Screw Attack (move)

For the item of the same name, see Screw Attack (item).

Screw Attack
The Screw Attack in Brawl
User	Samus
Universe	Metroid
Article on Metroid Wiki	Screw Attack

The Screw Attack (スクリューアタック, Sukuryū Atakku) is Samus's up special move. The move causes Samus to somersault into the air, surrounding herself in a bluish (yellowish in Melee) electrical field; inflicting damage on any opponents that touch her. The Screw Attack does cumulative damage and sucks opponents into the center. It's also often used as recovery move. This move is also one of two moves that Samus can use to send opponents upward.

The Screw Attack used by Samus is different from the one used by the item. Samus' attack gives her a very quick boost upwards and stays at that height for a second before falling. The item attack, however, causes the character to slowly jump upwards and start falling immediately after reaching the top point. Samus' attack can only be used once before landing and causes helplessness, due to it being an up special move. The item attack, however, is an initial jump and midair jump, and does not cause helplessness. Lastly, Samus cannot use any other attack while using her Screw Attack, but aerials can be performed with the item attack to create powerful combos.

In Melee, any charging of Samus' Charge Shot will be canceled if she is hit during this attack in the PAL version of the game.

Customization

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

1. Screw Rush: Deals more damage and moves more diagonally/horizontally.
2. Apex Screw Attack: A purely vertical leap that only damages at the beginning and end.

Origin

The Screw Attack is an upgrade that Samus collects in nearly every Metroid game. In the Metroid games, it is much like its Smash Bros. counterpart - it constantly damages enemies during any spinning jump. However, its Smash Bros. version is weaker by comparison. In all Metroid games the Screw Attack deals such massive damage as it kills or destroys almost everything in its path on contact as well as protecting Samus from all but the strongest attacks, and also continues to be active while she falls in the spinning motion, while in Smash Bros. it merely does damage and ends at the peak of the jump.

In most Metroid games Samus can combine the Screw Attack with the Space Jump upgrade (which allows infinite consecutive jumps, and even unlimited vertical movement in the 2D games, though obviously not in Smash Bros.) to chain multiple Screw Attacks together. In the Metroid Prime series, the Screw Attack is used after the normal jump and second Space Jump are used, allowing her to jump up to five additional times in order to cross large gaps, as well as wall jump.

The Screw Attack is one of the last special abilities Samus can learn, causing her to spin with electrical energy whenever she jumps, instantly destroying most enemies. Combined with the Space Jump, Samus can continually jump and destroy everything in her way.

The Boost Ball custom move is based on the Boost Ball upgrade introduced in Metroid Prime. The Boost Ball allows Samus to charge up energy in Morph Ball form, then release it to accelerate at high speed; this allows her to traverse halfpipes and bowl over some enemies.

The Shinespark custom move is bases on the Shinespark, a technique that allows Samus to propel herself through the air with the help of the Speed Booster upgrade. By activating the Speed Booster and then crouching, Samus can store up the boost and then release it via jumping, which will then rapidly propel her in the direction of her choice. While the Shinespark is capable of damaging enemies and getting to areas that would otherwise be near-impossible to reach, it is most often used by speedrunners who value the rapid movement it provides.

In Super Smash Bros.

In Smash 64, the Screw Attack is a poor recovery move, gaining Samus fairly little vertical or horizontal distance. On the ground, however, it causes Samus to shoot up into the air quickly. The move has invincibility frame(s) in the first few frames of initiating the move. It is also a useful move in shield break combos, particularly against opponents standing on platforms above Samus. However, as with most drills in the game, it is easy to SDI out of.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Brawl, the Screw Attack regain its ability to trap enemies seen in Smash 64, but absent from Melee. A new and useful addition to this move is the increased knockback at the very end of the move, making this a somewhat useful getaway move to use on the ground to escape tough situation (similar to Bowser's Whirling Fortress), as the knockback provides enough time for counterattack. The move has a few meteor smashing hitboxes, though they are always canceled out by the rest of the move.

Description from the Melee Instruction Booklet

Attack with a spinning jump. Also use it to get back onto the stage.

Description from the Brawl Instruction Booklet

Spin upwards while attacking. Use it to get yourself back to safety after being launched.

Description from the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Foldout

Jump into opponents to hit and launch them.

Gallery

• 

  The Screw Attack as seen in Super Metroid.

• 

  The Screw Attack in Smash 64.

• 

  The Screw Attack in Melee.

• Screw Attack Plain.jpg

  The Screw Attack in Brawl.

• Screw Attack SSB4.png

  The Screw Attack in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Samus's special moves

Neutral special	Charge Shot
Side special	—	Missile
Up special	Screw Attack
Down special	Bomb
Final Smash	—		Zero Laser