Special Attack
A Special Attack (必殺技, Hissatsu Waza?, lit. Sure-Killing Art) is a move that typically requires a joystick motion and a button press to execute. They are generally more complex than Forward Thrust AttacksA.K.A. "Command Normals"., and require no Tension.
Overview
Like Overdrive Attacks, there are many styles of Special Attack, whether it be the input or the overall effects.
Inputs
Quarter-Circle
Quarter-circle motions - also known as "fireball" motions (named such from the Hadoken), are simple inputs of either 
for a "quarter-circle-forward" motion, or 
for a "quarter-circle-back" motion, along with pressing a button.
Quarter-circle-forward motions are the most commonly used input for Special Attacks and are generally used for projectiles, namely Sol Badguy's Gun Flame & Ky Kiske's Stun Edge. Examples of non-projectile attacks include Chipp Zanuff's Alpha Blade & Potemkin's Mega Fist.
Quarter-circle-back motions don't have a particular theming unlike the forward-motions, but some examples of this motion include Elphelt Valentine's Bridal Express, Happy Chaos' Steady Aim and Slayer's Dandy Step.
Dragon Punch
Dragon punch/DP motions - named such from the Shoryuken, are an input of either for a regular dragon punch, or for a reverse dragon punch, along with pressing a button.
Dragon punch motions, as the history and name presents, are generally used for rising uppercuts, or general anti-air attacks. These include Sol Badguy's Volcanic Viper, Ky Kiske's Vapor Thrust & Chipp Zanuff's Beta Blade.
Reverse dragon punch motions are much less common, and don't have a fixed theme. Examples of this motion include Dizzy's I used this to pick fruit and A.B.A's Engorgement.
Half-Circle
Half-circle motions are simple inputs of either for a "half-circle-forward" motion, or for a "half-circle-back" motion, along with pressing a button.
Half-circle motions all around aren't as common as the previous two. These are generally used for strong attacks or throws, namely Sol Badguy's Fafnir - a straight punch, Potemkin's F.D.B. - a flick that can repel projectiles, and Axl Low's Rasho Sen.
Charge
Charge motions are simple inputs of holding the control stick/D-pad in one direction for a short time , then inputting the opposite direction and pressing the button. The two types featured in Guilty Gear are:
- Horizontal - Hold
, then press 
+ required button. - Vertical - Hold
, then press 
+ required button.
Horizontal charge motions are generally used for rushing attacks - most famously in Guilty Gear is May's Mr. Dolphin, alongside Potemkin's Hammer Fall and Axl Low's Rensen Geki/Sickle Flash.
Like the dragon punch motions, vertical charge motions are generally used for rising/anti-air attacks. These include Axl Low's original Raiei Sageki & Leo Whitefang's Eisen Sturm.
Closed-Half-Circle
Closed-half-circle motions are simple inputs of either for a "closed-half-circle-forward" motion, or for a "closed-half-circle-back" motion, along with pressing a button.
While these are more reserved for Overdrives, closed-half-circle motions are otherwise mainly used for command grabs - throws that cannot be broken out of, unlike regular throws. Such Special Attacks that use this input include Potemkin's classic Potemkin Buster, I-No's Chemical Love and Slayer's Undertow.
List of Special Attacks
| Character | Special Attacks |
|---|---|
| Sol Badguy | Gun Flame, Volcanic Viper, Bandit Revolver, Riot Stamp, Ground Viper/Night Raid Vortex, Wild Throw, Bandit Bringer, Fafnir, Sidewinder, Slam, Flame Dipper, Break, P.B.B. |
| Order-Sol | Rock It, Block Head Buster, Gun Blaze, Storm Viper, Bandit Revolver Prototype, Charge |
| Ky Kiske | (Charged) Stun Edge, (Grand) Vapor Thrust, Stun Dipper, Crescent Slash, Greed Sever, Elegant Slash, Lightning Strike, Split Ciel, Foudre Arc, Dire Eclat |
| Robo-Ky | Reverse Crescent, Ray Divider, Impala Hunt, S-KY-line, Don't Get Coc-KY!, Hun-KY Homerun, Fun-KY, Jun-KY Bargain, Spi-KY, Gimmic-KY, S-KY-lander |
| May | Aqua/Restive Rolling, Mr. Dolphin (Horizontal/Vertical), Applause for the Victim/Arisugawa Sparkle, MU·RO·FU·SHI, Don't Miss It, Ensenga? |
| Dr. Baldhead/Faust | Hack'n Slash, Souten Enshin Ranbu, Going My Way, Re-re-re no Tsuki, Love, From the Front(From Behind/From Above) What Could This Be?, BAM! Outt'a Nowhere, Mix Mix Mix, Snip Snip Snip, Scarecrow |
| Potemkin | Potemkin Buster, Mega Fist (Forward/Backward, Nitro Hook, Graviton Stamp/Slide Head, Slam, Hammer Fall, Heat Knuckle, F.D.B., Unbreakable Spirit, Trishula, I.C.P.M., Garuda Impact, Heat Tackle |
