Blaster

For the move in Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, see Blaster (move).

Blaster^[1] (ポンポン^[2], Pon-Pon^?) is a recurring enemy in Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a mass-produced, beetle-based Badnik model created by Dr. Eggman which can fire different types of projectiles from their cannon-like horns.

Appearance

Blasters appear to be based on Hercules beetles. With a bulky brown and gray armor, Blasters possess a pair of tracked wheels underneath their body. The classic Blasters also have a long and straight cannon on their forehead as a horn.

In Sonic Lost World, the Blasters' design was simplified. Their horn was in particular redesigned as a male rhinoceros beetle horn, albeit with bisecting ends, although it still had a barrel hole in-between the horn ends.

Game appearances

Sonic & Knuckles

In Sonic & Knuckles, Blasters appear in Flying Battery Zone, where they slowly roll around. When the player comes near, they start firing sparkling projectiles at them, one at a time. However, these projectiles will harmlessly bounce off of any shield type. The Blasters will keep shooting until the player either defeats them or moves further away.

Along with Technosqueeks, Blasters can also be found hiding inside Capsules or pulled up by electricity bars on the ceilings in Flying Battery Zone Act 1. A Spin Jump or Spin Attack can easily defeat this Badnik.

Sonic Lost World

In the Wii U/PC version of Sonic Lost World, Blasters appear in Desert Ruins Zone 2. Here, they are found moving backwards on routes where the player is obligated to go at high speed. Instead of shooting projectiles though, they shoot honey at the screen, temporarily obscuring the player's vision. Otherwise, the Blaster can be defeated with a Spin Jump or Homing Attack.

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Blasters appear as enemies. In terms of design, they look exactly like they did in Sonic & Knuckles. In these games, they only appear in Flying Battery Zone.

In gameplay, the Blasters have the same attack patterns from their debut appearance, which involve them moving around and firing projectiles from their snouts that will bounce off of the Lightning, Flame or Bubble Shields. Upon their destruction, they release an Animal.

Powers and abilities

Blasters are equipped with a cannon-like horn that can load and fire different projectiles, be it energy blasts or honey. The models that surfaced during the Lost Hex incident have also demonstrate the ability to move at extreme speeds.

In other media

IDW Publishing

Main article: Blaster (IDW)

In the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by IDW Publishing, the Blasters are Badniks created by Dr. Eggman. Their past is virtually identical to their game counterparts' up until Sonic Forces.

Trivia

• Like Technosqueek, Blasters are listed in the western manuals of Sonic the Hedgehog 3.^[3] This is due to Flying Battery Zone originally being planned to appear in the game, after Carnival Night Zone and before IceCap Zone. The Badnik itself even remains unused in Sonic the Hedgehog 3's data, though its programming is not quite finished as its projectiles can be destroyed with a Spin Jump or Spin Dash like regular Badniks.

Gallery

Artwork

Sonic & Knuckles

Sonic & Knuckles

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Screenshots

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Sonic & Knuckles Sonic & Knuckles Sonic Lost World (Wii U) Sonic Mania Add a photo to this gallery

References