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The '''Lightning Shield''', otherwise known as the '''Magnetic Shield''' or '''Thunder Shield''', is a power-up first introduced in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and a variant of the standard [[Shield]]. In addition to serving as a one-shot barrier against damage and life loss, the Lightning Shield attracts [[ring]]s towards the player if they get close enough. It is often considered a particularly useful power-up because of this feature.
 
The '''Lightning Shield''', otherwise known as the '''Magnetic Shield''' or '''Thunder Shield''', is a power-up first introduced in ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 3]]'' and a variant of the standard [[Shield]]. In addition to serving as a one-shot barrier against damage and life loss, the Lightning Shield attracts [[ring]]s towards the player if they get close enough. It is often considered a particularly useful power-up because of this feature.
  
While all variants of the shield drag rings in, minor details differ from game to game. In ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]'', the shield would be lost if the player took it underwater; and when playing as [[Sonic]], holding a Lightning Shield exchanged the [[Insta-Shield]] move with a sparking double-jump, enabling the hedgehog to leap much higher and potentially access otherwise difficult platforms. Finally, the shield made Sonic invulnerable to both electric damage (like the crackling sub-conveyor-belt floors in [[Death Egg Zone (Sonic & Knuckles)|Death Egg Zone]] and the [[Graviton Mobile]]'s electromagnetism in [[Carnival Night Zone]]), and, curiously, the spiked projectiles hurled by [[IceCap Zone]]'s [[Star Pointer]]. Curiously, while the Lightning Shield doesn't appear in ''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'', the regular blue [[Shield]] offers protection to electrical hazards.
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While all variants of the shield drag rings in, minor details differ from game to game. In ''[[Sonic 3 & Knuckles]]'', the shield would be lost if the player took it underwater; and when playing as [[Sonic]], holding a Lightning Shield exchanged the [[Insta-Shield]] move with a sparking double-jump, enabling the hedgehog to leap much higher and potentially access otherwise difficult platforms. Finally, the shield made Sonic invulnerable to both electric damage (like the crackling sub-conveyor-belt floors in [[Death Egg Zone (Sonic & Knuckles)|Death Egg Zone]] and the [[Graviton Mobile]]'s electromagnetism in [[Carnival Night Zone]]), and, curiously, the spiked projectiles hurled by [[IceCap Zone]]'s [[Star Pointer]]. Curiously, while the Lightning Shield doesn't appear in ''[[Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island]]'', the regular blue [[Shield]] offers protection against electrical hazards in [[Gene Gadget Zone]].
  
 
While ''[[Sonic R]]'' kept ring magnetism and being able to lose the shield due to falling in water, none of the other features are in effect in any other game where the shield appears: namely ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'', ''Sonic Advance'' ''[[Sonic Advance|1]]'', ''[[Sonic Advance 2|2]]'' & ''[[Sonic Advance 3|3]]'', ''[[Sonic Rush]]'', ''[[Sonic Rush Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Colours (DS)|Sonic Colors (DS)]]'' and ''[[Sonic Generations (3DS)]]''.
 
While ''[[Sonic R]]'' kept ring magnetism and being able to lose the shield due to falling in water, none of the other features are in effect in any other game where the shield appears: namely ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'', ''Sonic Advance'' ''[[Sonic Advance|1]]'', ''[[Sonic Advance 2|2]]'' & ''[[Sonic Advance 3|3]]'', ''[[Sonic Rush]]'', ''[[Sonic Rush Adventure]]'', ''[[Sonic Colours (DS)|Sonic Colors (DS)]]'' and ''[[Sonic Generations (3DS)]]''.

Revision as of 09:08, 25 October 2017

The Lightning Shield, otherwise known as the Magnetic Shield or Thunder Shield, is a power-up first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and a variant of the standard Shield. In addition to serving as a one-shot barrier against damage and life loss, the Lightning Shield attracts rings towards the player if they get close enough. It is often considered a particularly useful power-up because of this feature.

