As a down aerial attack in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
The Mario Tornado is the name given to Mario's Down Special in the first two instalments of the Super Smash Bros. series. The move involves him rotating rapidly with his fists outstretched. It is a multi-hit attack, and the last hit can spike in the original SSB64. This attack's knockback was always the same in the original Super Smash Bros., regardless of the enemy's damage. However in Super Smash Bros. Melee the knockback increased with the opponent's damage.
Dr. Tornado
Dr. Tornado
Dr. Tornado is one of Dr. Mario's special attacks in the game Super Smash Bros. Melee. The attack is executed by pressing Down + B. Dr. Tornado has the same effect as the Mario Tornado, except that it is a little stronger. The special attack traps the victim into a tornado, punches them constantly, and then smashes them up into the air when the move is done. The attack can also very lightly pull someone near into the Tornado. Unlike Mario Tornado, Dr. Tornado throws them in a random direction, rather than straight up. Dr. Mario is able to hover in the air when using this attack, by holding the B Button while using it.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario's Down B has been replaced with F.L.U.D.D.. In the DOJO!! update revealing this change, a screenshot of the Mario Tornado is shown with the accompanying caption: "He still seems to have this move, though. Eh? Is it a normal attack?!" The E For All demo revealed that the Mario Tornado is now, in fact, Mario's down aerial move. The attack is quicker, but the damage is actually unchanged. In fact, this can be an effective KO move when used in midair if the opponent is hit at the very end of the tornado.
Because of it being an aerial attack, it does not affect his falling speed, but it can slightly stop his momentum when Mario is knocked into the air. Also, you must be careful if you try to short hop the move, in case you accidently fast fall as it is a down aerial. It is also the only Down B to be replaced by another move.
Origin
The Mario Tornado is probably based on the Spin Jump that originated in Super Mario World. When the player presses the A button, Mario will spin around and jump, which would bounce harmlessly off enemies and break certain blocks. The form in the Smash series where he stretches out his fists in addition may have been based on the Tornado Jump from Paper Mario. In the later game, Super Mario Galaxy, he also has a spinning attack similar to this.
Trivia
- Technically speaking, this move is the only Special Move that can be used by a generic enemy, namely the Yellow Alloy, although at the time, Yellow Alloy is copying Mario's Brawl moveset as opposed to his Melee moveset, in which the Mario Tornado was still a Special Move. It is not, however, the only Special Move that can be used by any non-playable character, since Giga Bowser shares his moveset with Bowser.
See also
| Mario's Special Moves | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | Melee | Brawl | 3DS/Wii U | Ultimate | |
| Standard Special | Fireball | ||||
| Side Special | — | Cape | |||
| Up Special | Super Jump Punch | ||||
| Down Special | Mario Tornado | F.L.U.D.D. | |||
| Final Smash | — | Mario Finale | |||
| Dr. Mario's Special Moves | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Melee | 3DS/Wii U | Ultimate | |
| Standard Special | Megavitamins | ||
| Side Special | Super Sheet | ||
| Up Special | Super Jump Punch | ||
| Down Special | Dr. Tornado | ||
| Final Smash | — | Doctor Finale | |