- This article is about Fox's Blaster variant. For Falco's variant, see Blaster (Falco).
Blaster (ブラスター) is a recurring attack in the Star Fox franchise also usable by Fox in the Super Smash Flash series.
Overview
The attack consists of Fox taking out his Blaster, a small black gun, to fire long red lasers forward at opponents.
In the original Super Smash Flash, Blaster is Fox's standard attack. It works like every other projectile attack in the game, as the laser moves quickly forward and travels through opponents. Opponents hit are dealt 1% damage per frame with little knockback and flinch, which coincidentally makes the move more similar to how the Blaster works in the original Super Smash Bros. Additionally, Fox can only fire his Blaster at certain intervals, and he can only fire one laser at a time.
For the reboot, Super Smash Flash 2, Blaster is Fox's standard special move and now it works more akin to its Super Smash Bros. counterparts from Melee onward: the Blaster can be rapidly fired, does not cause enemies to flinch or deal any knockback, and has transcendent priority. Additionally, Fox can freely move left or right when firing in midair, albeit slowly. The lasers fired also travel faster, and they travel a very far distance before disappearing. The attack deals 2% damage per shot when used on an opponent. The lasers can also be reflected and absorbed by moves with these traits.
Throws
Fox using his back throw on Mario.
With the exception of Fox's forward throw, all of his throws in SSF2 involve the use of his Blaster. Fox's back throw will have him throw the opponent behind him and shoot the opponent three times, dealing 10% damage total (the throw dealing 7% and the three lasers dealing 1% each). Fox's down throw has him throwing the opponent to the ground, shooting them twice and dealing 2% damage total (the shots deal no damage); it also meteor smashes his opponent into the ground, which can set up tech chases. Fox's up throw has him throw his opponent up into the air and shoot the opponent three times, dealing 6% damage total (the throw dealing 3% and the three lasers dealing 1% each), though the knockback of the throw makes it easy for the lasers to hit the opponent. Oddly, the lasers make the opponent flinch when he uses his up throw.
Much like with his standard special move, the lasers fired in his throws can be reflected and absorbed by opponents, though reflected lasers do not change direction.
Techniques
Short hop laser
Fox performing a short hop double laser on Black Mage.
Short hop laser (also known as short hop blaster, abbreviated as SHL and SHB) is a technique in SSF2 performed by short hopping with Fox, then firing a laser. The technique has two variants: the short hop double laser (SHDL) and the short hop triple laser (SHTL), for which two or three lasers can be fired in a short hop without fast falling, respectively, though Fox can only perform up to a SHDL. Kirby can also use this technique when he uses Inhale to copy Fox's Blaster, and he is the only character who can perform a SHTL. This technique can be done because a grounded Blaster has a frame of ending lag, so short hopping while firing the blaster and landing will auto-cancel the ending lag of the move.
Origin
Artwork of Fox holding his Blaster in Star Fox 64.
Fox first used a blaster in Star Fox 64's multiplayer mode and is depicted with one in artwork and screenshots. Falco, Slippy, and Peppy also use blasters in the game's multiplayer while on the ground. Their blasters were not officially named Blasters in the Star Fox series until Star Fox Adventures, where Fox questions not being able to bring it to Sauria to General Pepper. In both SSF and SSF2, Fox's Blaster design seems to be identical to the one used in Star Fox 64, despite its upgraded appearance in Star Fox Assault.
Gallery
Super Smash Flash
Screenshots
Super Smash Flash 2
Screenshots
Early designs
Trivia
- Oddly, in SSF, Fox's Blaster does not deal any damage to Master Hand.
- This same attack is stronger than all of its official games' counterparts, but is considered very weak due to the physics of the game.
| Fox's special moves | |
|---|---|
| Neutral special move | Blaster |
| Side special move | Fox Illusion |
| Up special move | Fire Fox |
| Down special move | Reflector |
| Final Smash | Landmaster |