Directional Influence

A defensive mechanic that allows mild altering of a launch victim’s airborne trajectory. During attack hits, while an incoming attack is still connecting with its target, tapping directions on the control stick results in hitstun shuffling, minor movement of the stricken fighter as they flinch. But this is possible only during the strikes. When the attack’s contact ends, the victim gets launched away. During this launch is when directional influence is possible: hold a control stick direction to bend the launch path a bit in the chosen direction.

Directional influence is subtle but can make a crucial difference in fringe situations. The goal for launch victims using directional influence intentionally is to maximize the flight path to the blast zone. As damage piles up, getting hit at higher percentages can result in a KO anytime, if you’re punted far enough by the hit. But by bending the path so it takes slightly longer before arriving at a blast zone line, you may give yourself a chance to recover.

Basically, when launched laterally, you want to bend the path upward and away from the side you’re sailing toward. When launched horizontally, you want to bend the flight path sideways, so instead of flying straight upward and hitting the blast ceiling as soon as possible, you curve away and potentially stave off the knockout, allowing yourself to fall back down.

Using directional influence to bend a stricken tumble can also save you from follow-ups after some setup moves that hurl or bounce victims into juggle position. The most global example of this is the up throw of most fighters, usually clearly intended to set up juggle options directly above. Getting spiked into a tall bounce midscreen applies too.

Amusingly, because of the nature of combat, which is often fast and frenetic, you’ll probably trigger frequent instances of detrimental directional influence, often without thinking about it! For example, when you happen to be holding up on the stick right as someone launches you straight up, speeding yourself toward the ceiling blast zone, or you’re holding down on the stick when someone launches you sideways offstage, bending yourself into the plunge. There’s nothing to be done about this except to be aware of it; clean, precise control stick habits alleviate much of this as a problem.

On purpose or not, advantage is to the attacker in any case, but directional influence gives a last-ditch option for attempting to thwart a juggle combo or salvage a stock.