Lightning (Item)

"Hits one or more opponents with a short, sharp shock, making them drop an item."

- In-game description, Sonic Forces: Speed Battle

The Lightning is a Projectile Item that appears in Sonic Forces: Speed Battle. When used, it induces an Electric attack on opponents.

Description
True to its name, the Lightning's icon is a yellow lightning bolt discharging at some points.

Overview
In gameplay, the Lightning can only be obtained at random from Item Boxes by Amy Rose, Rouge the Bat and Shadow the Hedgehog. As with all other Items, Metal Sonic can also obtain the Lightning if he uses the Steal Item to steal it from the aforementioned users. When used, floating balls of lightning will appear over a certain number of opponents for a second before discharging, inducing the Electric effect if hit. The player can avoid the Lightning by using the Quick Step to change lanes during the delay to avoid being hit.

Lightning will only strike at one random opponent but the ability can be upgraded for each individual user by increasing their level to a certain value; at level 6, Lightning will strike two random opponents and at level 12, Lightning will strike all three opponents.

Trivia

 * In Sonic Forces: Speed Battle, the Lighting Item has received the most drastic changes throughout the game's update history, both for gameplay balance and bug-fixing reasons. Before Version 1.2.0, the Lightning's effects were unavoidable although it did not slow down opponents it hit and prior to Version 1.0.0, the Lightning instantly zapped all opponents but it did not take Rings from hitting opponents. Prior to Version 0.0.4, the Lighting also caused a bug which could drop all players out of the race when used.