Phantom Slash

Phantom Slash
Zelda using Phantom Slash in Ultimate.
User	Zelda
Universe	The Legend of Zelda
Article on Zelda Wiki	Phantom

Phantom Slash (ファントムアタック, Phantom Attack) is Zelda's down special move in Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, replacing Transform from Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Overview

The move involves Zelda summoning a Phantom, a disembodied guardian suit of armor from The Legend of Zelda series, which attacks the opponent and disappears. It can be charged up to increase the range of the move. The Phantom is a solid object in the environment, so it can block movement and attacks of other fighters.

In Super Smash Bros. 4

The Phantom missing Yoshi doing his forward tilt in SSB4.

The Phantom has three different attacks, based on the charge of the move: uncharged, the Phantom does a quick and weak inwards slash; mid-charged, it does a stronger outwards slash; at maximum-charge, it does a powerful upwards slash that hits twice. While the Phantom is being shot out by Zelda, it can be reflected, which sends it in the opposite direction and changes its ownership.

The Phantom is a solid object, so fighters cannot pass through it instantly, and it can be attacked, allowing it to act as a wall. If the Phantom takes 13% damage or more during one summon, it will break, at which point it will disappear and Zelda will be unable to use Phantom Slash for another 9 seconds; a purple cloud aura will appear over Zelda's hand for the duration of this period.

Due to it acting as a solid object, making use of this move allows Zelda to control space on the stage, and defend against opponents' attacks or projectiles. Opponents passing through the Phantom (including rolling or air dodging through) can be punished by Zelda due to the relatively low end-lag of the move. The uncharged version of the move is particularly fast, allowing Zelda to summon the Phantom to force the opponent to react, while still having time to potentially shield or dodge counter-attacks.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The Phantom works slightly differently from Smash 4. In Ultimate, when charging, the Phantom appears behind Zelda and assembles itself. The move has six different charge stages. In order, they are a kick, punch, an outward slash, a downward slash, and an upwards slash. Once the Phantom is fully assembled at its sixth stage, Zelda is able to move and attack freely, while the Phantom momentarily remains still until attacking with a dashing sword slash. The Phantom can be destroyed by interrupting Zelda mid-charge or by dealing enough damage to the Phantom. If destroyed, the Phantom will remain broken on the ground for two seconds, but can be resummoned as soon as it disappears. The Phantom will not take damage from attacks that hit its shield, and will destroy projectiles while rushing forward if it has its shield.

As of patch 3.1.0, it is possible (though technically difficult) to summon the Phantom in front of Zelda by making use of a cancelled RAR down aerial into the Phantom Slash. This advanced technique, which some call the "Reverse Displaced Phantom", allows the Phantom to provide the same kind of frontal protection it previously offered in Smash 4.

Easier methods of displacing the Phantom have since been found, a particularly easy one with some practice being cancelling a RAR directly into Phantom Slash, skipping the down aerial step completely. This is most viable for Nintendo Switch Pro Controller users, as the half-circle forward motion starting from the opposite of the direction Zelda is facing is most easily done without controller notches.

Allowing Zelda to hop backwards into a Phantom has a multitude of uses. In addition to the stage control that the Phantom normally grants, displacing the Phantom will also block a multitude of projectiles, allowing Zelda to safely charge Phantom Slash in situations where it would normally be cancelled by the projectile in question.

Instructional quotes

case foldout		Summon a Phantom to slash foes in front of you. Can be charged.
Move List		Assembles a phantom, then sends it charging forward. The timing of the button press determines its attack.

Customization

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

1. Phantom Slash	2. Phantom Breaker	3. Phantom Strike
"Summon a Phantom that slashes foes in front of you. Can be charged."	"The Phantom travels a set distance and wears down enemy shields rapidly."	"The summoned Phantom strikes harder than normal but will not move forward much."

1. Phantom Slash: Default.
2. Phantom Breaker: Travels a set distance regardless of charge, but deals more shield damage; a half-charged Phantom Breaker can break most shields in one hit.
3. Phantom Strike: The Phantom appears next to Zelda regardless of charge, but deals more damage. Each possible hit except the first hit of the fully-charged Phantom Strike deals set knockback.

