Fox Illusion
| Fox Illusion | |
|---|---|
 Fox Illusion in SSB4 | |
| User | Fox |
| Universe | Star Fox |
| “ | Dash right through enemies, attacking them with an illusion. | ” |
| —Melee's instruction manual | ||
| “ | Perform a fast dash. The after-image trailing behind Fox damages opponents. | ” |
| —Brawl's instruction manual | ||
The Fox Illusion (フォックスイリュージョン Fokkusuiryūjon) is Fox's side special move. Performing the attack sends Fox darting forwards with ridiculous speed, which causes an afterimage effect and hurts any enemies in his path. The move first appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and returns in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4.
It deals little damage (3%) and has very little knockback, but can knock an enemy upward. The dash is so fast that if used facing an edge at the end of a stage, the attack will cause Fox to dart over the ledge, resulting in going into the helpless state, and usually causing a self-destruct.
The move may also be used by players as a useful recovery technique, since the move can quickly cover about half of the length of Final Destination and makes up for Fire Fox's easily being edge-guarded. However, unlike Fire Fox, Fox Illusion normally halts all momentum after a dash, which can sometimes give less recovery than Fire Fox.
Because of the speed Fox travels during the move, he is capable of skipping through attacks with slow-moving and/or small hitboxes, resulting in the impression that the move gives him invincibility or intangibility.
Origin
Fox Illusion is an exclusive move to the Super Smash Bros. series, but it may have been inspired by the Arwing ability to boost itself, increasing it's speed for a small period of time.
Special use
Fox Illusion (along with his semiclones' side specials, Falco Phantasm and Wolf Flash) can be shortened by pressing the B button while or right before Fox is moving. The length to which the move shortens depends on the timing of the button press. Specifically there are five shorten lengths, 1 for each of the 5 frames Fox is travelling. Since they require the opponents to time their attacks different to edgeguard, Shortened illusions are greatly useful for recovering.
Gallery
Fox Illusion in Melee
Fox Illusion in Brawl
Fox Illusion can be a quick recovery move with great horizontal distance.
Fox using Fox Illusion to stall a ledge in Melee.
