | |
Electricity in your hands! Shake the Wii Remote to create a Spark Barrier! Zap foes from above with a Lightning Strike! | |
Mash on the +Control Pad, charge up your power, and create an energy barrier! With the Spark ability, you can even fire plasma shots through the terrain! | |
Mash on the +Control Pad, charge up your power, and create an energy barrier! With the Spark ability, you can even fire plasma shots! |
Related Quotes
“ | This electrical attack paralyzes!” |
— Intro description • Kirby's Adventure |
“ | A shocking surge of electric power! Watch out for the Cannon Blast!” |
— In-game description for the Spark Mode of Robobot Armor • Kirby: Planet Robobot |
Trivia
- In its artwork from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, it appears to have a design later seen in the anime. This was corrected in later artwork.
- Curiously, the Spark ability was not used in the anime until the end of the show's run. By that time, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land was over a year old. It is likely that Spark Kirby's anime design was finalized before the game was released and long before it was featured in any episodes.
- In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, the electricity on Spark's hat solidifies.
- More enemies yield the Spark ability than any other Copy Ability in the series, with a total of 18 (12 enemies carry the ability themselves, six shoot projectiles that carry the ability).
- The flavor text for Spark in Kirby: Triple Deluxe references the fact that Spark's moveset has been merged with that of Plasma.
- Spark's appearance in Kirby's Dream Land 2 is very similar to the Kirby on the cover of Kirby's Block Ball.