Trophy

Phantom's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Phantom

Sturdy guardians of the Tower of Spirits. Anjean says that normally they wouldn't attack anyone with a good heart, but evil spirits have possessed them and made them dangerous. If Link manages to stun one, Princess Zelda will swoop in and...possess it herself?!

According to Anjean, the guardians of the Tower of Spirits are attacking Link because they've been possessed by evil spirits. Luckily, Zelda can possess them too! When Link finds himself in a tight spot, she can use a Phantom's might strength to help him out! Not bad, eh?

Spirit

The Phantom spirit can be enhanced into Zelda from Spirit Tracks.

No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Slots	Base	Max	Base	Max	Base	Max	Ability	Series
258		Phantom		★★	2	1713	6878	788	3164	925	3714	Can Be Enhanced at Lv. 99	The Legend of Zelda Series

Origin

Official artwork of Phantom Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

Phantoms are recurring enemies in the Zelda series originating from The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, as guardians of a temple that Link must visit at various points throughout the game. They are shown to be indestructible for a large portion of Phantom Hourglass, and getting attacked by one would result in Link being sent to the beginning of the temple. Phantoms in this game come in three variations, each with their own abilities.

They reappear in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks with the same function, although this time they guard the Tower of Spirits and now come in four variations. After Link and Zelda head to the Tower of Spirits, they are ambushed by Chancellor Cole and his apprentice Byrne who take away her body with plans to resurrect the evil Malladus. At some point, Zelda's soul becomes trapped in the Phantom, which results in her controlling its body, and she and Link must make use of the unique abilities of each Phantom. This mechanic proves vital to proceed through Link's quest in restoring the tower and freeing Zelda's original body from Malladus' possession.

Since Zelda has control of the Phantom in Smash, the move is directly referencing Spirit Tracks. The Phantom's design in Smash primarily draws from their appearance in Spirit Tracks, as evidenced by the decorations on their shield, although it is given a unique feminine color scheme that does not precisely match Phantom Zelda. Rather than retaining the cartoonish and cel-shaded design of the "toon" Zelda games, Zelda's Phantom in Smash is given a more detailed redesign in line with her own more realistic designs. Since Zelda's Phantom is not possessed, its eyes do not glow at all.

Gallery

• 

  Palutena reflecting Zelda's Phantom.

• 

  The Phantom striking Fox in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

• 

  Zelda using Phantom Slash in Ultimate.

• 

  Phantom Slash shown by the Move List in Ultimate.

Names in other languages

Language	Name
Japanese	ファントムアタック, Phantom Attack
English	Phantom Slash
French (PAL)	Lame spectrale
French (NTSC)	Frappe spectrale
German	Phantomhieb
Spanish	Ataque del espectro
Italian	Fendente Spettro
Chinese (Simplified)	幻影攻击
Chinese (Traditional)	幻影攻擊
Korean	팬텀 어택, Phantom Attack
Dutch	Phantom-slag
Russian	Удар фантома

Trivia

• Phantom Slash is Zelda's only special move that is not based on a spell from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
• When Phantom Slash is reflected, the color of its armor changes. Its overall tone is darker, the pink armor becomes more of a rusted color, and its blue-purple armor becomes more of a grey-tinted blue. This is reminiscent of Spirit Tracks, where a Phantom possessed by Zelda would have a lighter color scheme than an independent one.
• In the Zelda games for the Nintendo DS, Phantoms are created merely by dark magic, but Zelda has not been seen to have any access to use dark magic.
  • Her summoning one, however, is similar to Lokomo Anjean doing so for the final battle in Spirit Tracks, albeit without the use of dark magic.
• If Zelda summons a Phantom and it gets destroyed and she is KO'd afterwards, she will be temporarily unable to use the move as usual but the purple cloud on her hand will disappear.
• A Phantom summoned by a Master Shadow version of Zelda will be entirely black.

Zelda's special moves

Neutral special	Nayru's Love
Side special	Din's Fire
Up special	Farore's Wind
Down special	Transform		Phantom Slash
Final Smash	—	Light Arrow		Triforce of Wisdom