Mario jumping backwards in Melee.

A jump is an action that moves a character from the ground into the air. It is performed by pressing up on the Control Stick/D-Pad, the X or Y buttons with the GameCube, Classic Controller, and the 3DS, or the C button on the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. All characters can also jump a second time in midair, providing they are not attacking, air dodging, helpless, in hitstun, or have used it already.

A few characters can jump more than once in the air:

There is a short delay between the jump button being pressed and the on-screen character actually jumping, during which the onscreen character will enter a crouching portion of their jumping animation. If the control stick or jump button is released during this time, then the character short hops. If the control stick is tilted backwards during this time, the character will jump backwards with a different animation than a regular jump. If the standard attack button is pressed during this time, then the character uses their up smash (but only if the jump was executed with the Control Stick). Because characters can jump while shielding (excluding Yoshi in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, due to his unique shield), this allows usage of up smashes (and up special moves as well) without having to drop the shield. This also makes it difficult for a player using the Wii Remote-only control scheme to perform up tilts. Inputting an aerial on the first frame that a character is airborne will cause the jump to be slightly lower, because gravity applies to the first frame of an aerial but not to the first frame of a jump.

Brawl added a jumping mechanic known as footstools. This allows characters to jump off the heads of other characters. This can be done even when all midair jumps have already been used.

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a character will emit a subtle wispy trail if they have no extra jumps available.

Types of jumps

All characters can perform several different types of jumps. The most basic type is a standing jump, which is a jump without any other inputs. There are also more complicated jumps that involve other inputs. One of these is the walk jump, which involves jumping while walking or dashing. Another one is the backward jump, which involves the player turning around, but jumping before the fighter can. All jumps have 2 performable variants. The first and most common type is the Full hop, which involves the player holding the jump command so the fighter can jump to maximum height. The second type is the Short hop, which involves the player quickly tapping the jump command so the fighter will only perform a slight jump. There are also 2 different methods of performing these jumps. The first way is by pressing the jump button. The second way is to press up on the Control stick/D-pad. This totals to 12 different ways to jump, with all possible combinations of each having different heights.

Jump squat

A jump squat refers to the length of time between the input of the jump and the moment the character leaves the ground. Each character has a different window of time where they crouch before they jump. Characters with faster jump squats will leave the ground earlier, and can transition between their air and ground games easier; however, depending on the control scheme, the player may find it more technically demanding to perform short hops or up smashes. In Melee, characters with faster jump squats can also perform faster wavedashes, but the window of timing is also reduced, requiring more precise inputs from the player.

Jump squats in Super Smash Bros.

Rank Character Frames
1-7   Fox 3
  Kirby
  Luigi
  Mario
  Ness
  Pikachu
  Samus
8   Captain Falcon 4
9   Yoshi 5
10-11   Donkey Kong 6
  Jigglypuff
12   Link 7

Notes

Jump squats in Super Smash Bros. Melee

Rank Character Frames
1-7   Fox 3
  Ice Climbers
  Kirby
  Pichu
  Pikachu
  Samus
  Sheik
8-15   Captain Falcon 4
  Dr. Mario
  Luigi
  Mario
  Marth
  Mr. Game & Watch
  Ness
  Young Link
16-22   Donkey Kong 5
  Falco
  Jigglypuff
  Mewtwo
  Peach
  Roy
  Yoshi
23-25   Ganondorf 6
  Link
  Zelda
N/A Giga Bowser 6
Fighting Wire Frames 7
26   Bowser 8

Jump squats in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

The below values apply only to regular brawls; in The Subspace Emissary, all characters jump two frames faster.

Rank Character Frames
1-10   Diddy Kong 4
  Fox
  Ice Climbers
  Kirby
  Meta Knight
  Pikachu
  Samus
  Sheik
  Squirtle
  Zero Suit Samus
11-26   Captain Falcon 5
  Ivysaur
  Lucario
  Lucas
  Luigi
  Mario
  Marth
  Mr. Game & Watch
  Ness
  Olimar
  Peach
  Pit
  R.O.B.
  Sonic
  Toon Link
  Wolf
N/A Fighting Alloys 5
27-35   Charizard 6
  Donkey Kong
  Falco
  Ike
  Jigglypuff
  King Dedede
  Wario
  Yoshi
  Zelda
N/A Wario-Man 6
36-37   Ganondorf 7
  Link
N/A Giga Bowser 7
38   Bowser 8
39   Snake 9

