Sunday, November 17, 2024

Character Analysis: Shadow the Hedgehog

 This blog was made as part of my patreon. I’m gonna make a Mario themed blog next, and vote for which one if you're a member. I wanna do a lesser analyzed character though.  The Choices are Princess Daisy, Waluigi, Rosalina and Captain Syrup.

Background

An artificial life form created by Gerald Robotnik on the space station Ark. Shadow’s biology was intended to provide a miracle cure for Gerald’s daughter Maria, but failed. Causing him to question his life and purpose.


Maria and Gerald were later murdered at the hands of the government entity GUN, the Ark was shut down and Shadow was sealed away in an underground facility. He was eventually revived by Gerald’s grandson Eggman. The two then teamed up to take over the Ark and use its super weapons to threaten the Earth for world domination.


This is later shown to be a ploy on Shadow’s part to destroy the planet as a form of revenge. Shadow is later convinced by Amy Rose to give up his ambitions and remembers the good times with Maria and Gerald, and how they wanted to bring good to humanity. He seemingly dies at the end of SA2, helping Sonic fight the final boss.


Shadow reappears in Sonic Heroes, but is revealed to potentially be a clone of the original.


This is proven false in his standalone game, where he’s revealed to be the original Shadow. Likewise, it’s revealed Gerald partnered with aliens called the Black arms to create him. Eventually Shadow fully comes to terms with this origin and rebels against the Black Arms to save the planet.


Shadow has had various moments of angst and self doubt since then, but largely has settled on protecting the planet as a hero and has put his past behind him.


Team Dark

Shadow at many points of his history works with Team Dark. A group made up of Rouge and Omega.  They often perform missions under GUN.


Alt endings

The Shadow game has various alt endings where Shadow becomes evil, or takes over the universe, etc/


Other allies

Shadow is known to work with anyone for the sake of protecting the planet. Most commonly GUN, but sometimes even Eggman.

Abilities

Spin attack

Shadow can perform the classic Spin Attack and Spin Jump maneuver.  Both turn him into a curled up buzz saw.


Spin Dash

The classic Sonic Spin Dash attack. It’s essentially a ground-based Spin Attack where the user builds up speed before catapulting themselves forward.


Stomp

A mid-air stomping move


Spin kick/tornado kick

Ground-laden whirlwind kicks.


Homing attack

Another standard sonic attack. Basically a mid air Spin Attack that hones in on the opponent. 


Boost

The “boost” ability. Shadow propels himself slightly above ground with his hover skates with a red aura around his body that protects him from collision damage.


Somersault/Fire Summersault

A somersaulting maneuver that can be used to harm enemies, break objects, or get under tight spaces. Gains a fire attribute with the Flame Ring equipped.


Light Speed Dash/Light Speed Attack

A special ability that allows Shadow to travel along a trail of rings at light speed. IThere is also an offensive variation of this ability called the Light Speed Attack. It allows Shadow to rapidly attack various enemies in his vicinity at light speed after a short charge.


Black Tornado

Shadow jumps and rapidly spins around an enemy causing a minute tornado. Can fling enemies into the air, disorient them or disarm them of held items (Egg Pawns with shields for example).


Black Doom physiology

Black Doom’s blood and biomaterial was used to create Shadow, giving him some of its properties. In particular Shadow is immune to most forms of infection and disease. He’s also biologically immortal. This unique biology also manifests in “Doom Powers” Shadow can use during combat.


Doom Blast

A powerful energy kick attack.


Doom Morph 

Turns Shadow into a tentacle blob monster. It can melt into certain surfaces.


Doom Wing

Gives Shadow wings for flight. Also invincibility


Doom Surf

Creates a surfboard.


Chaos abilities

The ability to use “Chaos energy” for various attacks and powers. Normally you need a Chaos Emerald to use them, but Shadow seems capable of performing various Chaos abilities fully on his own power. This is never explained in the games, but In Sonic Adventure 2 Perfect guide, it’s stated the ultimate life form was created utilizing Chaos Energy. Consequently, It’s likely Shadow’s body produces low level Chaos energy.


Chaos Snap

A short range teleport for attacking foes.


Chaos burst

A special attack where Shadow will teleport, and emerge surrounded by a powerful explosive sphere of energy that damages opponents.


Chaos Nightmare

An attack where Shadow will use Chaos Energy to distort space at his fists to produce an explosive uppercut.


Chaos Upper

An attack where Shadow distorts space in both his fists to create an energy sphere that blasts opponents into the air.


Shadow Guard

A blocking stance said to be fortified with Chaos Energy. In Sonic Battle is creates a spherical shield of energy upon activation capable of nullifying most attacks.


Chaos Magic

A special attack where Shadow uses chaos control to create a purple temporal rift that damages opponents. Shadow can control where the rifts appear allowing it to hit from a distance.


Roaming Chaos

Shadow uses Chaos Energy to create a roaming ball of distorted space that follows opponents around the battlefield. It damages opponents if they come in contact with it. 


