- “Wreck-N-Roll!”
- —Wrecking Ball's official catchphrase
Wrecking Ball is a grub worm Skylander in Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. He is in the Magic element. He also has a flowery counterpart, Buddy Wrecking Ball who was available only on Skylanders: Lost Islands for a limited time.
Character Development
At the earliest development point of Spyro's Kingdom, Wrecking Ball was of the Water element.[2]
Wrecking Ball was originally called Force Field Grub, having started out as Nat Loh's creation but he couldn't finish the character. Lead Designer Toby Schadt had a very particular vision for this character that he wanted to personally develop. The one ability that Nat had originally designed that did not quite make it through was the Power Belch. In the original design, it functioned much like the Mycon Podship's semi-sentient Plasma ball attack. This was a small homing projectile that was very strong at its start and got bigger but weaker with time. The inconsistent nature of its damage ultimately made that iteration of the ability a casualty of the design process.[3]
Background
Personality
Possibly the most reckless of all the Skylanders, Wrecking Ball rolls into danger without thought for his own personal safety. This lively larva smashes anything in his path (often) by accident, and is always hungry, even when he's just eaten![4] In some media, he possesses dog-like qualities.
Biography
Wrecking Ball was once a tiny grub worm about to become the main ingredient in an old wizard’s cauldron of magic stew. But when he was dropped in, the wizard was shocked to see the little grub devour all of the soup and emerge from the cauldron 20 times larger and with a long, sticky tongue. The poor old wizard was even more surprised seconds later, when Wrecking Ball proceeded to swallow him whole. Eventually he ran, quite literally, into the powerful Portal Master Eon, who was intrigued by how he came to be and impressed with his unique abilities.
Story
History
Once upon a time, Wrecking Ball was nothing more than a common or garden grub. His adventure began when he became a speciality ingredient in a wizard's magical stew. After being chucked into the cooking concoction, a curious occurrence took place. The hungry little grub worm took a sip, and then a gulp, and ended up devouring the whole lot. When the wizard came in to check on his cauldron, instead of his tasty stew he found one enormous grub who had grown to over twenty times his original size. And as Wrecking Ball was still a little peckish, he popped the wizard in his mouth too - only to spit him straight back out again (even a grub's standard's, the wizard tasted like a warthog!). The story soon spread, raising smiles across the Skylands world. Soon the plucky grub bounced into Master Eon, who evidently felt that the Skylanders could do with a serious stomach among their ranks.[5]
Stump Smash Crosses the Bone Dragon
Wrecking Ball was assigned with Countdown and Flameslinger to accompany Stump Smash to the Giggling Forest to investigate why the trees had stopped giggling. There, they discover that several of the living trees and Kaos' trolls were turned to stone by an unknown force, which soon revealed itself to be an angry Bone Dragon. During the attack, Flameslinger's bow was turned to stone by the Dragon's petrifying breath and Flynn's hot air balloon was petrified as well. The beast cornered the Skylanders, but Wrecking Ball quickly expelled a Power Belch at the Bone Dragon to drive it away, allowing the Skylanders to escape with a partially petrified Glumshanks.
Upon learning more about the Bone Dragon at the Eternal Archives, Wrecking Ball once again went with Stump Smash and Countdown to Troll Bastion to attack the fort and find Kaos. They fought against many trolls, eventually coming into contact with General Disaster. When the troll general readied two dozen missiles to fire at Wrecking Ball, the grub worm simply lashed out his tongue and swallowed General Disaster whole before he could fire his weapons. The Skylanders found the petrified forms of Kaos and Master Eon, and Wrecking Ball cried out to Stump Smash in alarm when he saw the ent Skylander was about to smash Kaos's statue to pieces as retribution for Eon's petrification but stopped. With the help of Wrecking Ball's gassy indigestion from eating General Disaster, the Skylanders were able to escape the Troll Bastion on Flynn's balloon.