| Chipp Zanuff | Alpha Blade (Horizontal/Diagonal), Beta Blade, Gamma Blade, Tsuyoshi-Shiki Ten'i, Tsuyoshi-Shiki Meisai, Sebone-ori, Genrou Zan, Resshou (Rokusai/Senshuu) Shuriken, Shinkirou, Wall Cling/Run |
| Zato-ONE/Eddie | Invite Hell, Break the Law, Drunkard Shade, Climb Darkness, Rise and Fall, Dark Heel, Summon Eddie, Damned Fang, Shadow Gallery, "Pierce", "That's A Lot!", "Leap", "Oppose" |
| Millia Rage | Living Lancer (High), Tandem Top, Lust Shaker, Forward Roll, Turbo Fall, Bad Moon, Iron Savior, Secret Garden, Silent/Living Force, Pretty Maze, Mirazh, Kapel, Artemis |
| Axl Low | Sickle Flash, Artemis Hunter, Heaven Can Wait (High/Low), Thunder Shadow Chain (Rainwater), Dototsu, Spindle Spinner (Winter Mantis), Axl Bomber, Hachi Subako, Kokuu Geki (Snail), Whistling Wind |
| Kliff | Bellowing Roar, Skull Crusher, Nape Saddle, Scale Ripper, 2-Steps Forward, Limb Severer |
| Baiken | (Triple) Tatami Gaeshi, Youzansen, Kamaitachi/Kabari, Zakuro, Mawarikomi, Sakura, Suzuran, Youshijin, Ouren, Azami, Hiiragi |
| Testament | Phantom Soul, EXE Beast, Grave Digger, Panzer Centipede, Dimension Scythe, (Lucht) Warrant, HITOMI, Zeinest, Badlands, Dipp Scythe, Grave Reaper, Unholy Diver, Possession, Arbiter Sign |
| Justice | Valkyrie Arc, Michael Sword, S.B.T., Imperial Ray, N.B. |
| Johnny | Mist Finer, Glitter is Gold, Bacchus Sigh, Divine Blade/Zweihander, Ensenga, H.I.T.S., Killer Joker, Deal, Vault |
| Venom | Generate Ball, Stinger Aim, Carcass Raid, Double Head Morbid, Mad Struggle, Teleport, Dubious Curve, Object Ball, Banking Jack, QV |
| Anji Mito | Shitsu, Fuujin, Kou, On, Shin: Ichishiki/Nishiki, Kai: Ichishiki/Nishiki/Sanshiki, Sou, Suigetsu no Hakobi |
| Jam Kuradoberi | Hochifu, Asanagi no Kokyuu, Ryuujin, Gekirin, Kenroukaku, Bakushuu, Youeikyaku, Choujin, Housai, Juppo Senken, Banri Senken, Shouen, Banri Soushou |
| Dizzy | The light was so small in the beginning (For putting out the light...), I used this to catch fish (For searing cod...), I used this to pick fruit (For roasting chestnuts...), My talking buddies, Please leave me alone (What happens when I'm TOO alone) |
| Slayer | Mappa Hunch, Dandy Step, Footloose Journey, Crosswise Heel, Undertow, Bloodsucking Universe |
| Bridget | Yo-Yo Placement/Recall, Roger Rush, Jagged Roger, Roger Hug, Rolling Movement, Roger Get, Kick Start/Airwhip My Heart, Starship, Roger Dive, Rock the Baby |
| Zappa | Hello, 3 Centipedes/It was here a second ago!, Dog Attack, Please Fall, Come Close, and I'll Kill You, This Has Gotta Hurt, Please Don't Come Back (I Was Lonely After All...), Darkness Anthem, Last Edguy |
| I-No | Stroke the Big Tree, Antidepressant Scale, Sultry Performance, Sterilization Method, Mad Love Agitato |
| A.B.A | Bonding (and Dissolving), Deletion (Menace and Groan), Avoidance, Injecting/Displacement (Changing and Swaying), Dragging (Haul and Heed), Retribution (Intertwine and Tilt), Judgment (and Sentiment), Blunder, Eradication, Engorgement, Frenzy and Astonishment |
| Sin Kiske | Beak Driver, Hawk Baker, Bull Bash, Elk Hunt, Leap, Still Growing, Vulture Seize, Hoof Stomp, Gazelle Step |
| Asuka R. Kreutz | Chant, Bookmark, Recover Mana, Change Test Case |
| Raven | Schmerz Berg/Gebrechlich Licht, Grausam Impuls, Scharf Kugel, Give it to me HERE, Wachen Zweig |
| Bedman/Bedman? | Task A/A', Task B (call 4B3), Task C, call 4BA, call 4B9 (Malfunction), call 0x$0.20/$1.00 |
| Leo Whitefang | Gravierte Würde, Eisen Sturm, Erstes/Zweites Kaltes Gestöber, Brynhildr Stance, Siegesparade, Turbulenz |
| Ramlethal Valentine | Dauro, Flama Cargo, Sildo Detruo, Cassius, Marteli, Forpeli, Bajoneto, Sabrobato, Erarlumo, Agressa Ordono, Ondo |
| Elphelt Valentine | Pineberry, Bridal Express, Miss Confille, Miss Travailler, Miss Charlotte (Out of Repair), Bomb-Bomb Chocolat, Chain Lollipop |
| Jack-O' Valentine | Ghost Set/Summon Servant, Organ Deployment, Servant Shoot |
| Kum Haehyun | Tuning Ball, Four Tigers Sword (Reverse), Falcon Dive (Reverse) |
| Answer | Business Ninpo: Caltrops, Business Ninpo: Under the Rug/Bus, Savvy Ninpo: Request for/Seal of Approval, Savvy Ninpo: Data Logging, Savvy Ninpo: Tax Write-off |
| Nagoriyuki | Zarameyuki, Kamuriyuki, Shizuriyuki, Fukyo, Bloodsucking Universe |
| Giovanna | Sepultura, Trovão, Sol Nascente, Sol Poente, Chave |
| Goldlewis Dickinson | Behemoth Typhoon, Thunderbird, Skyfish |
| Happy Chaos | At the Ready/Steady Aim (Fire, Reload), Focus, Roll, Scapegoat, Curse |
Trivia
References