Spin Attack

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File:Link Spin Attack SSBM.png

Link using the Spin Attack in Melee.

For Sonic's Special Moves, see Spin Dash and Spin Charge.

The Spin Attack is Link's, Young Link's 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.

A technique that one can use for this move is the Edge Slash.

Origin

The Spin Attack, also known by many Link pros as "The Cyclone," 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.

Super Smash Bros.

Link's Spin Attack has nearly identical animation (the size of the circle made by the attack while in the air is smaller), knockback, and damage when used on the ground and in the air. Both versions deal substantial knockback, making them good combo finishers. As a recovery move, though, it is lacking in both horizontal and vertical range, and also because the attack has strictly horizontal range, leaving Link vulnerable from above and below.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

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 to deal several hits of damage. If used in mid air, the move is the same for both Link and Young Link; they will spin while moving upward, dealing a possible 5 hits, the last 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 mid air. Both Link and Young Link can grab an edge backwards with their Spin Attack, but only during the move, similar to the Falcon Dive and the Dark Dive. The edge of Link's Spin Attack allows players to give their opponents a very effective Gimp kill although with Young Link, players would require perfect timing to deliver an equal amount of knockback.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

File:Spin.jpg

Spin Attack used by Link in Brawl.

In SSBB, it gains the ability to be charged, but it is much weaker than in Melee when uncharged. It now traps enemies in a cyclone of slashes and tops it off with a powerful Up-Air. 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, somewhat similar to a Smash Attack. The attack can only be charged while Link is on the ground, however. Toon Link also has the ability to charge up his Spin Attack, but it is more like Young Link's Spin Attack from Melee, it will trap opponents and will deal multiple hits. While using the Spin Attack in the air, if all strikes make contact, the final blow has extremely powerful upward knockback. This is an excellent move for Toon Link to finish a string of aerial attacks with, or to kill 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. Toon Link's covers a greater distance in the air than Link's does. Toon Link can go from near the bottom of the Battlefield stage to the ledge without his midair jump, making Toon Link having one of the best recoveries in the game. Link can reach the ledge by giving momentum with his midair jump. If Toon Link uses Spin Attack right when he's running off the ledge, when he falls and Spin Attack starts, he won't rise at all. Link's Spin Attack as a recovery move, however, has very poor horizontal and vertical recovery and his stats makes it worse, unable to gain any horizontal distance at all if he uses it immediately after flinching until he becomes helpless, making Link having one of the worst recoveries in the game. It can also not auto-sweetspot the ledge during the first frames of Link's Spin Attack.

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  Young Link's spin attack in Melee.

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  Toon Link's Spin Attack in Brawl.