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Reflector

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This article is about the down special move of the characters from the Star Fox universe. For the general principle, see reflection.
Reflector
Fox Reflector closeup.jpg
Fox's "Reflector device" in Brawl
User Fox
Falco
Wolf
Universe Star Fox
Article on Lylat Wiki Reflector
“ Reflect projectile attacks back at enemies. ”
—Melee's instruction manual
“ Reflect any projectiles back the way they came at great speed. ”
—Brawl's instruction manual
“ Reflect incoming projectiles and increase their power. ”
—Smash for 3DS's foldout

Reflector (リフレクター, Reflector), informally known as Shine notably in competitive play, is Fox's, Falco's, and Wolf's down special move. When used, the user creates a blue hexagonal or purple energy field which acts as a shield, and deflects any reflectable attack from any angle. It can also be used to damage enemies in close proximity to the user when activated. If this shield deflects too many projectiles in one use, or if its user attempts to reflect a projectile of sufficient power (such as a constantly reflected Red or Green Shell), it will shatter, like a normal shield, and leave the user stunned. In Brawl, the Reflector does not shatter. Rather, it simply ceases reflecting projectiles. It was revealed that the shield originates from a small device the user carries. How it is used and its effects depends on the user.

Origin

Like most of Fox's moves, the Reflector is unique to the Super Smash Bros. series, but may have been inspired by the Arwing's ability to deflect enemy fire by doing a Barrel Roll. As revealed in Brawl, Slippy is the Reflector's original designer, and provided Fox and Falco with this special equipment for the occasion of fighting. Fox and Falco's energy shield shape as a hexagon might also reference the shape of the Supply rings in Star Fox 64. Up until Brawl, there was no sign of how Fox or Falco activated their Reflectors, as they simply held a stance and the energy shield simply "appeared" around them. However, Subspace Emissary and the Star Fox cast's redesigns in Brawl revealed that their reflectors were miniature devices that activated on a swipe of their hands.

Fox's version

Fox's Reflector in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Fox's Reflector creates a blue hexagonal shield around himself. Fox can keep the Reflector active for as long as he wants, and using it in midair slows his falling speed (this works by reducing his air speed and resetting his downwards acceleration). In Melee, Fox can also jump out of his reflector, like with regular shields, which is what allows waveshine combos. The reflector multiplies a projectile's damage and knockback by 1.5 when reflected. If the projectile is reflected several times, his reflector may break, similar to a shield breaking, except in Brawl, where the projectile just passes through the reflector and damages Fox normally. When used near a foe in the first frames, it deals 6% damage with a slightly angled down horizontal angle (being a semi-spike), set knockback and a sparkling effect. The Reflector is often used for shine spikes in edge-guarding, which involve using the Reflector's damaging properties to knock recovering enemies downwards. It is also extremely useful against bosses, considering most of their attacks are projectiles. Fox's Reflector also grants him 1 frame of invincibility when used at the beginning.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Reflector causes a sound effect identical to the sound effect used for picking up items. This was also used in Super Smash Bros., except that items don't make the same sound in this game, and Fox still made a slighty different sound from other characters when picking up items. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Reflector's sound effect was changed.

While the reflector is active, Fox's falling speed is altered: Fox falls and accelerates more slowly; this is the reason that the Chillin dash works. In Brawl, the move's ending lag was decreased, so Fox can effectively hover and stall in the air by repeatedly using his reflector. The slowed falling speed, mixed with the damaging aspect of the Reflector, can prevent Fox being juggled. Fox can also turn in midair when repeatedly activating the reflector. However, shine-spiking in Brawl is much less useful due to a combination of the reflector's damage affected knockback, longer recoveries, and floatiness, though it can be used immediately while hanging on a ledge.

In Super Smash Bros. 4, Fox's reflector was given much more ending lag, comparable to Wolf's Reflector in Brawl, to prevent stalling in the air. It also no longer semi spikes aerial opponents, practically eliminating all of the move's offensive capability in Fox's edgeguarding.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:

1. Reflector 2. Big Reflector 3. Amplifying Reflector
Reflector
Big Reflector
Amplifying Reflector
"A shield that reflects projectiles, upping their speed and power." "A larger reflective shield that doesn't power up reflected projectiles." "Sends projectiles back with twice the speed and power, but takes longer to activate."
  1. Reflector: Default.
  2. Big Reflector: Increases the size of the shine by a noticeable amount, decreases the damage multiplier on reflected projectiles (being only 1.2x), and gives it a push effect instead of the ability to deal damage.
  3. Amplifying Reflector: Increases the damage multiplier on reflected projectiles by around 2.1x, but has no damage, no pushback, cannot stall in midair, and has increased startup frames.

Falco's version

Falco's Reflector Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

In Melee, Falco's Reflector animation is identical to Fox's and additionally, Falco can also jump cancel his reflector, allowing him to wavedash out of it. The knockback on the move sends opponents upward, meaning he cannot combo opponents with consecutive waveshines like Fox can. Falco's reflector, however, does combo into other aerials, particularly his down air to create the combo string known as pillaring which consists of excessive use of the reflector, down air, and up tilt. This potential means Falco's reflector has the potential for more extended combos. The vertical angle of his reflector also means Falco cannot edgeguard with it, but because of the move's high base knockback, Falco can combo consecutive shines for vertical KOs.

