Spin Attack

The Spin Attack (スピンアタック), also called the Rolling Attack (ローリングアタック), is a move used in most games in the Sonic series. It is one of the most well known attacks in the series.

This technique served as the basis of attack in the early Genesis era games. It consists of the character, while in locomotion, curling into a fetal position while rolling along the ground. When used while running at a very high speed, the user is able to destroy barriers and enemies. This move is also used in mid-air as a jump.

Description
In most Sonic games, the attack functions as the user's primary offensive moves. While moving forward and pressing the duck button, the user curls up and rolls forward to bowl down enemies. In addition, using the Spin Attack on a downward slope will decrease the user's air resistance, allowing for faster acceleration and speed. When moving forward fast enough, it's even possible for the user to break through walls. Speed-type characters, especially Sonic, seem to be able to make the most out of the Spin Attack.

Spin Jump
This is probably the most commonly used variation of the Spin Attack. Also called the Rolling Jump, the Spin Jump (スピンジャンプ) enables the user to curl up into the Spin Attack while jumping to attack midair enemies on contact. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic does not use the Spin Jump merely by jumping, even though he curls up during the jump, but rather as one of his midair attacks.

Characters who could Spin Jump from the time they entered the series

 * Sonic the Hedgehog
 * Miles "Tails" Prower
 * Knuckles the Echidna
 * Vector the Crocodile
 * Shadow the Hedgehog
 * Rouge the Bat
 * Cream the Rabbit
 * Mighty the Armadillo

Characters who gained the Spin Jump ability later in series

 * Amy Rose
 * Metal Sonic
 * Espio the Chameleon
 * Big the Cat
 * Chaos
 * Tikal the Echidna
 * Silver the Hedgehog
 * Blaze the Cat

Characters who originally had the Spin Jump ability but later lost it

 * E-123 Omega

In most current instruction manuals, the Spin Jump is given the name "Spin Attack".

Spin Dash
Also called the Super Spin Dash, the Spin Dash (スピンダッシュ), which is Sonic's trademark move allows the user to instantly launch themselves forward into a high speed Spin Attack from a stationary position. The user crouches, performs an oval-shaped Spin Attack to charge (this part is dubbed the Spin Charge), then dashes off in a high speed rolling attack. The Spin Dash is used to attack enemies or break through walls, as well as dash up steep slopes without having to build up running momentum. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic has 3 variations of this move; his down special (the original attack), his forward special (a slower dash that does not need to charge and begins with a hop to aid in recovery), and his down smash (a rapid Spin Dash back and forth). This attack is also a frequently used one throughout the Sonic series.

Variations
Some characters have their own way to perform the Spin Dash move. These are:
 * Whirl Dash performed by Espio the Chameleon: in this way, Espio assumes his Whirl tornado formation and spins on the tip of his toes like a top, diagonally pivoted and begins to rev up. This move only appears in Knuckles' Chaotix and sonic the fighters,  as lately, like in Sonic Heroes, he uses the Spin Dash.
 * Burst Dash performed by Blaze the Cat: in this way, like Espio, Blaze assumes a tornado formation, but she revs up by standing and charging the fire at her feet and is instead surrounded by fire.
 * Donut Dash performed by Vector the Crocodile: In this way, Vector assumes a ring form, and begins revving up like a spinning wheel, due to his long and skinny body. This was only in Knuckles' Chaotix. However, it returned in Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games Dream Long Jump Event, proving Vector is still able to do it in his modern design.

Insta-shield
Originating in Sonic 3, the Insta-shield causes Sonic to rapidly spin in the air, fast enough to briefly generate a shield of wind. For the split second it lasts, it extends the range of his standard Spin Attack and grants him invincibility. This attack was not seen again until Sonic Advance due to it being replaced by the Homing Attack in Sonic Adventure. In Sonic Advance 3, Tails could also do the Insta-shield when he was partnered with Knuckles.

Homing Attack
This attack debuted in Sonic Adventure. It does what the name implies; whilst in the air, the character performs a high-speed Spin Dash towards the nearest enemy or Item Box. If there is no target nearby, the character just dashes forward in the air (dubbed the Jump Dash). Although the Homing Attack debuted in Sonic Adventure, similar attacks could be performed in Sonic 3 and Sonic 3D Blast: Flickies' Island with the help of special power-ups. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sonic uses this as his standard special move, albeit with a brief pause to charge up the dash. This attack is probably the second most commonly used variation of the Spin Attack.

Somersault
This attack is exclusive to Sonic, Shadow, Amy, and Metal Sonic. The user simply somersaults forward and attacks along the ground. It's not nearly as fast as the Spin Dash, but it's done as soon as you press the Melee Attack button, so it's ideal for close combat. It can be upgraded with the Flame Ring to become the Fire Somersault, which surrounds the user with fire while executing it. It is also commonly used to slide underneath hazards and into small openings in walls.

Light Speed Dash
This move also debuted in Sonic Adventure. It's exclusive to Speed-type characters. The move allows the user to perform a Spin Dash through a trail of Rings at the speed of light, and would also attack enemies in the line of Rings. In order to perform this move though, the user must have first obtained the Light Speed Shoes, which, according to Sonic Unleashed, are made from the same material from Rings themselves.

Depending on the game, the Light Speed Dash may not involve the Spin Attack.

Light Speed Attack
This attack is exclusive to Sonic and Shadow. This move allows the user to use the Light Speed Dash on enemies, and works best when a lot of enemies are around the user. The user must have fully charged a Spin Dash before being able to perform the move, as a lot of energy is used when executing it. The user must have also obtained the Ancient Light power-up to perform the move.

Bounce Attack
This attack can only be used by Sonic and Amy. It sends the user downward rapidly in a Spin Attack, and then bounces him/her back up. It's used to attack enemies below the user, as well as gain extra height when used repeatedly. The user must have first obtained the Bounce Bracelet (or in some games, the Aqua Shield) to perform this attack. Amy's variation uses her Piko Piko Hammer however, so she doesn't need the bracelet.

Trivia

 * In the French Sonic & Knuckles guide, the Spin Dash is named Sonic Boom.
 * When using the Pink Wisp in Sonic Colors, Sonic can perform a Spin Dash.
 * In recent 3D games the Spin Dash has fallen out of use, in favor of Boosts and Sliding, despite it being Sonic's registered signature move. It hasn't been used in 3D gameplay since Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) but still appears in recent 2D games such as Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and the pure 2D sections of Sonic Colors in the form of the Pink Wisp. Classic Sonic can still use it in Sonic Generations.