Jump squats in Super Smash Bros. 4

Rank Character Frames
1-13   Bayonetta 4
  Cloud
  Diddy Kong
  Duck Hunt
  Fox
  Greninja
  Kirby
  Mega Man
  Meta Knight
  Pikachu
  Samus
  Sheik
  Zero Suit Samus
14-41   Captain Falcon 5
  Dark Pit
  Dr. Mario
  Little Mac
  Lucario
  Lucas
  Lucina
  Luigi
  Mario
  Marth
  Mewtwo
  Mii Brawler
  Mr. Game & Watch
  Ness
  Olimar
  Pac-Man
  Palutena
  Peach
  Pit
  R.O.B.
  Rosalina & Luma
  Roy
  Ryu
  Shulk
  Sonic
  Toon Link
  Villager
  Wii Fit Trainer
N/A Giga Mac 5
Mega Lucario
42-51   Bowser Jr. 6
  Corrin
  Donkey Kong
  Falco
  Jigglypuff
  King Dedede
  Mii Gunner
  Wario
  Yoshi
  Zelda
N/A Wario-Man 6
52-57   Charizard 7*
  Robin
  Ganondorf 7
  Ike
  Link
  Mii Swordfighter
N/A Giga Bowser 7
58   Bowser 8

*These characters' jumpsquat values are defined as 6 in fighter_param.bin, though they actually end up being 7.

Jump squats in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Every character has a 3 frame jump squat, with the exception of Kazuya (who has a 7 frame jump squat).

Jump height ranking

Below are characters ranked by the height of their first jump.

Note that there are two methods to encode jump height, depending on the game.

  • In Smash 64, Melee, and Brawl, the game encodes jump force, or the speed at which the character leaves the ground. The resulting jump height is dependent on the character's gravity.
  • In Smash 4 and Smash Ultimate, the game encodes jump height, and works backwards using gravity to figure out the correct force to use. This allows more natural behaviour to modifications of jump height from equipment or special moves such as Monado Arts.

Super Smash Bros.

The jump physics of Smash 64 are significantly less understood than later games due to extra complexity in the data. It is currently believed that there are two values involved in a normal jump: a base jump force, and an additional jump force based on how much height is given to the Control Stick. Until this is more elaborated, only the typical maximum jump force is listed here.

The calculation of short hop jump force is currently unknown.


 
JPN
Rank Character Jump force Jump height
1   Luigi 86 1718.214881
2   Captain Falcon 105 1569.248529
3   Samus 76 1482.2375
4   Jigglypuff 76 1406.25
5   Donkey Kong 92.6 1383.201667
6   Mario 82 1360.133333
7   Pikachu 90.6 1323.135
8   Link 92 1276.9
9   Fox 103 1275.125
10   Yoshi 83.5 1249.744907
11   Kirby 78 1228.8
12   Ness 82 1204.522685
NA
Rank Character Jump force Jump height
1   Luigi 86 1718.214881
2   Captain Falcon 104 1539.013235
3   Samus 76 1482.2375
4   Jigglypuff 76 1406.25
5   Donkey Kong 92.6 1383.201667
6   Mario 82 1360.133333
7   Pikachu 90.6 1323.135
8   Fox 103 1275.125
9   Kirby 78 1228.8
10   Ness 82 1204.522685
11   Yoshi 83.5 1203.644643
12   Link 92 1199.130882

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Jump
Rank Character Jump force Jump height
1   Falco 4.1 47.41242647
2   Luigi 2.4 40.54775543
3   Captain Falcon 3.1 35.42778846
4   Donkey Kong 2.7 35.1125
5   Ness 2.5 33.48347222
N/A Male Wire Frame 2.5 33.48347222
N/A Giga Bowser 4.2 33.21125
6   Marth 2.4 32.69297794
7   Ice Climbers 2.6 32.5125
8   Samus 2.1 32.36734091
9   Yoshi 2.5 32.36377554
10   Sheik 2.8 31.28166667
11   Mewtwo 2.3 31.11634756
12   Young Link 2.62 29.90556818
13-14   Pichu 2.6 29.44102273
13-14   Pikachu 2.6 29.44102273
15   Zelda 2.1 29.16460445
N/A Female Wire Frame 2.1 29.16460445
16   Peach 2.2 29.16
17   Bowser 2.8 28.77009615
18   Roy 2.6 28.36337281
19   Fox 3.68 27.62875
20   Link 2.5 27.17284091
21-23   Dr. Mario 2.3 26.70398026
21-23   Mario 2.3 26.70398026
21-23   Mr. Game & Watch 2.3 26.70398026
24   Ganondorf 2.6 24.71625
25   Kirby 2.0 24.01
26   Jigglypuff 1.6 19.208
Shorthop
Rank Character Jump force Jump height Difference
1   Samus 1.7 21.05218939 65.041%
2   Sheik 2.14 18.02666667 57.627%
N/A Male Wire Frame 1.8 17.11125 51.104%
3   Zelda 1.6 16.74337158 57.410%
N/A Female Wire Frame 1.6 16.74337158 57.410%
4   Yoshi 1.8 16.53097984 51.079%
5   Peach 1.6 15.21 52.160%
6   Ganondorf 2.0 14.40086538 58.265%
7   Luigi 1.4 13.51152355 33.322%
8   Kirby 1.5 13.3225 55.487%
9   Captain Falcon 1.9 12.95086538 36.556%
10   Marth 1.5 12.49591912 38.222%
11-12   Pichu 1.7 12.30011364 41.779%
11-12   Pikachu 1.7 12.30011364 41.779%
13   Donkey Kong 1.6 12.0125 34.211%
14   Ness 1.5 11.76125 35.126%
15   Mewtwo 1.4 11.26146951 36.191%
16   Falco 1.9 9.688897059 20.435%
17-19   Dr. Mario 1.4 9.627664474 36.053%
17-19   Mario 1.4 9.627664474 36.053%
17-19   Mr. Game & Watch 1.4 9.627664474 36.053%
20-21   Young Link 1.5 9.491022727 31.737%
20-21   Link 1.5 9.491022727 34.928%
22   Roy 1.5 9.132671053 32.199%
23   Ice Climbers 1.4 9.1125 28.028%
24   Bowser 1.6 9.062403846 31.499%
25   Fox 2.1 8.565706522 31.003%
26   Jigglypuff 1.05 8.09628125 42.151%
N/A Giga Bowser 1.6 4.35125 13.102%

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

The following is a ranking of the characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl based on how high they jump from the ground, along with the jump force of each character.

Rank Character Force
1   Fox 3.55
2   Falco 3.42
3   Sheik 3.37
4   Wolf 2.95
5   Zero Suit Samus 2.84
6   Captain Falcon 2.82
7-8   Diddy Kong 2.8
7-8   Squirtle 2.8
9   Bowser 2.65
10   Pikachu 2.48
11-12   Donkey Kong 2.45
11-12   Sonic 2.45
13-14   Meta Knight 2.4
13-14   King Dedede 2.4
15-17   Luigi 2.35
15-17   Lucas 2.35
15-17   Ice Climbers 2.35
18-19   Yoshi 2.34
18-19   Ganondorf 2.34
20   Wario 2.3
21-22   Link 2.26
21-22   Ike 2.26
23-24   Ness 2.25
23-24   R.O.B. 2.25
25-26   Mario 2.22
25-26   Charizard 2.22
27-28   Toon Link 2.2
27-28   Lucario 2.2
29   Pit 2.17
30-31   Ivysaur 2.16
30-31   Marth 2.16
32   Zelda 2.09
33   Mr. Game & Watch 2.07
34   Samus 2.05
35   Olimar 2.04
36   Peach 1.98
37   Snake 1.9
38   Kirby 1.79
39   Jigglypuff 1.44

When combined with gravity and falling speed (characters that fall faster cannot jump as high with the same jump force), the ranking of jump height from the ground is:

Rank Character
1   Falco
2   Luigi
3-4   Zero Suit Samus
3-4   Diddy Kong
5   Captain Falcon
6-7   R.O.B.
6-7   Lucario
8   Donkey Kong
9   Marth
10   Sheik
11-12   Samus
11-12   Yoshi
13   Lucas
14-15   Pikachu
14-15   Ness
16-17   Fox
16-17   Ice Climbers
18-19   Bowser
18-19   King Dedede
20-21   Squirtle
20-21   Ike
22-23   Mario
22-23   Pit
24-25   Sonic
24-25   Wolf
26   Ivysaur
27   Toon Link
28-29   Zelda
28-29   Peach
30   Olimar
31   Wario
32   Link
33   Ganondorf
34-35   Meta Knight
34-35   Charizard
36   Mr. Game & Watch
37   Kirby
38   Snake
39   Jigglypuff

For more information about jumping physics, see falling speed, gravity, and traction.

