Lightning (element)
Lightning (also called Electricity or Thunder) is an element given to various attacks, items, and enemies in RPGs. In the Paper Mario series, it is closely linked to the Electrified status effect. In Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, it is linked to the Shock Super Effect.
History
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
In Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars and its remake, lightning is one of the four elements assigned to Special attacks, alongside Jump, Fire, and Ice. Mallow's Thunderbolt and Shocker are designated with the lightning element. Attacking enemies or bosses weak to lightning will deal twice the damage; conversely, attacking enemies and bosses who are strong against it will have no effect and inflict 0 damage instead.
Some enemy attacks are also affiliated with the lightning element, and can be negated with the Lazy Shell or Super Suit. These attacks are:
In the remake, using Mallow's Thought Peek will reveal the targeted enemy's weaknesses, including lightning.
Paper Mario series
Paper Mario
In Paper Mario, lightning is an element given to the Thunder Bolt and Thunder Rage items, and Watt's Electro Dash. Some enemies are immune to lightning, which will negate the attack entirely and inflict 0 damage instead. Bob-ombs will be instantaneously defeated if attacked with the lightning element.
Any character with the lightning element is immune to the electrified status effect; conversely, the electrified status does not give its wearer immunity to lightning attacks. Watt is always both electrified and of the lightning element, allowing her to be immune to lightning attacks such as General Guy's Lightning Shot. Despite its name, Electro Blooper is not of the lightning element, and will take damage from lightning attacks or from attacking an electrified Mario, even when electrified itself. The Zap Tap badge is an exception to the rule, as it gives Mario immunity against the electrified status without making him immune to lightning damage.
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Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Lightning returns in Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and its remake in a more minor way. There is no equivalent to Watt in this game, and the only lightning attacks are the returning Thunder Bolt and Thunder Rage items. The only enemy with the lightning Element is the Ruff Puff (but not the other Cloud variant enemies, despite them also having electrified and/or lightning-related moves), who is now healed by the amount of damage it was supposed to receive from a lightning attack instead of being immune to them. There are several enemies in the game with lightning-related moves, but they have no impact on gameplay outside of aesthetic (though many are themed around dealing piercing damage) and can't be altered by any badge or item.
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Mario & Luigi series
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
- See also: Thunderhand
In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, lightning is one of the game's main element, here called Thunderhand or thunder for shorts, alongside the fire element, here called Firebrand. It is the Hand Power associated with Luigi, which allows him to perform a Tickle in the overworld and the Thunder Bros. Bros. Attack as well as its Advanced version in battle.
Some enemies can be weak to thunder, which deals more damage to them as a Critical hit, or be immune to it and absorb the attacks to heal themselves. Others can be resistant to Hand Powers, turning any thunder attack into a flat 1 damage. This is independent from the Critical and Heal effects and can be added to them, effectively dealing 2 damage and healing 1 HP respectively. This is changed in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions, which only reduces the attacks' power instead and is applied to each element separately rather than both.
Trivia
- In Paper Mario: The Origami King, an unused item called the Electric Hammer is found in the data. This could mean that Mario was meant to have electricity-based moves, which were removed later on.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | かみなり[?] kaminari |
lightning | |
| Chinese | 雷[?] léi |
thunder | |
| Dutch | Elektrisch[?] | electric | |
| bliksem[?] | lightning | ||
| French | électricité[?] | electricity | |
| French (NOA) | foudre[?] | lightning | |
| German | Elektro[?] | electro | |
| Italian | elettricità[?] | electricity | |
| Korean | 천둥[?] cheondung |
thunder | |
| Spanish | electricidad[?] | electricity |
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