History Main / SpinAttack

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'': Zant has this among his arsenal of [[ConfusionFu random attacks]].

* In ''VideoGame/DiabloII'', Barbarians can learn the Whirlwind skill at level 30, which has them spinning towards a direction while attacking any enemy caught within your path.

* The Amazon of ''VideoGame/DragonsCrown'' has the Brandish attack, where the Amazon spins her BladeOnAStick around her at the end of a [[BladeSpam four hit combo]]. Like the Spin Attacks of other Beat Em Ups, it hits hard, has a wide-area effect, and makes her temporarily invincible while doing it. Investing more skill points into it lets the Amazon do it multiple times in a row.

* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':

* All the Cures in ''Fanfic/RhythmicPrettyCure'', given the nature of rhythmic gymnastics. The biggest examples are Cure Twirl, who incorporates tiptoe turns and ribbon spirals into his SignatureMove, Pretty Cure Elegant Spiral; and Cure Clubs, who incorporates pirouettes and baton twirling into her SignatureMove, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Pretty Cure Passion Pirouette]].

* ''VideoGame/RaidouKuzunohaVsTheSoullessArmy'': not sure if this alleviates the lack of realism at all, but Raidou does not remain perfectly upright while spinning (he passes even closer to the ground under the force of the CombinationAttack category like this), and it takes a little bit of time for him to be able to attack again/block after that.
* In ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'', the pins Lightning Anger and Lightning Rage give Neku this kind of attack. In addition, Mink Noise use spinning as an attack, as well as [[SpinToDeflectStuff to avoid being hit by most attacks]].

* This is Cornelius's special ability in ''VideoGame/OdinSphere''. One of his jumping attacks allows him to fly through the air with his sword extended like a buzzsaw.
* Crono's cyclone technique from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger''. A component in a couple of {{Combination Attack}}s, such as a variation where Robo grabs Crono by the legs and spins him around that way.
** Speaking of Robo, he also gets the Laser Spin attack, which [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin involves twirling around while firing lasers.]] And there's a triple combination attack, involving Crono, Robo and Ayla, where Crono's cyclone technique is more powerful.

* Featured frequently in the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' ever since ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny''. Rekkuuzan/Tempest Slash makes a swordsman leap forward while spinning, effectively turning him into a human buzzsaw. There are also several combination techniques that feature a character leaping upwards while spinning and lifting the foe(s) into the air with just that, setting them up for a finisher.
* In the first four ''[[VideoGame/DotHackGUGames .hack]]'' games, the Twin Blade skills Tiger Claw (and the elemental versions thereof) involves the user spinning like a top, damaging nearby enemies. The skill Staccato, employs ''even more'' spinning, but tilted and is for single target.
* You'll see lots of spinning in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII''. Many combo finishers are spin attacks, and Sora's Master Form turns every attack into one. It's even more flashy in Final Form since he controls both keyblades with his mind: cross-diagonal cuts, horizontal spins, drills, smashing spinning tops together, and several others that are probably too awesome to use in another game.
** Sora also gets an attack that rapidly closes distance to his current target and hit it hard. He basically spins around on one foot, using the force generated from the spin to do more damage. As a bonus, he hits anything else in the way too.
* Yosuke in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' does this as his follow-up attack. Though it is one of the least useful ones.
* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', a Journeyman of either Blade or Blunt skills can ''perform a sideways power attack with a chance of disarming", which, when in third person view, is demonstrated as your character spinning in a full 360 with their weapon in full extension.
* In ''VideoGame/KingdomsOfAmalurReckoning'', this is how faeblades work. They're a pair of curved blades with a handle in the middle, designed to be spun around the wielder's body to fend off attackers from all directions.
* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'', you get Whirlwind Attack from the 3rd edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' rules, which the game is based on. (See below under tabletop games.)
* Hit animation for sword users in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' DS. Normal attacks are a generic up-down swing. For a CriticalHit, [[TheHero Cecil]] or [[TheLancer Kain]] will swing their {{BFS}} around their body first, building up momentum before hitting.
* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' the move Rapid Spin, which frees the user from restraining moves and also deals damage. The move Gyro Ball also works with the same principle, dealing the more damage the slower are you than your opponent.
* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', you can do this with a [[ChargedAttack power attack]] if you dual wield one-handed weapons.
* Guy's charged attacks with hammers in ''VideoGame/LufiaCurseOfTheSinistrals'' is the Hurricane Hammer, which spins for longer with higher C. Atk. levels. It's notably the only charge attack [[DittoFighter Dekar]] doesn't share.
* Mega Man Geo Omega's elemental cyclone attack from ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'' [[SpectacularSpinning description on this page]].

