Cross Chop

Cross Chop
	; Incineroar using Cross Chop in Ultimate.
User	Incineroar
Universe	Pokémon
Article on Bulbapedia	Cross Chop (move)

Cross Chop (クロスチョップ, Cross Chop) is Incineroar's up special move.

Overview[edit]

Cross Chop is a move where Incineroar leaps upwards into the air, and then descending diagonally to perform a diving, fiery cross chop. The descent can also be influenced left and right by the player, giving it a degree of flexibility. Incineroar also gains 11.99% damage-based armor on frames 4-15, making it a powerful albeit committal out of shield option against mixups.^[1] This also adds safety to recovery, as well as a decent reactionary punish against poor approaches.

Cross Chop causes a fiery explosion once Incineroar lands, with Incineroar's descending body hitbox and landing explosion usually being the main combat components of the move. The explosion deals powerful knockback; the descending hitbox KOs at 75% from the edge of Final Destination, with the explosion being almost as powerful. However, the move has high ending lag, making it punishable. As the rising and descending hits are meant to combo into each other, both hits have set knockback; however, the descending hit has extremely high base knockback that acts as a powerful gimp even at 0%, allowing for a sacrificial KO that always KOs the opponent first.

Unlike most up specials, Cross Chop does not render Incineroar helpless, unless Incineroar lands during its descent and does not touch solid ground during the landing animation. This can be triggered through windboxes such as F.L.U.D.D. Due to Cross Chop's diagonal angle and poor horizontal travel distance, safely using it for recovering requires it to be used while extremely high in the air (almost from the top left/right of the screen), or just underneath the edge, as it is a virtually guaranteed self-destruct any other way.

Instructional quote[edit]

Move List		Jumps into the air, then dives down diagonally. Causes an explosion when landing that hits nearby opponents.

Origin[edit]

Cross Chop in Pokémon Sun and Moon.

Cross Chop is a Fighting-type move introduced in Pokémon Gold and Silver Versions. It has 100 base power and a higher chance of dealing a critical hit, but has 80% accuracy. Incineroar learns it at level 66.

Cross Chop's appearance and properties in Smash bear a major resemblance to—and are likely directly inspired by—the Flying Cross Chop, a move used by Alex from the Street Fighter series, albeit with different angle and properties, as well as Flying Cross Chop requiring Alex to be in the air in order to use it, both of which based on the real-life Cross Chop move. Popularized by Mil Máscaras, the move involves the attacker launching themselves at their opponenet with their arms crossed in front of them, often leading to a double backhand chop. While the move is incredibly risky and can be countered if the opponent is prepared, its explosive nature can easily take someone to the ground for a pin.

Gallery[edit]

Cross Chop as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language	Name
Japanese	クロスチョップ, Cross Chop
English	Cross Chop
French	Coup-Croix
German	Kreuzhieb
Spanish	Tajo Cruzado
Italian	Incrocolpo
Chinese	十字劈
Korean	크로스촙, Cross Chop
Dutch	Kruisstoot
Russian	Перерубание