Powerups

By Dave470003

 

 

What are powerups? 

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Powerups are special bonuses that drop from shattered bricks. Powerups are only dropped from regular bricks, they are not dropped by mineral bricks, ferrous congolmerates, steel blocks etc. When caught, they can help (or hinder) your gameplay in various ways. Powerups are very common in each level, and although they all have different effects, there are only 5 out of 25 powerups that really hinder you.

 

Poweups either effect the bricks, the ball or the envelope, and it is important to know which ones affect what, as many powerups tend to cancel each other out. For instance, a [V] powerup would take the place of a [Y] powerup, as they both affect the ball, so you would not end up getting an electified ball getting faster towards the top of the screen. But an [A] powerup and a [V] powerup could take place together, as the [A] powerup affects the envelope, whilst the [V] powerup affects the ball.

 

 

Types of powerups

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There are 25 different types of powerup, each of them beginning with a different letter of the alphabet (except U):

Note: The % chance of getting a powerup per level is very approximate

 

  

Attraction

Helpful powerup

Fairly commonly found (10% chance per level [10% c/l])

Affects Envelope

To use: hold down left mouse button (or Ctrl key)

Effect: When activated, the ball is attracted to the envelope. This is negated as soon as the player stops holding the button, or when the envelope runs out of charge.

Useful Situations: If the ball is at the top of the screen, you can hold down the button, and the ball will power through the bricks to get to the envelope

Beware of: The ball does not change direction instantaneously; it swerves round quickly and then goes for the bat. This means it might not always hit the bricks you want it to. Also, if held down too long, the ball can lose control when it is repeatedly hitting the bat, and may swerve off and lose you a life.

 

 

 

Boost

Unhelpful powerup

Rarely found (5% c/l)

Affects Bricks

To use: Automatic use

Effect: Increases the armour of the bricks and conglomerates by 1. This means, in effect, that it takes 1 extra hit to break each brick.

Useful Situations: When you want to spend lots of time on a certain level.... seriously is this one good at all? Yes, but only when you want to give your drone(s) more time to convert sentinels and/or collect minerals.

Beware of: This!

 

 

 

Control

Helpful powerup

Commonly found (50% c/l) 

Affects Envelope

To use: Automatic use

Effect: Lets the ball stick to the envelope for a short amount of time, so that the player has more power to decide where to aim it at. Unlike other powerups which affect bats, this effect does not run out or have to be recharged. It is permament until another powerup is gained or until the envelop is destroyed.

Useful Situations: Tricky aiming can be simplified by this powerup. Also, more control can be excecuted on fast-moving balls, as these can be easily 'controlled'. The delay before the ball is automatically launched is useful for charging your auto-javelin, or for giving your drones time to dismantle sentinels.

Beware of: The ball is launched if you try to push it off the screen while stuck to the envelope, and the ball will eventually get launched without you clicking. Also, a 'halo' ball (obtained by the [H] powerup) never gets stuck to the bat. Holding down the mouse button prevents the ball from sticking to the bat.

 

 

 

Diminuation

Unhelpful powerup

Fairly commonly found (33% c/l)

Affects Envelope

To use: Automatic use

Effect: Very simple: shrinks the bat.

 

 

 

Extension

Helpful powerup

Commonly found  (60% c/l) 

Affects Envelope

To use: Automatic use

Effect: Basically, the opposite of [D]; this enlarges the bat.

Useful Situations: Pretty much any situation can be enriched by the help of an [E] powerup.

Beware of: This bigger bat can make it much more difficult to dodge sentinels, nuts, or anything that shoots at you. Also, note that there is a maximum length the bat can be, so after about 3 [E] powerups, it becomes pretty useless.

 

 

 

Flame

Helpful powerup

Fairly commonly found (33% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic use

Effect: This adds '1' to the strength of the ball; in effect, this means that it breaks any brick in only half the hits it would normally take. A brick that would normally take four hits to break, for example, is only needed to be hit twice. Also, the speed of the ball is slightly decreased.

Useful situations: There are many situations when this could be helpful. When you have got an accidental [B] powerup, a [F] powerup (in effect) negates the effect. When there are lots of conglomerates to destroy, this can be a valuable time saver. Also, the effect of the 'boosting' molecule is lessened by this powerup.

Beware of: This powerup, obviously does not have any effect on bricks that take 1 hit to break.

Additional Notes: A Flame Capsule can be bought from Merchants.

 

 

 

Glacial

Helpful powerup (usually)

Fairly uncommon (25% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic use

Effect: A [G] powerup has the unusual effect of destroying any bricks, but it takes two shots to do so. Any bricks destroyed with this powerup in play will not get their effects.

Useful Situations: Comes in handy when many sentinels, nuts, conglomerates, etc. are around. Also can be quite useful to destroy 'unbreakable' bricks.

