Tatsumaki Senpukyaku

Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Tatsumaki Senpukyaku's preview icon in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
User	Ryu
Universe	Street Fighter

“	Ryu will float up slightly when using this move after a jump, making this spinning side kick great for recovering.	”
—In-Game Tip

Tatsumaki Senpukyaku (竜巻旋風脚, Tornado Whirlwind Leg) (or simply Tatsumaki) is Ryu's side special in Super Smash Bros. 4. The move involves Ryu spinning forwards like a top with one leg outstretched. It will not go over ledges when used on the ground, despite Ryu appearing to be airborne.

This move can be used as a decent horizontal recovery due to it slowing Ryu's fall while moving and not causing helplessness (which gives him quite a good recovery if combined with Shoryuken), although the move can only be used once in midair.

Depending on how long the special button is held, the move has more distance and length; Ryu spins once if the special button is tapped once, while he spins thrice if the button is held. The move deals 8-9% unheld (and during the first few frames), and gains power and knockback if the button is held, dealing 12% with enough diagonal knockback to KO at 165%.

Input Tatsumaki Senpukyaku

“	Enter down, down-back, back for 1.16x power. Increasing the strength also increases the move’s speed and travel distance.	”
—In-Game Tip

Additionally, performing the original arcade motion (down, down back, back, attack/special button) will result in the attack gaining more power and distance. This version deals 9% before Ryu starts spinning, while doing 13% with KO potential at 140% if held down; if not, the attack cannot KO until 220% or higher, and deals 10%. It is a decent finisher for Ryu's standard attack combos, although there are better options since the move deals less damage at point blank. Ryu announces "Tatsumaki Senpukyaku!" if a player does a successful grounded version, and "Tatsumaki!" if a player does it in the air. Additionally, the wind effect around Ryu becomes more opaque while he spins, and a small spark flashes during the attack's first frame.

Origin

Tatsumaki Senpukyaku in Street Fighter II.

Tatsumaki Senpukyaku is one of the original special moves Ryu had in his arsenal ever since the first Street Fighter, where Ryu and his rival, Ken, could perform it by moving the joystick in a semicircle away from the opponent, and then pressing any kick button. In Street Fighter II, both Ryu and Ken's Tatsumaki Senpukyaku dealt a single hard-hitting hit, with the distance depending on the kick button pressed. As the series progressed, Ken's Tatsumaki Senpukyaku diversified in Street Figher Alpha, dealing multiple weak hits as opposed to one strong hit, while more fighters gained the ability to use Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, including both Ryu and Ken's Evil counterparts, along with Gouken. Other fighters tended to have a similar move, although named differently, such as Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick.

Ryu's special moves

Neutral special	Hadoken
Side special	Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
Up special	Shoryuken
Down special	Focus Attack
Final Smash	Shin Shoryuken / Shinku Hadoken