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| Back Slash | |
|---|---|
 Shulk performing Back Slash on Mario and Dedede, demonstrating the attack's knockback discrepancy. | |
| User | Shulk |
| Universe | Xenoblade |
Back Slash (バックスラッシュ, Back Slash) is Shulk's side special move in Super Smash Bros. 4.
Overview
Shulk performs a small leap, announces "BACK SLASH!", and does a wide downwards slash attack with the Monado. The amount of knockback and damage inflicted varies depending on the direction the opponent is facing; a successful attack on an opponent's back will deal bonus damage and put them into a different knockback animation, facing away from Shulk, the same animation triggered by bouncing off a wall after suffering knockback. Back Slash's damage ranges from 9-10% with negligible knockback from the front and 16% with considerable knockback from the back. A successful back-hitting Back Slash becomes one of Shulk's most damaging attacks in Buster mode, dealing 22%, and also one of Shulk's reliable KO moves with the Smash art, KOing in the early 90%s.
The small jump that Shulk performs when using the move can jump over many projectiles, and the slash can catch opponents off guard with its wide range, giving it some use as a surprise approach option. However, Shulk cannot cancel out of the move when he has initiated it: as a result, careless use of it can result in opponents punishing the attack's lag, and it can also result in a self-destruct if used too close to a ledge. In addition, despite the small lateral movement Shulk gets from initiating the move in the air, utilizing it as recovery is risky as the move does not sweetspot ledges.
It is also one of the few moves with a back-hitting hitstun animation, as the opponent does not automatically turn around when receiving a hit from this attack.
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:
- Back Slash Leap: Shulk leaps up before slashing downward towards the ground. Has reduced horizontal movement, but comes out a little faster.
- Back Slash Charge: Shulk leaps forward, gaining super armor for the slash. This move has increased horizontal movement, but has harshly reduced damage if not striking the back.
Origin
Back Slash is one of Shulk's physical arts in Xenoblade Chronicles: if the move is used from behind, the enemy takes double the normal damage. Otherwise, it is treated like a normal attack. The red color of the Monado's beam is a reference to the red which identifies physical arts in the menus.
