Critical Hit

Critical Hit
Lucina’s Critical Hit in Ultimate.
User	Marth Lucina Roy
Universe	Fire Emblem
Article on Fire Emblem Wiki	Critical hit

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Critical Hit (必殺の一撃, Sure-Killing Blow) is Marth's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Marth, Lucina, and Roy's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Overview

It involves the character delivering an immensely powerful slash that deals a devastating amount of knockback, more than enough to one-hit KO if directly in the line of sight of a blast line (with the exception of Roy's version). If it hits, a HP gauge from Fire Emblem is displayed alongside each hit character, which starts at full and quickly drops to zero.

Origin

Lon'qu performing a critical hit on an enemy Knight in Fire Emblem Awakening.

Roy's critical hit sprite animation that was used for The Binding Blade.

The critical hit is a staple feature of many role-playing video games, often being an attack that has a certain ratio of occurrence with the payoff usually being double the current amount of damage done normally.

However, in the case of the Fire Emblem series, critical hits inflict three times the standard damage if performed (as opposed to two times the damage in most other games), accompanied by a unique attack animation. Since a Fire Emblem critical hit is usually much more than enough to kill an enemy in a single hit, the damage output and particularly the knockback of Marth/Lucina's Critical Hit has been made extremely high to reflect this. The animation for this Final Smash was likely inspired by the critical hit animations of the various Lords in the series' past; Marth's Critical Hit animation is loosely based on his Critical Hit animation from the first Fire Emblem game, while Roy's Critical Hit animation is based on his Critical Hit animation from Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, provided he has the Sword of Seals equipped (this also applies to the airborne version's recovery flip, which is a nod to the very same one Roy does when he sheaths back his sword).

The gauge that appears represents the Hit Point system used in the series. In Brawl, it has a graphical style similar to that of Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, whereas in Super Smash Bros. 4, the gauge seen in all three versions of Critical Hit resembles the HP gauge used in Fire Emblem Awakening. The health gauge in Brawl has 52 HP units, matching Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light and Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, which star Marth, where units could have up to 52 HP (though the remakes increased this to 60). The Awakening-style HP meter in SSB4 has 80 units, which matches the maximum HP for units in Awakening.

In Smash

Marth & Lucina

Marth or Lucina raise their respective swords in the air, where it catches the light and shimmers brightly, before dashing forward with blazing speed to catch any unfortunate opponents with an extremely powerful slash. In both games, Marth does not say anything while performing this move (apart from a grunt), but Lucina in Super Smash Bros. 4 announces "Time to change fate!" (運命を変えます！, I will change fate!).

In terms of knockback, it is by far the strongest Final Smash in Brawl and Smash 4, and its power and damage also make it one of the strongest attacks in all of the games. It deals 62% damage in Brawl (60% base plus 2% fresh) and deals more than enough knockback to KO any character at 0% under most normal circumstances. However, the power of this move is somewhat hampered by its larger time frame in which to perform a dodge (the time during which Marth raises his sword), making it deceptively predictable and avoidable. Landing the blow is hence easiest against opponents suffering from ending lag or helplessness, or who are simply unaware, as all other players in range can completely dodge the move by air dodging, sidestepping, or simply moving away with good timing. Marth can also get a guaranteed Critical Hit if he forces his opponent into an aerial grab release although this only works on some characters. In Smash 4, the startup slows down time by a slight amount, making the main attack harder to dodge.

Until the attack animation completely ends, the entire sword carries the move's hitbox, meaning that the attack can also hit anyone directly behind Marth when he swings his sword. Because the attack itself gives such an high amount of freeze frames, it is also possible for a fighter to walk into Marth's sword once it hits another opponent and still be given a OHKO, even after half a second. Critical Hit only hits once, so with proper timing, moves that provide armor can be used to survive it. Of course, this will not stop the target from taking the move's full damage.

On the ground, the initial dash will follow the platform's contours, and the move will end without Marth swinging if he reaches the edge. In the air, Marth will travel at high speed directly forward. The dash can be canceled immediately by pressing an attack button, which also causes Marth to swing his sword. The dash will automatically travel its maximum distance if uninterrupted, which is approximately the same distance as the width of the largest area available in the Stage Builder; missing with this attack on the ground on a walk-off stage, or in the air without any intervening terrain, usually results in a self-destruct unless the player manually triggers Marth to swing early. The distance the Final Smash grants allows it to be used as an extremely effective horizontal recovery move if needed, although this is situational.

In Brawl, this attack has such immense knockback that it is possible for the main victim to KO other opponents by simply knocking into them.

In Super Smash Bros. 4, Critical Hit can ignore all forms of armor.

Roy

Roy's Critical Hit in Smash 4.

Roy's Critical Hit involves him standing in place while spinning the Binding Blade in a backwards arc around him with two hands. It then flashes with light (similar to the startup of Marth/Lucina's Critical Hits) before Roy swings his sword violently downwards, creating a massive fiery explosion in front of him. Roy will then sheath his sword (a purely aesthetic animation that ends in a second); if he finishes the Final Smash in the air, he leaps a small distance upward, which does not count as a second jump. The flaming slash deals 40%, and anyone hit by it is sent flying with high knockback, although the slash is not a OHKO unlike Marth/Lucina's version which can KO at any percentage under normal circumstances, and deals considerably less knockback at 0%, making it unable to KO fresh stocks (starting to KO only at 40%).

