Reflector: Difference between revisions

Like most of Fox's moves, the Reflector is unique to the [[Super Smash Bros. series|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], but may have been inspired by the Arwing's ability to deflect enemy fire by doing a Barrel Roll. As revealed in ''Brawl'', [[Slippy]] is the Reflector's original designer, and provided Fox and Falco with this special equipment for the occasion of fighting. Fox and Falco's energy shield shape as a hexagon might also reference the shape of the Supply rings in ''Star Fox 64''.

[[File:Fox Down Special Smash 3DS.jpg|thumb|200px|Fox's Reflector in {{for3ds}}.]]

Fox's Reflector creates a blue hexagonal shield around himself. Fox can keep the Reflector active for as long as he wants, and using it in midair slows his falling speed (this works by reducing his air speed and resetting his downwards acceleration). In ''Melee'', Fox can also [[Jump-canceling|jump out]] of his reflector, like with regular shields, which is what allows [[waveshine]] combos. The reflector multiplies a projectile's damage and knockback by 1.5 when reflected. If the projectile is reflected several times, his reflector may break, similar to a shield breaking, except in ''Brawl'', where the projectile just passes through the reflector and damages Fox normally. When used near a foe in the first frames, it deals 6% damage with a slightly angled down horizontal angle (being a semi-spike), set knockback and a [[Electric|sparkling]] effect. The Reflector is often used for [[shine spike]]s, which involve using the Reflector's damaging properties to knock recovering enemies downwards. It is also extremely useful against bosses, considering most of their attacks are projectiles. Fox's Reflector also grants him 1 frame of invincibility when used at the beginning.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' Fox's reflector was given much more ending lag, comparable to Wolf's Reflector in ''Brawl'', to prevent stalling in the air.

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

# '''Big Reflector ''': Increases the size of the shine by a noticeable amount, decreases the damage multiplier on reflected projectiles (being only 1.2x), and gives it a pushback effect instead of the ability to deal damage.

{{Special Moves|char=Fox}}

[[File:Falco Reflector SSB4.jpg|thumb|200px|Falco's Reflector {{for3ds}}.]]

In ''Melee'', Falco's Reflector animation is identical to Fox's and additionally, Falco can also jump cancel his shine, allowing him wavedash out of it. Falco's shine sends opponents upward, meaning he cannot combo opponents with consecutive waveshines. However it does combo into other aerials, particularly his down air, meaning Falco's shine has the potential for more extended combos. The vertical angle of his shine also means Falco cannot edgeguard with it, but because of the move's high base knockback, Falco can combo consecutive shines into a final shine for vertical KOs.

The move appears to be unchanged from its ''Brawl'' incarnation in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''.

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

# '''Accele-Reflector''': Can only reflect when moving forward, reducing reflect window, but reflected projectiles are faster and stronger.

{{Special Moves|char=Falco}}

[[File:Wolf's Reflector.jpg|thumb|200px|Wolf's Reflector in ''Brawl''.]]

Wolf's reflector differs from Fox's and Falco's in appearance, resembling a pink, elliptical "cat's eye" as opposed to a blue hexagonal shape, and Wolf carries his reflecting device on his back instead of his belt. Compared to the other two Reflectors, it gives less power to projectiles (1.3x instead of 1.5x), instead giving them a boost to 1.8 times their initial speed. The reflector is activated in one frame and can be held for as long as desired. When used, the first few frames of Wolf's reflect provide him with [[invincibility frames|invincibility]], followed by a "zap" that deals 3% and a small amount of set [[knockback]] to any opponents touching it; the least knockback of all reflectors. If the special button is held, it will then function as a projectile deflector, but leave Wolf vulnerable to physical attacks, otherwise it ceases after a short cool-down period. The initial frames of Wolf's reflector can operate as a sort of "[[counter]]": invincibility is used to avoid an attack, then the reflector damages the attacker.