Witch Twist
| Witch Twist | |
|---|---|
 Witch Twist in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. | |
| User | Bayonetta |
| Universe | Bayonetta |
Witch Twist (ウィッチツイスト, Witch Twist) is Bayonetta's up special move in Super Smash Bros. 4 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Overview
Bayonetta does a spiraling jump in the air that hits multiple times, similar to Little Mac's Rising Uppercut. Though the distance traveled is low compared to many other recoveries and both damage and knockback on the final hit is minimal, Bayonetta is not rendered helpless after performing the attack, and can perform it again following a double jump, making it useful for combos, as the attack sends opponents off to the side, where After Burner Kick is an ideal follow-up. The move can alternatively be used for edgeguarding. Furthermore, the looping hits of Witch Twist have high base knockback, so should only one of the looping hits connect, it can actually KO at percents as low as 10% off the upper blastline.
Like with all of Bayonetta's attacks, holding the attack button down lets Bayonetta fire bullets above and below her. The attack also features aesthetic variations: the trails emitted are blue if Bayonetta's default costume is used, or red if her "A Witch With No Memories" alternate costume is used.
Witch Twist has an interesting quirk of restoring Bayonetta's double jump if the move is used immediately after it. This allows her to gain additional height before each Witch Twist, further improving its combo and recovery potential. This also allows tap jump users to execute the first Witch Twist more reliably, rather than double jumping and ending up only with the second use. However, uses of Witch Twist itself do not replenish this way, so Bayonetta can only use her double jump up to three times. The window for this technique after using the double jump is 4 frames in Ultimate since version 8.0.0, and 3 frames in Smash 4 and earlier versions of Ultimate.
Instructional quote
 Move List |
 |
Spins up into the air like a cyclone. A second twist is possible if combined with a midair jump. |
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:
| 1. Witch Twist |
|---|
 |
| "Bayonetta spins up into the air like a cyclone. Combine it with a midair jump to do a second twist." |
- Witch Twist: Default.
Like the other DLC characters, Bayonetta lacks custom move variations.
Origin
Witch Twist is a technique purchasable at the Gates of Hell for 15,000 halos. Its incarnation in Super Smash Bros. is a cross between it and a similar purchasable technique called Witch Strike. The visual effects and ability to shoot while using the attack are derived from the former, but it lacks the preceding spinning knee slide, which also slows the game down momentarily in the first Bayonetta. The ability to use the move again after a double jump is derived from the latter, which is activated by pressing the punch button immediately after performing a jump or double jump in the original games. The attack is similar to Drill Jump, a technique in PlatinumGames' predecessor Clover Studio's game Viewtiful Joe.
Gallery
Witch Strike, which the Smash incarnation of Witch Twist takes inspiration from, in Bayonetta 2.
Witch Twist in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Witch Twist as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
 Japanese |
ウィッチツイスト, Witch Twist |
 English |
Witch Twist |
 French |
Torsion de sorcière |
 German |
Hexendrehung |
 Spanish |
Giro brujo |
 Italian |
Turbinio stregato |
 Chinese |
魔女旋身 |
 Korean |
위치 트위스트, Witch Twist |
 Dutch |
Heksendraai |
 Russian |
Ведьмин вихрь |
