Fire Shield

The Fire Shield or Flame Shield is a power-up first introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It is a variant of the standard Shield, and like most other items is found inside monitors during gameplay. In addition to serving as a one-hit barrier against damage / life loss, the Fire Shield makes its lucky possessor invulnerable to fire-based attacks, allowing them to stroll across boiling lava and take flamethrowers to the face with a complete absence of concern.

While all variants of this shield prevent fire damage, its initial incarnation in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (and, by extension, Sonic & Knuckles and Sonic 3 & Knuckles) is lost if the character goes underwater; and when used by Sonic replaces his Insta-shield double-jump move with a rapid horizontal fireball attack, allowing him to blast forwards at a high speed. Sonic 3D had a Fire Shield, but no water to lose it in and no double-jump attack for it. In Shadow the Hedgehog, the Fire Shield causes minor damage to any enemy that pierces it.

Other variants of the basic shield include the Lightning Shield, Water Shield, and Gold Shield.

An item similar to the Fire Shield appears in the 2010 game Sonic Colours, in the form of the red Wisp.

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  Fire Shield monitor (to Sonic's left) in Sonic & Knuckles

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  Active Fire Shield in Sonic the Hedgehog 3

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  Allowing Sonic to walk on lava in Sonic 3D