Covering Fire

Not to be confused with Cover Fire, Samus's up smash.

Covering Fire
User	Snake
Universe	Metal Gear

Covering Fire (援護射撃, Covering Fire) is Snake's Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, replacing Grenade Launcher from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Overview

When activated, Snake will toss a flare grenade before crouching and putting his hand up to his ear, which will cause a crosshair to appear onscreen; the player can guide this crosshair to lock on to opponents, and, after a brief moment, rockets will launch from the foreground and attack the targeted players. Regardless of if the flare grenade remains onscreen or tossed offscreen, the crosshair and missiles will still follow after Snake has thrown it. If performed in the air, Snake will remain in place for the duration of the crosshair phase, resuming his fall after the missiles have launched.

If no players were targeted, the missiles will fire at where the crosshair was last positioned.

Instructional quote

Move List

Snake calls for reinforcements, and then uses a targeting reticle to lock on to foes up to five times. Missiles are launched at the targets. If you don't lock on anyone, the missiles fly toward the reticle's last location.

Origin

A support helicopter providing cover fire for Venom Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Venom Snake is able to have the Diamond Dogs develop a UTH-66 Blackfoot tactical helicopter equipped with AS missiles, which are missiles that lock onto targets on the ground. He is also able to develop flare grenades that summon the helicopter to provide cover fire for him wherever the flare is thrown. In Ultimate, Snake throws out a flare grenade that presumably summons a helicopter that allows the player to fire homing missiles on opponents.

The UI for the missiles bears a resemblance to the one used for the FIM-92 Stinger homing missile launcher. The bars indicating the time remaining and missiles locked on are based on the health and stamina bars in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Gallery

• 

  Covering Fire as shown by the Move List in Ultimate.

Names in other languages

Language	Name
Japanese	援護射撃
English	Covering Fire
French (NTSC)	Tir de suppression
German	Feuerschutz
Spanish (NTSC)	Fuego de cobertura
Italian	Missili di supporto
Korean	원호 사격
Dutch	Luchtsteun
Russian	Огневая поддержка

Trivia

• If a targeted character is star KO'd while missiles are firing, they can follow the character into the background. Conversely, when a character is Screen KO'd, they will still have their target icon on them.

Snake's special moves

Neutral special	Hand Grenade
Side special	Remote Missile
Up special	Cypher
Down special	C4
Final Smash	Grenade Launcher	Covering Fire