Charaboms only appear in the Normal Game. Bomberman can equip one Charabom at a time, during which Bomberman will have access to that Charabom's abilities. At the same time, this Charabom will gain stats and levels whenever Bomberman collects the various Charabom Feed capsules. If a Charabom's stat is displayed in red, it is maxed out and cannot be improved further. Each Charabom has set limits to their stats.
Regular Charaboms
Apart from Andlar, which is found in 1-1 uncontested, you must find and defeat a Charabom in a Charabom Battle in order to gain the use of new Charaboms. This is where the Charabom's stats and elemental type are put to use.
Merged Charaboms
Certain portals allow for the creation of new Charaboms by merging two other Charaboms you possess. Each portal will need two specific Charaboms, and both of the component Charaboms must already be in your possession for the merge to work. The resulting merged Charabom will have the sum of each component Charabom's stats (up to their predetermined maximum), both of the component attributes, as well as a combined ability based on the component Charaboms' abilities.
- Note*: Don't worry about merging and losing the Charaboms that you used to merge, you will still have them!
Charabom Battles
Apart from Andlar and Merged Charaboms, to win any new Charabom, you must defeat it in battle using one of your Charaboms. The Charabom Battle consists of up to three rounds. Before the battle, you must decide what you want your charabom to do in each round. First, a description of the icons:
- The Sword means a physical attack. This relies mainly on the Charabom's Attack rating vs. the opponent's Defense and Speed ratings.
- The Star means a special attack. This is an elemental move that not only pits the Charabom's Special rating vs. the opponent's Defense and Speed ratings, but can also play the elemental card. Each normal Charabom is of a specific element type which means it is strong against a certain element and weak against another. A special attack does double damage against its strength and only half damage against its weakness. The elemental progression is as follows:
- Water → Fire → Earth → Electric
- An element is strong against the element to its right and weak against the one to its left, and the list is a loop, so Electric is strong against Water (and Water is weak against Electric) as well. Merged Charaboms have two elements, so the strength/weakness calculation is split 50/50 between each element.
- The Shield means a defense. If the opponent's turn is an attack or special attack, the Charabom will be better equipped to deflect the blow or at least reduce the damage.
From these possible moves (which must each be done exactly once per round) come the six possible strategies you can use for each round. You can only use any strategy once during the battle, and you must choose all three before the battle begins, so you sometimes have to think carefully about not just your choice of Charabom but also about which strategies to use.
- Raid/Guard: Attack, Defend, Special
- First Move: Attack, Special, Defend
- Derfense: Defend, Attack, Special
- Supremacy: Defend, Special, Attack
- Get Wild!: Special, Attack, Defend
- Skillfully: Special, Defend, Attack
Once you decide on your Charabom and strategies, the battle begins, and your Charaboms will use the moves you prescribed against the opposing Charabom. First Charabom to lose all its Hit Points loses. If your Charabom defeats the opposing Charabom, that Charabom joins you.