Spin Attack

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Artwork of Link using the Spin Attack from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

The Spin Attack, sometimes parsed spin attack and also known as the Whirling Blade Technique and the Whirling Blade, is a skill used by Link in several The Legend of Zelda games. Its first appearance is in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Link can execute the move by charging his sword and then releasing it once it shines or glows (depending on the game) to unleash a powerful slash that attacks all surrounding enemies. In most games, the Spin Attack spins in a clockwise direction. Although the Spin Attack swings over a wide area, it does not collide with walls, enemy shields, or any other objects, so it can also be used in tight spaces. Some games allow a Spin Attack to be performed with other weapons besides a sword.

Several games have upgrades to the standard Spin Attack, most commonly the Great Spin Attack and Hurricane Spin.

History

The Legend of Zelda series

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

“You can focus power in the blade (hold the B Button)... Then release it using the secret technique handed down by our people.”

– Link's uncle

In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Link's uncle teaches Link the Whirling Blade Technique, an attack passed down by the Knights of Hyrule, just before his death. To have Link perform the move, the player must hold down B Button, causing Link to charge his sword, and then release so that Link unleashes a Spin Attack. Link's sword sparkles just before and during the attack.

In the Game Boy Advance version, Link can engage in a quest to learn a stronger version called the Whirlwind Sword Attack, although only if ten Medals of Courage have been collected in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. Using the Whirlwind version consumes Link's Magic Meter.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, Link can automatically use the Whirling Blade once he has retrieved his Sword. To have Link perform the move, the player can hold down either or , depending on which button the sword is assigned to, and unleash it once the sword is charged. Link can spin his Sword counter-clockwise if he is moving left or, if standing still, facing left.

A book in the Mabe Village Library called "Secrets of the Whirling Blade" explains how to use the attack. Similar to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the Whirling Blade is described as a secret technique handed down through a generation of heroes.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the player can have Link perform a Spin Attack (also named spin swing) by either holding down or by rotating the Control Stick and pressing once. Link is also capable of performing a quick draw of the Spin Attack directly after sheathing his sword. Gerudo Thieves use a similar move to the Spin Attack in which they jump and twirl around with their scimitars.

Later in his journey, Link can visit the Great Fairy of Power at Death Mountain to learn a secret technique of the Spin Attack. It is more powerful than a regular one, although it uses up some of the Magic Meter whenever it is used. The enhanced Spin Attack has two variations, and either one can be activated by charging the sword for a longer period of time. The first one unleashes a blue wave, and the second one, which is slightly more powerful and requires a slightly longer charge, unleashes an orange wave and spins Link around twice. There is a quicker way for the player to have Link perform the first variation, with the additional benefit of not consuming magic, by rotating the Control Stick once and then pressing .

In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, the range of the Spin Attack can be enhanced by holding forward on the Circle Pad when the attack is unleashed. This prompts Link to quickly step forward before the spin occurs, allowing him to prepare the move from a safer distance.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link starts off with the blue variation of the enhanced Spin Attack from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. He can learn the stronger variant with an orange wave by collecting all the Stray Fairies in Woodfall Temple (or the Snowhead Temple in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D) and returning them to the Great Fairy Fountain. Unlike The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, if the player rotates the Control Stick once before pressing , Link performs the orange Spin Attack rather than the blue one. Besides Link, Odolwa uses a similar attack to the Spin Attack during the battle against him.

Because the Great Fairy's Sword has to be assigned by a C button rather than , it can not be charged, but can perform the Spin Attack by rotating the Control Stick while pressing the assigned C button. If Link quickly performs three consecutive Spin Attacks in a row, the third and final one spins twice, similar to a fully charged Spin Attack. All Spin Attacks deal the same damage as a regular sword strike, but the stronger versions do affect a progressively larger area. A charged orange Spin Attack or the third of three consecutive instant Spin Attacks also has a slightly longer duration.

