Tempest

Tempest
Lloyd using Tempest in SSF2.
Universe	Tales
User(s)
Effect	Lloyd spins around with his swords extended, damaging opponents several times.

Tempest, also known as Tempest Strike and in Japan as Splitting Air Slash / Violent Air Slash (裂空斬/烈空斬), is a recurring attack in the Tales series also usable by Lloyd Irving in the Super Smash Flash series.

Overview

Tempest consists of Lloyd spinning around in midair while having both Vorpal Sword and Flamberge extended, delivering a circling slash that hits opponents multiple times. Lloyd shouts "Tempest!" whenever he uses this attack.

In Super Smash Flash

In the original Super Smash Flash, Tempest is Lloyd's up attack. Lloyd can only spin once per attack, requiring the player to hold down the attack button so he can continue spinning. However, the hitbox of the attack covers Lloyd's entire body at all times, making it useful for attacking on all sides. Opponents his by the attack are dealt 4% damage per frame and strong knockback, making it a reliable instant-KO attack.

In Super Smash Flash 2

Lloyd hitting Mario with Tempest.

In the reboot, Super Smash Flash 2, Tempest has turned into Lloyd's side special move. When executed, Lloyd now performs a forward straight jump before he starts spinning, making it useful for horizontal recovery. If the move makes contact with an opponent, Lloyd will rise up with the opponent and swing four more times, with the first three hits dealing 2% damage each and the final hit launching opponents with 6% damage, for a total of 12% damage. However, if Tempest does not make contact with an opponent, then Lloyd will be put into a helpless state at the end of the move.

Origin

Lloyd using Tempest in Tales of Symphonia.

Not to be confused with a spell in the Tales series called Tempest, the attack in the Super Smash Flash series is based on Tempest Strike (also referred to as "Tempest" in several games), a recurring arte in the series that originates from Tales of Destiny and is generally used by sword wielders such as Lloyd. When using the arte, the user somersaults into the air while extending their weapon outward, slashing the enemies multiple times while airborne. The rising portion of the move upon hitting an opponent in SSF2 is based on Omega Tempest, also known in Japan as Vacuum Splitting Slash (真空裂斬), an upgraded version of the arte in which the user spins upwards to continue the attack.

Gallery

Super Smash Flash

Screenshot

Lloyd using Tempest on Temple.

Super Smash Flash 2

Screenshots

The right version of Tempest being used on Tower of Salvation.

Lloyd about to use Tempest on Sand Ocean.

Lloyd missing Mario with Tempest.

Early design

Lloyd using his neutral aerial Tempest on Fourside.

Trivia

• Tempest was frequently mislabeled in official sources for SSF, along with earlier demos of SSF2, as Tiger Blade.
• In SSF, as the hitbox covers his entire body, the official strategy guide page recommends using this attack to easily complete 100-Man Melee.
• Prior to SSF2 Beta, Lloyd's side special move was instead Sonic Thrust. It was changed to Tempest and moved to his dash attack as a part of Lloyd's revamped moveset.
• Tempest was Lloyd's former neutral aerial attack in SSF2 before the release of Beta.
• Tempest is one of Lloyd's three attacks in SSF2 that take inspiration from Mii Swordfighter, a character he is a DLC costume of in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, being similar to Airborne Assault, one of the Mii Swordfighter's available side specials. The other attacks to take inspiration from this are Rising Falcon and his down aerial.