A group of Shadows from Blue Dragon Plus
Shadows are magical powers that manifest the wielder's shadow into powerful corporeal creatures. Shadows are referenced throughout Blue Dragon as "magic power" or just as shadows. People who wield these shadows are called Shadow Wielders.
Video Games[]
Shadows are a form of power used by Ancients from their times that creates Soul Light, the power of emotion which then generate a shadow. After most of the shadows were eliminated by Deathroy, they never appeared again until Nene revealed himself. In the game's events, Nene used five parts of his tainted soul as Light Spheres for consumption to obtain fighting and growing power, and curing his illness. He succeded in obtaining four of his scattered Light Spheres but Shu and his friends managed to make the shadows they obtained their own. Zola, the first among the people who obtained a shadow had already expelled Nene's power a long time ago and made Killer Bat her own.
In Blue Dragon Plus, multiple characters have obtained or gained Shadows during their quest to destroy the Balaur, especially enemies in the mysterious cube including machines. By Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow, nearly all lifeforms gained shadows becoming a part of their lives. However, the appearance of the Egg of Light, absorbed the people's shadows. Luckily for the Hero, they were able to keep their shadow and was able to share it in different forms with the other characters.
Shadows are differentiated by their color, blue shadows (with the light attribute in the Blue Dragon TCG) are used by characters that use it for good. Purplish-red shadows (with the dark attribute in the Blue Dragon TCG) are used by characters who use them for evil purposes.
Anime[]
In the anime, only the Seven Soldiers of Light and their descendants are able to wield true shadows, while most characters wield artificial shadows. These shadows have their own individual character and personalities of their own, compared to the games where shadows are just extensions of the wielder. It is revealed that shadows were once beings from the darkness until they were merged into beings from the light as shadows. Shadows in the anime have more colours than the blue and red from the games.
Artificial Shadows[]
Through special machines in Gran Kingdom, artificial shadows are able to be created, while these shadows have personalities similar to real shadows, they are not as powerful and lack some of the abilities real shadows have (e.g. merging with their wielder).
False Shadows[]
As seen with Zola and Killer Bat, Shadows with powers similar to real shadows but lack personalities exist after the wielder had absorbed some form of power (for example darkness) and is released in the form as one's own inner will.
Other Shadows[]
From the darkness, shadow-like creatures appear and can absorb lifeforms just through touch. Investiture Beings can use their dragon forms in the form of shadows and with some items like a Dragon Scale shadows as powerful as real ones can form from a person.
Abilities[]
Shadows are acquired by Shu and his friends in Blue Dragon by swallowing light orbs which were actually Nene's soul. These granted them the power of Shadows. Each Shadow is different and manifests itself according to its user.
Shadows grant their wielders immense strength, such as the ability to cast spells or attack with strength beyond that of a normal warrior. They also allow their users to fly mechats and operate ancient machines by using their immense power. Shadow Wielders can also use other classes onto their shadows, or alternatively use sealed shadows or shadows shared with another wielder to use other classes.
However, shadows can become unstable if the bond between it and its wielder are unbalanced. If the wielder keeps its shadow out too long or if the shadow is too powerful, the wielder will get swallowed by the shadow. The only controllable solutions are to either release the shadow's full power or let the wielder be destroyed.
Once Shu and his friends stop relying on Nene's soul, their Shadows can also use extremely powerful attacks, known as Corporeal attacks. During this phase, a Shadow temporarily becomes a real creature. This attack is more powerful than any other attack used by Shadows. Corporeal attacks also convert this damage into MP for their wielder. Shadows can also fuse with others as shown on Chimera as well as their own Shadow Wielders once their soul light has been honed to the limit.
In the anime, shadows were passed down for generations and awaken when their current owner is in a dire situation. Shu, Kluke, Jiro, Marumaro and Bouquet master the ability to call their respective shadows forth in short time. Eventually, it was revealed Zola was manipulating events behind the scenes as she noticed the kids' shadows as the genuine shadows from real time.