Chaos Spear

A lightning bolt-ish projectile made out of Chaos Energy. Shadow can summon singular bolts or barrages of them. The attack can briefly paralyze foes and has armor-piercing properties in Sonic Chronicles. 


Chaos lance

A power-ed up version of the chaos spear attack. 


Chaos Rift

An attack where Shadow will create a rift in time/space that can BFR foes. It also causes the status effect Distracted, which lowers attack accuracy.


Chaos Regeneration/Shadow Heal

A healing skill that restores health with Chaos Energy. Sonic X also has a similar ability called Chaos Regeneration.


Chaos Blast 

A large explosion of Chaos Energy. Shadow can release this blast in a circular explosion emanating from his body or as a kamehameha-energy beam attack from his hands. 


Oher


Resistances


Misc


Arsenal

Air Shoes

A pair of hover shoes created by Gerald that allow Shadow to propel himself at high speeds. The jet's on the bottom can be used for limited hovering and can also produce fire that can extend during physical attacks.


Extreme Gear

Powerful hover technology that can be used for pseudo flight and transport.


Gravity Band: An “Ark of the Covenant”. Allows the user to manipulate gravity, attaining pseudo flight.


Motorcycle

A Motorcycle.


Power-ups

Normal shield

A protective bubble that defends against one deadly attack.


Lightning/Magnetic Shield

A lightning variant shield. Blocks one deadly attack. It attracts rings to Shadow’s position and has immunity to electricity based attacks. It can also deflect minor projectiles. It disappears if it comes into contact with water. 


Heat barrier

A fire shield variant that damages opponents  who come into contact with it.


Invincibility

Grants temporary invincibility to the user.


Memory Chips ( Blue, Red, Black)

  • Increases the ability to utilize Chaos Energy for attacks.


Wisps

Alien life forms that grant Sonic Color Power. Color Power is a series of abilities Sonic characters can use by absorbing the “Hyper-Go-On”  wisps produced. Shadow has access to them in various spin offs.


White Burst/White Wisp: Grants energy for boosting.


Red Burst/Red Wisp: Turns Shadow into a ball of fire that can burn opponents and perform additional jumps in the air.


Violet Void: Turns Shadow into a floating void like object. The form can hover, can absorb nearby objects and enemies, and travel through grate/fan like objects like a gas.


Orange Rocket/Orange Wisp: Shadow becomes a rocket like object. The strength of the upwards movement can harm enemies.


Cyan Laser/Cyan Wisp: Turns Shadow into a living laser that can bounce off opponents to damage them, off walls to reach new areas or travel through special crystals to get to new places.


Pink Spike/Pink Wisp: Turns Shadow into a pink spiked ball that can latch onto and travel along walls. He can also move along them at high speeds with a spin dash like maneuver


Blue Cube/Blue Wisp: Gives Shadow the ability to turn into a large blue cube. The cube can smash into the ground to destroy objects and also sends out a shockwave that can damage opponents from a distance.


Green Hover/Green Wisp:  Turns Shadow into a floating green object that can hover through an environment and even has its own version of the light speed dash.


Purple Frenzy/Purple Wisp: Shadow uses a purple wisp to become a large floating pacman-ish head. Said form has sharp teeth it can use to devour objects in front of it, growing with size as it does so. At maximum size the form can also suck objects to its position through a sort of vacuum breath.


Yellow Drill/Yellow Wisp: Turns Shadow into a drill that can travel through ground and through water.


Jade Ghost/Jade Wisp: Turns the user intangible


Indigo Asteroid: Using an indigo wisp turns Shadow into a miniature planet like object that uses intense gravity to tear objects and opponents apart. The more objects pulled in the stronger the gravity effect becomes.


Magenta Rhythm/Magenta wisp: Turns the user into a large music note. The form can bounce in midair off specific bouncing points.


Crimson Eagle/Red Wisp: Turn Shadow into a red eagle-like creature that can fly.


Black Bomb/Black Wisp: Transforms Shadow into a large bomb.


Gray Quake/Grey Wisp: Transforms Shadow into a heavy stone block that can make shockwaves to destroy opponents and scale up walls.


Ivory Lightning/Ivory Wisp: Ivory wisps turn Shadow into a living bolt of lightning. In this form he can latch onto objects and electrocute opponents. Can also control sources of electricity.


Chao

A species of small winged creatures. In Sonic Chronicles you can raise/equip them to characters, and the chao will grant the characters various boosts in stats or special abilities(such as health/stamina regeneration, the ability to do elemental damage, shielding, insta killing, reviving after a deadly hit, ect)


Buddies

Support characters in Sonic runners. They have general buff abilities. Some can revive Shadow upon defeat.


Chronicles Items

Items from Sonic Chronicles


Sonic Rivals Items

Various elemental attacks and traps that can be used in the Sonic Rivals games. Most can be used as projectiles to hit from a distance.



Shadow game Weapons

Shadow has access to various weapons in his stand alone game. Including guns, swords, maces, laser weapons, etc. His most powerful is the “Shadow Gun”.