Beware of: Destroys minerals without collecting them. Also, these can be very time consuming, annoying, and even unhelpful if you just have a level filled with normal bricks.

Additional Notes: A Glacial Capsule can be bought from Merchants.

 

 

 

Halo

Helpful powerup

Fairly uncommon (20% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic use

Effect: This powerup allows your ball to travel through any brick when hit with your envelope. However, the ball becomes 'solid' again once it touches the top.

Useful Situations: can be very useful when there are lots of bricks, as the ball has to work its way down through the bricks to the envelope. It can also be used to avoid sentinels that may be lurking at the bottom of the level.

Beware of: Your ball can easily be trapped. For instance, if there were three unbreakable bricks blocking off a top corner off of a level, your Halo ball could become trapped, with no way of getting out, or even dying. (If the Halo ball gets trapped, you may want to wait for auto-javelins to easily complete the level, one column at a time.) Also, this ball can become a hinderance at the end of a level, as when you are aiming the ball to get that last brick, you will find that the ball just passes straight through it. It is often easier just losing a life to get these few bricks.

 

 

 

Indigestion

Unhelpful powerup

Uncommon (10% c/l)

Affects Bricks

To use: Automatic use

Effect: Creates an exta brick in all empty spaces adjacent to every single block remaining on the level.

Useful Situations: You may get a useful powerup where the new bricks appear (not likely though) Early in the level, you may trap the ball at the top of the screen, (if you made a narrow path to the top, and the ball is already there as you catch the [I],) making it destroy many bricks before you need to catch it again.

 

 

 

Javelin

Helpful powerup

Fairly common (40% c/l)

Affects Envelope

To use: Move with mouse, click mouse button to activate (or wait for a few seconds for Automatic use)

Effect: A [J] powerup temporarily enables your envelope to shoot a powerful laser beam once. This beam is sure to destroy everything in its path, however, it will only affect once column of bricks at a time. Therefore, this means that any other Envelope powerup will be kept.

Useful Situations: It destroys everything, so therefore you should aim it at molecules, ferrous conglomerates, sentinels, etc. It will also conviniently provide a small channel for the ball to reach the top of the screen with. Also, whilst it destroys minerals, they are actually added to your overall mineral count.

Beware of: It will go off by itself, if not manually used, so aim it carefully.

Additional Notes: An automatic javelin powerup (called 'auto-javelin') will be obtianed when the ball has gone a long time without destroying any normal bricks. The time it takes for the auto-javelin to start to build up (you can see this happening buy the little circle where your cursor is) depends on how many normal bricks you have left in the level. (The smaller the number of bricks, the quicker it starts to build up.) The auto-javelin behaves just like a normal javelin.

 

 

 

Kamikaze

Helpful powerup

Extremely rare (.5% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic use

Effect: This powerup is considered by many players to be the most useful powerup in the game. The ball is automatically aimed at any normal bricks, destroying them without requiring any effort from the player.

Useful Situations: When there are lots of normal bricks, or when you have very few lives left, a [K] poweup can come in handy as it destroys the bricks with minimum risk.

Beware of: As the ball is only aimed at normal bricks, it can get trapped if there is a wall of unbreakable bricks. Also, as the ball is slightly out of control, it is possible that it could go off the screen when destroying bricks near the bottom of the level.

Additional Notes: Levels with this powerup are marked on maps.

 

 

 

Laser

Helpful Powerup

Rare (15% c/l)

Affects Envelope

To use: Click the mouse button

Effect: Shoots a laser from each end of the envelope, destroying a brick above it. Does not destroy steel bricks, deals regular damage to others, e.g. ferrous conglomerates. Needs to charge up and so you cannot fire constantly.

Useful Situations: Anytime really =)

Beware of: Laser beams will set off sentinels without destroying them. Sometimes it's easy to get distracted by lasering a huge area and consequently forget to catch the ball!

 

 

 

Multiball

Helpful powerup

Very Common (50% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic

Effect: This powerup will split all balls on the playing area into two.

Useful Situations: Anything really if you want to get rid of bricks fast.

Beware of: Can be difficult if many balls going very very fast. Also basically useless if collected while the ball is on the way down, as you're bound to lose one in the split. Becomes more helpful the more [E] powerups you have collected.

 

 

 

New Ball

Helpful powerup

Common (40% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic

Effect: This powerup creates one new ball sitting on the envelope, ready for you to use.

Useful Situations: When you have a ball that is going really really fast. It's essentially as good as a safety because the new ball is just like getting a new life.

 

 

 

Opening

Helpful powerup

Rare (15% c/l)

Affects Bricks

To use: Automatic

Effect: This powerup "opens" a gap in the middle of the playing field (and knocks the bricks towards the edges off)

Helpful Situations: It's sometimes possible to trap your ball with this and then use the time to charge up loads of javelins and end the level that way. Aside from that it's always nice to remove up to 6 columns from the game in one powerup.

