| “ | Just hold [attack] to charge and Bomb Burst out of here! C'mon! Hurry up! | ” |
The Bomb Burst (also known as burst, burst jump and bomb jump) is a special mobility action and attack of Plague Knight introduced for the first time in Plague of Shadows. With it, Plague Knight can propel himself forward and upward much higher than his normal jumps.
Gameplay[]
Like the Charge Handle, simply holding down the [ATTACK] button will charge the Burst, then by releasing it at the right time Plague Knight will receive an extra boost to his jump.
If Plague Knight is moving left or right when performing the Bomb Burst he will be propelled in that direction. If no direction is held he will simply be thrown higher. Not only that, the explosion and the following effects of the Bomb Burst will damage nearby enemies (with the default and float versions of the ability), with the Feat Bomb Jump Blitz based entirely around this ability.
The Bomb Burst can even be charged when talking to NPCs or during a mid-screen transition. Furthermore there is a small window after the release of a Bomb Burst in which a new one can be charged without the need to throw additional Bombs, making it possible for those skilled enough to chain multiple Bursts together.
By using a neutral Double Jump, Plague Knight halts all momentum from the Bomb Burst. Alternatively, he can throw bombs in midair to slow himself, a technique known as the Bomb Brake.
Like Bombs, Bomb Bursts can be customized with new ones bought from Mona and Percy at the Potionarium, changing some of its properties.
| Burst | Cost | Research | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Burst | N/A | N/A | Explode all around you and launch through the air! |
| Float Burst |  2500
|
None | Float slowly to the ground. Press down to fall again. |
| Bullet Burst | 3500
|
1 | Fires a blast in front of you when launching. |
| Frost Burst | 3500
|
2 | Launch through the air while dropping ice shards below. |
| Spin Burst | 4000
|
3 | Cannonball through enemies and cut them all down! |
Notably, two Plague Minions are seen performing a Bomb Burst at the beginning of the Plains in the Plague of Shadows campaign, offering a quick tutorial.
Of all the Cloaks that Plague Knight can equip, the Goo Garment directly modify how the Bomb Burst works, as not only it alters the explosion's animation but it also enables Plague Knight to bounce off walls hit during the lunge caused by a Burst. The Treasure Trappings instead create a magnet-like effect that attracts loot during the charging process.
The Bomb Burst is also obtainable as a Charge for Custom Knight. It works exactly the same as Plague Knight's Basic Burst.
In Shovel Knight Showdown, not only Plague Knight still makes use of the technique to soar across the battlefield, but also Mona herself is able to perform a slight variation of the Bomb Burst, called Burst Bomb, which not only propels her forward but also leaves a midair bomb that explodes after a few seconds.
While initially absent from the base game, one of the Pocket Dungeon Puzzler's Pack's Quandary challenges at Castle Quandary for Plague Knight, aptly named Bomb Burst, marks the return of the Bomb Burst ability for the alchemist, which can then be switched between his main ability at the Castle or the Camp, once unlocked. The Bomb Burst allows Plague Knight to jump all over the dungeon, making him able to, if he has a landing space available, to move with much more freedom; furthermore, if Potions have been stored, then they can be used as explosive charges for the Burst, doing a 3x3 explosion radius dealing 3 damage points to anything caught in it, with up to 5 potions being able to be stored. However, Turkeys do not work, and will not be collected as charges. Like other explosions, the Bomb Burst is affected by the Too Big Bomb Relic, making the blast double its size.
Trivia[]
- The Bomb Burst, alongside Plague Knight's small Double Jump, is one of the four core movement mechanics around which the level design specific for the campaign it appears in is built upon, in this case Plague of Shadows. The others are the Shovel Drop, the Dash Slash, and the Shoulder Bash.