Reflector
| Reflector | |
|---|---|
 Fox's "Reflector device" in Brawl | |
| User | Fox, Falco, and Wolf |
| Universe | Star Fox |
| Article on Lylat Wiki | Reflector |
The Reflector (リフレクター), informally known as the Shine, is Fox's, Falco's and Wolf's down special move. When used, the user creates a blue or purple hexagonal energy field which acts as a shield, and deflects most projectiles from any angle (with the exception for unblockable attacks). 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.
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
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 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. 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 makes this technique extremely situational, but can be used for various ways to keep opponents from returning.
Character Differences
Fox
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, 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 in the shine, Fox's falling speed is altered: Fox falls and accelerates more slowly. This is the reason that Chillin dashing works. In Brawl, the move's start-up 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 spamming his shine. However, shine-spiking in Brawl is much less useful due to a combination of the reflector's damage affected knockback, longer recoveries and floatiness.
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| Neutral special | Blaster Shot | Blaster | |||
| Side special | — | Fox Illusion | |||
| Up special | Fire Fox | ||||
| Down special | Reflector | ||||
| Final Smash | — | Landmaster | Team Star Fox | ||
Falco
In Melee, Falco's Reflector is identical to Fox's, although it sends opponents upwards when used as an attack; because of this, Falco cannot use waveshine combos, unlike Fox. He can, however, Star KO with his shine, and it also doesn't have set knockback. It can also be canceled with a jump like Fox's, so it can follow up into an aerial attack after hitting an opponent.
In Brawl, Falco uses his Reflector by kicking it away from him when it is activated. It then returns to him as if magnetized. This serves not only as a reflector, but also as an unpredictable approach to opponents. If timed correctly, it will trip opponents, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. The Reflector's hitbox now also has an 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.
However, 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.
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| Neutral special | Blaster | |||
| Side special | Falco Phantasm | |||
| Up special | Fire Bird | |||
| Down special | Reflector | |||
| Final Smash | — | Landmaster | Team Star Fox | |
Wolf
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.
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| Neutral special | Blaster | |
| Side special | Wolf Flash | |
| Up special | Fire Wolf | |
| Down special | Reflector | |
| Final Smash | Landmaster | Team Star Wolf |
Description from the Melee Instruction Booklet
Reflect projectile attacks back at enemies.
Description from the Brawl Instruction Booklet
Reflect any projectiles back the way they came at great speed.
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.
- While characters use a small reflecting device for this move in Brawl, in Smash 64 and Melee, the character just held a defending pose without any visible object, which at first made some players believe it was some sort of magnetic force or "electrical shield".
Gallery
Fox's Reflector in SSB.
Fox's Reflector in Melee.
Falco's Reflector in Melee.
Fox's Reflector in SSB4.