In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, the Spin Attack turns the end of Deku Link's cap into a branch with thorns at the end. Spin Attacks can also be performed while wearing either the Giant's Mask or the Fierce Deity's Mask, but not the magic ones.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / Oracle of Ages

In both The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages, Link automatically knows how to perform a spin attack once he obtains the Wooden Sword. The move is executed the same way as in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

In The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, the Spin Attack is used to open the gate to the Maku Tree. Some heavily armored enemies like Onox and Ganon can only be harmed with the Spin Attack if Link fights them using either the Wooden or Noble Sword.

A few Magical Rings can affect Link's Spin Attack: the Charge Ring allows Link to charge his sword for a Spin Attack more quickly; the Spin Ring allows Link to perform a second Spin Attack directly after his first one; and the Energy Ring replaces Link's Spin Attack with a Sword Beam.

In The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages's ending credits, Link is seen teaching the Spin Attack to Ralph.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, the Whirling Blade Technique is used the same way as in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The attack cannot be used unless it has been unlocked in its paired game, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, within the same save file.

In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition, the Spin Attack is available from the start. Link can learn the Hurricane Spin upgrade by completing all three of the Hero's Trial bonus levels.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link can use the Spin Attack once he obtains the Hero's Sword. It is executed the same way as in earlier titles, but like the Nintendo 64 games, the Spin Attack can also be performed by rotating the Control Stick and pressing once. Link can also perform a Spin Attack automatically after using the Thrust four times. When Link uses the Hero's Sword, the Spin Attack is green in color (as is also shown in the game's associated artwork), but when he uses the Master Sword, it is blue. Link can also use the Spin Attack with the various enemy weapons such as a Darknut Sword as well as the Skull Hammer, if the Control Stick is rotated before using that weapon.

By collecting ten Knight's Crests and taking them to Orca, Link can learn the Hurricane Spin which, similar to the Spin Attack upgrades from the Nintendo 64 games, uses up magic power.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, the four Links use the Spin Attack frequently, doing so upon entering and finishing every stage, stepping on switches, and solving certain puzzles. The attack can be executed in one of four ways: by holding and releasing, by pressing during a roll, by rotating the Control Stick and pressing once, and by pressing repeatedly while using the Control Stick. Similar to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, the Links automatically use the Spin Attack after performing a Thrust three times.

The Spin Attack is particularly useful in conjunction with the diamond arrangement when fighting multiple enemies; this form of the Spin Attack involves the four Links revolving around the center of the formation rather than their own respective centers of gravity.

After the Links obtain over 2,000 Force Gems, they can perform the Hurricane Spin Attack, which is stronger, lasts longer, and allows the Links to move during the attack, but leaves them dizzy and disorientated afterwards.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

In The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Link has to learn the Spin Attack from Swiftblade in order to prove to a Hyrulean Soldier that he is strong enough to enter Mount Crenel.

Later on, Link can learn the Great Spin Attack from Swiftblade the First. It allows Link to continue spinning and move for a limited time by pressing whichever button the sword is assigned to repeatedly.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the Spin Attack is used differently between the Wii and Nintendo GameCube versions. In the Wii version, the player can have Link quickly perform a sword attack by shaking the Nunchuk. Because the Wii Remote has no sword button, Link cannot charge his Spin Attack, although he must wait for several seconds before he can perform another Spin Attack. In the Nintendo GameCube version, the Spin Attack is performed the same way as in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. In the Nintendo GameCube version, depending on which direction the Control Stick is moved in, the Spin Attack moves either clockwise or counter-clockwise accordingly.

Another variation of the Spin Attack can be used when attacking directly after side stepping without performing the Back Slice, and lifting Link into the air slightly. Wolf Link also has his own type of Spin Attack, which is performed using the same controls. If used, Wolf Link jumps slightly forward while spinning his whole body.

Link can learn the stronger Great Spin Attack from the Hero's Shade. It is performed like the Spin Attack, but has a larger reach and deals more damage. It is only usable when all of Link's hearts are full.

