Spin Attack
| Spin Attack | |
|---|---|
 Link using the Spin Attack while airborne in Melee. | |
| User | Link, Young Link, Toon Link |
| Universe | The Legend of Zelda |
| Article on Zelda Wiki | Spin Attack |
- For Sonic's special moves, see Spin Dash and Spin Charge.
| “ | Perform this in midair to use your momentum to recover. | ” |
| —Melee's manual description | ||
| “ | Use in midair for additional height. Useful for when you need to recover from far out. | ” |
| —Brawl's manual description | ||
| “ | Can be charged. Use it in midair to rise up. | ” |
| —Smash for 3DS's foldout | ||
The Spin Attack (回転斬り, Rotation Cutter) is Link, Young Link and Toon Link's up special move. The move involves any of the three versions of Link spinning his sword around in a circle. Though generally not good in terms of recovery, it is very powerful in terms of offense, especially as a ground attack.
Origin
The Spin Attack, also known by many Link pros as "The Cyclone", has been a standard move in many Legend of Zelda games, its first appearance being The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. While usually a basic move available from the start, in some games it can be upgraded with magic to deal more damage and have a greater range - this upgraded version is typically called the Hurricane Spin.
Iterations
Super Smash Bros.
Link's Spin Attack has nearly identical knockback and damage whether used on the ground and in the air, with extremely similar animation (the size of the circle made by the attack while in the air is smaller). Both versions deal substantial knockback, making them good combo finishers. As a recovery move, though, it is lacking in both horizontal and vertical range; while, as an attack, it has a strictly horizontal hitbox, leaving Link vulnerable from above and below. Unlike in Melee and Brawl, it consists of only one hit when used in the air, being as powerful as it is on the ground, usable as a combo finisher or aerial finisher.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
If used on the ground, Link will have a bit more range and opponents will be hit away quite a distance. If hit by the attack near the end of its animation, the hit acts as a semi-spike, making it a useful edgeguard technique. Young Link's version has less range, but will suck in opponents to deal several hits of damage, similar to Mario Tornado. If used in midair, the move is the same for both Link and Young Link; they will spin while moving upward, dealing a possible 5 hits, the last having considerable knockback to it, with Young Link's version being considerably weaker. The move is greatly improved from the previous game, having larger recovery distance and covering Link from above if used in midair. Both Link and Young Link can grab an edge backwards with their Spin Attack, but only during the move, similar to the Falcon Dive and the Dark Dive. Link can also descend down a edge with Spin Attack by running and performing it before the edge. The edge of Link's Spin Attack allows players to give their opponents a very effective gimp; but with Young Link, players would require perfect timing to get the same effect.
The PAL version of the game removes the semi-spike properties of Link's Spin Attack, making it a less dangerous edgeguarding technique.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Brawl, it gains the ability to be charged, but it is much weaker than in Melee when uncharged. By holding the attack, Link will hold his sword in place for a few seconds before releasing a more powerful version of his normal Spin Attack, somewhat similar to a smash attack. The attack can only be charged while Link is on the ground, however. Toon Link also has the ability to charge up his Spin Attack, but it is more like Young Link's Spin Attack from Melee, it will trap opponents and will deal multiple hits. Toon Link's spin attack is a semi-spike if multiple hits connect, though they exist only to suck in targets for the rest of the attack.
While using the Spin Attack in the air, if all strikes make contact, the final blow has extremely powerful upward knockback. This is an excellent move for Toon Link to finish a string of aerial attacks with, or to KO off the side of a small stage. The angled orientation of the aerial hitbox, especially for Toon Link's version, allows it to hit potential edge-guarders through the stage's edge. Toon Link's covers a greater distance in the air than Link's does, able to go from near the bottom of the Battlefield stage to the ledge without his midair jump, making it one of the best recoveries in the game. Link can reach the ledge by giving momentum with his midair jump.
If Toon Link uses Spin Attack right when he's running off the ledge, when he falls and Spin Attack starts, he won't rise at all. Link's Spin Attack as a recovery move, however, has very poor horizontal and vertical recovery and his stats makes it worse, unable to gain any horizontal distance at all if he uses it immediately after flinching until he becomes helpless, making Link having one of the worst recoveries in the game. It can also not auto-sweetspot the ledge during the first frames of Link's Spin Attack.
Super Smash Bros. 4
| “ | Charge with  . Use it in midair to rise up.
|
” |
| —Smash for 3DS's foldout | ||
Spin Attack returns as Link's and Toon Link's up special move in Smash 4. Toon Link's version has been updated to use the green sword trail that he produces when using the attack in Wind Waker. Both versions of the move have been buffed both in regards to attack power and recovery distance when compared to Brawl, as Link retains much more momentum when activating Spin Attack and the move itself gains much more height than their previous incarnations. An uncharged Spin Attack additionally has greater knockback scaling, giving Link another high percentage KO move, especially under the effects of rage.
Additionally, Hero's Spin, one of Mii Swordfighter's custom up special moves, is functionally identical to Spin Attack.
Customization
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Special Move Customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:
Link
- Shocking Spin: Charges the attack with electricity and greatly increases the attack's damage, knockback and hitstun. However, the move has more ending lag and its use as a recovery is almost as mediocre as its Brawl version, traveling less distance and making Link fall before he finishes the entire aerial move.
- Whirling Leap: Does no damage and cannot be charged, but sends Link up a much higher distance, making this version solely a recovery move. If used on the ground, Link will leap upwards and perform the aerial move. Gives Link extremely high air speed while the move is active.
Toon Link
- Hurricane Spin (known as Sliding Spin Attack in the PAL version): More charge time but deals more damage than usual. When used, makes Toon Link slide along the ground like a top in the direction he is facing. Covers more horizontal distance than vertical height when used in the air.
- Rising Slash (known as Flying Spin Attack in the PAL version): Similar to the stock Spin Attack, but on the last hit, Toon Link does an upwards slash that pops him and his opponent up into the air. As a recovery, it exchanges the move's overall vertical distance for a huge vertical height boost on the last slash.
Techniques
Edge Slash
Edge slash is a special technique for Link, originating from Super Smash Bros. which can be used in all games. It was discovered by Lavaris of the SmashWiki community. The N64 version was discovered by Antdgar using TAS exploits.
When playing as Link, players should do a quick dash near the edge and perform Link's Spin Attack. The attack's frames will appear, and Link will slide off of the stage, quickly inflicting damage to nearby opponents. Link may then be able to recover normally. The technique is best for quickly racking up damage on an opponent. However, the attack should not be used in 1-on-1 matches, as it is hard to perform and leaves Link vulnerable. The timing of the frames can be difficult to dictate, seeing how most players' reflexes tell them to stop at the very edge so they will not fall off. Also, using the C-stick specials controller combination is helpful when trying to perform this.
Gallery
Artwork of a Spin Attack from The Wind Waker.
Link's Spin Attack in Smash 64.
Link's Spin Attack in the SSB instruction manual.
Link performing the Edge Slash.
Link using the Spin Attack on the ground in Melee.
Young Link's Spin Attack in Melee.
Toon Link's Spin Attack in Brawl.
Toon Link's Spin Attack in Smash 4.
Link and Toon Link's Spin Attacks colliding in Smash 4.
Toon Link and Link use their Spin Attack on the ground.
