Getsuga Tenshō

Getsuga Tenshō is 's and Bankai Ichigo's standard special move in Super Smash Flash 2.

Overview
When performed by Ichigo, he lifts his Zangetsu into the air and then swings it downward to release a large, blue crescent moon-shaped projectile forward. The projectile can be charged for a short period of time, and there are two variations of the attack depending on how long it is charged for. Without a full charge, the projectile travels somewhat quickly and deals a single hit to opponents it makes contact with, dealing damage ranging from 7% to 9% and weak knockback. When fully charged, the projectile is bigger but travels much more slowly and with less distance, dealing multiple hits that deal 2-3% damage each with much weaker knockback.

Its main use is as a defensive field, since its big hitbox, high priority, and slow movement can help control the stage and deter potential approaches. It is also useful as a combo starter, helping Ichigo rush down opponents once it connects. However, the move is also easily punishable by opponents, as Ichigo suffers from some startup and severe ending lag when using the move. Additionally, the projectile can be reflected and absorbed.

Kuroi Getsuga
Bankai Ichigo's version of the move is called Kuroi Getsuga. Before swinging, Bankai Ichigo first holds his Tensa Zangetsu behind him, and then he grows his Hollow mask, transform to his Vizard form and creates black and red Hollow energy around him. The charge of the move can be stored, and like with Ichigo's version of the move, the move has two variants depending on the charge. When uncharged, the energy deals 10% damage to opponents hit and the projectile launched is transparent and negative in color, dealing damage ranging from 3% to 22% with weak knockback. The Hollow mask then fades away. When fully charged, Bankai Ichigo, being controlled by his Inner Hollow, laughs as the energy surrounds him, now dealing 14% damage, and the projectile launched is larger and red and black in color, dealing 34% damage and massive knockback to opponents hit. Bankai Ichigo then rips off the Hollow mask with a shattering noise before his Inner Hollow can do any more damage and regain his awareness.

The main drawback to this attack is that it takes a very long time to charge, as Bankai Ichigo only lasts so long. Bankai Ichigo can also be interrupted with another attack prior to unleashing the projectile, making it easily punishable and predictable. Additionally, when used in the air, Bankai Ichigo will not able to charge the move, instead unleashing the move with the charge already stored. Interestingly, he will also be able to move across the ground after landing, which he cannot do when performing the move on the ground.

Origin
In the Bleach franchise, Getsuga Tenshō is one of the two special skills of the Zangetsu, the other being Getsuga Jujishõ. It is also Ichigo's signature technique, although he isn't its only user (another user of this move is Ichigo's father, Isshin Kurosaki). It is performed with a slash in which Zangetsu absorbs Ichigo's spiritual energy to release a highly condensed spiritual energy at the tip of the blade, which then flies forward. Like in SSF2, this slash takes the form of a crescent moon, though it can also take the shape of a wave. The Getsuga Tenshō is a very powerful technique with great force, capable of causing large-scale damage and destruction with a single slash. Ichigo has used this technique in several different manners throughout the franchise, such as striking the ground, creating an omnidirectional blast which knocks away incoming attacks, or slashing at the ground, upturning it and crushing everything in its path. After Ichigo regains his Shinigami powers for the second time and achieved Fullbring Shikai, his Getsuga Tenshō is noticeably larger and stronger than it was before he lost his powers.

Getsuga Tenshō has several variants, depending on the sword and the user. One of the most powerful variants is Kuroi Getsuga, named this way for its black color. It is an enhanced variant of the attack used by Tensa Zangetsu, which Ichigo has in his Bankai state. The attack can be used in many of the same ways the standard Getsuga Tenshō is used in, only the blasts released are black in color with a red outline and their path can be controlled by the user, with explosively augmented power and speed. Bankai Ichigo is also able to store a Getsuga Tenshō inside his Tensa Zangetsu while fighting to strengthen or alter his sword swings, though this technique is not present in SSF2.

Trivia

 * Prior to v0.2b of the SSF2 Demo, the Kuroi Getsuga had a purple and black aura. This was later changed to be red and black instead.
 * Prior to v0.2b, an uncharged version of Kuroi Getsuga was also Bankai Ichigo's down special move. This was then replaced by Multislash.
 * Prior to v0.8a, the charge of the Getsuga Tenshō could be stored.
 * Prior to Beta 1.0.3, Getsuga Tenshō had a rather strong windbox while charging, preventing other characters from approaching (especially at the front). It also slowed Ichigo's descent when used in the air.
 * Getsuga Tenshō, in a way, works very similarly to Blade Beam, Cloud Strife's neutral special move in the official Super Smash Bros. series. Both of these moves release a crescent-shaped projectile forward, and like how Cloud's Limit Break version of Blade Beam deals more damage and is a multi-hit, Ichigo's fully charged Getsuga Tenshō deals more damage is multi-hit.