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Lightning Kick: Difference between revisions

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(There were a lot of errors here nglll. Not the strongest fair from Smash 4 on, the sweetspot size from Melee to Brawl is a lot smaller than 1/3 since hitboxes are not lines, wasn't necessarily worse than Melee's knee. Also run-ons, redundancy, syntax, etc.)
 
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{{ArticleIcons|melee=y|brawl=y|ssb4=y|ultimate=y}}
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{{cquote|Zelda's forward air attack, Lightning Kick, is a valiant kick with a magically charged tip. Striking with just the glowing spot will deal heavy damage and launch your opponent.|cite=[[List of SSB4 trophies (The Legend of Zelda series)|Zelda (Alt.) Trophy]]|source=''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]''}}{{clear}}
{{cquote|Zelda's forward air attack, Lightning Kick, is a valiant kick with a magically charged tip. Striking with just the glowing spot will deal heavy damage and launch your opponent.|cite=[[List of SSB4 trophies (The Legend of Zelda series)|Zelda (Alt.) Trophy]]|source=''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]''}}
[[File:Princess Zelda Trophy 2 (Smash).png|thumb|The move in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', as shown by the trophy that named it.]]
[[File:Princess Zelda Trophy 2 (Smash).png|thumb|The move in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', as shown by the trophy that named it.]]


'''Lightning Kick''' ({{ja|稲妻キック|Inazuma Kikku}}, ''Lightning Flash Kick'') is the name for [[Zelda]]'s [[forward aerial]] and [[back aerial]] attacks, as confirmed by one of her trophies in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. When {{b|sweet spot|hitbox}}ted, the Lightning Kick [[freeze frame|pauses the opponent in place]] for a second dramatically (except in ''Melee''), before dealing heavy [[electric]] damage and launching them away with very powerful horizontal [[knockback]]. A [[sourspot]]ted hit on the other hand, delivers very low horizontal knockback with no special effects and much less damage.
'''Lightning Kick''' ({{ja|稲妻キック|Inazuma Kikku}}, ''Lightning Flash Kick'') is the name for [[Zelda]]'s [[forward aerial]] and [[back aerial]] attacks, as confirmed by one of her trophies in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. When {{b|sweet spot|hitbox}}ted, the Lightning Kick deals dramatic [[freeze frame|hitlag]] (except in ''Melee'') before dealing heavy damage and launching the opponent with very powerful horizontal [[knockback]]. A [[sourspot]]ted hit on the other hand, delivers very low horizontal knockback with no special effects and much less damage.


Between ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', the attack was buffed in terms of knockback when sweetspotted, along with having the aforementioned freeze frames added (despite this, the sweetspot also became impossible to [[SDI]] with the addition of a 0x SDI multiplier), though the sourspotted kick was weakened further, to where it deals less than half the damage it did in ''Melee'', with 4% compared to 10% (which does make it a much better tool to [[lock]] opponents on the positive side). The sweetspot in ''Brawl'' is significantly more difficult to land, only lasting for 1 frame as opposed to 4 in ''Melee'', and being about a third of the size. Both kicks also have slightly more ending lag making it impossible to perform two forward Lightning Kicks in a short hop.
==Overview==
In almost all games, a sweetspotted Lightning Kick is the strongest forward and back aerial, being among the few aerial attacks that can reliably [[KO]] under 100%. Along with this great power, both forward and back aerial Lightning Kicks are fairly fast in startup lag, while having good reach. The forward and back aerial versions are nearly identical. In ''Melee'', the back aerial Lightning Kick is slightly better due to being faster. From ''Brawl'' onward, similar properties of Lightning Kick were also applied to her [[down aerial]], making it a "Lightning Stomp" of sorts, though with a less dramatic polarization.
 
