Glohm

Three NPCs affected with Glohm in the Brrrning Sea's Great Lighthouse Island

Glohm is a corruptive substance that appears in Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Its name is a portmanteau of "gloom" and "ohm". Extracted from the stale energy of Spite Bulbs—Sprite Bulbs who have been cut off from Connectar—it is manufactured by Zokket and used on the citizens of Concordia by the Zok Troopers and the Extension Corps, causing anyone infected to want to seek isolation from everyone else and shut their heart to them, with the ultimate goal of reviving Reclusa. Its effects are first seen on Bulbfish Island. Ampberries are an antidote to the Glohm, although in a few cases fighting and defeating an affected enemy can remove the effects of Glohm from it, as seen when defeating Glohm Bowser, Glohm Gorumbla, and two Spikes.

Effects

Enemies and bosses

Mario and Luigi battling Glohm Boos in Bowser's Castle

Various enemies also become infected with Glohm, making them more powerful, while also possessing a darker red tint and glowing eyes (or in the case of Glohm Piranha Plants, glowing spots on their heads). Attacks from enemies are significantly faster. Some enemies have additional properties when affected with Glohm:

• Glohmed enemies are unable to perform cooperative attacks with each other, including non-Glohmed enemies. For example, Glohm Koopa Troopas are unable to kick another Koopa Troopa's shell into one of the bros.
  • The only exception to this are Glohm Shy Guys, although their attacks are performed with clones instead of other enemies.
• Glohmed enemies can create a spiked shield which breaks after being hit with an attack, although the shield is often two layers. If the spikes are on top, the enemy is unsafe to jump on. (ex. Glohm Soreboar, Glohm Snaptor)
• Some will occasionally start having temporary stat boosts, especially POW-Ups.
• Some may attempt to counter the attacking bro almost immediately by following up with another attack - this is signaled by the words "Counter" appearing alongside a referee whistle sound effect. (ex. Glohm Bumbleshoot)
• Singular enemies sometimes create clones of themselves and shuffle between the fakes. If the fakes are constantly hit, the real one appears to glow. The HP bar is hidden for all enemies. (ex. Glohm Shy Guy, Glohm Goomba, Glohm Koopa Paratroopa, Glohm Icead)
• Defeated enemies may sometimes linger on the screen, then release a shockwave which must be jumped over. Timing of dodges depends on the location of the shockwave. (ex. Glohm Boo, Glohm Seedle, Glohm Invizilizard, Glohm Soreboar during Reclusa's invasion)

Glohm versions of enemies first appear on the field in Heatfreeze Island, starting with Glohm Curlups and Glohm Spikes. As the story progresses, Glohm versions of enemies eventually take the place of regular versions in other locations, an example being Twistee Island when unlinked from Shipshape Island. Gobblick, Sharpcask, Pipegunk, Bowser, and Gorumbla later become infected by Glohm becoming significantly more powerful. After defeating Zokket, Reclusa awakens and infects most regular enemies throughout all islands except Conductor Island with Glohm. Defeating 150 total Glohm enemies fulfills the Glohm Buster challenge.

Glohm enemies may drop Glohm Crystals, Fragments, or Dust on defeat, aside from dropping regular materials.

As a status effect

Zokket forcing a Glohmed Luigi to fight against Mario

If Mario and Luigi take damage from a Glohm-infected enemy, they may become inflicted with the Glohm status effect. If a Bro. is Glohmed, the Bros. can neither work together for jump and hammer attacks nor use any Bros. Attacks available, and Luigi Logic cannot be used in boss battles, similar to Prohibited Command. Before initiating a jump or hammer attack, the infected brother shudders in fear, while a non-infected brother sighs, then uses a solo attack. Unlike other common status effects, Glohm will not wear off its own and only one brother can be infected at a time. Refreshing Herbs have a 50% chance of curing Glohm, whereas Ampberries always cure it.

Zokket in his boss battle is also able to infuse his attacks with Glohm, making them more dangerous. If he successfully infects Mario or Luigi with Glohm, Zokket can mind-control the affected bro to become hostile and use his hammer to attack his brother, but the corrupted brother will be purified after the attack is successfully countered by disarming him without hurting him. Additionally, the brothers take damage to their Bros. Points until the still-free Bro. purifies the corrupted one, presumably to represent the Bros.' bond being forgotten. If Zokket mind controls a bro and then defeats the uninfected bro, a Game Over occurs.

Gallery

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  An inhabitant on Bulbfish Island affected with Glohm

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  Chilliam's dad affected with Glohm

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  Spiralia under attack by Glohmed enemies

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  Buddy while under the effects of Glohm

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  Glohm Bowser

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  Glohm Gobblick

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  Glohm Sharpcask

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  Glohm Pipegunk

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  Glohm Gorumbla

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  Mario and Luigi ready to fight Glohm Gorumbla

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ゼツエンタイ[?] Zetsuentai	Lit. "insulator" in katakana form;「絶縁」can also mean "to break up with", referring to the nature of those corrupted by Glohm
Chinese	绝缘体[?] Juéyuántǐ	Lit. "insulator";「绝缘」can also mean "to break up with", referring to the nature of those corrupted by Glohm
Dutch	Doemstroom[?]	Doom current
French	Fléohm[?]	Pun on fléau ("calamity") and "ohm" (power unit).
German	Ohmen[?]	Pun on Omen ("omen") and "ohm" (power unit). Additionally, Glohm enemies are referred to as "Ohminös", adding a pun on ominös ("ominous").
Italian	Isolantium	From isolante ("insulating") and the Latin suffix "-ium"
Korean	절연체[?] Jeoryeonche	Lit. "insulator"; "절연" can also mean "to break up with", referring to the nature of those corrupted by Glohm
Portuguese	Sohmbra	A corruption of sombra ("shade", "shadow"). Incidentally, also contains ohm (power unit) in its spelling
Spanish	Aislanéctar Substance Inconexo Status effect [?]	From aislar (both "to insulate" and "to isolate") and néctar ("nectar") Disconnected