Spin Attack
| Spin Attack | |
|---|---|
   Link, Young Link, and Toon Link using Spin Attack in Ultimate. | |
| Users | Link Young Link Toon Link |
| Universe | The Legend of Zelda |
| Article on Zelda Wiki | Spin Attack |
- For Sonic's special moves, see Spin Dash and Spin Charge.
- For the Mii Swordfighter’s functionally identical up special, see Hero's Spin.
The Spin Attack (回転斬り, Rotating Cutter) is Link, Young Link, and Toon Link's up special move. The move involves any of the three versions of Link spinning his sword around in a circle. Though generally not good in terms of recovery, it is very powerful in terms of offense, especially as a ground attack.
In Super Smash Bros.
Link's Spin Attack has nearly identical knockback and damage whether used on the ground and in the air, with extremely similar animations; however, the grounded version releases a wide, orange-tinted ring of "magic" circling him (similar to charging up a Spin Attack in Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask), while the aerial version lacks this ring. Both versions deal substantial knockback, making them good combo finishers. As a recovery move, though, it is lacking in both horizontal and vertical range; while, as an attack, it has a strictly horizontal hitbox, leaving Link vulnerable from above and below. Unlike in later games, it consists of only one hit when used in the air, being as powerful as it is on the ground, usable as a combo finisher or aerial finisher.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
The Spin Attack returns as Link and newcomer Young Link's up special moves. While fundamentally the same as in Smash 64, the grounded version no longer produces a wide ring on use, and the user spins much more rapidly before coming to a braking stop.
If used on the ground, Link will have a bit more range and opponents will be hit away quite a distance. If hit by the attack near the end of its animation, the hit acts as a semi-spike, making it a useful edgeguard technique. Young Link's version has less range, but will suck in opponents for several hits of damage, similar to the Mario Tornado. If used in midair, the move is the same for both Link and Young Link: they will spin while moving upward, dealing up to five hits, with the last hit having considerable knockback to it, with Young Link's version being considerably weaker. The move is greatly improved from the previous game, having larger recovery distance and covering Link from above if used in midair. Both Link and Young Link can grab an edge backward with their Spin Attacks, but only during the move, similar to the Falcon Dive and the Dark Dive. Link can also descend down an edge with the Spin Attack by running and performing it before the edge. The edge of Link's Spin Attack allows players to give their opponents a very effective gimp; but with Young Link, players would require perfect timing to get the same effect.
The PAL version of the game removes the semi-spike properties of Link's Spin Attack, making it a less dangerous edgeguarding technique. Animation wise as of Melee, both Links spin outward to the left for the grounded version, while the airborne version has them spin to the right inward while angling themselves into an upward motion (leaning downward to their left).
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Brawl, the Spin Attack gains the ability to be charged, but it is much weaker than in Melee when uncharged. By holding the attack, Link will hold his sword in place for a few seconds before releasing a more powerful version of his normal Spin Attack, similar to a smash attack. Toon Link also has the ability to charge up his Spin Attack, trapping opponents and dealing multiple hits just like Young Link's Spin Attack from Melee. Toon Link's spin attack is a semi-spike if multiple hits connect, though they exist only to suck in targets for the rest of the attack. The move can only be charged for the grounded version; the aerial version cannot be charged at all.
While using the Spin Attack in the air, the move changes to a multiple-hitting attack that does five hits. The final blow has extremely powerful upward knockback, making it a good finisher at the upper blast line. This is an excellent move for Toon Link to finish a string of aerial attacks with, or to KO off the side of a small stage. The angled orientation of the aerial hitbox, especially for Toon Link's version, allows it to hit potential edge-guarders through the stage's edge.
