Final Cutter

Final Cutter is a special attack associated with the Cutter ability. It was first used in Kirby Super Star and is used as the last part of Kirby's close-quarters Cleaving Cutter, causing him to rise high in the air with his blade out front with his foe, then crashing back down, creating a shock wave that travels forward on impact. This maneuver on its own would later become Kirby's up special attack in every Super Smash Bros. game, and then appear as part of the Smash Bros. Copy Ability. Moreover, in two games, Final Cutter appears as part of Sword's moveset, under the name Final Sword (ファイナルソード).[1]

Artwork of Final Cutter from Kirby & The Amazing Mirror.

Basics and activationEdit

 
Clip of Kirby using Final Cutter on Toughness Waddle Dee in Kirby: Planet Robobot.

There are two main methods of using this attack in the Kirby games; one involving the Cutter ability and the other involving the Smash ability. To use it with the Cutter ability, Kirby must be near a foe and facing it, and the player must press the attack button multiple times in rapid succession (typically three times). Kirby will begin by using the 'Cleaving Cutter' move, but will then transition into Final Cutter if performed successfully. Using the Smash Bros. ability, on the other hand, simply involves holding up on the + Control Pad (or Control Stick or Circle Pad) while pressing the attack button and can be done without an enemy nearby, much like in that series. One exception to this general distinction exists in Kirby Battle Royale where the Cutter ability uses Final Cutter like the Smash version.

When performing the move, Kirby rises high into the air before crashing back down again, creating a shockwave that can hit multiple foes. This shockwave does not have any cutting properties, however. Kirby uses his normal cutter blade to perform this move in the Cutter variation, but when using the Smash Bros. version, he pulls out a scimitar instead.

AppearancesEdit

Final Cutter is performable in the following Kirby games:

In Super Smash Bros.Edit

 
Kirby using Final Cutter in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
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Final Cutter is Kirby's up special move in all five Super Smash Bros. games. It causes him to pull out a scimitar, then leap upward with it before crashing back down and releasing a shockwave that travels a short distance and can hit one opponent. Enemies hit by the scimitar will be dragged along for the duration of the move in most cases, getting hit by all three parts if hit at the start. While descending, Kirby's scimitar can meteor smash opponents on hit. When used off-stage, Kirby plummets straight to the blast zone at the end of the move unless he grabs the ledge first or is otherwise interrupted. The former cannot be done if Kirby is not facing the ledge, but he can still be moved slightly to the left or right while airborne, which can potentially allow him to land on stage.

Kirby has a signature set of three shouts he makes while performing this move. Each one is associated with a different part of the attack, which means that if Kirby is interrupted before finishing, he will not shout the remaining ones.

The following table details damage values and other specific information about Final Cutter in each Super Smash Bros. title.

Final Cutter Appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series  
Game Base damage Notes
Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64) 8% (initial upswing), 2% (falling), 3% (landing), 6% (shockwave)
Super Smash Bros. Melee 8% (rise), 2% (drop), 6% (wave)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl 5% (rise), 2% (drop), 5% (landing), 6% (wave)
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U 5% (ascent), 2% (descent), 5% (landing), 6% (shockwave) The shockwave travels about half the distance it did in older games, reducing its reach, but also reducing its likelihood to hit Kirby if reflected.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate 5% (ascent), 2% (descent), 5% (landing), 6% (shockwave) Does not account for the 1.2x damage multiplier for 1v1 battles. The shockwave also gains some of its old distance back.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, there are two other variants of Final Cutter that can be applied as custom moves in place of the original, called Wave Cutter and Upper Cutter. These moves change the attack's characteristics, with the former causing Kirby to hit only with the last wave causing the ground to shake, and the latter causing Kirby to quickly rise upwards, but forego the landing attack entirely.

TriviaEdit

  • In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror using the Smash version of Final Cutter causes the ground to shake a little when Kirby lands. This effect can be used in certain instances to nudge large Inhale Blocks that would otherwise require four Kirbys to Super Inhale to move.

GalleryEdit

 
Smash Bros. Kirby performs a final cutter in Kirby: Planet Robobot

Names in other languagesEdit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese ファイナルカッター
Fainaru Kattā
Final Cutter
French Super tranche Super slice
European Portuguese Golpe Cortante[2] Cutting Blow
Spanish Corte final Final cut


References