In Brawl, how Falco uses his Reflector is much different, as he now kicks it away in front of him when it is activated. It then returns to him as if magnetized. This serves not only as a reflector, but also as an unorthodox, but relatively unrewarding poke option in neutral. It can occasionally trip opponents, leaving them vulnerable to tech chases, but if the move doesn't trip, it is highly punishable. The Reflector's hitbox now also has a horizontal angle like Fox's, though it is weaker when used against airborne opponents, and doesn't grant invincibility frames anymore. It can travel through enemies unhindered, though. Also, since Falco kicks it, he cannot hold it in place, unlike Fox. This means that timing is crucial in reflecting projectiles. Note that when the Reflector comes back to Falco, it can also reflect any projectiles back at any angle at the last second.

The move appears to be visually unchanged from its Brawl incarnation in Super Smash Bros. 4, except that Falco's animation for the move is more fluid and he catches his reflector when the move ends instead of it just disappearing. It still trips opponents at low percentages, but because of the higher hitstun in Smash 4 and the move is additionally faster, the move is a safer and more reliable poking option than Brawl's version.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:

1. Reflector 2. Accele-Reflector 3. Reflector Void
Reflector
Accele-Reflector
Reflector Void
"Kick out an energy shield that reflects projectiles and deals damage." "Only reflects when moving forward, but sends them back stronger than normal." "Destroys shots rather than reflecting them. The reflector itself does more damage."
  1. Reflector: Default.
  2. Accele-Reflector: Can only reflect when moving forward, reducing reflect window, but reflected projectiles are faster while dealing the same amount of damage. The reflector is recolored green, and deactivates once it stops moving forwards.
    In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, this variation is a Challenge unlock, only obtainable by using Falco to get a chain of at least 150 in solo Trophy Rush. Golden Hammers will not work.
  3. Reflector Void: The reflector deals more damage, but destroys absorbable projectiles instead of reflecting them. It still reflects non-absorbable projectiles, but they deal 0.75x damage. The reflector is also recolored purple.

Wolf's version

Wolf's Reflector in Brawl.

Wolf's reflector differs from Fox's and Falco's in appearance, resembling a pink, elliptical "cat's eye" as opposed to a blue hexagonal shape, and Wolf carries his reflecting device on his back instead of his belt. Compared to the other two Reflectors, it gives less power to projectiles (1.3x instead of 1.5x), instead giving them a boost to 1.8 times their initial speed. The reflector is activated in one frame and can be held for as long as desired. When used, the first few frames of Wolf's reflect provide him with invincibility, followed by a "zap" that deals 3% and a small amount of set knockback to any opponents touching it; the least knockback of all reflectors. If the special button is held, it will then function as a projectile deflector, but leave Wolf vulnerable to physical attacks, otherwise it ceases after a short cool-down period. The initial frames of Wolf's reflector can operate as a sort of "counter": invincibility is used to avoid an attack, then the reflector damages the attacker. Unlike Fox's Reflector, Wolf's Reflector will not reduce his falling speed.

Techniques

Chillin dashing

Fox and Falco can perform a technique referred to as Chillin dashing, named after Chillindude829, in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It is performed by running off the edge, and at the moment the character is going to fall off, the character must use the Reflector and perform a jump shine. Covering a decent distance, it is useful for edgeguarding. It is generally followed up by a jump canceled back aerial. A psuedo-Chillin dashing can be performed by Fox in Super Smash Bros.; however, since Fox cannot jump out of his shine, it would only work to edgeguard against recoveries.

Shine dropping

Fox's shine drop in Melee.

Similar to shield platform dropping, this technique is done by performing a shine while on a soft platform, and then dropping through it by pressing down on the control stick. This technique is the trigger to activate Shine Mines.

Shine mines

Fox's shine mine in Melee.

Fox and Falco can also perform a technique referred to as Shine Mining, a term coined and discovered by Darktooth, in Super Smash Bros. Melee. It is performed by first shining in the location the player wishes to leave the shine mine. Then, when the player wishes to activate the mine, he/she must perform a shine drop through a platform anywhere on stage, and the mine will become an active reflector for exactly two frames starting from the 2nd frame after activation. It is important to note that the mine does not have the knockback and damage properties of the initial frames of a normal reflector - it can only reflect projectiles. The limited uses and difficult input timing make this technique extremely situational, but it can be used in various ways for edge-guarding.

Gallery

Trivia

  • In Super Smash Bros., level 5 and higher CPUs will never use the Fire Flower or Ray Gun against Fox, since he can reflect the projectiles. Instead, they will just throw the item at him, even though he can still reflect the thrown item.
  • In Super Smash Bros. Melee, CPU Foxes at high levels mostly use their down throw when grabbing someone, and then quickly follow up with a shine to push the enemy sideways. As CPUs in Melee use grabs as one of their main attacks, this combo easily becomes exploitable by them. It can be easily avoided, however, as the last hit can be instantly teched since it drops the foe on the ground. The tech even allows to avoid the shine without rolling away. CPU Falcos do not exhibit this behaviour, however.
    • Also, if the CPU Fox uses another type of throw and the foe is left close to it (such as by low damage ratio), it may use the Reflector even if it doesn't reach the foe.
  • In Super Smash Bros., if Fox uses Reflector on a walking Bob-omb, the Bob-omb will instantly KO anyone who touches it.
  • In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there seems to be a bug in both Fox's and Wolf's Reflectors which seems to skip the initial frames the Reflector must stay activated (according to the data in their moveset coding, the Reflector was supposed to be active for a minimum of 18 frames before it could be deactivated), which is possibly the main reason why both their Reflectors contain little ending lag (which grants Fox the ability to stall in the air). This issue seems to have been fixed in Smash 4 as Fox's Reflector now contains more lag upon activation.

See also

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