During the final phase of the boss fight against Zant, Zant uses his blades to perform an attack similar to the Spin Attack, although he becomes dizzy after using it, stunning him long enough to leave an opening. Zant also randomly uses the attack mid-teleport when his health is low.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

In The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the player can have Link perform a Spin Attack by drawing a circle around him using the Stylus. Link spins in whichever direction the circle was drawn in. Link can only perform a Spin Attack four times in a row until he becomes dizzy and has to briefly rest. The Great Spin Attack upgrade also makes a reappearance, and can be learned from a Swordsman's Scroll.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the Spin Attack is executed the same way as in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Similar to most games, Link can use the Spin Attack as soon as he obtains his first sword, the Recruit's Sword. The Great Spin Attack upgrade returns once more, as a move that Link can learn from a Swordsman's Scroll once he collects all 20 stamps for Niko's Stamp Book.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the player can have Link perform a spin attack by moving both the Wii Remote and Nunchuk in the same direction. The game introduces Link's ability to perform a vertical spin attack by moving the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk in conjunction, downward for a downward spin attack or upward for a rising Spin Attack. However, performing a Spin Attack drains nearly a third of Link's Stamina Gauge, preventing repeated use of the technique lest Link's stamina drop completely, leaving him unable to defend himself for a short time.

While under the effects of Stamina Potion+, Link can perform the Spin Attack without tiring. If used in conjunction with a Skyward Strike, a Spin Attack's range increases; executing one when in possession of one of the upgraded forms of the Goddess Sword or the Master Sword increases the attack range even further.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

In The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Link can perform the Spin Attack as soon as he obtains the Forgotten Sword. The player can charge the attack with , after which a circle briefly appears around Link, indicating the range attack. Link can learn the stronger Great Spin Attack from Mother Maiamai once he collects all 100 Maiamais.

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

In The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, the Spin Attack is used in the same way as in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. It is available when wearing any Outfit. If Link dons the Spin Attack Attire, he can perform a more powerful version of it, and by donning the Dapper Spinner Kit, Link can perform a Spin Attack without charging by attacking three times.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

“Prepare and unleash a powerful attack.”

– Charged Attacks Ability Controls description

In The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the Spin Attack appears in the form of Charged Attacks. Generally most Charged Attacks take on the form of a Spin Attack though have different properties and effects depending on the weapon used. All Charged Attacks use stamina and can be charged up to three times provided Link has the stamina. The Spin Attacks range increases the more it is charged.

One-handed swords, blades, and boomerangs for example produce the traditional Spin Attack which can cut grass, bushes, and trees. One-handed Clubs and other non-bladed one handed weapons such as Soup Ladles, Torch, Tree Branches, also produce the traditional Spin Attack, though lack cutting power. However they can still break Pot, Barrels, Ore Deposits, and crates (both wooden and metal) with their spin attack provided they have enough attack power and durability. A Spin Attack can only be performed with a lit Torch if Link is near an enemy otherwise he can't charge one up as he will hold the torch out to light things when the button is held down instead of charging, though only if an enemy is not nearby. A Lit Torch adds fire elemental properties to the spin attack. This applies to all wooden weapons capable of performing Spin Attacks when lit on fire. If Link runs out of stamina, he will perform a weak unchanged spin attack if he attempts to charge it while stamina exhausted.

Two-handed swords, axes, clubs, bats, boomerangs, and hammers produce a Charged Attack which resembles the Great Spin Attack, during which Link can move while spinning his weapon as long as he has stamina. If Link runs out of stamina or stops the attack, he will finish it by slamming his two-handed weapon on the ground to deliver a shockwave. Two-handed swords will cut grass, bushes, and trees during the spin. Rods and elemental swords add elemental effects to their respective Spin Attacks unleashing fire balls, ball lightning, or cold air around Link depending on the rod's element and this version applies to all rods of that element bypassing the rod's default number of elemental blasts during its spin attack. However element swords simply add the weapon's elemental properties to their spin attack. The Fire Rod and Meteor Rod's Spin Attack casts five fireballs in a pattern which interestingly resembles the kanji 火 (fire).

