Arcfire

Arcfire
Robin using Arcfire.
User	Robin
Universe	Fire Emblem
Article on Fire Emblem Wiki	Arcfire

“	Summon a ball of fire that bursts into a pillar when it hits.	”
—Smash for 3DS's foldout

Arcfire (ギガファイアー, Gigafire) is Robin's side special move in Super Smash Bros. 4.

Overview

Upon use, Robin yells "Arcfire" and produces a ball of fire above his head, which travels at an downward angle. If the flame makes contact with a surface or an opponent, it bursts into a pillar of fire; if it hits nothing, it disappears harmlessly. The move traps opponents in a multiple hitting flame which inflicts a total of 10% damage and knocks opponents away on the final hit, similar to PK Fire; however, unlike PK Fire, Arcfire only requires the fireball to hit a surface or player to unleash its flaming pillar (PK Fire does not burst into flame if it hits a surface, including shields) and Arcfire's final hit has KO potential at very high percents, KOing at 200%. This move also sets Robin's active Tome to Arcfire, if not already in use.

Arcfire has limited uses at point blank range as the fireball travels too high over most fighter's heads and will typically miss, therefore it finds a better use at medium ranges as an option to stop approaches. It is especially useful when used to stop short hopping opponents, as they will likely jump straight into the fireball while Robin is launching it. It can also be used as protection when charging up Thunder or before recovering offstage to prevent opponents from camping beside the ledge. The projectile is a great combo starter, as opponents trapped in Arcfire on the ground can be grabbed if they decide to shield and the player is fast enough, while the final hit places opponents at the right height for an aerial attack-- if one is quick and accurate enough, the move can combo into Thoron for a powerful finisher as well, as opponents will be trapped in hitstun after Arcfire's final hit and will usually be unable to dodge the beam of lightning.

After 6 uses, the fire tome will be discarded due to durability being used up by Robin and he/she will only perform the animation for the spell with no special effects during this time. The cooldown time is 10 seconds, which after that, Robin's fire tome will be replaced with a new one and the move can be used again.

Robin's jab finisher also draws from the same durability of Arcfire, with a maximum of 6 uses. If Arcfire's uses run out, Robin will be unable to use his jab finisher and can only use his Elwind jab infinite; if Elwind runs out as well, Robin will only be able to use his first two hits of his jab.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:

1. Arcfire	2. Arcfire+	3. Fire Wall
"Cast a spell to throw a ball of fire. When it hits, it triggers a pillar of flames."	"Cast a spell that causes a large explosion when it lands. Slower to cast than Arcfire."	"Cast a giant flame pillar in front of you that can be used to guard against attacks."

1. Arcfire: Default.
2. Arcfire+: The spell takes slightly longer to cast, and the fireball travels at a straighter trajectory, giving it much more horizontal distance. Upon contact with a surface or enemy, the fireball explodes, dealing 8% damage on an indirect hit or 10% on a direct hit with moderate knockback, which can KO at 156% near the edge. Can be used as a more conventional projectile, although it loses most of its camping abilities.
3. Fire Wall: Startup is decreased, and the fireball lands directly in front of Robin's feet if used on the ground. The fireball flies at a strong downwards trajectory if used in the air (though it does not do damage in mid-air) and lasts for a much longer duration, allowing it to hit the ground even if Robin uses both his double jumps. Bursts into a large wall of fire upon contact with a surface or enemy, which deals 7% and low knockback. Allows Robin to control the stage slightly easier and has priority to some attacks.

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  Arcfire+ in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

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  Fire Wall in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Origin

Lugh casting Fire in Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade. Notice the arc of the flame and Lugh's pose.

Arcfire was introduced in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. It is one of the three "Arc-" (or "Giga-" in the Japanese versions) tomes which constitute the third stage of anima magic, along with Arcthunder and Arcwind, and it is superior to the lesser Fire and Elfire tomes. In Radiant Dawn, the Arcfire spell surrounds the enemy with a pillar of flame, similar to its Smash appearance.

The pose that Robin makes when casting Arcfire in Smash is taken from the three Game Boy Advance Fire Emblem games - Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, Fire Emblem, and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. In these games, members of the Mage class cross their arms in front of themselves when they attack with anima spells. Additionally, the two regular fire spells in these games - Fire and Elfire - show a small fireball forming over the caster before it flies to explode on the foe, and the starting arc of Arcfire in Smash is similar to this.

Trivia

• Robin's Final Smash, Pair Up, has him using Bolganone, a fire spell one rank higher than Arcfire. However, the cover of the tome Robin uses in his Final Smash is the same as Arcfire, possibly due to the developers not wanting to create a Bolganone cover, a minute detail that is difficult to spot.
• In Fire Emblem Awakening, Arcfire functions as a flamethrower-like attack rather than a ranged projectile, akin to Flamethrower and Fire Breath. Only lower-ranked fire spells act as traditional projectiles like the Arcfire seen in Smash.

Gallery

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  Arcfire being used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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Robin's special moves

Neutral special	Thunder
Side special	Arcfire
Up special	Elwind
Down special	Nosferatu
Final Smash	Pair Up