Screw Attack (item)

Screw Attack
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

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改かい, Screw Attack Revised in Super Smash Bros. Brawl onwards) is an item that first appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Origin

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

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

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

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

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

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.

: Metroid

: Super Metroid

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Screw Attack's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Screw Attack's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Screw Attack

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.

: Metroid (08/1987)

: Super Metroid (04/1994)

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.

: Metroid (01/1988)

: Super Metroid (07/1994)

Spirits

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		Sandshrew		★	2	Screw Attack Equipped	Pokémon Series
890		Top Man		★	2	Screw Attack Equipped	Mega Man Series
1,121		Bubbles		★	2	Screw Attack Equipped	Clu Clu Land Series
1,166		Helirin		★	2	Screw Attack Equipped	Kuru Kuru Kururin Series

Gallery

• 

  The Metroid symbol from 64 and Melee

• 

  The Screw Attack in Melee.

• 

  Artwork of the Screw Attack from Brawl.

• 

  Screw Attack artwork from Ultimate.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	スクリューアタック スクリューアタック改かい	Screw Attack Screw Attack Revised
English	Screw Attack	—
French	Attaque en vrille	Sping Attack
German	Screw Attack	—
Spanish	Ataque Espiral	Spiral Attack
Italian	Attacco a vite	Screw Attack
Chinese (Simplified)	团身旋击（改）	Body Twister (Modified)
Chinese (Traditional)	旋轉攻擊（改）	Spin Attack (Modified)
Korean	뉴 스크류 어택	New Screw Attack
Dutch	Schroefaanval	Screw Attack
Russian	Шаровая атака	Ball Attack

Trivia

• 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.