However not all weapons produce a Spin Attack when charged, such as Spears, Tridents, Farmer's Pitchfork, Wooden Mops, and the Eightfold Longblade. Instead of a Spin Attack, Link will perform a flurry of rapid-fire thrusts when perform a charged attack with a spear. The Charged Attack of the Eightfold Longblade is unique in that Link holds his sword in a crouching position before dealing a single powerful sword slash which resembles Japanese Iai-goshi.

Normally Link will perform his one-handed weapon Spin Attack counter clockwise, however if he begins his charge after delivering a single or three uncharged attack he will perform a clockwise spin attack. Link is unable to perform any charged attacks while riding a Horse, though he can ready his weapon by holding the button down and attack automatically by releasing it. Interestingly, if Link does this with a spear he will twirl it before delivering a thrust, though the spear twirling causes no damage so it does not qualify as a spin attack. Ta'loh Naeg has Link perform a Charge Attack on a Guardian Scout during his trial in the Ta'loh Naeg Shrine which acts as a combat tutorial fof various combat techniques though Link can perform Charged Attacks from the start with any training beyond the in-game hint tutorials regarding ability controls. However it is revealed in Mipha's Diary that Link already knew the Spin Attack before the Great Calamity by the time he slayed the Lynel threatening Zora's Domain as he used the Master Sword to perform the Spin Attack as finishing blow. As Link is a Knight of Hyrule by that point he likely learned it during his training as a knight as the Spin Attack has a history as one of the order's techniques and may have even learned it from his father whom was a Royal Knight from a long linage of knights. This may explain why Link knows the technique and charged attacks at the start of the game which he retained knowledge of presumably as a result of muscle memory through his years of combat training allowing him to utilize it subconsciously (as his amnesia does not really effect his motor skills). After witnessing Link kill the Lynel with it, Mipha later decided to practice the technique with her Lightscale Trident though it is unknown of she was successful.

The Charge Atk. Stamina Up set bonus granted by certain Armor sets (such as "Barbarian", "Fierce Deity", and "Royal Guard" sets) reduces the stamina consumption of Charged Attacks.

Super Smash Bros. series

Super Smash Bros.

In Super Smash Bros., the Spin Attack is Link's up-special move. It is identical to the fully charged magic Spin Attack from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It can be used be used as a strong ground attack or in mid-air to boost Link's jump, allowing him an opportunity to get back onto the stage if he has fallen off. When performed in mid-air, it is noticeably less orange in color, but retains the same range and amount of damage dealt. It has a good horizontal attack range, but leaves Link open to attacks from above and below.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the Spin Attack is used by both Link and Young Link. It is a mixture of blue and orange in this game, possibly a reference to a semi-charged and fully-charged Magic Spin Attack from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Unlike in the previous game, when used on the ground, its range is extenuated by a small length. Young Link's Spin Attack is weaker and lacks the range of Link's, but execution of the attack is more rapid, hits the target several times and can draw targets nearer to Young Link. When used in midair, it can attack opponents multiple times.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Spin Attack is used by both Link and Toon Link. Like the previous Super Smash Bros. games, it can be used as a way of getting back on to the stage in the air or a strong attack on the ground; however, unlike in previous installments, Link has the ability to charge his Spin Attack — but only when using it on ground. The Spin Attack is useful for rising, and can propel Link/Toon Link to great heights. However, it does not have a good horizontal recovery, and one must use the Clawshot to get back to the stage if Link or Toon Link is too far away. The color of the spin is red with strands of blue; possibly a reference to the Great Spin Attack in Twilight Princess, or to the blue and orange versions of the Magic Spin Attack in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Like in Melee, it can hit foes multiple times in midair.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Spin Attack returns as both Link and Toon Link's recovery. Aside from the standard version featured in previous games, both Link and Toon Link are given two extra versions of the Spin Attack through the customization feature. Link's alternate Spin Attacks are the Shocking Spin, which deals extra electric based damage but has poor horizontal distances and the Whirling Leap which sends Link higher but does not deal damage to opponents. Toon Link has the Sliding Spin Attack, which moves him horizontally along the ground, similar to the Hurricane Spin from The Wind Waker and the Flying Spin Attack which gives no vertical recovery until the last strike which launches Toon Link into the air.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the Spin Attack is used by Link, Young Link, and Toon Link.