While all variants of the shield drag rings in, minor details differ from game to game. In Sonic 3 & Knuckles, the shield would be lost if the player took it underwater; and when playing as Sonic, holding a Lightning Shield exchanged the Insta-Shield move with a sparking double-jump, enabling the hedgehog to leap much higher and potentially access otherwise difficult platforms. Finally, the shield made Sonic invulnerable to both electric damage (like the crackling sub-conveyor-belt floors in Death Egg Zone and the Graviton Mobile's electromagnetism in Carnival Night Zone), and, curiously, the spiked projectiles hurled by IceCap Zone's Star Pointer. Curiously, while the Lightning Shield doesn't appear in Sonic 3D: Flickies' Island, the regular blue Shield offers protection against electrical hazards in Gene Gadget Zone.

While Sonic R kept ring magnetism and being able to lose the shield due to falling in water, none of the other features are in effect in any other game where the shield appears: namely Sonic Adventure, Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Advance 1, 2 & 3, Sonic Rush, Sonic Rush Adventure, Sonic Colors (DS) and Sonic Generations (3DS).

The Yellow Gem in Sonic 06 gives Sonic an ability very similar to the Lightning Shield, but it is a move and isn't permanently active. In Sonic Unleashed and Sonic Colours, while the shield does not appear, the Sonic Boost move attracts rings towards Sonic as he runs past them.

The shield returns in classic monitor form in a few challenge acts in Sonic Generations, now called the Thunder Shield, and like the original shield can protect against lightning damage and double jump. When the "Thunder Shield Challenge" has been completed, the Thunder Shield can be bought in the skill shop and, if equipped, can be activated at any time for Classic Sonic by pressing Y/Triangle.

The Lightning Shield appears in iOS/Android remake of the original game and its sequel if you set "Items" to "S1+S3" or "S2+S3" in the Level Select menu (or place a Lightning Shield monitor in debug mode). It behaves exactly as it does in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, including the double-jump and disappearing when it touches water. In the Sonic 2 remake, the Lightning Shield also appears as a random item in VS. Mode.

It appears again in Sonic Lost World as a power-up the player can receive from Miiverse in the Wii U version, or found within levels in the 3DS version. It does not come with the ability to perform a double jump (as Sonic can naturally perform one), but it still attracts rings.

The Lightning Shield appears once again in Sonic Mania, functioning exactly as it did in Sonic 3 & Knuckles, except now with the ability to stick to electromagnets in Flying Battery Zone.

Other variants of the basic shield include the Fire Shield, Water Shield, and Gold Shield.

Items in the Sonic the Hedgehog Game Series
Collectibles   Ring | Special Ring | Rich Ring | Heal Ring | Red Star Ring | Number Ring | Silver Moon Ring | Sonic Medal | Sun Medal | Moon Medal | Sun Tablet | Moon Tablet | Planet Tablet | Secret Item | Red Orbs | Blue Orbs | Green Orbs | Emblem | Chaos Drives | Special Stage Key | Material | Portal Gear | Memory Token | Vault Key | Red Seed of Power | Blue Seed of Defense | Dream Orb
Power-ups   Shield (Water, Lightning, Fire, Gold, Magnetic) | Invincibility | Power Sneakers | Rocket Shoes | Propeller Shoes | Hyper Heli-Tails | Eggman Mark | Super Ring | Combine Ring | Forcejewel | Power Core | Light Cores | Special Combination
Level Objects   Item Box | Dark Energy Key | Spring | Spikes | Checkpoint | Time Warp Plate | Signpost | Goal Ring | Hidden Treasure Ring | Giant Ring | Dash Ring | Rainbow Ring | Capsule | Button | Door | Bumper | Speed Booster | Crane Lift | Air bubbles | Chao container | Item Panel
Powerful Items   Chaos Emeralds | Super Emeralds | Master Emerald | Time Stones | Chaos Rings | Precioustone | Sol Emeralds | Jeweled Scepter | World Rings | Excalibur | Phantom Ruby | Reverie | Dream Core
Weapons   Piko Piko Hammer | Chaos Energy Cannon | Caliburn | Wispon
Devices   Remote Robot | Combi Confiner | Mother Computer | Nega's Camera | Arks of the Cosmos | Miles Electric
Other   Chili Dog | Fortune Cards | Speed Down Boots | Chao Egg | Scepter of Darkness | Cacophonic Conch