Hienkyaku

"Dash button while jumping. May be executed in the air."

- In-game text

Hienkyaku (飛燕脚), also known as "Flying jump", is the special technique that Zero learns after defeating Jet Stingray in Mega Man X4. This technique is based off Jet Stingray's ability to fly in mid-air. By pressing the Dash button while airborne, it allows Zero to perform a horizontal air dash. It can only be used if Zero has not already executed a dash jump from the ground or a wall.

Rockman X4 manga
In the Rockman X4 manga, when Zero's old friend Colonel launches a fateful, violent uprising for Reploid independence for the Repliforce after the organization was ordered to be disarmed and temporarily disbanded for suspicion of Maverick activity, Zero is forced to fight against him. After meeting at the tree where they had spoken years prior, they engage in combat. After trading blows with Colonel, Zero uses the Hienkyaku to get airborne and then attack Colonel with a Hyouretsuzan strike from above. The strike ultimately misses, and then Colonel and Zero resume their battle.

Trivia

 * Hienkyaku is one the two special techniques, aside from Kuuenbu, that is not used for attacking, and also along with Kuuenbu it becomes a permanent skill for him from X4 onwards.
 * Being Ground Hunter's counterpart, it should be Slash Beast's weakness and stun him, but it doesn't because it is not even an attack, just a special move. Slash Beast's weakness, Raijingeki, doesn't stun him either; it only slows him down.


 * Hienkyaku is essentially Zero's version of Mega Man X's midair dash function from some of the Foot Parts in capsules.


 * In Tatsunoko vs. Capcom and Marvel vs. Capcom 3, it appears that the move can also be used to dash in any other direction other than straight forward, such as straight downward in midair. The Heavy version on the ground or midair which makes him dash upward is a nod to a jump from a ground dash (if the player does not jump forward fully when they do so).


 * In Mega Man Xtreme 2, Zero has this ability by default, despite the game taking place prior to X4.

Similar Techniques

 * F-Splasher from Mega Man X5

Counterpart to this Technique

 * Ground Hunter