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Soulcalibur II

Link using the Spin Attack in Soulcalibur II

In Soulcalibur II, two versions of the Spin Attack serve as Link's combo attacks. The first, called the Cyclone Attack, involves Link jumping into the air using the Spin Attack, much like the Super Smash Bros. series. It is performed by simultaneously holding Up on the control stick and pressing the Horizontal Attack button. Link will jump higher if it is charged for a few seconds, although this leaves Link's defenses open. The second attack involves Links spinning around several times on the ground, much like the Hurricane Spin, but it does not leave Link dizzy for a while. It is used by holding the Horizontal Attack button for a few seconds while standing perfectly still. If the Horizontal Attack button is held down longer, the attack will become stronger. Much like the Cyclone Attack, charging leaves Link's defenses open. When charged fully, fire surrounds Link's sword and the attack becomes unblockable. If the opponent has crouched down, the attack will be avoided completely. Link sometimes performs a Spin Attack after defeating an opponent as a taunt.

Hyrule Warriors series

Hyrule Warriors

In Hyrule Warriors, the Spin Attack is used extensively in Link's Hylian Sword and Master Sword movesets. It can be used at any time using the strong attack button but also appears in many combos and in Link's special attack. Once Link has created the Kokiri Sword badge in the Bazaar's Badge Market, he can chain any combo into a Spin Attack by holding the strong attack button. Several different variations of the Spin Attack from across the series (as well as non-canon games like the Super Smash Bros. series) are used, including the vertical Spin Attack from Skyward Sword. Additionally, Young Link can use the technique as part of his Mask moveset.

As part of the Boss DLC, Ganon can perform his own version of the attack as part of his Ganon's Rage moveset in the Ganon's Fury Challenge Mode. The attack is performed by pressing ZL on the Wii U GamePad. Ganon's version involves him a perform 360 degree swiping backhand attack.

Tetra performs the technique using her Cutlass during some of her combos and as part of her Boss Weak Point Smash.

Hyrule Warriors Legends

In Hyrule Warriors Legends, the Spin Attack appears as part of Toon Link's Light Sword moveset, along with the Hurricane Spin which appears as his Special Attack. He can also perform a slightly weaker version of the Hurricane Spin as a combo, which functions more like the Great Spin Attack as it does not cause him to become dizzy when he performs it.

Tetra can also perform the technique during certain combos, though unlike Hyrule Warriors she does not use it during her Boss Weak Point Smash due to all Boss Weak Point Attacks being simplified to a burst of energy in Hyrule Warriors Legends.

As part of her Crossbows moveset, Linkle can perform her own kick-based version of the Spin Attack which takes the form of a fiery spin kick. She has two versions of this attack, the first being a combo where she performs her spin attack while moving forward. The second appears as her End Focus Spirit Attack (which is performed automatically when the Magic Meter empties during Focus Spirit), in this version Linkle balances herself like a top using her left Crossbow to perform a large Spin Attack that produces a ring of flames as she spins rapidly.

As one of her combos, Marin can perform a series of Spin Attacks (resembling the Great Spin Attack and Hurricane Spin) with her Bell.

Phantom Ganon can perform a dual sword version of the spin attack as one of his boss attacks, however if he is attacked from behind while he is laughing following his spin attack, he will be weakened and enter a downed state, making him susceptible to a Weak Point Smash.