Airborne Assault

Airborne Assault
Mii Swordfighter using Airborne Assault in Ultimate.
User	Mii Swordfighter
Universe	Super Smash Bros.

Airborne Assault (変則急襲斬り, Irregular Raid Slash) is one of three side special moves for the Mii Swordfighter.

Overview

When used, the Mii Swordfighter charges up, then launches themselves forward, rapidly spinning with their blade extended, similar to Sonic at the start of Spin Dash. If contact with the foe is made, the Swordfighter delivers a single slash, which damages and knocks the enemy back while causing the Swordfighter to gain some vertical height. Performing the move like a smash attack causes it to charge faster.

When charged to max, Airborne Assault has incredible horizontal distance, able to cover all of Final Destination, and making it great for horizontal recovery. On the other hand, careless use could easily cause self-destructs, since the move leaves the Swordfighter helpless regardless of a successful hit. In fact, fully charging the move on one edge of Final Destination will make the Swordfighter land right on the other edge (assuming no one was hit), slide off before the landing animation finishes, and fall to their doom. However, using only this easily lets the Swordfighter perform the Hyrule Jump.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Airborne Assault returns with many changes. It is no longer a chargeable move and travels less distance (3/4 of Final Destination instead of the full length), but this is compensated by its abundance of buffs. It deals more damage and knockback and travels further than the previous uncharged Airborne Assault, and only causes helplessness if the Swordfighter does not act within a half-second window near the end of a missed attack. The move also stops at ledges so long as the Swordfighter is on the ground. As it can be now used in tandem with other recovery options so long as the Swordfighter acts out of the move, this makes it a significantly better for recovery. Other changes include how it interacts on hit: against shielding opponents, the Swordfighter will bounce back, giving it some shield safety, although this can be punished if the opponent knows how it interacts. Against non-shielding opponents, the Swordfighter will perform an upward bounce.

Of note is that Airborne Assault has some inconsistencies: the move's hitbox sometimes interacts strangely due to it using a harmless hit-detection hitbox to detect when to generate its damaging hitbox, which can cause the attack to "hit" but whiff, much like Raptor Boost. In addition, the move's startup animation causes the Swordfighter to rear their arm behind them, which can cause unintentional self-destructs if the player attempts to recover while directly next to a blast zone, as their arm hurtbox will be shifted backwards.

Instructional quotes

case foldout		Flip forward to strike a foe. Can be charged.
Move List		Jumps forward and slashes any opponent in the way. Bounces backward if blocked by a shield.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4 and returns in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Mii Fighters. These are the variations:

Smash 4

1. Airborne Assault	2. Slash Launcher	3. Chakram
" Flip forward to strike a foe, and then rebound off of them. Flip forward to strike foes and then rebound off of them."	" Rush through anyone in your path, and launch them upward. Rush through opponents in your path, and launch them upward."	"A throwing weapon that you can guide with directional inputs."

Ultimate

1. Airborne Assault	2. Gale Stab	3. Chakram
"Jumps forward and slashes any opponent in the way. Bounces backward if blocked by a shield."	"Launches forward and unleashes a stab. Charging runs farther and deals more damage."	"Throws a weapon that can be guided with directional inputs."

Gallery

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  Airborne Assault in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

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  Airborn Assault as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.

Names in other languages

Language	Name
Japanese	変則急襲斬り
English	Airborne Assault
French (NTSC)	Coup du moulin
German	Saltostich
Spanish (NTSC)	Asalto aéreo
Italian	Attacco dal cielo
Chinese (Simplified)	反常急袭斩
Chinese (Traditional)	反常急襲斬
Korean	변칙 급습베기
Dutch	Saltoaanval
Russian	Воздушный штурм

Mii Swordfighter's special moves Neutral special Gale Strike Shuriken of Light Blurring Blade Side special Airborne Assault Slash Launcher Chakram Up special Stone Scabbard Skyward Slash Dash Hero's Spin Down special Blade Counter Reversal Slash Power Thrust Final Smash Final Edge

Mii Swordfighter's special moves Neutral special Gale Strike Shuriken of Light Blurring Blade Side special Airborne Assault Gale Stab Chakram Up special Stone Scabbard Skyward Slash Dash Hero's Spin Down special Blade Counter Reversal Slash Power Thrust Final Smash Final Edge