===In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''===
The Lightning Kick is similar to [[Captain Falcon]]'s forward aerial, the [[Knee Smash]], as both are effective aerials that deal very powerful horizontal knockback and electric damage with their strong hits, while being exceedingly weak with no special effects with their weak hits. The knee is easier to land due to comprising of a uniformly strong clean hit. In comparison, Zelda's kicks have high-priority sourspots, which require a stricter spacing to land the sweetspot. However, her kicks have much faster startup and have longer-lasting sweetspots. Zelda's weak hits also deal more damage, but have less base knockback. Despite its comparable strength, Lightning Kick hasn't reached the same level of notoriety as the Knee Smash, mainly due to Zelda's poor tournament viability and minimal presence in Melee's competitive scene compared to Captain Falcon.
 
===In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''===
[[File:LKick Fair SSBB.png|thumb|Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'']]
[[File:LKick Fair SSBB.png|thumb|Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'']]
Between ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', the sweetspot had its base knockback increased. Back aerial is now stronger than forward aerial, which would be kept in all succeeding games. Its freeze frames are much higher, but despite this, the sweetspots are now impossible to [[SDI]] due to the addition of a 0x SDI multiplier. It is significantly more difficult to land, only lasting for 1 frame, down from 4, and being drastically smaller. It also now has highest priority instead of the lowest, making the precision of the sweetspot based strictly on timing and its tiny size rather than spacing around the sourspots. Furthermore, the sourspots are bigger, but significantly weaker, dealing 4% compared to 10%. Both kicks also have slightly more ending lag, making it impossible to perform two forward Lightning Kicks in a short hop, and can no longer be L-canceled, drastically increasing their landing lag. Overall, the move is significantly more precise and less spammable.
===In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''===
[[File:Lightning_Kick_SSB4.jpeg|thumb|Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'']]
[[File:Lightning_Kick_SSB4.jpeg|thumb|Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'']]
In all games, a sweetspotted Lightning Kick is the strongest forward and back aerial, being among the few aerial attacks that can reliably [[KO]] under 100%. Along with this great power, both forward and back aerial Lightning Kicks are fairly fast in start-up lag, while having good reach. However, in ''Melee'' both Lightning Kicks can be difficult to sweetspot with Zelda's low mobility along with the spacing requirement to avoid the flub hitboxes, which limits the usefulness of the aerials. In ''Brawl'', the much smaller window of opportunity to land the sweetspots leads to even more difficulty in landing them.
Between ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', the sweetspots' sizes were increased, but their base knockback was nerfed. Notably, Zelda's forward aerial has been dethroned by Captain Falcon's as the strongest of its kind. It also has significantly increased ending lag and cannot be interrupted or auto-canceled in a short hop, making it a drastically worse approaching tool. Both kicks have also received one more frame of startup.
[[File:ZeldaAltTrophy3DS.png|thumb|The Zelda (Alt.) trophy, which depicts Zelda using her forward aerial Lightning Kick in {{for3ds}}]]
The forward and back aerial versions are very similar appearance wise and statistically. In ''Melee'', the back aerial Lightning Kick is slightly better due to slightly faster start-up lag and slightly stronger knockback. ''Brawl'' adds electric properties to a sweetspotted [[down air]], making it a "Lightning Stomp" of sorts.
 
Between ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', the Lightning Kick was slightly nerfed in terms of knockback when sweetspotted. While a sweetspotted Lightning Kick is still arguably the strongest forward and back aerials, its base knockback is decreased a bit, KOing at slightly later percent. The knockback growth/scaling however, remains the same and can still KO characters under 100%. It also has significantly increased ending and landing lag and can not be auto-canceled after a short hop making it a much worse approaching tool. This is


Animation-wise, for the forward version, Zelda performs a back spin kick (via her left leg) with her crossing-right arm somewhat-bracing her face. For the back version, Zelda kicks with her left leg instead in a similar motion, but without the turn.
The sweetspots have lost the electric effect and instead use the new magic effect. Notably, this ironically leaves Lightning Kick without lightning or electricity in any of its effects, while Knee Smash is still electric.