In a similar fashion as Smash 64, Link's Spin Attack in Brawl is notoriously poor as a recovery move due to its very low horizontal and vertical distance. It additionally grants almost no momentum if used immediately after hitstun ends, especially if used in the opposite direction where he is traveling, and is also unable to auto-sweetspot the ledge during its first frames. These issues give Link one of the most ineffective recoveries in the game and are one of the major factors for his bottom four-tier placement. On the other hand, Toon Link's version covers a greater distance in the air than Link's does, able to go from near the bottom of the Battlefield stage to the ledge without his midair jump, and also keeps more momentum while rising, making it one of the best recoveries in the game. However, if Toon Link uses Spin Attack right when he's running off the ledge, he won't rise at all.
In Super Smash Bros. 4
The Spin Attack returns as Link's and Toon Link's up special move in Super Smash Bros. 4. Despite retaining the Master Sword, Toon Link's Spin Attack has oddly lost its light blue energy trail and instead sports the green energy trail that is produced when he uses the Spin Attack while wielding the Hero's Sword. Link's version additionally has a slightly different animation where his sword spins at different heights throughout the move, although this is purely aesthetic. Both versions of the move have been buffed both in regards to attack power and recovery distance when compared to Brawl, as Link retains much more momentum when activating the Spin Attack and the move itself gains much more height than their previous iterations. An uncharged Spin Attack additionally has greater knockback scaling, giving Link another high percentage KO move, especially under the effects of rage.
Additionally, the Hero's Spin, one of Mii Swordfighter's custom up special moves, is functionally identical to the Spin Attack.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Spin Attack returns as Link, Young Link, and Toon Link's up special move in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. All three versions have been buffed to connect more reliably and are more difficult to escape, and Young Link received the ability to charge his Spin Attack similarly to his counterparts.
Each version has also received updated aesthetics and animations. The Hero of the Wild leans forward more when using the move in the air, and now spins inwards like in Smash 64. The Hero of Time spins his sword at a different height, and the move's ground animation is similar to how it was performed by the Link seen in SSB4. Toon Link shares the former traits of the other two Links.
The sword trails are unique to each of the Links. the Hero of the Wild's sword trail now aesthetically matches the bright blue spin trail seen in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the Hero of Time's sword trail now resembles the one used by the Hero of Twilight in Smash 4, and the Hero of Wind's sword trail has effectively reverted to its white coloration as seen in Brawl.
Instructional quotes
 instruction booklet |
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Perform this in midair to use your momentum to recover. |
 instruction booklet |
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Use in midair for additional height. Useful for when you need to recover from far out. |
 case foldout |
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Can be charged. Use it in midair to rise up. |
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Charge with  . Use it in midair to rise up.
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 Move List |
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Strikes opponents while spinning. Acts as a jump if used in midair. |
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Spins with his blade outstretched. Can be charged if used on the ground, and acts as a jump if used midair. | |
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Spins with his sword. Can hit opponents more than once and can be charged. |
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the variations:
Link
| 1. Spin Attack | 2. Shocking Spin | 3. Whirling Leap |
|---|---|---|
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| "Strike opponents while spinning. Acts as a jump if used in midair." | "Strong and electrical, but sideways motion is reduced, and it leaves you vulnerable." | "Sends you soaring high into the air but doesn't deal any damage to opponents." |
- Spin Attack: Default.
- Shocking Spin: Charges the attack with electricity and greatly increases the attack's damage, knockback and hitstun. However, the move has more ending lag and its use as recovery is almost as mediocre as its Brawl and especially its SSB version, traveling less distance and making Link fall before he finishes the entire aerial move.
- Whirling Leap: Does no damage and cannot be charged, but sends Link up a much higher distance, making this version solely a recovery move. If used on the ground, Link will leap upwards and perform the aerial move. Link is given a lot of mobility during the animation, allowing him to change directions multiple times while rising. It also cannot snap to the ledge during the animation.
Toon Link
| 1. Spin Attack | 2. Sliding Spin Attack | 3. Flying Spin Attack |
|---|---|---|
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| "Spin with your sword. Can hit opponents more than once and can be charged." | "Slide forward while spinning. If used in the air, you'll move more sideways than up." | "A spin attack that ends in an upward slash, sending both you and the slashee into the air." |
- Spin Attack: Default.
