Dark Gem

Not to be confused with Dark Crystal.

Dark Gem
First appearance	Spyro: A Hero's Tail (2004)
Location(s)	Throughout the Dragon Kingdom, Lost Cities, Icy Wilderness and Volcanic Isle
Effect	Corrupts surrounding areas

“Look at this Dark Gem, it's pulsating with evilness. Still it would look nice on an engagement ring, don't you think, Spyro?”

– Ember

Dark Gems are sinister, purple gemstones that only appear in Spyro: A Hero's Tail. They represent part of the evil side by negatively affecting the environment and fueling Red's evil power. Potent little balls of wickedness, the Dark Gems suck out the light and goodness from the world, contorting Dragon Realms into a putrid, scary den just right for Red's domination.

Location and uses

Dark Gems are crucial in progressing through the game, as destroying them allows Spyro to advance further through the world. Each world has 10 Dark Gems that are required to access the boss of that world and progress to the next. Through this process, you can destroy a total of 40 Dark Gems in the game.

The Dark Gems are scattered across the world by Red's minions. They are always spurting with small bolts of electricity and surrounded by a dark patch of ground with some Dark Vines coming out of it, purple goolike substance, and a sinister atmosphere around it. These features are also the result of the environment's life being sucked out by the Dark Gems. They are larger versions of Dark Shards, but unlike Dark Shards, Dark Gems don't give any gems (which are used to buy items at Moneybags' store) when they are destroyed.

Two ways the Dark Gems can be destroyed is by doing Spyro's Horn Dive, which you learn by talking to the first Dragon Elder, Tomas, in the Dragon Village, or using Hunter's Stomp Kick.

Gallery

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  Artwork
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  Gnorcs each holding a Dark Gem in the intro