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The Fox Illusion (フォックスイリュージョン) is Fox McCloud's Side Special Move in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Fox jets forward, causing an afterimage effect, striking any enemies in his path. Falco and Wolf have similar attacks named Falco Phantasm and Wolf Flash, respectively.

Overview[]

It deals little damage and has very little knockback, but can knock an enemy upwards. The dash is so fast that if used facing an edge at the end of a stage, the attack will cause Fox to dash over the ledge, resulting in a Helpless state, and usually causing a Self-Destruct, which does not occur in 3DS/Wii U.

The move may also be used 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 edgeguarded. However, unlike the former, Fox Illusion normally halts all momentum after a dash, which can sometimes give less recovery.

Fox's Special Moves
64 Melee Brawl 3DS/Wii U Ultimate
Standard Special Blaster
Side Special Fox Illusion
Up Special Fire Fox
Down Special Reflector
Final Smash Landmaster Team Star Fox

Custom Variations[]

Fox Burst[]

Fox Burst is one of Fox's Side Special Moves that can be used via customization. Fox does a dash that deals no damage, but an explosion occurs where Fox stops.

Strengths

  • An explosion occurs where the move stops
  • Could possibly be used off-stage for gimps
  • Deals more damage

Weaknesses

  • Has longer ending lag
  • Travels a shorter distance
  • Doesn't deal damage during the dash

Wolf Flash[]

Wolf Flash is one Fox's Side Special Moves that can be used via customization. It is an adaptation of Wolf's move of the same name. Fox travels at an angle and when it hits, it meteor smashes opponents at the end of the move.

Strengths

  • Deals more damage at the end of the move and if opponents are below
  • Can meteor smash at the end of the move
  • Travels in a diagonal angle which is useful for avoiding opponents punishes

Weaknesses

  • Travels a slightly shorter distance
  • Has so much ending lag
  • Not useful for on-stage attacks while airborne
  • Only deals maximum damage when sweetspotted
  • Is difficult to sweetspot

Fox's Custom Special Moves
Custom 1 Custom 2
Standard Special Impact Blaster Charge Blaster
Side Special Fox Burst Wolf Flash
Up Special Flying Fox Twisting Fox
Down Special Big Reflector Amplifying Reflector

Illusion Cancel[]

Fox Illusion (along with Falco Phantasm and Wolf Flash) can be cancelled with the B button. In each of these cancellations, the characters keep their horizontal momentum in the air. There are three points during the startup lag frames which the player can cause the dash to cancel in which these moves can be cancelled, but it is most easily done with Fox, due to his longer beginning lag.

The first part for cancellation is right before he starts the dash. Fox will move just about 3 feet as if attempting to stop himself from dashing, stalling out if in midair. The second part is in mid-dash; canceling the attack now will send him slightly less than the normal Illusion distance, but his momentum will still carry him forward. The last part is right before the dash is completed and if cancelled now, Fox will move slightly farther than the normal illusion distance due to leftover momentum. However, with practice, the player can control exactly when Fox will cancel. Since all three types of canceled Illusions can hurt the opponent, this is both useful to pseudo-wavedash while attacking (due to its sliding properties of landing on the ground), which can save him from punishment, as well as recovery, thanks to momentum leftover from the attack.

Trivia[]

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