* In ''VideoGame/Lunistice'', this is how Hana deals with enemies. She can also use it to pick up nearby cranes or even to provide extra air time midjump, a la ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy''.

* ''VideoGame/FerazelsWand''
* [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]] with his sword during a cutscene. In-game gun version with his Twosome Time, and sword version with his Prop Shredder.

* A minority of FightingGame characters, have some version of a spin-attack. The most common and reconizable ones are Ryu and Ken's HurricaneKick and Chun-Li's 'Spinning Bird Kick' in the popular ''StreetFighter'' series.

* Franchise/MegaMan

* Featured frequently in the VideoGame/TalesSeries ever since ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny''. Rekkuuzan/Tempest Slash makes a swordsman leap forward while spinning, effectively turning him into a human buzzsaw. There are also several combination techniques that feature a character leaping upwards while spinning and lifting the foe(s) into the air with just that, setting them up for a finisher.

* Yosuke in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4}}'' does this as his follow-up attack. Though it is one of the least useful ones.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'':

* ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'':
** In the ''Comicbook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' story arc, Supergirl performs a spin attack: she grabs an alien's tail and spins around, [[GrievousHarmWithABody using her enemy's body as a blunt weapon]] to hit all enemies surrounding her. Justified trope, since no one was quick enough to hit her back or strong enough to hurt her.

* The tanks of the ''Literature/{{Gate}}'' fanfiction, ''FanFic/HereWeGoAgain'' sometimes perform 'whirlybirds', which is the term for spinning the [=M1A1=] Abrams' turret erratically, usually for fun. In one instance, the US Marine tank crews realistically puts this tactic to good use when some bandits manage to board their stalled tank.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In the third season of ''WesternAnimation/{{ReBoot}}'', Matrix's gun (rather unimaginatively named... [[Main/DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Gun]]) even has a firing mode explicitly called 'Death Blossom.'

* ''{{VideoGame/Gauntlet}} Legends''
* ''VideoGame/{{Rune}}''