In ''Smash 4'' however, Zelda has different animations for both which also very slightly delay their startup; for the forward version, Zelda recovers in a full body spin just after kicking, while with the backwards version Zelda twists her body somewhat then thrust-kicks behind her; both versions also involve her arms being positioned differently as well as her hands being clenched more into fists and also have her both lean and face away from her kicking-directions more. Also due to the change in hitbox placements, the attacks are also easier to connect with; though the new animations also somewhat alter her hurtboxes but give them slightly less start-up.
Animation-wise, for the forward version, Zelda performs a back spin kick (via her left leg) with her crossing-right arm somewhat bracing her face. For the back version, Zelda kicks with her left leg instead in a similar motion, but without the turn. In ''Smash 4'', Zelda has different animations for both; for the forward version, Zelda recovers in a full body spin just after kicking, while with the backwards version Zelda twists her body somewhat, then thrust-kicks behind her; both versions also involve her arms being positioned differently as well as her hands being clenched more into fists and also have her both lean and face away from her kicking directions more. Also, due to the change in hitbox placements, the sweetspots are easier to land, and the new animations somewhat alter her hurtboxes.


Between ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', forward Lightning Kick now comes out as fast as the back version and the back version is marginally stronger. Both versions also has less ending lag, less landing lag and auto-cancel earlier although they still cannot auto-cancel in a short hop.
===In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''===
Forward Lightning Kick now comes out at frame 6, its fastest startup in the series. The back version is marginally stronger, now being identical to Melee's knockback values. Both versions also have larger sweetspots, less ending lag, less landing lag and auto-cancel earlier, although they still cannot auto-cancel in a short hop.


The Lightning Kick is very similar to [[Captain Falcon]]'s forward aerial, the [[Knee Smash]], as both are effective aerials that deal very powerful horizontal knockback with electric damage when sweetspotted, while being exceedingly weak with no special effects when sourspotted. However, the Lightning Kick hasn't reached the same level of notoriety as the Knee Smash, where the latter was more effective and prolific in competitive play for ''Melee''. The main reason for this was that the knee was notably easier to sweetspot, as sweetspotting it only required landing the initial hitbox as opposed to landing a specifically spaced hitbox in the attack, and combined with Falcon's high mobility and great combo ability, it has seen much more utilization. Zelda's poor tournament viability and general lack of internet notoriety compared to Captain Falcon also hindered the Lightning Kick from receiving as much attention as the Knee Smash.
Aesthetically, Zelda now makes a verbal "shh-" sound akin to [[Fox Illusion]], [[Falco Phantasm]], [[Palutena Bow]] and [[Silver Bow]] during both versions of the move. The visual effect of the move is altered to emit slight electricity from her foot, and the sweetspots have an additional, unique lightning effect on hit, once again making them true lightning kicks.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<center><gallery>
<center><gallery>
File:LK Melee.PNG|Sweetspotted back aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''
LK Melee.PNG|Sweetspotted back aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''.
File:LKick Bair SSBB.png|Zelda's back aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''
LKick Bair SSBB.png|Zelda's back aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.
ZeldaUltimateBackAir.jpg|Zelda's back aerial Lightning Kick in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.
ZeldaUltimateForwardAir.jpg|Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick against Lucario in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.
</gallery></center>
</gallery></center>


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[[Category:Zelda (SSB4)]]
[[Category:Zelda (SSB4)]]
[[Category:Zelda (SSBU)]]
[[Category:Zelda (SSBU)]]
[[Category:Trophies (SSBM)]]
[[Category:Trophies (SSB4-3DS)]]

Latest revision as of 20:26, July 25, 2024

“ Zelda's forward air attack, Lightning Kick, is a valiant kick with a magically charged tip. Striking with just the glowing spot will deal heavy damage and launch your opponent. ”
—Zelda (Alt.) Trophy, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
The move in Super Smash Bros. Melee, as shown by the trophy that named it.

Lightning Kick (稲妻キック, Lightning Flash Kick) is the name for Zelda's forward aerial and back aerial attacks, as confirmed by one of her trophies in Super Smash Bros. Melee. When sweet spotted, the Lightning Kick deals dramatic hitlag (except in Melee) before dealing heavy damage and launching the opponent with very powerful horizontal knockback. A sourspotted hit on the other hand, delivers very low horizontal knockback with no special effects and much less damage.

