Lightning

Lightning

Overview

Type: Shield

Hit Points ✯✯✯✯✯

Attack Power ✯✯✯✰✰

Mobility ✯✯✰✰✰

Utility ✯✰✰✰✰

Learning Curve ✯✯✯✰✰

Lightning is a lightning bolt summoning rail-gun mobile. Lightning's shots each revolve around launching beacons which will summon lightning bolts from the sky of varying amounts and angles. Lightning has among the highest base HP totals in the game, and can consistently do moderate to high damage. Lightning's unique procedure for summoning its attacks creates polarizing positional situations where Lightning can attack targets from under cover just as easily as an opponent can safely attack Lightning from under cover. Because of Lightning's unique attacking patterns, it is harder to learn to use than many other mobiles. Lightning's SS is the only other attack in the game outside of IceBall and Grub's attacks to use the 'bouncing' mechanic. Lightning has difficulty in many scenarios landing its SS, which can put it at a great disadvantage without a favorable map layout or support. Lightning is easily among the best mobiles for damaging through shields.

Shot 1

Lightning's first shot fires a beacon that will, when contacting the ground, summon a lightning bolt straight down from the sky. The lightning bolt will impact the first point of land it encounters as it comes down causing damage followed by a secondary electrical burst at the same point for additional damage, which will damage through shields broken by the bolt. A moderate crater of land destruction will be caused by the lightning bolt. Because the lightning is summoned from the sky, it is both true that Lightning can hit targets on platforms above it by placing the beacon underneath, and that opponents can take cover underneath platforms to prevent the shot from reaching them.

Shot 2

Much like S1, S2 summons lightning by a pair of beacons when they contact the ground. Unlike S1, the lightning summoned by S2's beacons come down from a mirrored pair of angles of 60 degrees from level (i.e. one from 60 degrees and the other from 120 degrees). Each of these bolts will impact the nearest point of contact with the ground within a certain range and release a second electrical burst and break and deal damage through shields. If both bolts and bursts connect with a target, it will do significantly more damage than will S1, at around 250-280 damage, and can also strike multiple opponents near one another. Unlike S1, S2 does minuscule land destruction.

Special Shot

Lightning fires a heavy, bouncing electrical ball that will, shortly after initially contacting the ground, begin summoning a quick chain of lightning bursts straight down from the sky unto it for a short duration. The lightning blasts will begin digging land out and in most situations, providing the ball stabilizes in place, the ball and any mobile on top of it will be drilled into a deep, narrow hole and sustain very high damage that will generally one-hit-ko from full health. Lightning's SS damage is slightly increased if it travels through a tornado while being launched.

Tips and Techniques

1. The electrical discharges from Lightning's standard shots will all produce an area of effect damage approximately one body-length in radius. As such, Lightning can both create double hits and should be cautious when it or an ally is near its target.

2. The beacons of S2 are fired in a tight, rotating fashion. If fired at the edge of a cliff, it is likely that one beacon will contact the land at the edge and the second will continue past and land much further away or fall off the stage entirely.

3. Though situational, Lightning can use its S2 to strategically split the attack between two targets at different elevations near a ledge by firing just at the edge of the cliff. This works only if Lightning is on the same side as the elevated target. Conversely, Lightning can hit the same two targets from the opposite side of a cliff by landing S2 in or near the crook of the cliff.

4. If an opponent is inside of a tornado, Lightning's SS can be placed such that it bounces into the tornado where it will activate as it spins around the tornado, raining down bolts unto the target beneath. To execute this, aim the SS at a roughly 60 degree angle or higher and land it just on the inside edge of the tornado. This will cause it to slowly climb the tornado upward at a steep angle as it discharges. Additionally, much like Grub's SS, Lightning's SS can be (super)sky-shot such that it comes down onto the opponent directly from above and begins bouncing in place. This is most effective if the target is on flat ground and with the assistance of headwind.

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Additional Credits:

DeepFriedTomacco

~Kioski~

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