While most hardcore Skylanders fans already understand the true compatibility of LightCore figures, this is still something I get questions about every week. So today I hope to clear up all the mysteries.
The issue is that, according to the packaging, no LightCore figures are compatible with previous games. This is only partially true, but Activision would rather be safe than sorry. So it was a nice little surprise when we found out they were partially compatible.
The rule is actually quite simple.
If the base character existed in a previous game, you will be able to use their LightCore figure in the previous game. (However, the LightCore ability of a figure will not work in previous games.)
If you’re still confused, take a look at the charts below. Spyro’s Adventure offers very limited use of LightCore figures, but there is still some compatibility.
| Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Playable? | LightCore Ability? |
| Bumble Blast | No | No |
| Chill | No | No |
| Countdown | No | No |
| Drobot | Yes | No |
| Eruptor | Yes | No |
| Flashwing | No | No |
| Grim Creeper | No | No |
| Hex | Yes | No |
| Jet-Vac | No | No |
| Pop Fizz | No | No |
| Prism Break | Yes | No |
| Shroomboom | No | No |
| Smolderdash | No | No |
| Star Strike | No | No |
| Warnado | Yes | No |
| Wham-Shell | Yes | No |
Skylanders Giants will naturally allow the 8 LightCore figures released with the game full functionality. In addition, a few of the LightCores released with SWAP Force have limited compatibility.
| Skylanders Giants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Playable? | LightCore Ability? |
| Bumble Blast | No | No |
| Chill | Yes | Yes |
| Countdown | No | No |
| Drobot | Yes | Yes |
| Eruptor | Yes | Yes |
| Flashwing | Yes | No |
| Grim Creeper | No | No |
| Hex | Yes | Yes |
| Jet-Vac | Yes | Yes |
| Pop Fizz | Yes | Yes |
| Prism Break | Yes | Yes |
| Shroomboom | Yes | Yes |
| Smolderdash | No | No |
| Star Strike | No | No |
| Warnado | Yes | No |
| Wham-Shell | Yes | No |
Finally, as I have stated before, all figures created at this point are compatible with SWAP Force. There should be no questions here.
| Skylanders SWAP Force | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Playable? | LightCore Ability? |
| Bumble Blast | Yes | Yes |
| Chill | Yes | Yes |
| Countdown | Yes | Yes |
| Drobot | Yes | Yes |
| Eruptor | Yes | Yes |
| Flashwing | Yes | Yes |
| Grim Creeper | Yes | Yes |
| Hex | Yes | Yes |
| Jet-Vac | Yes | Yes |
| Pop Fizz | Yes | Yes |
| Prism Break | Yes | Yes |
| Shroomboom | Yes | Yes |
| Smolderdash | Yes | Yes |
| Star Strike | Yes | Yes |
| Warnado | Yes | Yes |
| Wham-Shell | Yes | Yes |
I hope this helps you gain some clarity. Please share this with anyone new to Skylanders or anyone you meet who has questions about the LightCore Skylanders.
What are your thoughts on the LightCore characters?
I buy the lightcore figures for my collection I have to have them. I don’t mind them if they are new to the game and are lightcore. What I don’t like is when they are a reposed figure. They don’t get anything besides the flash bomb effect. No Wow Pows or anything 🙁
Generally not a fan unless I either really like the character and want to get all their versions or that particular Lightcore figure looks really good. My son likes Eruptor so we’ve got three of him (so far!). Prism Break is easily the best looking Lightcore figure, so we have him also. The only other Lightcore we have is Hex, because, well, we had no choice. 😉 I do plan on getting LC Star Strike and Smolderdash too, because I love those characters, but other than that, none of the others are on my list, unless I suddenly get a lot of extra money to spend.
I’m new to Skylanders, my oldest son is 5 and I couldn’t resist the swap force temptation. Id like to collect most if not all characters but not sure if its worth getting the lightcore figures that have a normal version. I tried a couple on an in-store display and there doesn’t appear to be much ‘light’. Are there any benefits to them and I assume they look different on screen to their normal version. Thanks in advance 🙂
Put an lightcore Skylander on your Portal and all opponent die… No different?
except from that “dying thing” it works exactly (and i mean, you can play with them, level them up, and use them to open elemental gates as normal skylanders does)