Spin Attack
Spin Attack is a move introduced in Sly 2: Band of Thieves, but was featured more prominently in Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves and returned in Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. The power up allows the user to spin around and hit enemies around them with their cane or, in Murray's case, his fists.
Description
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
By holding 
, Sly will perform the usual cane swipe before he stands on one leg, holds his cane in a baseball batting stance, and charges his cane with an orange, fiery aura; he will spin around when is released. Sly can be steered during the attack with 
. While charging the attack, Sly is rooted in place and will draw the attention of nearby guards.
The move was never explained to the player in-game. However, Sly finishes Dimitri off with the Spin Attack, without the initial swipe, in the cutscene after the boss battle.
Sly can unlock an unchargeable, deadlier variation of the Spin Attack called the Lightning Spin, which can defeat enemies in one hit. However, each use costs energy from the Gadget Meter.
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
In Sly 3, the Spin Attack can be unleashed in three levels, each one stronger than the previous one. Sly charges the attack by holding his cane in a specific spot while the crook of his cane generates an aura; the position Sly holds his cane in and the color of its aura changes with the level of charge. It is charged by pressing 
at anytime except when in juggling range of an unsuspecting guard, with consecutive presses required to increase the level of charge; to unleash the attack after charging, press before the charging animation ends. Unlike in Sly 2, Sly can freely walk and sprint while charging the attack.
As the charging levels also affect his Push Attack and Jump Attack, Sly will only perform the strongest level of Spin Attack available if the charge level exceeds the available levels of Spin Attack.
- Spin Attack (level 1) - For the first Spin Attack, the button sequence is . Sly does three rotations. This move is available from the beginning of the game.
- Spin Attack (level 2) - A stronger Spin Attack, the button sequence is . Sly does four rotations while his cane leaves a blue color trail.
- Spin Attack (level 3) - The final and strongest Spin Attack, the button sequence is . Sly does nine rotations while his cane leaves a white color trail.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
In Thieves in Time, Sly and his ancestors perform the Spin Attack by holding and releasing it when the crook of the cane starts vibrating energy. However, each ancestor also has a unique special attack they can perform by continuing to hold until the energy on the cane intensifies. After purchasing the Mega Charge Attack power-up for Sly via ThiefNet, Sly follows this same rule. Each ancestor can also walk and sprint while charging, as well as steer the actual Spin Attack; in order for Sly to do the same, he will need to purchase the Run While Charging, Sprint While Charging, and Steerable Cane Spin power-ups, respectively.
Murray also has a version of the Spin Attack performed by holding until his fists start vibrating energy. Once released, he extends his fist-clenched arms out to the side and twirls in a circle. As with Sly and his ancestors, Murray can perform a completely different attack if is held until the energy intensifies, provided that the Mega Charge Attack power-up for Murray is purchased via ThiefNet. Also like Sly, Murray cannot move while charging or performing the Spin Attack by default; he will have to purchase the Run While Charging, Sprint While Charging (both of which are also sold separately from Sly's versions) and Steerable Fist Spin power-ups in order to be able to do so.
The Spin Attack hits flashlight guards only once, unlike in previous games where they can get hit multiple times.