Guns


Melee weapons


Chaos Emeralds

A set of mystical objects that are said to grant near infinite power. They can often be found hidden in alternate pocket dimensions known as special zones, and are said to turn the thoughts of the user into power. Many sources also claim them to be directly correlated to the health of nature itself. Their power can change based on the circumstances they’re used under.


Chaos Control 

The ability to bend time and space or empower oneself with the aid of a chaos emerald. The more chaos emeralds a character has the more enhanced the ability to use chaos control will be. Sonic first learned how to perform the ability after watching Shadow do it in Sonic Adventure 2. According to Shadow and numerous interviews, he supposedly can’t use “Chaos Control” without the energy provided with an emerald. This generally refers to more advanced Chaos Abilities, rather than general powers.


Teleportation: The main use of chaos control is to teleport either the user and or an object through space. This can work across dimensions or be applied to large objects. Supposedly there is a limit to the range though.


Warping: Chaos control can be used to warp the user at high speeds.


Time slow: The ability to slow the flow of time via Chaos Control


Time Stop: The ability to stop time through Chaos Control. 


Time Travel: The ability to travel through time with Chaos control. Requires two users using Chaos Control at once


Misc abilities

Resistance to Mind/memory Manipulation: The Chaos Emeralds can negate mind and memory manipulation .


Causality manipulation: The Ancients could use the emeralds to create cyberspace, which could alter causality. 


Soul manipulation: The ancients used the Emeralds to create cyberspace, from whose cyber energy could encode or affect souls. Such as Sonic’s soul being nearly trapped in Cyberspace by his Cyber Corruption. Chaos energy can also merge creatures with the souls of living things or trap souls within themselves.

Transformations

Inhibitor rings

Ring-like appendages that Shadow wears on his wrists that control/restrain his access to Chaos Energy. Taking them off gives Shadow a gigantic boost in power and durability, but causes him to tire out after short periods of time. Shadow typically only takes them off for singular powerful attacks or for short assaults on the enemy. 

  • 06: Shadow takes off his rings https://youtu.be/9iIdqH-Q9YA?t=6939

  • SX ep 37 19:03 Shadow takes off his Inhibitors

  • SC Ep 68 21:52  Shadow takes off his Inhibitors to destroy an entire Metarex fleet


Chaos Boost

An enhanced state of power Shadow can enter by collecting Life Orbs or Chaos Drives in 06. The powered-up state enhances Shadow’s Chaos Abilities and makes him less susceptible to damage.


Dark Shadow

A power-ep state that Shadow can enter by utilizing negative chaos energy. It raises his durability and attack power. It only lasts for a limited amount of time and using chaos powers shortens the time span.


Hero Shadow

An enhanced state of power Shadow can enter by utilizing positive Chaos Energy.  Raises durability and enhances Chaos Control abilities that deal with movement and time manipulation


Super Shadow

An iconic Sonic Super form. It’s invulnerable to most damage, grants flight and vastly increases the power of Shadow’s physical abilities. Shadow can stack Hero mode, Dark mode or release his inhibitors in this state.


Sphere of light

Multiple powerful energy lances that impale opponents.


Positive vs Negative Energy

The Chaos Emeralds turn thoughts into power and a super form can be powered by either positive or negative energy. Super Shadow can utilize both energies in his super form.


Unlimited energy 

The Chaos emeralds are stated on many occasions to have unlimited energy.


Immunities

A Super state makes the user immune to mind manipulation and transmutation.


Time Limit

Super Shadow has a time limit, though it's inconsistent. In gameplay it's based on how many rings the player has.


Limitations

Super forms can be knocked out of the transformation if they’re taken off guard by a powerful enough attack. If they’re overpowered by a huge margin, their invulnerability can also be overcome.

Feats

Strength

  • SX Ep 61 10:09 Knocked around a Metrex battle station the size of a skyscraper

  • SX Ep 76 13:12 Shadow outmuscled one of the heads of Final Mova

  • 06: Manages to destroy hundreds of Mephiles clones in 06 with his inhibitor rings off https://youtu.be/Ne-CtOQxods?t=1193


Super


Speed


Super

  • SX Ep 77 10:28 Flies around a planet-sized object multiple times in seconds 


Endrance


Super

  • SX Ep 77 22:58  Super Sonic and Shadow are shot into Final Mova and destroy it. Mova was originally the planet Aquarius.

  • SX Ep 77 12:17 Shadow withstood a powerful gravitation field made by Final Mova in super form. This gravity was considered to be similar to that of a black hole. 

Scaling

Base level characters

Sonic



Eggman


Other base level characters


Super Scaling

Super Forms/Emeralds


Jeweled Scepter


Time Eater


Void


Solaris


Other Super level feats


Cosmology

Various collections on notes on Sonic Cosmology

Experience

Main games


Spin offs



Edit: Shadow In Shadow Generations beat Metal Overlord and Devil doom with his Doom Powers. Both whom original required Super Sonic/Shadow to beat.
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