Blaster (Fox)
- For the other neutral special moves of the same name, see Blaster (Falco) and Blaster (Wolf).
| Blaster | |
|---|---|
 Fox and Falco's Blasters in Smash 4. | |
| User | Fox |
| Universe | Star Fox |
| Article on Lylat Wiki | Blaster |
Blaster (ブラスター, Blaster), called Blaster Shot in Super Smash Bros., is Fox's neutral special move throughout the Super Smash Bros. series.
Overview
The attack consists of firing shots from a laser gun to damage far away opponents.
In Smash 64, the Blaster shoots a pink laser beam that travels slower than a standard Ray Gun shot, does 5%-6% damage, and has good knockback for how quick it is. The Blaster has increased fire rate while Fox is airborne allowing Fox to short hop double laser. Fox overall is considered among competitive players to have one of the best projectiles in Smash 64 due to its hitstun, speed, and damage. This version returned as a custom move in Smash 4, named "Impact Blaster".
In Melee, Fox's Blaster is quite different compared to the original in Smash 64; it has a faster rate of fire and traveling speed is drastically increased, but it also has no knockback or hitstun and does 1%-3% damage per shot (the lack of hitstun/knockback also applies to the Blaster being used in Fox's up, down and back throws). This is one of the few moves in the game that can never provide a KO except by stealing other players' KO's. It is mainly used from long range (as short hop lasers or short hop double lasers) to camp and bring up damage for an up throw→up aerial combo or up smash. It should be avoided while standing as there is ending lag. Its spammability gives it a more indirect function in unstaling the rest of Fox's moves, particularly reliable KO moves such as up aerial and up smash, without being heavily impacted by staleness itself.
In Brawl, Fox's Blaster has once again changed: the range of the Blaster now travels roughly half of its previous distance. His blaster inflicts 3% per shot before move decay sets in. Fox is also now capable of a short hop triple laser, allowing him to inflict more damage on opponents falling to the stage. It is similar to Melee in extent to its use for camping. It is also used after auto-canceled aerials to reduce landing lag and after forward aerials usually or after jumping from the ledge.
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:
| 1. Blaster | 2. Impact Blaster | 3. Charge Blaster |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| "Rapid-fire lasers that deal damage but don't knock opponents back." | "Slower lasers that deal damage and knock opponents back." | "Charge up and fire a single, powerful laser. It's slow but deals a lot of damage." |
- Blaster: Default.
- Impact Blaster: Nearly identical to Smash 64 and Falco's version. More damage than the basic shot (4% when fresh and 2% when stale), and also produces hitstun, but cannot be constantly fired in rapid succession.
- Charge Blaster: Charges for half a second, then shoots a large shot that deals 10.5% damage, has large hitstun, and decent knockback for a projectile, having limited KO power.
Fox using Impact Blaster in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
The shot fired using Impact Blaster.
Fox using Charge Blaster in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
The shot fired using Charge Blaster.
Throws
From Melee onward, Fox uses his Blaster in his back, up, and down throws. The shots from the Blaster have the same properties as the ones used in his neutral special, and will not cause opponents to flinch.
In Melee, during his down throw, Fox will throw his opponent to the ground, and shoot them with the Blaster. The throw meteor smashes the opponent into the ground, which allows Fox to tech chase, possibly leading into Shine combos. Fox's down throw overall deals 4% damage. In Brawl, the throw deals more damage, dealing up 9% damage, but the launch angle is drastically altered, no longer meteor smashing thrown opponents. Fox's down throw sends the opponent diagonally upward with high base knockback. In SSB4, it is semi-reliable in starting combos into a forward aerial, back aerial, or up aerial. In Ultimate, its combo potential was weakened due to thr faster knockback physics and reduced hitstun for higher knockback values.
In Melee, for his back throw, Fox will turn around and throw his opponent backwards toward a horizontal trajectory, while simultaneously shooting them rapidly with the Blaster. The throw deals 7% damage. In Brawl, Fox's back throw inflicts 8% in damage. The throw inflicts high base knockback, but extremely low knockback scaling, preventing it from ever being able to KO.
Fox's up throw involves throwing the opponent up, while then following up with rapid Blaster shots. In Melee, Fox's up throw deals up to 7% in damage, and is highly effective at setting up aerial follow ups, particularly into Fox's powerful up aerial. In Brawl, the throw deals up to 8% in damage, but its increased base knockback and ending lag and Brawl's decreased hitstun has hindered its capability at setting up aerial follow-ups. This remains true in Smash 4 and Ultimate, even with the general increase in falling speeds and hitstun in said games compared to Brawl.
Interestingly, the lasers in all three of the throws can be reflected and absorbed, much like Mewtwo's forward throw.
Throw damage dealt in Melee
| Throw | Damage % |
|---|---|
| Up | 7.46% |
| Back | 7.46% |
| Down | 4.73% |
Throw damage dealt in Brawl
Fox's up, back and down throws deal damage from both the actual throw and the lasers fired after the opponent is thrown.
| Throw | Fling | Laser | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up | 2% | 2%(x3) | 8% |
| Back | 2% | 2%(x3) | 8% |
| Down | 1% | 2%(x4) | 9% |
Throw damage dealt in SSB4
| Throw | Fling | Laser | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up | 2% | 2%(x3) | 8% |
| Back | 2% | 2%(x3) | 8% |
| Down | 1% | 1.5%(x4) | 7% |
Throw damage dealt in Ultimate
| Throw | Fling | Laser | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up | 2% | 2%(x6) | 8% |
| Back | 2% | 2%(x6) | 8% |
| Down | 1% | 1.5%(x4) | 7% |
Instructional quotes
 |
Tap  to fire repeated shots of high-speed Blaster beams.
|
 |
Fire lightning-quick blasts. If you press the B button repeatedly, you fire in rapid succession. |
 |
Fire a high-speed blaster. |
 |
Fires lasers that deal damage but don't knock opponents back. Pressing repeatedly fires rapidly. |
Origin
Fox first uses a blaster in Star Fox 64's multiplayer and is depicted with one in artwork and screenshots. Falco, Slippy, and Peppy also use blasters in the game's multiplayer while on the ground. Their blasters were not officially named Blasters in the Star Fox series until Star Fox Adventures, where Fox questions not being able to bring it to Sauria to General Pepper. In every game, Fox's blaster design seems to be identical to the one used in Star Fox 64, despite its upgraded appearance in Assault. One of Fox's Custom variants references the Assault blaster's charge capabilities.
Gallery
Fox's Blaster in Smash 64.
The Blaster projectile hits an opponent in Smash 64.
Fox's Blaster in Melee.
Fox's Blaster in Brawl.
Fox's Blaster in Smash 4
Charizard dodges one of Fox's blaster shots.
Fox using Blaster as shown by a Skill Preview in Ultimate
Trivia
- Animations left in Brawl data show Fox would have had a mechanic where overusing the Blaster would cause it to overload or misfire.
- The firing sound for Fox's Charge Blaster is borrowed from R.O.B.'s Super Robo Beam.
