All Astro Bot abilities, ranked

The dynamic Astro Bot abilities first took their form in Astro’s Playroom, introducing unique gadgets throughout its joyous adventure. The collection has expanded with the newest entry, which features 16 powers to dabble with. We’re here to show you the best of the best by ranking all Astro Bot abilities.

Spoilers ahead for Astro Bot characters and abilities.

16. Chicken

Since some gadgets don’t have an official name, I will dub this one the Chicken to keep it nice and simple. Honestly, this gadget didn’t wow me like others, as it only launches the bot upwards. There’s not much you can hit above, so sorry, Mr. Cluckers. You’ll need to be at the last spot.

15. Blob Form

Ball physics in games have always been the bane of my existence, often leaving me frustrated with relatively hard-to-control mechanics. I experienced this once again with Astro Bot’s Blob Form, which quite frankly gave me a headache with its motion controls.

Despite this, I’m happy that Team ASOBI spotlighted a hidden PSP gem like LocoRoco rather than solely focusing on the big names. Plus, the Blob Form certainly packs a punch with its destructive roll.

14. Time Net

I was a big lover of the Ape Escape series during my youth, especially when Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater collaborated with the beloved series. Even though there hasn’t been a new entry for quite some time, you can at least experience some nostalgia with Astro Bot’s Time Net.

Unfortunately, I have to place this iconic net at the bottom of the list, given that it only has value on the Gorilla Nebula’s Apes on the Loose planet. It still holds up as a handy tool, giving you the power to capture wild apes and damage enemies.

13. Elephant

The elephant Astro Bot ability sucks up various substances to create unique platforms to jump on. While I’m not sure how these liquids can turn into flowery bases, they sure are pretty to look at with their vibrant designs. However, the gadget only truly shines on the Trunk of Funk planet, where you’ll use it to defeat a liquid boss. Outside of that, it doesn’t seem to appear in any other stages.

12. Penguin

Besides ball psychics, I’m not too fond of the infamous water levels, often teeming with some of the weirdest movements in gaming. Luckily, Astro Bot’s Penguin made it easy to slide into as you freely move around the sea. The animal’s dash also goes on for as long as you want, allowing you to move about quickly.

I just wish we could have seen the Penguin a bit more on the other planets, but I suppose one water level is enough.

11. Octo-Balloon

The Octo-Balloon is one of the first abilities you unlock, giving the Astro Bot temporary flight as a balloon. It’s the perfect gadget for those out-of-reach areas riddled with collectibles. But, since it’s temporary and slightly tricky to navigate, you can find yourself diving into the abyss unexpectedly.

I will say, though, that the Octo-Balloon comes in clutch during Astro Bot’s later stages. In particular, the gadget has the power to blow up certain enemies, deflating them as if they were a balloon.

10. Mouse

Shrunken characters consistently bring out a unique source of entertainment, changing the perspective of our “normal” sized worlds. Astro Bot’s Mouse gadget is an excellent example as you transform into this adorable creature.

What makes it even better is the fact that you can control when you want to become big or small. So, if you can’t access something like a cage, you can shrink down to enter, then proceed to get bigger to break it open. It makes it easier to pick up almost anything, big or small.

9. Barkster, the Bulldog Booster

Although Barkster shares the same qualities as the Chicken, the ability stands out more by launching the bot sideways. Not only can you hit multiple foes with this, but you can also go through breakable walls to enter enclosed areas.

I had the most fun with the Bulldog Booster during the Gorilla Nebula’s Mighty Chewy battle. I’ve always enjoyed games that diversify your strategies, which is precisely what happens in this fight. Specifically, you’ll need to use Barkster to go through various panels, bringing a challenge of timing your movements right.

8. Twin-Frog Gloves

The Twin-Frog Gloves make you feel like you are some big-shot boxer, especially since they overextend your punches. Everything can be hit at a distance with this bad boy, where you don’t need to worry about getting too close to the enemy.

In addition to this power, the Twin-Frog Gloves harness a slingshot and pulling ability. It’ll latch on to anything sticky, uncovering hidden finds and launching the Astro Bot to higher places.

7. Giant Sponge

Although the Astro Bot is known for its compact size, the Giant Sponge seeks to change that by taking it to new heights. With this ability, the bot significantly increases in size using water, just as any sponge would. You can basically think of this form as the complete opposite of the Mouse but with a few additional abilities.

Since the Giant Sponge consumes water, you can use it to spray slimy enemies. Plus, it’s just plain fun to wreak havoc as a giant beast, reminding me of the chaos in War of the Monsters.

6. Handy-D

The Astro Playroom’s Handy-D gadget makes its triumphant return to Astro Bot, introducing new powers along with it. Similar to its predecessor, you’ll gain the abilities of a monkey and climb around to your heart’s content.

Not only does it get you up high, but it also allows you to swing, throw objects, and cause the ground to shake. While it could’ve simply stuck with climbing, the other features make it one of the best abilities in Astro Bot.

5. Time Stopper

I’m a sucker for time powers, so I just had to put Astro Bot’s Time Stopper higher on this list. Any time I got the chance to wield it, exploration and battles felt like a breeze; almost stopping all enemy attacks. Even when foes are too close, you can activate the gadget to perform a handy quick dodge.

When it comes to exploring, you’ll use it to pause numerous fast-moving objects. That way, the Astro Bot can jump on top of them to get where you need to go. I also liked the overall look of the slow-down period in general; the world appears different this way as you move in time.

4. Toy Gun

As an Uncharted fan, I couldn’t be happier to see the Toy Gun’s comeback in Astro Bot. The weapon brought out one of the most iconic scenes in the series, as Nathan Drake unleashed foamy bullets on cardboard-like enemies. Astro Bot plays out the same way, but its targeting system proves way more efficient.

The precise aim system is why I’m putting this Astro Bot ability at the top of this ranking. It works well with both long and up close distances, eliminating hordes of enemies in a few seconds.

3. Bow and Arrow

Even if we already knew Aloy was in Astro Bot, I had no idea that she would get a whole immersive experience on the Machine Learning planet. In it, you’ll get to wield her legendary bow and arrow, featuring the Horizon series’ slow-paced aiming speed. It’s one of the many things I found helpful in Guerilla Games’ beloved franchise, and now it reigns supreme again with Astro Bot.

As someone who spent countless hours in Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, I would say Astro Bot’s rendition made me feel like I was playing them all over again. So, if you’ve been missing the series, you may want to hop into this game to fill that void.

2. Leviathan Axe

The first time I wielded the Astro Bot’s Leviathan Axe, I could already tell how overpowered it was. Like God of War, the weapon permits you to throw it at enemies, regardless of distance, and recall it back into your hands. I haven’t even played much of GoW, but after spending some time with this axe, I may need to jump in (I know, I know. I’m definitely late to the party).

In addition to the Leviathan Axe’s attacks and recall, it’s one of the most entertaining Astro Bot abilities. I would sometimes throw it around just for fun, often causing everything around me to crumble.

1. Muteki

The Muteki rolling ball form takes the top spot for Astro Bot abilities. Despite my previous hesitation with ball physics, this one puts those doubts to rest in light of its many versatile skills. First off, it has the best power in the game with its robust, invincible state. Just roll up in a ball, and viola, no enemies can hurt you.

On top of that, the Muteki lets you jump up high, knock out foes, and get into tight spaces. It also appears as a power-up multiple times, making it longer-lasting than the others. If you ever see this ability show up on a planet, you won’t have to worry much about those instant game-overs. Muteki is just that good, so make sure to take advantage of it while you can.