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Screw Attack (item)

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Screw Attack
MZM Norfair Screw Attack.gif
Metroid (universe)
The Screw Attack in Metroid: Zero Mission.
Universe Metroid
Appears in Melee
Brawl
SSB4
Ultimate
Item class Throwing (Melee)
Gear (Brawl, SSB4, Ultimate)
Article on Metroid Wiki Screw Attack
This article is about the item called the Screw Attack. For Samus's attack, see Screw Attack (move).

The Screw Attack (スクリューアタック, Screw Attack in Super Smash Bros. Melee and スクリューアタック(かい), Screw Attack Revised in Super Smash Bros. Brawl onwards) is an item that first appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Origin[edit]

The Screw Attack as it appeared in Super Metroid.

The Screw Attack made its first appearance in Metroid. In Metroid, the Screw Attack is a Chozo artifact that allows Samus to attack while somersaulting, which would become the basis of Samus's up special in Smash. The Screw Attack upgrade has since appeared in every 2D Metroid game with the same functionality, although it is obtained from a Core-X Parasite instead of an item in Metroid Fusion. The upgrade also appears with a new design in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, where it allows Samus to perform continuous mid-air jumps.

The Screw Attack being used by Samus in Super Metroid.

The item in Smash is derived from the Screw Attack's design in the 2D Metroid games. In Melee, the Screw Attack specifically resembles the item as seen in-game in Super Metroid; later Smash games have updated its appearance to match the item's brighter color palette seen in Metroid: Zero Mission.

The Screw Attack's iconic design, resembling a stylized letter "S", also serves as the symbol for the Metroid series.

Overview[edit]

Luigi wearing a Screw Attack in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

When held, the item alters a character's first and second jumps (leaving any further jumps they may have unchanged), changing them to mimic Samus's up special move, also named the Screw Attack.

In Melee, it can be thrown at an enemy, which forces them to perform the attack. Unlike when using it normally, however, this leaves the victim helpless in the process. When thrown, Screw Attacks can steal KOs, since the distance the character rises after getting hit by it depends on how fast the character is getting launched. If characters are launched from a high percentage and get hit by a Screw Attack, they fly up very quickly while performing the Screw Attack and often cross the blast line for a Star KO.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl onwards, the Screw Attack is purple and instead of being throwable, it is instead a badge item, similar to the Franklin Badge. As a result, it cannot be thrown as in Melee, but allows the user to attack as normal while it is being held; it will eventually fall off, however. A very large portion of the attack from Brawl onwards is interruptible, allowing it to be cancelled into any of the character's attacks. In Smash 4, the Screw Attack has a quirk of removing the character's ability to short hop while it is equipped. It also slightly boosts jump height. Interestingly, Greninja's down air triggers the item upon bouncing after landing the move.

Each attack deals a single hit of 8% damage in Melee, and up to ten hits for 1% damage each in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4.

Thrown damage[edit]

Action Melee
Throw 20%
Up tilt throw 16%
Forward tilt throw 20%
Down tilt throw 23%
Dash Throw 23%
Forward smash throw 24%
Up smash throw 16%
Down smash throw 28%
Air throw 21%
Air forward tilt throw 21%
Air up tilt throw 16%
Air down tilt throw 23%
Air forward smash throw 22%
Air up smash throw 16%
Air down smash throw 23%

Trophies[edit]

In Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

Screw Attack's trophy in Melee
Screw Attack
One of Samus Aran's power-ups from the original Metroid, the Screw Attack turns a jump into a rotating attack move. When carrying this item, any character's ordinary jump move will turn into a Screw Attack. By the same token, if you throw this item at an enemy, your foe will spontaneously do a Screw Attack.
Metroid (8/89[sic])

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Screw Attack's trophy in Brawl
Screw Attack
A badge you can wear to turn your jumps into Samus's signature Screw Attacks. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, it was an item you carried, but this time around it's a badge you wear--which means you can use it and another item at the same time. There's a good chance you'll be able to string together Screw Attacks and midair strikes for powerful combos.
NES: Metroid
SNES: Super Metroid

In Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]

Screw Attack's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Screw Attack's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Screw Attack
NTSC This handy item grants you the same power as Samus's Screw Attack when you pick it up. With the right timing, you can execute a devastating combo of midair attacks. Be careful, though—some fighters sacrifice the height of their jumps when they're wearing this.
NES: Metroid (08/1987)
SNES: Super Metroid (04/1994)
PAL A badge-type item that lets you use Samus's powerful Screw Attack technique when you jump. If you use it at the right moment, you might even be able to pull off deadly combos with other mid-air strikes. But watch out – some characters' jumps might not be as high while using this.
NES: Metroid (01/1988)
SNES: Super Metroid (07/1994)

Spirits[edit]

Equipping the Sandshrew, Top Man, Bubbles, or Helirin support spirits will give the player a Screw Attack at a start of a match.

No. Image Name Type Class Cost Ability Series
428
SSBU spirit Sandshrew.png
Sandshrew
Support
2 Screw Attack Equipped Pokémon Series
890
SSBU spirit Top Man.png
Top Man
Support
2 Screw Attack Equipped Mega Man Series
1,121
from the game files
Bubbles
Support
2 Screw Attack Equipped Clu Clu Land Series
1,166
from the game's files
Helirin
Support
2 Screw Attack Equipped Kuru Kuru Kururin Series

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese スクリューアタック Super Smash Bros. Melee
スクリューアタック(かい) Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Screw Attack Super Smash Bros. Melee
Screw Attack Revised Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
UK English Screw Attack
France French Attaque en vrille Sping Attack
Germany German Screw Attack
Spain Spanish Ataque Espiral Spiral Attack
Italy Italian Attacco a vite Screw Attack
China Chinese (Simplified) 团身旋击(改) Body Twister (Modified)
Taiwan Chinese (Traditional) 旋轉攻擊(改) Spin Attack (Modified)
South Korea Korean 뉴 스크류 어택 New Screw Attack
Netherlands Dutch Schroefaanval Screw Attack
Russia Russian Шаровая атака Ball Attack

Trivia[edit]

  • In Melee, the mechanic where opponents are forced to use the Screw Attack when hit by the thrown item is accomplished using a hitbox effect unique to the item. As a result, it is possible to hack any hitbox in the game to force opponents to do a Screw Attack.
  • In Ultimate, the Screw Attack will not spawn on Spring Stadium, due to the trampolines.
    • This can be bypassed by using a spirit with the Screw Attack Equipped skill. When used on the trampolines, the player won't get the jump boost from the trampolines and will instead perform a Screw Attack jump like normal.