Editing Reflector (Fox)

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'''Reflector''' ({{ja|リフレクター|Rifurekutā}}, ''Reflector''), informally known as '''Shine''' (primarily its ''[[Melee]]'' incarnation), is [[Fox]]'s [[down special move]]. When used, Fox surrounds himself in a blue hexagonal energy field that [[reflect]]s any projectile that touches it. It can also be used to damage enemies in close proximity to Fox when activated. If this shield deflects too many projectiles in one use, or if its user attempts to reflect a projectile of sufficient power (such as a constantly reflected Red or Green Shell), it will shatter, like a normal shield, and leave the user stunned. In ''[[Brawl]]'', and later Smash games by extension, the Reflector does not shatter. Rather, the projectile will instead bypass it and hit Fox. It was revealed that the shield originates from a small device the user carries. How it is used and its effects depends on the user.

[[File:Reflection Fox Capsule Brawl.gif|thumb|250px|{{SSBB|Fox}} reflecting a thrown [[Capsule]] in ''Brawl''.]]

Fox's Reflector creates a blue hexagonal shield around himself. Any projectile that contacts the reflector will be reflected with a damage multiplier applied. Fox can keep the Reflector active for as long as he wants, and using it in midair slows his falling speed (this works by reducing his air speed and resetting his downwards acceleration).  

In ''Melee'', Fox can also [[Jump-canceling|jump out]] of his reflector, like with regular shields, which is what allows [[waveshine]] combos. The reflector multiplies a projectile's damage and knockback by 1.5 when reflected. If the projectile is reflected several times, his reflector may break, similar to a shield breaking, though this is not the case in future installments, where the projectile just passes through the reflector and damages Fox normally. When used near a foe during its first few frames, it deals 6% damage with a slightly downward-angled horizontal angle (being a semi-spike), set knockback and a [[Electric|sparkling]] effect. The Reflector is often used for [[shine spike]]s in [[edgeguard]]ing, which involve using the Reflector's damaging hitbox to knock recovering enemies downward. Due to the hitbox coming out instantly on frame 1, this makes it a very effective and unpredictable gimping tool. It is also extremely useful against bosses, considering as most of their attacks are projectiles. Fox's Reflector also grants him one frame of intangibility when used at the beginning; this was increased to four frames in ''Brawl''.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', the same Reflector sound is used. In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', the Reflector's sound effect was changed, and it was changed again in ''SSB4''.

While the reflector is active, Fox's [[falling speed]] is altered: Fox falls and accelerates more slowly; this is the reason that the [[Chillin dash]] works. In ''Brawl'', the move's ending lag was decreased, so Fox can effectively hover and stall in the air by repeatedly using his reflector. The slowed falling speed, mixed with the damaging aspect of the Reflector, can prevent Fox being juggled. Fox can also turn in midair when repeatedly activating the reflector. However, shine-spiking in ''Brawl'' is much less useful due to a combination of the reflector's damage affected knockback, slower startup, longer recoveries, and floatiness, though it can be used immediately while hanging on a ledge.

{{CustomSet|Fox|Down|name1=Reflector|desc1=A shield that reflects projectiles, upping their speed and power.|name2=Big Reflector|desc2=A larger reflective shield that doesn't power up reflected projectiles.|name3=Amplifying Reflector|desc3=Sends projectiles back with twice the speed and power, but it takes longer to activate.|altlink1=Reflector (Fox)}}

# '''Big Reflector''' ('''Large Reflector''' in PAL): Increases the size of the reflector by a noticeable amount, decreases the damage multiplier on reflected projectiles (being only 1.2x), and gives it a [[push]] effect that sends opponents in the direction he faces instead of the ability to deal damage. {{Main|Fox (SSB4)/Down special/Custom 1}}

# '''Amplifying Reflector''' ('''Pulse Reflector''' in PAL): Increases the damage multiplier on reflected projectiles by around 2.1x, but has no damage, no pushback, cannot stall in midair, and has increased startup frames. {{Main|Fox (SSB4)/Down special/Custom 2}}

Fox can perform a technique referred to as Chillin dashing, named after {{Sm|Chillindude829}}, in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. It is performed by running off the [[edge]], and at the moment the character is going to fall off, the character must use the Reflector and perform a jump shine. Covering a decent distance, it is useful for [[edgeguarding]]. It is generally followed up by a [[jump cancel]]ed [[back aerial]]. A pseudo-Chillin dash can be performed in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''; however, since Fox cannot jump out of his Reflector, it would only work to edgeguard against recoveries.