Classes[]
Blue Dragon[]
Shadows have various classes in Blue Dragon and can easily switch between them.
| Class | Description |
|---|---|
| Sword Master | Proficient with physical attacks combined with the power and element of a learned spell on any one enemy. This class' primary strengths are attack, magic attack and defense. This is the Blue Dragon's default class. |
| White Magic User | Any Shadow can use white magic spells purchased up until this point. Most spells in this category are healing and recovery spells. The main strengths of this class are magic defense and HP. This is the Minotaur's default class. |
| Black Magic User | Any Shadow can use black magic spells purchased up until this point. All spells in this category involve attacking enemies with powerful spells. The main strengths of this class are speed, magic attack and MP. This is the Phoenix's default class. |
| Barrier Magic User | Any Shadow can use any barrier magic spells purchased up until this point. Most spells in this category are spells used to boost defensive capabilities. The main strengths of this class are and HP, magic defense and MP. |
| Support Magic User | Any Shadow can use any support magic spells purchased up until this point. All spells in this category involve speeding up or slowing down allies and enemies. The main strengths of this class are attack, defense and speed. |
| Guardian | Shadows are sturdy defenders that uses defense skills like Cover to stop allies from being attacked. Mainly used for supporting and helping magic users. The main strengths of this class are defense and HP. |
| Monk | A powerful fighter that can Meditate to heal itself free of charge and to charge up their attacks to deal more damage, Monks are an important component in a balanced or physical team. The main strengths of this class are attack and HP. This is the Saber Tiger's default class. |
| Assassin | A speedy but delicate fighter, Assassins are powerful and have excellent profit skills such as Negotiate and Security. They can also steal items from enemies. The main strengths of this class are attack and speed. This is the Killer Bat's default class. |
Blue Dragon Plus[]
| Class | Shadow | Description | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword Master | Blue Dragon | A fighting class. Uses magic attacks that attack in a straight line. Sword spells can only be enhanced with the Dragon Sword ability. | Flare Sword, Water Sword, Wind Sword, Ground Sword, Shine Sword, Shadow Sword, Dragon Sword, Blue Dragon |
| White Magic User | Minotaur | A healing class. Uses healing and one attack spell with circular spells. Spells can be charged with the White Charge ability. | Heal, Cure, Regenerate, Shine, Revive, White Charge, Moon, Minotaur |
| Black Magic User | Phoenix | A fighting class. Uses magic attacks in a circle. Spells can be charged with the Black Charge ability. | Flare, Water, Wind, Ground, Shadow, Black Charge, Star, Phoenix |
| Monk | Sabre Tiger | A fighting class. Uses magic attacks that lock onto enemies ahead of the user. Has one healing spell to heal the user. | Counterattack, Ground Blow, Meditation, Charge, Water Blow, Fangs, Rampage, Saber-Tooth |
| Assassin | Killer Bat | An attack class that focuses more on stealing and movement. | Wind Claw, Scout, Utsusemi, Snatch, Wind Rapier, Stealth, Big Leap, Killer Bat |
| Guardian | Kirin | A support class. Uses magic spells to increase the defence of the user and allies. | Iron Wall, Warrior's Stand, Shield, Parry, Leap, Rush, Eternal Battle, Kirin |
| Sniper | Jack O'Lantern | An attack class. Uses magic snipes to attack ahead in a straight line. | Snipe, Taunting Snipe, Magic Snipe, Absorb Round, Magic Absorb, Catapult, Mecha Sniper, Jack o' Lantern |