- Sliding Spin Attack: More charge time but deals more damage than usual. When used, it makes Toon Link slide along the ground like a top in the direction he is facing. Covers more horizontal distance than vertical height when used in the air. If he is still suffering from knockback when he uses it, his horizontal movement will be crippled. Inspired by the upgraded Spin Attack used in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
- Flying Spin Attack: Similar to the stock Spin Attack, but on the last hit, Toon Link does an upwards slash that pops him and his opponent up into the air. As a recovery, it exchanges the move's overall vertical distance for a large boost in vertical height on the last slash. Additionally, the upward slash has armor.
Edge Slash
The Edge Slash is a special technique for Link, originating from Super Smash Bros. which can be used in all games. It was discovered by Lavaris of the SmashWiki community, while the SSB version was discovered by Antdgar using TAS exploits.
When playing as Link, players should do a quick dash near the edge and perform Link's Spin Attack. The attack's frames will appear, and Link will slide off of the stage, quickly inflicting damage to nearby opponents. Link may then be able to recover normally. The technique is best for quickly racking up damage on an opponent. However, the attack should not be used in 1-on-1 matches, as it is hard to perform and leaves Link vulnerable. The timing of the frames can be difficult to dictate, seeing how most players' reflexes tell them to stop at the very edge so they will not fall off. Also, using the C-stick specials controller combination is helpful when trying to perform this.
Origin
The Spin Attack, has been a standard move in many The Legend of Zelda games, its first appearance being The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. While usually a basic move available from the start, in some games it can be upgraded with magic to deal more damage and have a greater range. This upgraded version is known as the Hurricane Spin in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and inspired a custom special move for Toon Link.
Via the charging mechanic introduced in Brawl, many iterations of the Spin Attack can be charged up in its home series appearance, though the result varies depending on the game (either for more damage and range or an alternate variation).
Years after the Spin Attack's introduction to the Super Smash Bros. series, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, introduced the Back Slice, a rising sword attack performed in a spinning motion very similar to the Spin Attack's use as a recovery move in Smash.
Gallery
Link's Spin Attack in SSB.
Artwork of Spin Attack in the Super Smash Bros. 64 instruction manual.
Link performing the Edge Slash.
Link using the Spin Attack while airborne in Melee.
Link using the Spin Attack on the ground in Melee.
Link using the Spin Attack on the air in Smash 4.
Young Link's Spin Attack in Melee.
Toon Link's Spin Attack in Brawl.
Toon Link's Spin Attack in SSB4.
Link and Toon Link's Spin Attacks colliding in SSB4.
Toon Link and Link use their Spin Attacks on the ground.
Link using Spin Attack as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.
Young Link using Spin Attack as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.
Toon Link using Spin Attack as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
 Japanese |
回転斬り |
 English |
Spin Attack |
 French |
Attaque circulaire |
 German |
Wirbelattacke |
 Spanish (PAL) |
Ataque circular |
 Spanish (NTSC) |
Ataque giratorio |
 Italian |
Attacco rotante |
 Chinese (Simplified) |
回旋斩 |
 Chinese (Traditional) |
迴旋斬 |
 Korean |
회전베기 |
 Dutch |
Draaiaanval |
 Russian |
Круговая атака |
Trivia
- The Spin Attack is the only special move in Link's moveset that has not been replaced with another similar move throughout the series.
- The Spin Attack is one of three up special moves that always uses up the character's double jump in Brawl and Smash 4 regardless if the player saved it before use, despite the near-universal change across all other characters that allows them to use their double jump after their up special move if they are hit out of it; the other two up special moves are Hydro Pump and Quick Attack.
Technical details
Link:
- Link (SSB)/Up special
- Link (SSBM)/Up special
- Link (SSBB)/Up special
- Link (SSB4)/Up special
- Link (SSBU)/Up special
Young Link:
Toon Link:
