Cloud (SSB4)/Forward aerial

Hitbox visualization showing Cloud's forward aerial.

Overview

An overhead slash with the Buster Sword. It covers a wide area and deals solid damage, but offers pitiful knockback compared to most comparably slow-but-strong aerials, unable to KO reliably until around 175%. Though slow, its long startup actually has its perks, with it being Cloud's slowest aerial by a significant margin, it can be used interchangeably with his others to attack with unpredictable timing and as a hard punish for an untimely airdodge or shield drop. Its high shieldstun and good coverage give it use as an anti-air and spacing tool, but neutral and back aerial are often preferred for their superior speed and consistency.

In edgeguarding scenarios, forward aerial offers a higher risk, higher reward option over neutral aerial, being a more committal and unreliable alternative, but with a sweetspot capable of spiking opponents and KOing them much earlier than neutral aerial could.

Hitboxes

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			SDIx	H×	T%	Clang	Rebound	Type	Effect	G	A	Sound	Direct
Clean hit
0	0	14%	0		20	90	0	3.3	0	0.0	7.5 to 6.5	14.5 to 14.0	1.0x	2x	0%							Cloud Hit
1	0	14%	0		20	100	0	3.3	0	0.0	7.5 to 6.5	14.5 to 14.0	1.0x	2x	0%							Cloud Hit
2	0	13%	0		30	83	0	7.8	0	0.0	9.5 to 14.5	14.0 to 14.6	1.0x	1x	0%							Cloud Hit
3	0	13%	0		30	83	0	4.0	25	0.0	12.0 to 4.0	-2.0	1.0x	1x	0%							Cloud Hit
Late hit
3	0	11%	0		30	83	0	3.0	25	0.0	12.0 to 4.0	0.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Cloud Hit

Timing

Attack

Initial autocancel	1-2
Clean hit	18-19
Late hit	20-25
Ending autocancel	43-
Interruptible	54
Animation length	79

Landing lag

Animation length	18

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Hitbox

Hitbox change

Autocancel

Interruptible

Cloud's moveset

Neutral attack (1 · 2 · 3) · Forward tilt · Up tilt · Down tilt · Dash attack · Forward smash · Up smash · Down smash
Neutral aerial · Forward aerial · Back aerial · Up aerial · Down aerial
Grab · Pummel · Forward throw · Back throw · Up throw · Down throw
Floor attack (front) · Floor attack (back) · Floor attack (trip) · Edge attack
Neutral special · Side special · Up special · Down special · Final Smash