Reflection
- For the move shared by the Star Fox characters, see Reflector.
Reflection is the process of using a particular special move to deflect incoming projectiles. The projectile then becomes property of the reflector's user and is often redirected to hit the original attacker. Most reflectors increase the damage done by projectiles, while some also increase their speed. It is possible for a single projectile to be reflected multiple times, such as back and forth between two characters' reflectors. Since the projectile becomes more powerful with each reflect, it is possible for the reflected projectile to be able to break any reflectors it hits (in Smash 64 and Melee, it stuns the user of the reflector; in Brawl and SSB4, it simply passes through the reflector and damages the user) and gain One-hit KO potential.
Moves with reflecting abilities
User | Move | Damage multiplier | Speed multiplier | Max damage reflectable |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | Powershield | 0.5 | — | |
Dr. Mario | Super Sheet | 1.5 | 1.0 | 50 |
Falco | Reflector | 1.5 | 1.0 | 50 |
Fox | Reflector | 1.5 | 1.0 | 50 |
Lucas | Forward smash | 1.5 | 1.5 | 50 |
Mario | Cape | 1.5 | 1.0 | 50 |
Mega Man | Skull Barrier | 1.2 | 1.0 | 25 |
Mewtwo | Confusion* | 1.0 | 1.0 | 50 |
Mii Gunner | Echo Reflector | ? | ? | ? |
Ness | Forward smash | 2.0 | 2.5 | 80 |
Palutena | Reflect Barrier | 1.2 | 1.2 | ? |
Pit | Angel Ring | 1.5 | 1.0 | 50 |
Pit | Mirror Shield | 1.5 | 1.7 | 50 |
Pit | Guardian Orbitars | 1.5 | 1.7 | ? |
Dark Pit | Silver Bow | ? | ? | ? |
Dark Pit | Guardian Orbitars | 1.5 | 1.7 | ? |
R.O.B. | Arm Rotor | 1.5 | 1.0 | 50 |
Wolf | Reflector | 1.3 | 1.8 | 50 |
Zelda | Nayru's Love | 1.2 | 1.2 | 50 |
Franklin Badge | 1.3 | 1.3 | — | |
Gray Fox | 1.0 | 1.0 | 100 | |
Gardevoir | 2.2 | 1.3 | 100 |
* In Melee, Confusion simply reverses projectiles without changing their owner.
In SSB64 and Melee, if a projectile is too strong, such as one that has been reflected multiple times, it will pass through and break a reflector it comes in contact with, similar to a shield break. In Brawl and SSB4, a projectile that is too powerful to be reflected will simply ignore and pass through a reflector it makes contact with.
Reflectors are generally very useful moves that can be vital, as they help prevent projectile camping and spamming. As such, characters with reliable reflectors tend to have better matchups against characters that rely upon projectiles, such as Samus, than those who lack a reliable reflector.
In addition to the above, the Villager in Super Smash Bros. 4 is able to grab projectiles and items and store them for later use via Pocket. While not strictly a reflector, retrieved projectiles gain damage and knockback multipliers generally associated with projectiles.
List of reflectable attacks by characters
- Bowser - Fire Breath
- Charizard - Flamethrower, Rock Smash fragments
- Diddy Kong - Peanut Popgun, Peanut (thrown), Rocketbarrel Boost (loose barrels), Banana Peel (thrown)
- Dr. Mario - Megavitamin
- Falco - back throw/up throw (shots), Blaster
- Fox - back throw/up throw (shots), Blaster
- Giga Bowser - Fire Breath
- Ice Climbers - Ice Shot, Blizzard
- Ivysaur - Bullet Seed, Razor Leaf
- King Dedede - Waddle Dee Toss (all minions when thrown plus Waddle Doo's beam attack)*, Super Dedede Jump (stars)
- Kirby - Final Cutter (wave), can copy certain attacks
- Link - Bow, Hero's Bow, Boomerang, Gale Boomerang, Bomb
- Lucario - Aura Sphere, Force Palm
- Lucas - PK Freeze, PK Fire, PK Thunder
- Luigi - Fireball
- Mario - Fireball, F.L.U.D.D.
- Mewtwo - forward throw (shots), Shadow Ball, Disable
- Mr. Game & Watch - Chef
- Ness - PK Flash, PK Fire, PK Thunder
- Olimar - Pikmin Throw
- Peach - Toad, Vegetable
- Pichu - Thunder Jolt, Thunder (bolt)
- Pikachu - Thunder Jolt, Thunder (bolt)
- Pit - Palutena's Arrow
- R.O.B. - Robo Beam, Gyro
- Robin - Elwind
- Samus - Charge Shot, Missile, Bomb
- Sheik - Needle Storm
- Snake - Hand Grenade, taunt, Remote Missile, Up Smash
- Squirtle - Water Gun (charged)
- Toon Link - Hero's Bow, Boomerang, Bomb
- Villager - Lloid Rocket, Timber (cut tree)
- Wario - Wario Bike (thrown, tires)
- Wolf - Blaster
- Yoshi - Egg Throw, Yoshi Bomb (stars)
- Young Link - Fire Bow, Boomerang, Bomb
- Zelda - Din's Fire, Phantom Slash
- Zero Suit Samus - Paralyzer, Power Suit Pieces
∗When reflected, Waddle Dees and Waddle Doos will not switch ownership.
List of reflectable attacks by items
All thrown items are reflectable.
- A walking Bob-omb
- A set Bumper (Smash 64 only)
- Cracker Launcher shots (not the explosions)
- Fire Flower
- Green Shell
- A traveling Hothead
- Lip's Stick spores
- Ray Gun shots
- Red Shell
- A flaming Soccer Ball
- Star Rod- Shots fired
- Super Scope shots
- Superspicy Curry flames
- A set Unira
List of reflectable attacks by Poké Ball Pokémon
- A thrown Bonsly
- Charizard
- Chikorita
- A copied projectile attack by Clefairy
- Cyndaquil
- A thrown Electrode
- Kyogre's water
- Meowth
- Piplup
- Starmie's stars
- Staryu's stars
List of reflectable attacks by Assist Trophies
- Excitebikes
- Hammer Bro
- Infantry and Tanks-Bullets only
- Jeff (excluding explosions created)
- Knuckle Joe's Smash Punch
- Ray MK III (excluding explosions created)
- Saki's bullets
List of reflectable attacks by stages
- Sector Z - shots fired from Arwings
- Corneria - shots fired from Arwings, Wolfens, and Great Fox
- Venom - shots fired from Arwings and Wolfens
- Apples in Green Greens
- Shellcreepers and Sidesteppers in Mario Bros.
List of reflectable attacks by enemies and bosses
- Armank - energy shot
- Autolance - launched lance
- Bombed - thrown head
- Boom Primid - thrown boomerang
- Bullet Bill - will turn around when reflected; homing versions will re-aim themselves afterward
- Crazy Hand - bombs (not the explosion)
- Duon - scattershot
- Fire Primid - fireball
- Gamyga - lasers
- Hammer Bro. - hammers
- Master Edges - sword projectiles
- Master Hand - Finger Bullet
- Meta Ridley - small- and medium-sized fireballs (not the large one)
- Poppant - tossed gifts
- Puppit - lasers
- Rayquaza - energy ball
- R.O.B. Blaster - beams
- R.O.B. Launcher - missiles
- Roturret - bullets
- Scope Primid - both shots
- Spaak - both attacks