Zael

Side Special
 Up Special
 Down Special
 Final Smash
 Extra Skill
 Franchise
 Game of Origin
 Release Date of Origin
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## **Character Info**

Alongside his childhood friend, Dagran, Zael runs a team of mercenaries that becomes contracted by the Lady Calista, Lazulis Island royalty, to fight on behalf of House Arganan. He bears the mysterious power of the Outsider on his right arm, and learns to grasp its alien abilities throughout *The Last Story*.

## **General Information**

### **Entrance**

Zael zooms into place using his Gale technique, appearing behind a burst of wind magic.

### **Kirby Hat**

Kirby does what he finds essential in times like this—gathering up Zael's dusty mop and copying it for himself.

### **Taunts**

**Up Taunt:** Zael holds the Chaos Blade outward, horizontally over his stomach. Meanwhile, the chains on his jacket and his hair float as the Outsider's powers activate, making him glow a subtle blue.

**Down Taunt:** Zael looks down at his right hand, which activates with the power of the Outsider, glowing blue with compass-like aura effects surrounding it.

**Side Taunt:** Zael spins the Chaos Blade around his body. Before returning to his idle stance, he says, "By my honor!" or "I shall do my best!"

### **Victory Poses**

1. Calista jumps towards Zael, hugging him while saying "I knew you could do it, Zael!"
2. Like when he has his fortune told, Zael lifts his hands into the air, "raa raa-ing" back and forth without saying a word. He has a huge, awkward smile across his face.
3. Zael spins the Chaos Blade as he turns his back towards the camera, planting it into the ground as he shouts, "Another one for Team Zael!"

## **Moveset**

### **Standard Special**

**Crossbow:** Zael retrieves his Crossbow and fires a standard shot. It travels about five Kirbys forward before falling to them ground. The bolt disappears a moment later. If it hits an opponent, it'll deal a quick 1% or 2% damage, but is easily stackable, ala Fox McCloud's Blaster. Ergo, it's great for making opponents flinch. Hold down the special button, though, and a small rotational menu will appear above Zael's head, signaling options for him to choose between. At the center is a button representing standard crossbow bolts, featuring a crossbow icon. To its right is a lightning bolt icon, representing Paralysis Arrows; to its left is a firework icon, representing Firework Arrows. If Zael chooses to use Paralysis Arrows, the crossbow bolt will travel forward just as quickly as it normally would, but will deal 5% damage alongside a stun effect akin to Zero Suit Samus' Paralyzer. If Zael chooses to use Firework Arrows, the bolt will travel only half as far but explode upon either impact, or when it's traveled to the end of its path. It produces a minor fireworks explosion and deals about the same amount of damage and knockback as a Bob-omb. The caveat here is that, while Zael's standard bolts are limitless, he only has five Paralyzer Arrows and two Firework Arrows available to him at a time. After using all five or three, respectively, he will have to wait 10 seconds before they recharge.

### **Side Special**

**Gale:** Zael dashes forward, slashing at foes with his Chaos Blade at the back-end of the attack. As he does so, a burst of wind magic gathers around the blade, dishing out a small burst of additional cut damage. It can be charged, allowing Zael to travel further and hit harder depending on the length of his charge. As he charges the attack, a cursor appears, similar to Sephiroth's Octaslash. Zael is able to angle it omnidirectionally, and will follow wherever the cursor lands as the move finishes its charge. His travel is somewhat gradual, so super armor frames remain prevalent as he moves forward.

### **Up Special**

**Wall Slash:** Zael leaps into the air, dishing out mild damage to anyone caught in his ascent. On the come-down, he'll automatically drive the Chaos Blade downwards, stabbing it quickly and harshly towards the ground. It's an easy Meteor Smash, so watch out! If Zael is beside a wall or similar platform, he will begin running up it until the player lets go of the input or the platform ends. Once he does leap from the platform a few feet, he will then perform the drive-down stab. As he makes his ascent up the wall, he's like a sitting (well, running) duck. Left unobstructed, though, this may or may not be one of the game's best recoveries depending on the stage at-hand. Used in normal circumstances, he'll leap upwards about as high as Marth's Dolphin Slash would take him.

### **Down Special**

**Magic Circle:** A small, pulsating circle of light appears beneath Zael. It might be one of three colors, each representing a different element: red (fire), blue (ice), or green (forest). They will be summoned in the order aforementioned, and only one can be present on-screen at a time. If Zael uses the attack while in mid-air, he'll come up with nothing and be penalized like a sitting duck (there goes that metaphor again) for a second. On the ground, though, these circles are pretty potent defense and trap mechanisms. Any opponent who runs over the red circle will unleash a burst of flames that juts upwards to about the height of Bowser. If they touch the blue circle, the same will occur, but with a burst of ice that could freeze them. Finally, the forest circle will summon a tree roughly the same size as Villager's, though in *Last Story* aesthetic. The tree dishes out strong damage to anyone caught in its summon and will remain on-stage for numerous seconds until it either disappears or is knocked over. Those caught in its fall will be dealt even more damage than they would on its come-up.

### **Final Smash**

**Ancient Barrier:** Calista herself appears in the background, just behind Zael, holding her hands in prayer and casting "Ancient Barrier!" Suddenly, Zael glows gold, and he himself casts Accelerate. For the next 12 seconds, Zael receives numerous buffs. For one, he maintains a Tough Body with a very high damage and knockback percentage. He also sees significant buffs to his speed and attack power. Gale will produce stronger bursts of wind and help him travel further, Magic Circles will deliver greater, further-reaching spells, the Crossbow will deal more damage and its Paralysis and Firework Bolts will have unlimited ammo, and Wall Slash will deliver a devastating blow upon impact with high KO potential. His standard attacks, too, are heavily buffed and can be dished out in much quicker, combo-ready succession. Calista leaves the stage, ending her prayer, after the move is done. As the move is being carried out, the stage falls into dusk with a beautiful meteor shower backdrop reminiscent of Stargazers' Tower.

### **Extra Skill**

**Gathering:** The Mark of the Outsider glows bright blue and activates, surrounding Zael in a soft, glowing light of the same color. While this move is in effect, Zael will naturally attract the ire of any Assist Trophies, Pokemon, Enemies, or Bosses, who will prioritize their attacks towards him. Conversely, items will also be attracted to him, and he will magnetize them as he approaches them. Any damage that he receives while Gathering is in effect will be multiplied by 1.5x. A small meter present under his character icon represent a damage bar while Gathering is active. The higher the bar is filled, the more devastating the subsequent attack will be once Zael presses the Extra Skill input again, retrieving his Zan Lance and crashing it down onto the stage in a burst of incredible dark magic. The magic burst that surrounds Zael during this attack becomes larger the more that the bar is filled, as does the blow dealt by the Zan Lance. He can use the move once the first bar is filled, but it won't be that impressive. Receive 100% damage or more while in this state, though, and you will fill the bar up to its highest potential, turning it into a move that could easily KO a heavyweight character from even 20%.

## **Unique Traits**

Zael is capable of wall jumping and crouch walking.

## **Alternate Costumes**

1. **Default**
2. **Calista** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Calista.
3. **Dagran** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Dagran.
4. **Yurick** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Yurick.
5. **Syrenne** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Syrenne.
6. **Lowell** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Lowell.
7. **Mirania** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Mirania.
8. **Zangurak** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Zangurak.
9. **Asthar** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Asthar.
10. **Therius** - Zael swaps outfit and hair colors with Therius.

CalistaDagranYurickSyrenneLowellMiraniaZangurakAstharTherius