Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
| Tatsumaki Senpukyaku | |
|---|---|
 Tatsumaki Senpukyaku in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. | |
| User | Ryu |
| Universe | Street Fighter |
| “ | Ryu will float up slightly when using this move after a jump, making this spinning side kick great for recovering. | ” |
| —In-Game Tip | ||
Tatsumaki Senpukyaku (竜巻旋風脚, Tornado Whirlwind Leg) (or simply Tatsumaki) is Ryu's side special move in Super Smash Bros. 4. The move involves Ryu spinning forwards like a top with one leg outstretched. When used on the ground, it will not go over ledges, despite Ryu appearing to be airborne.
This move can be used as a decent horizontal recovery due to it slowing Ryu's fall while moving and not causing helplessness (which gives him quite a good recovery if combined with Shoryuken), although the move can only be used once in midair. Additionally, it can be used to nullify projectiles.
The move's distance and power goes up if the special button is held rather than just tapped; unheld, Ryu spins once and deals 8-9% damage, while he spins thrice and deals 12% if the button is held, with enough diagonal knockback to KO at 165%.
If a player happens to use the Heavy Down Tilt and then input this move (by either Side B or Input), the ending lag cancels out and immediately makes Ryu use this move. The length concept is still used. A similar combo using the Light Down Tilt can be used for the Hadoken as well, although the Inputted one is usually the best to use.
Input Tatsumaki Senpukyaku
| “ | Enter down, down-back, back for 1.16x power. Increasing the strength also increases the move’s speed and travel distance. | ” |
| —In-Game Tip | ||
As with all of Ryu's special moves except for Focus Attack, performing the move's original arcade input (down, down back, back, either attack button) will result in the attack gaining more power and distance. When successfully performed, Ryu announces "Tatsumaki Senpukyaku!" if done on the ground, or "Tatsumaki!" if done in the air. Additionally, the wind effect around Ryu becomes more opaque while he spins, and a small spark flashes during the attack's first frame.
A tapped Input Tatsumaki Senpukyaku deals 10% damage and KO's at around 220%, though it does less damage at point blank range (only 9% before Ryu starts spinning). If held, the move deals 13% damage with KO potential at 140%. It is a decent finisher for Ryu's standard attack combos, although there are better options (since the move is less powerful up close).
Customization
Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:
| 1. Tatsumaki Senpukyaku |
|---|
 |
| "A powerful spinning kick that drives you forward. Hold down the button to spin farther. (Pad/Stick icon: Down and back) " |
- Tatsumaki Senpukyaku: Default
Like the other DLC characters, Ryu currently lacks custom move variations.
Origin
Tatsumaki Senpukyaku is one of the original special moves Ryu had in his arsenal ever since the first Street Fighter, where Ryu and his rival, Ken, could perform it by moving the joystick in a semicircle away from the opponent and then pressing any kick button. In Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, both Ryu and Ken's Tatsumaki Senpukyaku dealt a single hard-hitting hit, with the distance depending on the kick button pressed. The attack has the ability to nullify opposing projectiles, which was carried over into Smash. As the series progressed, Ken's Tatsumaki Senpukyaku diversified in Street Figher II': Champion Edition, dealing multiple weak hits as opposed to one strong hit, while more fighters gained the ability to use Tatsumaki Senpukyaku, including both Ryu and Ken's Evil counterparts, along with Gouken. Other fighters tended to have a similar move, although named differently, such as Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick.
