Luigi Cyclone
Luigi Cyclone is Luigi's down special move. It is similar to the Mario Tornado. The attack makes Luigi spin around wildly. It can be used as a vertical recovery move by button-mashing the special button, but this only works after a jump because the move carries Luigi's momentum with it. If used while falling, this move will just slow Luigi's fall. It is generally perceived as being very difficult to to get the full height due to the number of times the player needs to push the special button during the animation. This move does not put Luigi into a helpless mode, so the player can use the Super Jump Punch after. It is a multi-hit attack since SSBM.
History
In Super Smash Bros.
In the original, there are a total of 2 hits, 1 at the beginning of the hit, and one at the end when Luigi sends out his hands (extremely powerful). The "Smash 64" one is in the middle of difficulty between Melee and Brawl and has by far the best power of any of the 3 cyclones. It is usually considered Luigi's other main killing move outside of up B. It goes Diagonally in the air instead of vertical only like melee but it is possible to aim the control stick to only send the cyclone vertical. This takes very quick hand speed as well
In Melee
In Super Smash Brothers Melee, the Luigi cyclone is the primary vertical recovery as long as someone has very quick tap speed. There are a total of 2 hits very similar to smash 64 with one right at the beginning and one when Luigi raises his hands. This version of the cyclone has the best combo ability and very low killing ability/gimping ability. Similar to the other smash games if the Cyclone is used at the peak of Luigi's mid-air jump, it is much easier to gain height. However, unlike other smash games, the melee cyclone needs to be "charged" by using it once on the ground. It is also by far the hardest cyclone to do fully, with only people with very fast hand speed being able to do it correctly. It takes around twice the hand speed as a Jumpless Rising Cyclone from brawl. It is also a very quick out of shield move and is a good approaching move but with low priority. It is a primary combo starter vs fast fallers or heavies.
In Brawl
In Super Smash Bros Brawl, the Luigi Cyclone can travel across the stage quickly, has more hits than Melee, less power, and is very good at gimping certain characters. The vertical recovery distance is now much easier to perform than its Super Smash Bros. Melee counterpart. It has less vertical distance than smash 64 but has the most horizontal distance of all 3 games. Also, the up special has better horizontal distance allowing Luigi to recover much easier than any other smash game. The Brawl cyclone is also one of the better moves Luigi has to approach and bait. There are a few main techniques using the Cyclone in Brawl:
- Cyclone cancel (CC): Pressing down and the special button right before Luigi touches the ground allows him to instantly use the move again. [1]. This also allows Luigi to rise slightly on the ground if he taps the special button on the ground while moving.
- Jumpless rising cyclone: (JRC) Using the cyclone without jumping is much harder than using it with jumping. It takes around double the tap speed. However it is considered usually better as it allows Luigi to make a double jump afterward as well.
- Normal rising cyclone. (NRC): Using the cyclone with jumping is by far the easiest way to recover. It does however leave Luigi open for gimps as Luigi doesn't have a 2nd jump anymore otherwise.
- Stationary aerial cyclone. (SAC): Using the cyclone to keep Luigi in the same area in mid-air. Takes exactly half the tap speed as the other cyclones. Also known as a Half rising cyclone or HRC.
- Aerial cyclone gimp (ACG): Jumping and then using a fully powered cyclone to kill a character off the top (usually someone with a slow down aerial like snake) or to fast fall and then fully tap cyclone off stage vs someone's recovery, usually this is vs. Diddy or Marth. Similar to the Metaknight up air and then tornado gimp but less effective.
- Full rising cyclone (FRC): A fully vertical/horizontal cyclone.
Origin
Luigi Cyclone is a clone to Mario Tornado which is likely based on the Spin Jump that originated in Super Mario World. In SSB, that move doesn't have a trapping effect unlike Mario's. In Super Mario Galaxy, both Mario and Luigi have a spinning attack very similar to Mario Tornado and Luigi Cyclone. The spinning attack from Super Mario Galaxy made them gain some vertical height when used in the air, just like Luigi Cyclone does and Mario Tornado did, although in Galaxy the spin acted more like a double jump.
Trivia
- If it is timed right, Luigi Cyclone can get rid of a tornado that Luigi is in on Hyrule Castle.
Gallery
Caped Mario using a Spin Jump in Super Mario World.
Luigi Cyclone in Melee.
Luigi Cyclone in SSB.
