Light Gem

The Light Gems are a type of gem and one of the main collectible items in Spyro: A Hero's Tail. There are a total of 100 for Spyro to collect, and a minimum number of them are required to access the Professor's gadgets, which are necessary for accessing certain areas and unlocking new areas. Most Light Gems are hidden or out-of-reach, and some are a reward for completing a minigame.

Three gadgets can be unlocked by having at least a certain number of Light Gems: 8 are needed to activate the Ball Gadget, 24 are needed to unlock the Invincibility power-up, and 40 are needed to unlock the Supercharge powerup.

There are four hidden areas, each in a different realm, that are locked behind a gate requiring at least a certain number of Light Gems to open. The requirements include: at least 20 Light Gems to access Coastal Remains' hidden area, 55 to enter Dark Mine's hidden area, 70 to enter Dragonfly Falls's hidden area, and 95 to enter Frostbite Village's hidden area.

While they are not required to complete the main game, Light Gems are one of the prerequisites for achieving 100% completion.