Back in the Giggling Forest, Wrecking Ball, Stump Smash and Countdown discovered the other Skylanders had been petrified by the rampaging Bone Dragon. They were able to bring the beast down and calm him, and the Bone Dragon restored all those petrified. Kaos however, immediately began attacking the Skylanders upon being unpetrified, intending to capture the Bone Dragon for the Life segment to the Mask of Power. He was stopped and driven away by Master Eon and his spells, allowing the Skylanders to secure victory.
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
After being banished from Skylands along with the other Skylanders, being a frozen statue was a living nightmare for Wrecking Ball. This lively, giant blue grub is never content unless he's smashing things around him (though never on purpose). His thoughts were a mix between food and how to unleash his rapidly building energy.[6]
Gameplay
Having consumed an entire cauldron of magic stew, its effects not only made Wrecking Ball grow 20 times his normal size and enhanced him with magical energy, but also gave him a long, sticky tongue which he uses to lash at his enemies. He can also curl into a ball and steamroll into his enemies using the magical energy he uses as a protective forcefield. This is a charged attack in home console games, but he can freely switch into the ball in the Nintendo 3DS games without charging it. Wrecking Ball can also let loose out a burp of gas from his mouth to blow enemies away, and can also devour his enemies to regain health if he has gained his Soul Gem ability.
Stats
These are the starting and maximum Statistics for this Skylander in the Skylanders games.
- Health: 270 (max. 540)
- Speed: 43 (max. 91)
- Armor: 24 (max. 54)
- Critical Hit: 20 (max. 70)
- Elemental Power: 25 (max. 75)
Warning: These stats are not used in any of the Skylander games. They are only listed for completeness reasons.
- Strength: 35
- Defense: 90
- Agility: 50
- Luck: 60
These are the starting and maximum Statistics for this Skylander in the Skylanders games.
- Health: 270 (max. 540)
- Speed: 43 (max. 91)
- Armor: 24 (max. 54)
- Critical Hit: 20 (max. 70)
- Elemental Power: 25 (max. 75)
Warning: These stats are not used in any of the Skylander games. They are only listed for completeness reasons.
- Strength: 60
- Defense: 95
- Agility: 65
- Luck: 70
Abilities
| Basic Abilities These abilities are available from the start of the game. |
Wow Pow Ability
| |||||||
| Tongue Whap | Forcefield Ball |
Enemy Slurp
Disco Ball
| ||||||
 Wrecking Ball slaps enemies with his super-tongue. Damage = 8. Crit = 12. |
 Summon magic for a spin forcefield charge. |
 Wrecking Ball can swallow smaller enemies and regains 10 health when he does so.
 Press Attack 2 to turn Wrecking Ball's Force Field into a magical disco ball.
| ||||||
| Basic Upgrades Skylanders can buy new abilities from Persephone/Power Pods. | ||||||||
| Magic Ball Control | Power Belch | Tongue Evolution | Digestive Detonation | |||||
 Forcefield Ball can be controlled and it does increased damage. Damage = 44. Crit = 66. |
 Releases a burp attack that has increased range after eating something. Damage = 30-60. Crit = 45-90. |
 Your Tongue Whap grows longer and does increased damage. Damage = 11. Crit = 16.5. |
 Charge up your Burp attack. Damage = 40. Crit = 60. | |||||
| Total Tongue |
|
| Lightning Tongue | Tongue Grabber | Tongue Supermax | ||
 Your Tongue Whap can attack quicker than ever. |
 Tongue Whap does extra damage and can pick up food and power-ups. Damage = 15. Crit = 22.5. |
 Your Tongue grows even longer. |
| Ultimate Spinner |
|
| Forcefield Blast | Swath of Terror | It's Gotta Go Somewhere | ||
 While in your Forcefield Ball, create a Forcefield explosion. Damage = 20. Crit = 30. |
 The Forcefield Ball is larger and does even more increased damage. Damage = 61. Crit = 91.5. |
 While in your Forcefield Ball, create a more powerful burp attack. Damage = 60. Crit = 90. |
Skylanders can use abilities depending on their level.
