Plasma

Plasma
Artwork of Plasma Kirby from Kirby Super Star Ultra.
Details
First game	Kirby Super Star (1996)
Latest game	Kirby Air Riders (2025)
Other game(s)	Kirby Air Ride Kirby Super Star Ultra Kirby Star Allies Kirby's Dream Buffet (reference)
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)

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 directional pad or analog stick.

When obtaining the Plasma ability, Kirby gains a jagged diadem with a green circular or triangular gem inset, topped by green frizzy energy that resembles flames. In early appearances, Kirby's skin would become green when equipping Plasma; his in-game sprites in Kirby Super Star feature pale pink skin, while Kirby Star Allies features no change at all. 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.

Plasma bears a strong resemblance to Spark, another electricity-based ability in the series. However, the two have never appeared in the same title, and Spark is far more commonly seen. Spark began to gain some of Plasma's properties beginning in Kirby: Squeak Squad, and subsumed most of its moveset by Kirby's Return to Dream Land. Nonetheless, Plasma reappears in Kirby Star Allies as its own distinct ability, so the two have not been fully merged, unlike similar overlapping abilities (like Burning and Fire, or Ice and Freeze).

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.

Game appearances

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 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.
Kirby Air Riders	Copy Ability	Obtainable from Plasma Wisp. Limited-use in this game.
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

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

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

“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 Kirby Air Ride, 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

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

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 two Plasma Arrows 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; can fire Plasma Arrow or Up Plasma Arrow; Level 2 (medium charge) creates a small barrier; can fire Plasma Laser or Scatter; Level 3 (large charge) creates a full barrier; can fire Plasma Wave or Sparking Plasma Bullet.	8→6 (2nd hit onward)
Light-Speed Dash	L/R + any direction during Plasma Barrier	Kirby can dash to 8 directions, being invincible during the attack. Kirby can use Light-Speed Dash up to 4 times depending on the amount of Plasma Charge level: Level 1 (small charge) does not allow use of Light-Speed Dash Level 2 (medium charge) allows use of Light-Speed Dash once or twice depending on the amount of charge built up, then reverting to small charge Level 3 (large charge) allows use of Light-Speed Dash up to two to four times depending on the excess charge, reverting to medium charge if done enough times This attack functions somewhat similarly to Zan Partizanne's Lightning Dodge. This is similar to Pikachu's Up Special - Quick Attack in the Super Smash Bros. series, sharing the same Japanese name: でんこうせっか ("Lightning Speed").	20

Kirby's Dream Buffet

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.

Kirby Air Riders

Plasma appears in Kirby Air Riders, functioning much like how it did in Kirby Air Ride: the user is able to charge up energy to fire off different levels of plasma attacks. Unlike said game, however, energy levels charge up passively instead of having to flick the stick. Like all Copy Abilities in the game, any playable character is able to use it, not just Kirby. It is once again provided by Plasma Wisp.

Super Smash Bros. series

Plasma Kirby appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Profiles

Flavor text

Image	Game	Flavor text
	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.
	Kirby Super Star Ultra	Tap the +Control Pad to make and store an electric charge! Plasma shots go through walls.
	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!
	Kirby Air Riders	Beginner's Guide: Your attacks will change based on the fullness of the gauge. Press B to fire. The gauge will automatically fill up.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy

Plasma Kirby Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Name	Image	Appears In	American English description	British English 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 by furiously pressing buttons. 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.	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 by furiously pressing buttons. In Kirby's Fun Pak, 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

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.

Nintendo Today!

• Waggle the control stick to build up energy! Charge up for a powerful attack!

Trivia

• 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.
• 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

Artwork

• 
  Kirby Super Star
• 
  Kirby Air Ride
• 
  Smaller but transparent version of previous artwork
• 
  Ability Panel from Kirby Air Ride
• 
  Pause screen artwork from Kirby Star Allies

Sprites

• 
  Kirby Super Star
• 
  Ability Item from Kirby Super Star
• 
  Kirby Super Star Ultra
• 
  Ability Item from Kirby Super Star Ultra
• 
  License sticker from Kirby Air Riders, featuring the Plasma ability's icon

Icons

• 
  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
• 
  License icon from Kirby Air Riders, featuring the Plasma ability's icon

Literature

• 
  Plasma Kirby in Find Kirby!! (The Great Cave Offensive)
• 
  Plasma Kirby in Find Kirby!! (Outer Space)
• 
  Plasma Kirby in Find Kirby!! (Outer Space)
• 
  Elline giving Plasma Wisp a Plasma ability hat in It's Kirby Time: Thank You

Other

• 
  Model of Plasma Kirby's hat from Kirby Air Ride
• 
  Character Treat from Kirby's Dream Buffet
• 
  Plasma Kirby in the cancelled Kirby for Nintendo GameCube
• 
  Model used for Plasma Kirby's trophy from Super Smash Bros. Brawl
• 
  Kirby's 20th Anniversary panel from Puzzle Swap in the StreetPass Mii Plaza, featuring a sprite of Plasma Kirby

Videos

Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy Continue Dismiss Official Kirby Portal video showcasing Plasma

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	プラズマ Purazuma	Plasma
English	Plasma	A gas-like collection of charged particles that excels in conducting electricity
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	-