Unlike Marth/Lucina's Critical Hits, it is possible to force opponents into the final, powerful hit; touching the Binding Blade during the move's startup (when Roy slowly circles his sword) traps victims within the swing, dealing multiple 1% hits while it moves. A total of 11% can be dealt by the startup alone, and the final hit positions trapped opponents in front of Roy, making them vulnerable to the brunt of the finishing blow. As the swing starts from behind, it is easier to catch opponents behind Roy when compared to the front.

Because Roy's Critical Hit does not involve him moving forwards, the range of his version is severely lower than Marth/Lucina's. The hitbox of the flaming slash also does not cover below Roy, making it possible to miss if Roy jumps and unleashes the move. However, the explosion itself has a large hitbox, and because the start of his Critical Hit can trap opponents into the final blow, it is more reliable at connecting and far less predictable than Marth/Lucina's Critical Hit, which has a highly predictable startup and a somewhat small hitbox; it even has a decently quick startup and can combo into Roy's throws at low percents, which can almost guarantee a KO.

Similar to Marth's/Lucina's, a purely aesthetic health bar appears for every victim sent flying, showing them dropping from full health to zero. However, Roy's variant of Critical Hit is not able to pierce through super armor.

Trophy Descriptions

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Marth's Critical Hit trophy in Brawl.

Critical Hit

Marth's Final Smash. He thrusts his sword skyward, then rushes to meet his targeted enemy with furious speed. The blow he strikes is so powerful that his foe is instantly launched off the screen. As in Fire Emblem, a window appears that shows the character's hit points dropping rapidly to zero--but this is just for effect. Smash Bros. does not use a hit-point system.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Marth's Critical Hit trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Critical Hit (Marth)

Marth raises his Exalted Falchion to the sky and then rushes forward to deal an incredibly powerful blow, almost certainly KO'ing anyone and everyone who gets hit! When it's used in the air, he'll fly forward a certain distance. On the ground, however, he'll only dash to the edge of the platform he's standing on.

Marth raises his Exalted Falchion to the sky, then rushes forwards to deal an incredibly powerful blow, almost certainly KOing anyone and everyone who gets hit! When used in the air, he'll fly forwards a set distance, but on the ground, he'll only dash up to the edge of the platform he's standing on.

Lucina's Critical Hit trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Critical Hit (Lucina)

In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high before dashing swiftly forward to deliver a deadly blow to whomever she makes contact with first. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take out foes in a single hit. Just make sure you don't dash off the stage when you use it in midair!

In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high, then dashes swiftly forwards to deliver a deadly blow to whoever stands in her way. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take them out in a single hit. Just be careful not to dash off the stage if you use it in mid-air!

Roy's Critical Hit trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Critical Hit (Roy)

For Roy’s Final Smash, he traps enemies in a circular swing of the blade, brings it up behind him, and then, in a blast of fire, brings the blade down for a powerful finisher! The downward attack is powerful on its own but doesn’t have much range, so make sure you’re close enough to hit your enemies with the full combo and really seal their fate!

Gallery

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  Critical Hit in Brawl

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  Marth's Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

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  Lucina's Critical Hit while dashing in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Lucina's Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

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  Lucina using Critical Hit in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

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  Marth using Critical Hit as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate.

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  Lucina using Critical Hit as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate.

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  Roy using Critical Hit as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate.

Trivia

A metal Marth hitting Jigglypuff with Critical Hit, removing the metal status on it.

• Marth's Final Smash is able to outrun the cars on Big Blue. In fact, it is even faster than Sonic wearing a Bunny Hood (who can also outrun the cars on Big Blue). However, the attack's ending lag will probably cause Marth to SD using it.
• Marth and Lucina's Critical Hit carries a special flinchless hitbox during the dash that negates the effects of the Metal Box, Super Mushroom, Poison Mushroom, and Lightning. If the move is used on a permanent metal character fought in Classic Mode or Special Smash, the opponent will instantly be forced back into their non-metal selves before being KO'd.
• Critical Hit is one of the only Final Smashes shared by multiple characters, along with Landmaster, PK Starstorm, Light Arrow, and Triforce Slash.
• The hitbox of Marth and Lucina's Critical Hit actually extends slightly beyond the tip of the Falchion and Parallel Falchion, respectively; this can only be noticed by triggering the slash prematurely, as the slash will not automatically activate until Marth or Lucina collides with an opponent.
• Roy's Critical Hit actually does less damage and knockback than his fully charged Flare Blade.
• When Roy performs the Final Smash, his sheath appears during the attack but disappears when the attack is finished.

Marth's special moves

Neutral special	Shield Breaker
Side special	Dancing Blade
Up special	Dolphin Slash
Down special	Counter
Final Smash	—	Critical Hit

Lucina's special moves

Neutral special	Shield Breaker
Side special	Dancing Blade
Up special	Dolphin Slash
Down special	Counter
Final Smash	Critical Hit

Roy's special moves

Neutral special	Flare Blade
Side special	Double-Edge Dance
Up special	Blazer
Down special	Counter
Final Smash	—	Critical Hit