Starting Powers
- Slurp! (Primary Attack): Press (Y) repeatedly to lash enemies with Wrecking Ball's tongue.
- Burp! (Secondary Attack): Press (X) to let loose a burp. Enemies hit by a burp cloud will take damage from the gas for a few seconds. Press (X) in midair to propel Wrecking Ball upwards with a burp.
Upgrades
- Clump! (requires level: 2): Roll (A) into enemies with Wrecking Ball to zap them with his force field. If he hits an enemy while rolling, the force field will expand and release an energy burst when Wrecking Ball stops.
- Gulp! (requires level: 5): Hold (Y) to make Wrecking Ball slingshot forward with his tongue, damaging enemies he hits. Wrecking Ball now gulps air when using Slurp (Y). Press (X) when bubbles appear around him to release a big burp that travels farther and does more damage.
- BURRRP! (requires level: 8): Hold (X) to charge up a massive burp, then release to launch Wrecking Ball into the air while blasting enemies around him.
Mystic Seeker Scroll
- Gain a 20% Health bonus while in the Radiant Isles. The scroll for this upgrade can be found in Aurora Peak.
Quests
Basic Quests
- Monster Masher: Defeat 1000 enemies.
- Chow Hound: Eat 50 pieces of food.
- Arena Artist: Complete an arena without taking any damage.
- Battle Champ: Win 10 PvP matches.
- Heroic Challenger: Complete a heroic challenge without taking any damage.
Elemental Quests
- Elementalist: Cause 7500 elemental bonus damage.
- Puzzle Power: Defeat 25 enemies with light puzzle beams.
- Warp Whomper: Defeat 1 enemy within 10 seconds of using a teleporter.
Unique Quest
- Competitive Eater: Swallow 100 enemies.
Basic Quests
- Bad Guy Basher: Defeat 1000 enemies.
- Fruit Frontiersman: Eat 15 fruit.
- Flawless Challenger: Complete a non-Story Mode level at full health.
- True Gladiator: Win 10 PVP matches.
- Totally Maxed Out: Reach level 20 and purchase all Upgrades for this Skylander.
Elemental Quests
- Elementalist: Deal 7500 elemental bonus damage.
- Puzzle Power: Push a Laser Puzzle Beam to defeat an enemy.
- Mage Rivalry: Defeat a total of 25 Cyclops Gazermages or Cyclops Sleetthrowers.
Unique Quest
- Competitive Eater: Defeat 100 Chompies with Digestive Detonation.
Quotes
Battle Cries
- "Wreck-N-Roll!"
- "Bouncy!"
- "Mmm, that hits the spot!"
- "More power!"
- "Success!"
- "Alright!"
- "Easy enough!"
- "Rolled right over you!"
- "I'm on a roll!"
- "You got wrecked!"
- "Rolling on!" - When opening a barrier
- "Breaking through!" - When opening a barrier
- "Ah, I could definitely do some damage in here!" - When entering an elemental gate
- "Oh yeah!" - When leveling up
- "Right on!" - When leveling up
- "I'll take it!" - When opening a treasure chest
- "Oh, treasure! I wanna eat it!" - When opening a treasure chest
- "Getting better and better!" - When viewing stats
- "Looking pretty good!" - When viewing stats
- "Alright, lookin' good!" - When putting on a hat
- "Yeah, now I look even cooler!" - When putting on a hat
- "Sure, I can roll with that!" - When given a nickname
- "I dig the new name!" - When given a nickname
- "C'mon, I'm bouncing off the walls here!" - Unused idle line
- "Bowling is my favorite sport, especially when I'm the ball!" - Unused idle line
Skylanders: Lost Islands
- “I’m hungry! Got any snacks?” - Pack a Snack quest quote
- “Delicious Skylander snacks from the famous Skylander snack vendors!” - Pack a Snack completion quote
- “Silena’s going to build me a kitchen! What should I stock the shelves with?” - Cooking at Home With Wrecking Ball quest quote
- “The Luminaries make it taste sweet. *Gobble* Oh, wait, did you want some?” - Cooking at Home With Wrecking Ball completion quote
- “A magic fruit that only grows at the tip of Dragon’s Peak?” - The Magical Fruit quest quote
Commercial Quotes
- "Not good!" - from Skylanders: The Beginning
- "Say what?" - from the Skylanders: Giants debut trailer
Character Trailers
See also
Gallery
Trivia
- His Series 1 figure is off model and missing two of the ten yellow spikes on his body. This inconsistency was corrected in his Series 2 figure.
