Screw Attack (move)

For the item of the same name, see Screw Attack (item).

Samus, using Screw Attack in Frigate Orpheon

The Screw Attack (スクリューアタック, Sukuryu Atakku) is Samus's up special move. The move shoots Samus into the air, engulfing her in a blueish-tint electrical field (yellowish-tint in Melee), and spins her around and around, inflicting damage on any opponents that touch her. Just as in the first Super Smash Bros., the Screw Attack does cumulative damage and sucks opponents into the center. It's also often used to survive from a fall off the stage. This move can also be used as a Star KO when used from the ground on near-by enemies. One of two moves that Samus can use to send opponents upward.

The Screw Attack is one of the last special abilities Samus can learn, causing her to spin with electrical energy whenever she jumps, instantly destroying most enemies. Combined with the Space Jump, Samus can continually jump and destroy everything in her way.

In Super Smash Bros., the Screw Attack has invincibility frame(s) in the first few frames of initiating the move.

In Brawl, the Screw Attack regain its ability to trap enemies seen in Super Smash Bros., but absent from Melee. A new and useful addition to this move is the increased knockback at the very end of the move, making this a somewhat useful getaway move to use on the ground to escape tough situation (similar to Bowser's Whirling Fortress), as the knockback provides enough time for counterattack.

Unfortunately, in Super Smash Bros. Melee, any charging of Samus' Charge Shot will be cancelled if she is hit during this attack in the PAL version of the game.

Origin

The Screw Attack is an upgrade that Samus collects in nearly every Metroid game. In the 2D games, it is used just like its Smash Bros. counterpart - it constantly damages enemies during a spinning jump. In some games Samus can combine the Screw Attack with the Space Jump upgrade (which results in infinite jumps) to chain Screw Attacks together. In the Metroid Prime series, the Screw Attack is used after the normal jump and second Space Jump are used, allowing her to jump up to five additional times in order to cross large gaps, as well as wall jump.

Gallery

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  Screw attack in SSB.

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  Screw attack in Melee