[[folder:Platform Game]]
* In ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfLomax'', it's the only attack the titular character can use even without his helmet (which allows him to throw it like a boomerang and use special abilities). Since nearly every enemy is susceptible to it and you are invincible to nearly every attack while you do it, you are very likely to keep using it without ever bothering to use the helmet attack instead.
* ''VideoGame/CastleOnTheCoast'': Pressing the attack button causes [[PlayerCharacter George]] to spin around with his arms outstretched.
* VideoGame/CrashBandicoot can twist his body for a mini-tornado attack. Unlike most spin attacks, it's actually his basic attack.
* In ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'', the titular characters use a HurricaneKick that has this effect.
* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'': Along with Rolling Attack on land, the Kongs can spin underwater to attack enemies.
* Lilac from ''VideoGame/FreedomPlanet'' has a Dragon Cyclone move that she can perform on ground (after gaining some momentum) and mid-air.
* ''VideoGame/GingerBeyondTheCrystal'': One of the enemy types Ginger faces in the game has an attack wherein it spins while moving in Ginger's direction.
* ''VideoGame/KaoTheKangaroo'': Kao can whip his tail in all games, though in the second and third he only does that while jumping. ''Round 2'' allows for upgrading it into a legitimate spin attack that keeps Kao briefly suspended in the air.
* ''VideoGame/KyleAndLucyWonderworld'': This is Lucy's main attack, which also acts as a DoubleJump.
* Franchise/MegaMan
** ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'' has the Top Spin. You press the shoot button in mid-air, and Mega Man spins and damages any enemy he touches. However, more often than not you either get hit in the process, or use randomly use up way more weapon energy than normal, causing most players to dismiss it as useless.
** Zero has had several moves like this in the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' games. (Since he's in a sidescroller, he spins Samus-style, front-to-back instead of left-to-right.) In most cases he can only do a spin attack in midair, but the Ensuizan move in ''X6'' can be executed on the ground -- ''indefinitely!''
* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': Samus's legendary Screw Attack. So famous, [[http://www.screwattack.com a website]] was named after it. The Screw Attack is, oddly enough, actually a Rolling Attack. In mathematical terms, a traditional Spin Attack yaws left-to-right across the body, and Samus's pitches forward into a roll.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
** The Screw Attack becomes an item in the series starting from ''Melee'', allowing the holder to perform the move with each jump. Amusingly, you can also throw it at an opponent, which damages them and forces them to involuntarily perform the move, leaving them open to a counterattack or simply sending them careening off a cliff.
** The Mario Tornado and Luigi Cyclone attacks, performed by pressing Down + B.
** Meta Knight uses a spinning attack called Mach Tornado.
* The boss Reflux from ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc'' has an attack that consists of him whirling spectacularly around the entire arena.
* ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
** Although the series has several moves that fit this trope -- most notably Amy's Spin Hammer and Tails' Tails Attack from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' -- Sonic's skill entitled "Spin Attack" is, oddly enough, actually a RollingAttack. In mathematical terms, a traditional Spin Attack yaws left-to-right across the body, and Sonic's pitches forward into a roll.
** On the other hand, Espio the Chameleon and Blaze the Cat have been known to do straightforward versions (with their own bodies of course).
** Sonic did have a horizontal spin attack called [[http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Humming_Top Humming Top]], present in the "VideoGame/SonicAdvance" and "VideoGame/SonicRush" series, that was identical to the HurricaneKick. However it could only be performed after hopping off a spring, a ramp, or trampoline.
* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'':
** ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioWorld'' let Mario use this with the Raccoon and Cape {{Power Up}}s, respectively.
** In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 sequel]], spinning is Mario's main and often only attack, with many variations depending on context (on ice, underwater, etc.) or PowerUp. [[spoiler:This ability is passed on to Rosalina as her signature ability in ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld''.]]
** Also used in ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' with the hammer, occasionally required to clear away swarms of enemies. There's the swarm of Dull Bones in Hooktail Castle, the first encounter with the Smorgs in Riverside Station, the similar swarm of Dry Bones in the Palace of Shadow, and optionally, the Boos in Creepy Steeple. There's one enemy that can only be encountered by doing this to the Boos twice.
* Chewbacca could perform a spin attack in the ''Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'' in the ''VideoGame/SuperStarWars'' games, but he had to wait to use it again once he stopped using it or if gauge ran empty. Princess Leia also gained a spin attack when she is in her bikini costume in the Jedi chapter of the series.
* In the ''VideoGame/ToyStory2'' LicensedGame, Buzz can attack enemies by spinning his wings at them. He can also charge up and perform a super spin attack, which leaves him dizzy afterwards.
* ''VideoGame/TheWayOfCinnamon'': [[PlayerCharacter Cinnamon's]] first available attack is a spin attack.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real-Time Strategy]]
* ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresIII'': The British Explorer can be given a special melee attack from a Home City shipment that allows him to spin around, causing damage around him.

** [[VideoGame/Diablo3 Sonya]] has the skill Whirlwind, which have her spin around with her two swords and dealing damage.
** Lost Vikings also has a skill where each three spin around doing damage, named after the meme started by ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', "Spin To Win".
** The Blademaster return in ''Heroes of the Storm'' under the identity Samuro, and retains the Bladestorm ability as one possible ultimate. Instead of spinning like before however, Samuro instead just turns around and slash in a quick succession repeatedly to replicate the effect without looking too much like Sonya's.

