Gerudo Dragon
- For the move that replaced Gerudo Dragon from Brawl onward, see Flame Choke; for Captain Falcon's move that Gerudo Dragon was cloned from, see Raptor Boost.
| Gerudo Dragon | |
|---|---|
 Gerudo Dragon used against Mario. | |
| User | Ganondorf |
| Universe | The Legend of Zelda |
| “ | When Ganondorf strikes with his Gerudo Dragon, enemies rise skyward enveloped in dark flames. | ” |
| —Ganondorf's trophy description | ||
Gerudo Dragon (地竜拳, Earth Dragon Fist) is Ganondorf's side special move in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It is essentially a clone of Captain Falcon's Raptor Boost, but it is much more powerful, slower, and the uppercut involves dark magic instead of fire.
Overview
Gerudo Dragon is an uppercut that has the ability to counter some projectiles while the attack is propelling Ganondorf forward, similarly to Raptor Boost. The attack sends the opponent upwards, but unlike Raptor Boost, it does not meteor smash when used in the air. The attack inflicts 17% on the ground, and 16% while airborne.
In the low-to-middle percentages, the attack sets the opponent up for many juggling combos, though not as effective as Raptor Boost due to its higher knockback. However, despite its higher knockback, it is not strong enough to KO at realistic percentages.
The move is generally not optimal to use due to its short distance that gives it a poor approach, and is easily punishable if used under the wrong circumstances. The attack is moderately laggy if missed; Ganondorf will fall to the ground and sluggishly get up, all the while vulnerable to attack. In addition, like with Raptor Boost, Gerudo Dragon does not grab ledges, making it poor for horizontal recovery.
