The Yellow Drill (イエロー・ドリル Ierō doriru?), also known as the Drill form, is a transformation for multiple users which first appeared in Sonic Colors. It a Color Power gained by absorbing a Yellow Wisp and its Hyper-go-on, which turns the user into a piercing drill.
Appearance
When using the Yellow Drill, the user turns into a yellow spiral drill. In Sonic's case, his entire body turns into a large version of his own head with no facial except his eyes. which have lost their pupils and have turned pale yellow, and his ears, which have lost their ear canals. He also gains a large, jagged drill-like appendage on the front of his face.
Powers and abilities
As the Yellow Drill, the user can burrow and tunnel underground at remarkable high speeds, and can even accelerate to dig even faster. The Yellow Drill's burrowing abilities can also be applied when underwater, allowing the user to move through water like a living torpedo. Curiously, the user does not need air to breathe air as the Yellow Drill.
In their drilling state, the user can apply enough force to drill through durable substances, such as robot armor and reinforced crates that even Sonic cannot break normally (with some effort), though not through enforced metal and bedrock.
The Yellow Drill's only known weakness is that it can only be used for a few seconds and requires more Hyper-go-on from Yellow Wisps to be maintained. Also, reverting back to normal while underground can prove fatal, as it would cause the user to be buried alive.
Gameplay
In gameplay, the player can only use the Yellow Drill while in possession of a Yellow Wisp. Transforming into the Yellow Drill will cause the respective games' Wisp Gauge to start depleting, and once it runs out, the user will revert back to normal. To extend its duration, the player has to collect more Yellow Wisps.
If the player is in an area not suited for the Yellow Drill, the Yellow Wisp will go dormant (which is illustrated by its icon sleeping), thus preventing the player from becoming the Yellow Drill.
In gameplay, the Yellow Drill allows the player to traverse underground as either the only means of proceeding with the level or take alternate pathways. To deploy the Yellow Drill, the player must stand on or next to soft ground or underwater. When activated, the Yellow Drill moves forward on his own. The player can make the Yellow Drill move faster but doing so will cause the Wisp Gauge to deplete faster. While underwater/underground, the Yellow Drill can use Underground Pipes to pass between closed-off areas. Colliding with walls however, will cause the Yellow Drill to briefly ricochet off it. Also, if the player's Wisp Gauge run out while drilling underground, the playable character will instantly die.
Game appearances
Sonic Colors
Wii
In the Wii version of Sonic Colors, the Yellow Drill can first be used in Sweet Mountain Act 1. However, the Yellow Drill can only be activated in the 2D side-scrolling sections of the Acts. After utilizing a Yellow Drill for a few moments, the player will be awarded with 4,000 Color Bonus points each second the Yellow Drill is active. Emerging from underground/underwater as the Yellow Drill however, will instantly cause Sonic to revert back to normal, regardless of the Wisp Gauge's remaining energy.
As the Yellow Drill, the player cannot lose a life due to damage, even if the player has no Rings at all, though Sonic can still lose Rings due to damage. To use the Yellow Drill in gameplay, the player has the following controls:
| Wii Remote with Nunchunk | Wii Remote Sideways | Classic Style | GameCube Controller | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activate Yellow Drill | Shake Wii Remote | Shake Wii Remote | 
|
|
| Move | Control Stick | 
|
L Stick | Control Stick |
| Speed Up | 
|
|
b Button | 
|
In the 2 Player mode in Eggman's Sonic Simulator, two players are able to combine the Yellow Drill transformation with other Color Powers, by activating the Yellow Drill and the other Color Power at the same time when they are within a certain distance, to create a new Color Power:
- Yellow Drill + Yellow Drill: Two Yellow Drills that steer cooperatively, spiraling around one another with magnified power, while attracting Rings.
- Yellow Drill + Cyan Laser: A Yellow Drill that can turn into a Cyan Laser before the Color Power ends (is only used underwater).
- Yellow Drill + Green Hover: A Yellow Drill that can drill through air as well as it can in water, while attracting nearby Rings.
- Yellow Drill + Orange Rocket: A Yellow Drill that can rocket upward. This Color Power ends once above ground.
Nintendo DS
In the Nintendo DS version of Sonic Colors, the Yellow Drill is the third Color Power introduced in the game (not including the White Wisps), and is unlocked on Planet Wisp. As the Yellow Drill, the player cannot lose a life due to damage, even if the player has no Rings at all, though Sonic can still lose Rings due to damage. Also, emerging from underground/underwater as the Yellow Drill will instantly cause Sonic to revert back to normal, regardless of the Boost Gauge's size.
In gameplay, the Yellow Drill is activated by pressing 
and its movements can be controlled with control pad. To accelerate as the Yellow Drill, the player has to press 
/
//
Sonic Lost World
In the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World, the Yellow Drill is first used in Desert Ruins Zone 1. In this game, the Yellow Drill can dive above ground without causing Sonic to revert back to normal, allowing the player to jump between sections of diggable ground, though landing on a solid surface will revert Sonic back to normal.
The player can transform into the Yellow Drill by tapping the icon of the Yellow Wisp on the top right corner of the Wii U GamePad screen. In underground sections, the player can either slide the finger across the Wii U GamePad screen or use the Left Stick to navigate the Yellow Drill. In underwater sections though, the player must either touch in the direction they want to go on the Wii U GamePad screen or use the Left Stick to navigate the Yellow Drill, and quickly touching twice or pressing the 
will toggle the Yellow Drill's depth.
Sonic Runners
In Sonic Runners, the Yellow Drill is an Equippable Item which the player can use in the stages. This game also marks the first time the Yellow Drill has been used by someone else besides Sonic. When during the Yellow Drill in this game, it boosts item value and allows the player to make jumps out of the ground while burrowing by tapping the screen.
Jingles
Trivia
- In Sonic Colors, the Yellow Drill can be used to deal extra damage against Captain Jelly and Admiral Jelly (Wii version) and the Drillinator (DS version).
- In Sonic Lost World, it can be used to damage Master Zik (3DS version).
- As the Yellow Drill, Sonic often encounters Moles and Burrobots.
- As the Yellow Drill, Sonic controls exactly like NiGHTS does while speeding up.
- Originally, the Yellow Drill could only be controlled with the touchpad controls in Sonic Lost World. However, a patch was later released which let players control it with the analog stick and buttons too.
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