Reflector (commonly referred to as the Shine) is Fox's, Falco's, and Wolf's Down Special Move. The user projects an energy field that reflects projectiles.

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Overview

Reflector acts as a shield, and deflects any projectile from any angle, with the exception of Final Smashes. It can also be used to damage enemies in close proximity to the user when activated.

In the original Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, if this shield deflects too many projectiles in one use, or if its user attempts to reflect a projectile of sufficient power (such as a constantly reflected Red or Green Shell), it will shatter like a normal shield, and leave the user stunned. In Brawl and 3DS/Wii U, the Reflector does not shatter. Rather, it simply ceases reflecting projectiles, and the user takes the full damage of the attack.

Fox McCloud

Fox's Reflector creates a blue hexagonal shield around himself. Fox can keep the Reflector active for as long as he wants, and using it in midair slows his falling speed. This works by reducing his airspeed and resetting his downwards acceleration. The Reflector multiplies a projectile's damage and knockback by 1.5 when reflected. If the projectile is reflected several times, it may break, similar to a shield breaking. The Reflector is often used for spikes, which involve using the Reflector's damaging properties to knock recovering enemies downwards. It is also extremely useful against bosses, considering most of their attacks are projectiles.

In Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Reflector caused a sound effect identical to the sound effect used for picking up items. Because of this, Fox made a different sound when he grabbed items. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Reflector's sound effect was changed.

While in the reflector, Fox's falling speed is altered: Fox falls and accelerates more slowly. In Brawl, Fox can effectively hover in the air by repeatedly using it. The slowed down falling speed, mixed with the damaging aspect of the Reflector, can prevent Fox from being juggled. However, using the Reflector for spikes in Brawl is much less useful, due to a combination of the Reflector's damage affected knockback, higher floatiness, and longer recoveries.

Glitch

There is also a glitch that causes some visible effects to disappear, by using his reflector. It has been confirmed to work in Pictochat, Pokémon Stadium (1), Brinstar, and Custom Stages. By activating the reflector on the right edge of Pictochat and being pushed to the right will cause the reflector to change quicker until a purple outline appears. Hold the Reflector for several minutes after and slowly, "special" effects will no longer be visible. Fox can now be pushed away from the edge. This will end with invisible shields and some Final Smashes will look a bit different, PK Starstorm has been confirmed. The hanging bush that comes up in Pokémon Stadium on the Grass stage has the same shape as the edge on Pictochat, and the glitch will activate and perform similarly. The most difficult location to do the glitch is at Brinstar because it is done on the upper right platform after breaking the connection and the lava will cancel out the glitch. In fact, any attack the disturbs the Reflector will reset the effects, and even if the effects are not visible they are still there and can do damage if it is an attack.

Custom Variations

Big Reflector

Big Reflector is one of Fox's Down Special Moves that can be used via customization. Big Reflector is a larger reflective shield that doesn't power up reflected projectiles.

Strengths

Can push opponents away

Larger refelecting hitbox

Useful for gimps

Weaknesses

Doesn't power up reflected projectiles

Weaker reflection multiplier (being 1.2 instead of 1.5)

instead of Doesn't deal damage up-close

Can't be used for combos

Amplifying Reflector

Amplifying Reflector is one of Fox's Down Special Moves that can be used via customization. This reflector sends projectiles back with twice the speed and power, but it takes longer to activate.

Strengths

Deals more reflecting damage

Reflected projectiles travel faster

Weaknesses

Takes longer to activate

Causes Fox to fall faster making this move useless off-stage

Doesn't deal damage up-close

Can't be used for combos

Falco Lombardi

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Falco's Reflector is identical to Fox's, although it sends opponents upwards when used as an attack. Because of this, Falco cannot waveshine combo, unlike Fox. He can, however, juggle and Star KO with it. The actual reflector deals 8% damage and reflected projectiles deal 1.5x its damage

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Falco uses his Reflector by kicking it away from him when it is activated, returning as if magnetized, dealing 6% damage. The change grants Falco better reach with his Reflector, and can also serve as a quick surprising hit. Reflector has a 40% chance of tripping opponents, which can be used to set up combos. Reflector is considered a projectile, and it travels through enemies unhindered. Because Falco kicks it, he cannot hold it in place. This means that when playing as Falco, the player must have good timing to reflect projectiles. It should be noted that the Reflector remains active until it returns to Falco's belt, making the move virtually impossible to interrupt with projectiles, and allowing Falco to reflect projectiles from all sides when the Reflector is close to his body.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, Falco's Reflector comes out much faster and ends faster than in Brawl, making it a more viable option for relieving pressure. However, the actual Reflector deals 5% damage, has a much lower chance of tripping (now being 25%), and has a much weaker reflecting multiplier (1.2x the damage of the projectile). In addition, once Falco grabs the Reflector the window for reflecting ends, granting Falco a much more shorter window for reflecting, making timing even more crucial than in Brawl.

Custom Variations

Accele-Reflector

Accele-Reflector is one of Falco's Down Special Moves that can be used through customization. Only reflects projectiles when moving forward, but sends them back stronger than normal.

Strengths

Refelected projectiles deal more damage

Can be used to rack up damage on opponents

The Reflector travels faster

Weaknesses

The Reflector itself deals less damage

Only reflects projectiles when moving forward

The Reflector won't travel as far

Reflector Void

Reflector Void is one of Falco's Down Special Moves that can be used via customization. The Reflector destroys shots rather than reflecting them. The reflector itself deals more damage.

Strengths

Destroys projectiles (even the rapid ones)

The Reflector itself deals more damage

The Reflector travels a bit further

Weaknesses

Won't reflect projectiles

Has longer ending lag leaving the user exposed to enemy attacks

The Reflector travels slower

Wolf O'Donnell

Wolf's Reflector differs from Fox's and Falco's in appearance, resembling a pink, elliptical "cat's eye", as opposed to a blue hexagonal shape, and Wolf carries his reflecting device on his back instead of his belt. When deflecting projectiles, it reflects them at double their initial speed. The reflector is activated in one frame and can be held for as long as desired. When used, the first few frames provide him with invincibility, followed by a "zap" that deals 3% damage, and a small amount of set knockback to any opponents touching it; the least knockback of all reflectors. If the B button is held, it will then function as a projectile deflector, but will also leave Wolf vulnerable to physical attacks; otherwise, it ceases after a short cooldown period. The initial frames of Wolf's Reflector can operate as a sort of counter: invincibility is used to avoid an attack, then the reflector damages the attacker. Unlike Fox's reflector, Wolf's reflector will not significantly reduce his falling speed.

A glitch will sometimes occur, causing the appearance of a smaller reflector field within the usual reflector field. This seems to be a graphical glitch, as it only impacts the animation of the reflector.

Origin

Like most of Fox's moves, the Reflector is unique to the Super Smash Bros. series, but may have been inspired by the Arwing's ability to deflect enemy fire by doing a Barrel Roll, plus, its hexagonal shape is the same as the Rings in Star Fox 64. As revealed in Brawl, Slippy Toad is the Reflector's original designer, and provided Fox and Falco with this special equipment for the occasion of fighting.

Trivia