Overview[edit]

In almost all games, a sweetspotted Lightning Kick is the strongest forward and back aerial, being among the few aerial attacks that can reliably KO under 100%. Along with this great power, both forward and back aerial Lightning Kicks are fairly fast in startup lag, while having good reach. The forward and back aerial versions are nearly identical. In Melee, the back aerial Lightning Kick is slightly better due to being faster. From Brawl onward, similar properties of Lightning Kick were also applied to her down aerial, making it a "Lightning Stomp" of sorts, though with a less dramatic polarization.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee[edit]

The Lightning Kick is similar to Captain Falcon's forward aerial, the Knee Smash, as both are effective aerials that deal very powerful horizontal knockback and electric damage with their strong hits, while being exceedingly weak with no special effects with their weak hits. The knee is easier to land due to comprising of a uniformly strong clean hit. In comparison, Zelda's kicks have high-priority sourspots, which require a stricter spacing to land the sweetspot. However, her kicks have much faster startup and have longer-lasting sweetspots. Zelda's weak hits also deal more damage, but have less base knockback. Despite its comparable strength, Lightning Kick hasn't reached the same level of notoriety as the Knee Smash, mainly due to Zelda's poor tournament viability and minimal presence in Melee's competitive scene compared to Captain Falcon.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Between Melee and Brawl, the sweetspot had its base knockback increased. Back aerial is now stronger than forward aerial, which would be kept in all succeeding games. Its freeze frames are much higher, but despite this, the sweetspots are now impossible to SDI due to the addition of a 0x SDI multiplier. It is significantly more difficult to land, only lasting for 1 frame, down from 4, and being drastically smaller. It also now has highest priority instead of the lowest, making the precision of the sweetspot based strictly on timing and its tiny size rather than spacing around the sourspots. Furthermore, the sourspots are bigger, but significantly weaker, dealing 4% compared to 10%. Both kicks also have slightly more ending lag, making it impossible to perform two forward Lightning Kicks in a short hop, and can no longer be L-canceled, drastically increasing their landing lag. Overall, the move is significantly more precise and less spammable.

In Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]

Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Between Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4, the sweetspots' sizes were increased, but their base knockback was nerfed. Notably, Zelda's forward aerial has been dethroned by Captain Falcon's as the strongest of its kind. It also has significantly increased ending lag and cannot be interrupted or auto-canceled in a short hop, making it a drastically worse approaching tool. Both kicks have also received one more frame of startup.

The sweetspots have lost the electric effect and instead use the new magic effect. Notably, this ironically leaves Lightning Kick without lightning or electricity in any of its effects, while Knee Smash is still electric.

Animation-wise, for the forward version, Zelda performs a back spin kick (via her left leg) with her crossing-right arm somewhat bracing her face. For the back version, Zelda kicks with her left leg instead in a similar motion, but without the turn. In Smash 4, Zelda has different animations for both; for the forward version, Zelda recovers in a full body spin just after kicking, while with the backwards version Zelda twists her body somewhat, then thrust-kicks behind her; both versions also involve her arms being positioned differently as well as her hands being clenched more into fists and also have her both lean and face away from her kicking directions more. Also, due to the change in hitbox placements, the sweetspots are easier to land, and the new animations somewhat alter her hurtboxes.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

Forward Lightning Kick now comes out at frame 6, its fastest startup in the series. The back version is marginally stronger, now being identical to Melee's knockback values. Both versions also have larger sweetspots, less ending lag, less landing lag and auto-cancel earlier, although they still cannot auto-cancel in a short hop.

Aesthetically, Zelda now makes a verbal "shh-" sound akin to Fox Illusion, Falco Phantasm, Palutena Bow and Silver Bow during both versions of the move. The visual effect of the move is altered to emit slight electricity from her foot, and the sweetspots have an additional, unique lightning effect on hit, once again making them true lightning kicks.

Gallery[edit]

  • Sweetspotted back aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

    Sweetspotted back aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

  • Zelda's back aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

    Zelda's back aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

  • Zelda's back aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

    Zelda's back aerial Lightning Kick in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

  • Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick against Lucario in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

    Zelda's forward aerial Lightning Kick against Lucario in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

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