* ''VideoGame/TotalWarWarhammer'': Some of the Ghorgons and Keepers of Secrets' attack animations have them hold out their weapons and bladed limbs and spin rapidly into the enemy.
* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'': The Orc [[HeroUnit Blademaster]] has the ability "Bladestorm", which causes him to spin around like a tornado, ripping through any nearby enemy ground units and buildings within in its reach, as well as somehow giving him temporary immunity to magic.

* ''Manga/GingaNagareboshiGin'' and ''Anime/GingaDensetsuWeed'' features the Zetsu Tenrou Battouga, which involves spinning really fast and slamming into the opponent, slashing them hard [[NowThatsUsingYourTeeth with their teeth]]. Gin learned this move from Riki, who learned it from a wolf named Fuuga. Weed didn't learn this from his own father, though; he learned it from Tesshin, the adopted "heir" of Ohu.

A SuperTrope to RollingAttack, RoundhouseKick, HurricaneKick. For an alternative way to hit targets behind your back, see DangerousBackswing.

* The Hunter performs one of these during the battle on the Plains of Death in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached''. Justified in that he's a ''lot'' faster than his undead opponents.
* Midnight in ''Fanfic/RiseOfEmpressMidnight'' does an unusual version of this trope where she creates magic blades and turns her body to form a wheel, a sideways spin attack with six swords.
* All the Cures in ''Fanfic/RhythmicPrettyCure'', given the nature of rhythmic gymnastics. The biggest examples are Cure Twirl, who incorporates tiptoe turns and ribbon spirals into his SignatureMove, Pretty Cure Elegant Spiral; and Cure Clubs, who incorporates pirouettes and baton twirling into her SignatureMove, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Pretty Cure Passion Pirouette]].

** ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' takes this UpToEleven: Link's special sword attack is a spin attack with a ''greatly'' increased range that can easily take out dozens of enemies at one time.

** Speaking of Robo, he also gets the Laser Spin attack, which [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin involves twirling around while firing lasers.]] And there's a triple combination attack, involving Crono, Robo and Ayla, where Crono's cyclone technique is turned UpToEleven.

** On Naughty Dog's other series, ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'', the titular characters use a [[strike:similar]] identical HurricaneKick.

** It becomes an item in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series starting from Melee, allowing the holder to perform the move with each jump. Amusingly, you can also throw it at an opponent, which damages them and forces them to involuntarily perform the move, leaving them open to a counterattack or simply sending them careening off a cliff.

** The Mario Tornado and Luigi Cyclone attacks in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' and some of the ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}'' games, Meta Knight uses a spinning attack called Mach Tornado.

* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia'' has Ushiwakamaru perform a vertical spinning attack on Gorgon that turns her into a veritable buzzsaw.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': In addition to the Rapid Spin attack (see above under "Role-Playing Games"), [[TheHero Ash]] develops a technique that's known as "Counter Shield" in which a Pokémon spins while using an otherwise offensive attack (such as [[ShockAndAwe Pikachu's Thunderbolt]] or [[PlayingWithFire Monferno's Flamethrower]]), creating a barrier that can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* In third edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', there's a feat (with a long list of prerequisites) called Whirlwind Attack. Guess what that does. Notably, the feat is almost as poor a maneuver in the game as it would be in real life.
** The exception would be using reach weapons (that allow you to melee attack from farther away than close-quarters), making this a less silly option. Unless you're using a whip, since it has the longest reach of all melee weapons, and there are several excellent whip types in non-core books, right up to the GameBreaker psionic PrestigeClass that allows you to create a weapon out of PureEnergy. And empower it with ''more'' PureEnergy. And use feats to make it hit harder, and ignore armor. However, this only applied to 3.0 rules, as in 3.5 the feat was changed so that it explicitly could only be used against targets that were adjacent to the person using it and also prevented it from being used in combination with the Cleave, Great Cleave feats, which dropped it down from AwesomeButImpractical to CoolButInefficient level.
** The Iron Heart school from ''Tome of Battle'' contains a number of maneuvers like this, culminating in "Adamantine Hurricane" which lets you strike every opponent twice with improved accuracy and move in the same round.
* And then 4th Edition ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' plays it straight again with several melee AOE powers that do basically this, such as the Fighter's Cruel Reaper, the Ranger's Wandering Tornado, and the Rogue's Dance of Death.
** "Great Cleave" also returns in 4E, this time as a Barbarian power

