Gravitational Pull
| Gravitational Pull | |
|---|---|
 Gravitational Pull | |
| User | Rosalina |
| Universe | Mario |
| Article on Super Mario Wiki | Star Cursor |
| “ | You have to shake the Wii Remote to perform this move in Super Mario Galaxy, but you won't need to do that in this game. | ” |
| —Masahiro Sakurai | ||
| “ | Draw items safely towards you, injuring foes on the way. | ” |
| —Smash for 3DS's foldout | ||
Gravitational Pull (アイテムキャプチャー, Item Capture) is Rosalina's down special move. In the move, Rosalina waves the Star Cursor from Super Mario Galaxy around her as a form of protection.
Overview
Despite appearing to be unable to cause damage by itself, Gravitational Pull has three distinct properties. If Rosalina is within range of any items, the Gravitational Pull will bring them towards Rosalina, allowing her to use them. Several items can be moved with one use of Gravitational Pull. If an item has been thrown by another character, Rosalina will gain ownership of the item as she brings it toward herself, nullifying any damage that it would have caused. Finally, Gravitational Pull will cause a loose Luma to return to Rosalina provided it isn't loose due to Luma Shot.
If Rosalina is being directly attacked by a projectile that is not an item, the Gravitational Pull has a different purpose. It will be absorbed and orbit around towards her nullifying any damage to her. However, while orbiting, the projectile will be considered Rosalina's and do damage to other opponents if they're in the way of the orbit's path. Because this move has very little lag, using it repeatedly will give Rosalina (and Luma, provided the two are together) complete protection even against rapid-firing projectiles such as Fox's Blaster. Although Rosalina will not do any damage to opponents when absorbing projectiles from a distance, this still gives her a significant neutral game advantage against many characters, as it forces them to approach. This move doesn't work against opposing or reflected Luma Shots, and can't pull in Pikmin unless it's from either Kirby or Villager's Pocket.
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:
| 1. Gravitational Pull | 2. Catch & Release | 3. Guardian Luma |
|---|---|---|
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 |
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| "Draw items and projectiles safely toward you. While being drawn in, they can damage foes." | "Pull foes in and damage them. Has no effect on items or projectiles." | "Causes Luma to grow bigger and protect you from attacks. Also does a bit of damage." |
- Gravitational Pull: Default.
- Catch & Release: Causes fighters to be drawn in and damaged, being released after. However, Rosalina will lose her ability to draw in items. Highly inferior to the default, due to removing Rosalina's immunity to most projectile attacks, and it doesn't deal much knockback to fighters, making it rather impractical to use offensively.
- Guardian Luma: Luma briefly grows larger, protecting Rosalina, and somewhat retains the ability to pull in items. The Luma can also damage nearby fighters, giving the move some offensive properties.
Origin
While the move is not a clear translation of any move in Super Mario Galaxy, Gravitational Pull implements various features of the Star Cursor. The Star Cursor itself appears as part of the move, as it surrounds Rosalina, leaving a blue trail behind it, just like in Super Mario Galaxy.
In Super Mario Galaxy, the player can collect Star Bits by moving the Star Cursor over them. Rosalina's ability to draw in items with this move appears to be based on this ability.
In the two-player mode of Super Mario Galaxy, the second player takes control of their own Star Cursor, which they can use to suppress enemies and other hazards by pointing at them and holding A. The ability to deflect projectiles using Gravitational Pull and the ability to damage enemies with Catch & Release may also have been drawn from this feature of the Star Cursor.
The name "Gravitational Pull" is likely a reference to the numerous black holes found in the Super Mario Galaxy games.
Gallery
Gravitational Pull with a projectile F.L.U.D.D.
The Gravitational Pull brings items toward Rosalina.