Similar to [[shield platform dropping]], this technique is done by activating Reflector while on a soft [[platform]], and then dropping through it by pressing down on the control stick. This technique is the trigger to activate Shine Mines.

===Shine mine===

In ''Melee'', Fox and Falco can perform a technique referred to as Shine Mining, a term coined and discovered by {{Sm|Darktooth}}. It is performed by first activating Reflector or powershielding in the location the player wishes to leave the shine mine. When placing a mine, there must also exist a projectile in play that could be reflected, until the player drops their Reflector or powershield. If powershield is used to place the mine, then the player must also interrupt their shield with something by the 3rd frame of their powershield. Then, when the player wishes to activate the mine, they must perform a shine drop through a platform anywhere on stage, and the mine will become an active reflector for exactly two frames starting from the 2nd frame after activation. It is important to note that the mine does not have the knockback and damage properties of the initial frames of a normal reflector - it can only reflect projectiles. The limited uses and difficult input timing make this technique extremely situational, but it can be used in various ways for [[edge-guarding]].

Sometimes a player has a usable shine mine at match start, without having to do anything to place it.<ref>https://smashboards.com/threads/new-at-shine-mines.352753/#post-22016056</ref>The existence of this ''go mine'' depends on stage, the characters in game, and the port order of the controllers of those characters.

===Shine grab===

In ''Melee'', Fox (along with Falco) can grab immediately out of a Reflector. This is possible because it is interruptible with a jump which from there the player can perform a [[jump-canceled grab]]. The resulting animation shows a Reflector immediately followed by a grab. This is useful because when performed on an opponent's shield, if the hitbox doesn't connect then the grab will due to the grab's property of beating shields. This technique isn't unbeatable however. A player can easily roll away before the grab is performed if a Shine grab is correctly predicted. This particular situation plays into the role of [[mindgames]].

 

In ''Melee'', Fox and Falco can repeatedly [[Wavedash]], then activate Reflector while in the Wavedash. During this process, the player can quickly close gaps while being invincible to [[projectile]]s most of the time, and also stun the opponent with the up-close hitbox while pushing them forward, potentially resulting in an infinite with precise timing and positioning, especially on stages with walls like the fire transformation on [[Pokémon Stadium]].

Like most of Fox's moves, the Reflector is unique to the [[Super Smash Bros. series|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], but may have been inspired by the Arwing's ability to deflect enemy fire by doing a Barrel Roll. The Barrel Roll may also be referenced by Fox's ability to cancel the Reflector with a roll when successfully reflecting a projectile, starting in ''Brawl''.

As revealed in ''Brawl'', [[Slippy]] is the Reflector's original designer, and provided Fox and Falco with this special equipment for the occasion of fighting. Fox's energy shield shape as a hexagon might also reference the shape of the Supply rings in ''Star Fox 64''. Unlike the hexagon shape in ''Super Smash Bros''., the Supply Rings in the ''Star Fox'' games were only silver and gold colored, never being a light blue color. Up until ''Brawl'', there was no sign of how Fox activated his Reflectors, as he simply held a stance and the energy shield simply "appeared" around them. However, [[Subspace Emissary]] and the Star Fox cast's redesigns in ''Brawl'' revealed that their reflectors were miniature devices that activated on a swipe of their hands. These devices would later make their first canonical appearance in ''Star Fox Zero'', once again attached to Fox and Falco's belts but serving no purpose in gameplay.

Fox SSBU Skill Preview Down Special.png|Fox using Reflector as shown by the [[Move List]] in ''Ultimate''.

*From ''Brawl'' onwards, Fox is shown using a hexagonal device to activate his reflector, a trait shared with [[Falco]] and [[Wolf]]. Ingame, it hovers in front of him while in use. A [[Subspace Emissary]] cutscene shows Fox activating the device by waving his hand in front of it, which is not the case for the actual move.

*In ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate'', there's a glitch where if Fox turns around on the first possible frame and back on the very next frame while activating his Reflector, there will be no graphical effects along with the Reflector being silent until he reflects an incoming projectile or sometimes if repeatedly turning.

*The term '''Shine''' was reportedly coined by [[Matt Deezie]], who had a habit of wearing a highly reflective sequin shirt during tournaments. He frequently used the term during his {{trn|Tournament Go}} series, where it spread to online forums like [[SmashBoards]] and has stuck as a slang term to this day.

 

*[[Reflector (Falco)]]

*[[Reflector (Wolf)]]