Beware of: You will not receive the benefits from any mineral bricks, ? bricks etc that get pushed off the screen with this.

 

 

 

Provision

Helpful powerup

Very Rare (1.2% c/l [This is an exact number extracted from the Minemap])

Affects Envelope

To use: Automatic

Effect: Completely refills your missile capacity

Useful Situations: When you're low on missiles. Levels with this powerup are marked on maps for if you are far from a merchant but in need of a missile refill.

Beware of: Not anything really, except if you see it falling and you have lots of missiles you may as well try and use a few before getting it. Not worth going for if you have lots of missiles and good powerups in play.

 

 

 

Quasar

Helpful powerup

Rare (15% c/l)

Affects Bricks

To use: Automatic

Effect: This powerup creates a black hole (or a quasar, whatever you want to call it) in the middle of the screen and will "suck" the surrounding bricks into it, destroying them.

Useful Situations: When you have lots of bricks!

Things to beware of: Do NOT let ? Bricks or Minerals get sucked in, because you will not get the benefits.

Additional Notes: A Quasar Capsule can be bought from Merchants.

 

 

 

Regeneration

Helpful powerup

Rare (10% c/l)

Affects Envelope

To use: Click the mouse button

Effect:  This powerup causes your envelope to generate a new ball each time the red bar goes across the envelope.  Basicly, a permanent [N] powerup as long as you don't lose all of your balls.

Useful Situations:  When ever you could use multiple balls.  So, basically it's always useful.

Beware of:  The extra balls hitting any sentinels and/or guardians, which would make the level harder.

 

 

 

Safety

Helpful powerup

Rare (15% c/l)

Affects Envelope

To use: Simply grab it.

Effect: Adds an extra life.

Useful Situations: If you don't have many extra lives or have lost almost all of yours on a level, this can help you avoid losing.

Beware of: If you have many useful powerups in play (Extensions, ball powerups, etc) It is best to stay on the envelope you're on and don't waste your current life on trying to get the Safety. Otherwise you will lose your powerups.

 

 

 

Transformation

Helpful powerup

Rare (15% c/l)

Affects Envelope

To use: Hold down the mouse button. Only works if there are special bricks on the level.

Effect: Transforms abnormal bricks into regular bricks (Such as conglomerates, metal blocks, etc). Also collects any minerals on the stage.

Useful Situations: If the level you are on has many conglomerates or metal bricks that are a pain, this will take care of them for you.

Beware of: When using transformation, huge beams come out of your envelope and hit the brick. This will block your sight of the ball, so be careful when using it. Do not use on ? bricks either as you will lose the item inside.

 

U Powerup

Currently nonexistant.

 

 

 

Volt

Helpful powerup

Uncommon (25% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic

Effect: Your ball becomes yellow and has sparks coming off of it. Any blocks nearby the ball will be electricuted. After enough electricution, the block will be destroyed.

Additional Notes: A Volt Capsule can be bought from Merchants. A Volt Ball will instantly be destroyed if a death brick is in its electricution radius (the death brick won't even be destroyed). However, a volt ball will not set off sentinels or other special effect bricks, such as Jumpers. The Jumpers' "health" will be reduced and the triangles will turn red, but the jump effect will not be triggered. A Volt Ball can pass backwards through the one-way bricks and can instantly destroy a regenerator brick - passing straight through it (provided it has been fully electricuted before).

Useful Situations: When you have lot of sentinels in level, because it can not activate them by any mean. But seriously, when is it useless?

Beware of: When there's a death brick () in the level, the ball will be destroyed as soon as the sparks touch the death brick. (The death brick won't be destroyed.)

 

 

Whisky

Unhelpful powerup

Rare (10% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic

Effect: Your ball becomes yellow-ish and leaves trails of bubbles. Your ball's path wiggles and curves as if it was drunk.

Useful Situations: Seriously... when is this useful?

Beware of: Whisky-Drunk Drilling Balls

 

 

 

Xanax

Helpful powerup

Somewhat rare (20% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic

Effect: Your ball is slowed down.

Useful Situations: When you want the ball to slow down

Beware of: Right at the start if you get this, the ball will go extremely slow...

 

 

 

Yoyo

Unhelpful Powerup

Rare (10% c/l) 

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic

Effect: When your ball(s) are near the paddle, they slow down, and the farther away from the paddle they get, the faster they go.

Useful Situations: With a super-fast ball, use [Y] and then if you use a capsule when the ball is near your paddle, it will be slow.

Beware of: If you use a pre-bought capsule when the ball is far from your paddle, it will be very fast.

 

 

 

Zeal

Unhelpful powerup

Somewhat rare (20% c/l)

Affects Ball

To use: Automatic

Effect: Your ball is speed up.

Useful Situations: When the ball is going infurinatingly slow

Beware of: Do NOT get if the ball is already going fast. No one wants a streak of light or a small comet as a playing ball.