- Series 2 Wrecking Ball's artwork can be seen in the Season 1 intro of the Skylanders Academy TV series within the Book of Skylanders.
- His missing teeth is the price all good grubs pay for eagerness in battle.[5]
- He is so energetic, he never stands still and constantly bounces from one leg to the other.
- Wrecking Ball reminded Master Eon of his favorite childhood pet.[7]
- The old Portal Master was also the one who named Wrecking Ball after the grub worm wrecked a few of Eon's statues.
- Since Jawbreakers seem to be affected by moves that don't work on large enemies, Wrecking Ball is able to eat them. When he eats Brute, the cutscene with him still plays, but Wrecking Ball will get 10+ health.
- If you eat an enemy or food item before using his regular Power Belch, the burp will have increased range and do more damage. If he eats two enemies or food items the burp will become red and it does more damage than the long-range green burp.
- When Wrecking Ball eats the Armored Chompies, they don't lose any health even though Wrecking Ball gains 10+ health. Wrecking Ball can get an extra 10+ health by finishing it off.
- When Wrecking Ball eats the Armored Cyclopses, they will sink to the ground and die, making Wrecking Ball the only Skylander who can actually take out the Armored Cyclopses with a single hit.
- In games after Spyro's Adventure, the length of his Forcefield Ball attack has been considerably decreased.
- He's one of the playable characters that can eat their enemies. The others are Gusto, Thumpback, Thumpling, Slobber Tooth, and The Gulper.
- Once his Soul Gem ability has been obtained, Wrecking Ball can eat treasure in Spyro's Adventure to gain +10 health.
- In the Alchemy front-end games, there is a mistake in Wrecking Ball’s Digestive Detonation upgrade image where the image for his Tongue Whap ability can be seen in the top-left corner.
- There are miscellaneous changes to the Force Field Ball in the Alchemy front-end games. The inputs for Forcefield Blast and It’s Gotta Go Somewhere are changed, resulting in the button used for burping not performing a burp-related attack, and the button to create the ball isn’t used to cancel out of it.
- Wrecking Ball can eat the Molekin miners in Molekin Mine. Once they are eaten, these miners can only be collected by the player walking into the space where they used to be.
- Even the cowering Diggs model that appears near the end of the level can be consumed this way.
- Wrecking Ball can eat various collectible items throughout Spyro's Adventure in a similar manner, including the statues in Leviathan Lagoon and the security key card in Arkeyan Armory.
- Wrecking Ball can eat the clams that appear in the Ruins during Spyro's Adventure's story mode, although this will cause them to disappear and remain uncollectable until the Ruins is reloaded.
References
- ↑ Ryan Cooper's Instagram. (Date Posted - Oct. 5, 2015). Instagram.
- ↑ Game Design from Michael Ebert
- ↑ Senior character Gameplay designer. Nat Loh Website.
- ↑ Skylanders Universe: The Complete Collection, page 115
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Skylanders Official Sticker Book: Meet the Skylanders, page 7
- ↑ Skylanders: Book of Elements - Magic and Tech, page 18
- ↑ Skylanders: Master Eon's Official Guide, page 84