| Forger | Rafflesia | A support class. Uses magic spells to increase the attack of the user and allies. | Beef Up, Knock Back, Strength, HP Up, Strength Up, Parts Drop, Immunity, Rafflesia |
| Support | Kraken | A support class. Uses magic spells to increase the magic power and speed of allies. | Quick, Focus, Magic, Magical Mind, Accessory Drop, Long Effect, Double Cast, Kraken |
| Bind | Cerberus | An attack class. Uses magic attacks in a trident shape to cause damage and inflict status effects on enemies. | Poison, Sleep, Paralyze, Panic, Movement Bind, Attack Bind, Binding Chain, Cerberus |
| Death | Cat Genie | An attack class. Uses magic attacks in a circle shape to cause damage and inflict status effects on enemies. | Speed Killer, Power Killer, Defense Killer, Magic Killer, Ghost Killer, Beast Killer, One Hit Wonder, Cat Genie |
| Barrier | Tarantula | A support class. Uses magic spells to increase the magic defence of the user and allies. | Mystic Wall, Magical Ward, Shell, Reflecta, Bubble Barrier, Bari-Barrier, Force Guard, Tarantula |
| Item | Pegasus | A support class. Uses magic to increase the use and area of effect of items. | Warp to a Shop, Double Item, Item effect Up, Treasure Hunter, Item Spread, Auto Heal Item, Eternal Engine, Pegasus |
| Spread | Monster Poo | An attack class. Uses neutral attack spells and has passive effects to increase stats. | Air Blade, Physical Up, Magical Up, EXP Up, SP Up, Calamity Wall, Methane Bomb, Monster Poo |
| Charge | Balaur | A secret class. Uses mostly passive support skills. | Quick Charge, All Charge, Kronos |
| Divinity | Asura | A secret class. Uses strong but limited healing and support magic. | Angelic Shield, Null Magic, Moon Repair |
| Status | Chimera | A secret class. Uses strong but limited attacks. | Lucky Star, Anticipate, Star Attack |
| Star | Chimera | A non unlock-able class. The base class for Nene | Star, Chimera |
| Moon | Asura | A non unlock-able class. The base class for Himiko | Moon, Asura |
Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow[]
Known Shadows[]
Games and Anime[]
- Blue Dragon - Shu's shadow
- Minotaur - Jiro's shadow
- Phoenix - Kluke's shadow
- Saber Tiger - Marumaro's shadow
- Killer Bat - Zola's shadow
- Chimera - Nene and Deathroyshadow's shadow
Games Only[]
Plus[]
All characters can use another shadow if they're given that shadow's prism however their original shadows are listed below.
- Jack O'Lantern - General Szabo's shadow
- Rafflesia - Fushira's shadow
- Kirin - King Jibral's shadow
- Cerberus - Marumira's shadow
- Kraken - Marutora's shadow
- Cat Genie - Sahlia's shadow
- Tarantula - Toripo's shadow
- Pegasus - Yasato's shadow
- Monster Poo - Poo Snake's shadow
- Asura - Himiko's Shadow
- Balaur - Anyone
Awakened Shadow[]
All playable characters can use any kind of Shadow in this game, they are: The Hero/Heroine, Shu, Jiro, Kluke, Marumaro, Zola, King Jibral, Sahlia, Fushiro, Szabo, Toripo, Poo Snake and Yasato
Anime Only[]
- Hippopotamus - Bouquet's shadow
- Valkyrie - General Logi's artificial shadow
- Deucalion - Lemaire's shadow
- Euphoria - Gilliam's shadow
- Yarovit - Cynthia's shadow
- Alubujem - Andropov's shadow
- Isabel - Schneider's shadow
- Berserker - Lt. Dragnov's shadow
- Goblin - This shadow belonged to an unnamed Gran Kingdom general and another high-ranked Gran Kingdom member. (General unknown)
- Ogre - Dolsk's shadow
- Jikonda - Salinas' shadow
- Odin - General Logi's real shadow
- Zephyrus - Matilda's shadow
Trivia[]
- The Sun and Moon classes in Blue Dragon Plus are non unlock-able but the White Magic user and Black Magic user can use the Sun and Moon abilities respectively
- The Status and Divinity classes also use the Chimera and Asura shadows which otherwise cannot be seen post-game
Gallery[]
Blue Dragon[]
Blue Dragon Plus[]
Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow[]
Anime[]
Merchandise[]