[[folder:Webcomics]]

** Suzaku was given the FanNickname of "Spinzaku" for the sheer amount of spinnery he pulls off throughout the series. The most egregious example is his flying twenty feet across the room to deliver a spinning kick, then falling short and delivering a punch instead.

%% * ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'':
%% ** Although the series has several moves that fit this trope -- most notably Amy's Spin Hammer and Tails' Tails Attack from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' -- Sonic's skill entitled "Spin Attack" is, oddly enough, actually a RollingAttack. In mathematical terms, a traditional Spin Attack yaws left-to-right across the body, and Sonic's pitches forward into a roll.
%% ** On the other hand, Espio the Chameleon and Blaze the Cat have been known to do straightforward versions (with their own bodies of course).
%% ** Sonic did have a horizontal spin attack called [[http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Humming_Top Humming Top]], present in the "VideoGame/SonicAdvance" and "VideoGame/SonicRush" series, that was identical to the HurricaneKick.However it could only be performed after hopping off a spring, a ramp, or trampoline.

* In ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', two characters (Tryndamere and Garen) have this ability, along with a speed boost and slow immunity so they keep up with any enemy player they're shredding. In fact, Garen's signature low level playstyle involves hiding in a patch of grass and waiting for an idiot to walk in ([[MemeticMutation "DEMACIAAAAAA!" is shorthand for that]], [[BeamMeUpScotty though that sound is technically activated another ability entirely]]).

* In ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'' the Orc [[HeroUnit Blademaster]] has the ability "Bladestorm", which causes him to spin around like a tornado, ripping through any nearby enemy ground units and buildings within in its reach, as well as somehow giving him temporary immunity to magic.
** In ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients'' custom maps, since the Blademaster model is used for Yurnero the Juggernaut, he inherits the Bladestorm skill, and he's using it as a normal skill instead of an ultimate. And since Mogul Khan the Axe is using the model of a unique Blademaster hero (Grom Hellscream), he also gets a variation: Counter Helix, if attacked, there's a chance that Mogul will spin around and damaging nearby enemies.
** Naturally, both Yurnero and Mogul retain these skills in ''VideoGame/{{Dota 2}}'' (although to avoid copyright infringement, Juggernaut's spin attack is renamed into "Blade Fury").
* In the MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'', several gods have abilities that do this:

* Later on, ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'' follows suit.
** [[VideoGame/{{Diablo 3}} Sonya]] has the skill Whirlwind, which have her spin around with her two swords and dealing damage.
** Lost Vikings also has a skill where each three spin around doing damage, named after the meme started by ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', "Spin To Win".
** The aforementioned Blademaster return in Heroes of the Storm under the identity Samuro, and retains the Bladestorm ability as one possible ultimate. Instead of spinning like before however, Samuro instead just turns around and slash in a quick succession repeatedly to replicate the effect without looking too much like Sonya's.

* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroDawnOfTheDragon'':
*** Cynder's secondary Wind power allows her to rapidly spin through enemy mobs and send targets flying.
*** During the Golem's attack, Terrador attacks it by covering himself in earth and rolling at high speed through its body like a dragon cannonball.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyroDawnOfTheDragon'': Cynder's secondary Wind power allows her to rapidly spin through enemy mobs and send targets flying.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'': The bulb spiders in the first two games and the crystal ball spiders in the second often attack by raising their legs into the air and spinning across the ground in an attempt to hit Spyro.