Special Attack

Special Attacks are powerful techniques in that can be performed once the Special Attack Gauge is filled. These attacks are often sweeping and destructive, able to take out many enemies at once, and can be incredibly useful at clearing away mobs of enemies in a difficult situation.

Uses
All Special Attacks can be performed by filling the Special Attack Gauge, then pressing the Special Attack button (the X button in the default Zelda control style or the A button in the default Warriors control style). The Special Attack gauge may be filled by either defeating enemies, or by collecting Triforce Shards dropped by yellow Pots or, in Adventure Mode, by Force Shard Transport Captains. Every weapon in the game has a different Special Attack, each with a unique animation, with different Elemental Effects applied to the attacks and striking different ranges around the Warrior.

In certain missions in Adventure Mode's Master Quest map, the player is restricted from using Special Attacks. No Force Shards will appear, and defeating enemies will not fill the Special Attack Gauge.

Two types of Badges affect Special Attacks in Hyrule Warriors — the Din's Fire Badge and the Fierce Deity's Mask Badge. The former speeds up the rate at which the gauge fills, while the latter raises the number of segments the Special Attack Gauge has, first to two, then to three with versions I and II, respectively. To unlock the Fierce Deity's Mask Badge, Warriors must first purchase Din's Fire II. However, no matter how many segments on the Gauge are filled, pressing the Special Attack button will always consume one segment of the gauge and perform the same attack, meaning the Fierce Deity's Mask Badge only serves to allow a Warrior to use the attack in rapid succession. Additionally, if the Twilight Princess DLC pack has been purchased, Warriors may use the Apothecary to create a Mixture that will cause the Special Attack Gauge to continually refill, for the cost of 200 Bronze Materials and 50,000 Rupees.

Trivia

 * When using the Power Gloves version of the Gauntlets, the Chain Chomp will bite down in the ground, while Link does not seem to throw it into the ground as hard.
 * In Impa's Naginata Special Attack, the blades that rise from the ground will be the same as the blade on the currently equipped Naginata.
 * Much like Fi's 3rd combo attack, Sheik's special attack has an effect similar to the pulsing rings of light used to measure the Goddess's Harp's tempo in SS undefined.
 * Ganondorf's Special Attack is almost definitely a reference to Demise's second phase. Just like Demise, he charges up his sword with a lightning strike, then fires a lightning bolt by swinging it.  The third level of his weapon is even named the Swords of Demise, and the sword that gets charged during the Special bears slight resemblance to Demise's Sword.