Super Smash Bros. 4

Rank Character Full Hop Short Hop Air Jump
1   Falco 50.506073 17.34 50.506073
2   Greninja 46 22.114738 46
3   Zero Suit Samus 44.5 21.354742 44.199909
4   Luigi 44 19.984556 41.305771
5   Diddy Kong 41.208694 19.897078 41.208694
6   Rosalina 40 19.370632 40
7-8   Bayonetta 39 21.354742 42
7-8   Sheik 39 18.752533 40
9   R.O.B. 38 18.378603 38
10   Lucario 37.619999 18.193617 37.619999
11   Captain Falcon 37.306652 17.980684 37.306652
12   Samus 37 18 37
13   Mario 36.331814 17.539339 36.331814
14   Yoshi 36.094189 17.434723 51.560001
15   Palutena 35.900002 17.303881 35.900002
16   Wii Fit Trainer 35.599998 17.179214 35.599998
17   Pikachu 35.5 17.123371 35.5
18-20   Fox 35 16.403395 37
18-20   Mii Brawler 35 17 35.5
18-20   Sonic 35 16.887465 35
21   Shulk 34.799999 16.887465 34.799999
22   Ness 34.476265 16.652296 34.476265
23   Bowser Jr. 34.400002 16.592869 34.400002
24   Pac-Man 34.099998 16.477137 34.099998
25-26   Donkey Kong 34 17.297209 35.5
25-26   Duck Hunt 34 16.477137 33.799999
27   Toon Link 33.799999 16.320242 33.799999
28-29   Lucina 33.660133 16.263107 33.660133
28-29   Marth 33.660133 16.263107 33.660133
30   Olimar 33.5 16.191645 33.5
31   Robin 33.208813 16.018034 33.208813
32-33   Bowser 33 15.699792 32.611839
32-33   Corrin 33 16 31
34   King Dedede 32.849998 16.019524 32.849998
35   Mega Man 32.799999 11.492068 32.799999
36-37   Cloud 32.5 17 32
36-37   Villager 32.5 15.689452 32
38-40   Charizard 32 15.42625 36
38-40   Meta Knight 32 13.915902 28.925524
38-40   Mii Gunner 32 17.539339 33.500343
41   Zelda 31.552761 15.239396 31.552761
42   Mewtwo 31.110001 17.5 58.542999
43-44   Dark Pit 31 14.955608 31
43-44   Pit 31 14.955608 31
45   Roy 30.969999 13 28
46   Wario 30.5 14.699989 30.5
47   Peach 30.025824 14.501237 30.025824
48   Ike 29.9 16 31
49   Lucas 29.41 13 34.48
50   Dr. Mario 29.356105712 14.171785912 29.356105712
51   Mii Swordfighter 28.299999 15 28.299999
52   Link 27.799999 13.380496 29
53   Mr. Game & Watch 27.511969 13.261467 27.511969
54   Little Mac 26 12.526741 26
55   Ryu 26 15 29.5
56   Ganondorf 25.488228 12.244264 26
57   Kirby 25.368114 12.241816 22
58   Jigglypuff 19.786329 11.260982 19.786329

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Rank Character Full Hop Short Hop Air Jump Combined Jump Height
1   Falco 50.51 17.34 50.51 101.02
2   Greninja 46 22.11 46 92
3   Zero Suit Samus 44.5 21.35 44.2 88.7
4   Luigi 44 19.98 41.31 85.31
5   Diddy Kong 41.21 19.9 41.21 82.42
6   Rosalina & Luma 40 19.37 40 80
7-8   Sheik 39 18.75 40 79
7-8   Bayonetta 39 21.35 42 81
9   R.O.B. 38 18.38 38 76
10   Lucario 37.62 18.19 37.62 75.24
11   Piranha Plant 37.4 17.5 38.52 75.92
12   Captain Falcon 37.31 17.98 37.31 74.62
13-14   Samus 37 18 37 74
13-14   Dark Samus 37 18 37 74
15   Pichu 36.75 17.43 36.02 72.77
16   Mario 36.33 17.54 36.33 72.66
17   Yoshi 36.09 14.43 51.56 87.65
18   Palutena 35.9 17.3 35.9 71.8
19   Wii Fit Trainer 35.6 17.18 35.6 71.2
20   Pikachu 35.5 17.12 35.5 71
21   Squirtle 35.35 17.03 35.35 70.7
22-24   Fox 35 16.4 37 72
22-24   Sonic 35 16.89 35 70
22-24   Mii Brawler 35 17 35.5 70.5
25   Ice Climbers 34.69 16.75 34.69 69.38
26   Ness 34.48 16.65 45.65 80.13
27   Bowser Jr. 34.4 16.59 34.4 68.8
28   Pac-Man 34.1 16.48 34.1 68.2
29-31   Donkey Kong 34 17.3 35.5 69.5
29-31   Duck Hunt 34 16.48 33.8 67.8
29-31   Ridley 34 14.2 32 98*
32   Toon Link 33.8 16.32 33.8 67.6
33-35   Marth 33.66 16.26 33.66 67.32
33-35   Lucina 33.66 16.26 33.66 67.32
33-35   Young Link 33.66 16.26 33.66 67.32
36-37   Olimar 33.5 16.19 33.5 67
36-37   Shulk 33.5 16.8 33.5 67
38   Robin 33.21 16.02 33.21 66.42
39-42   Bowser 33 15.7 32.61 65.61
39-42   Corrin 33 16 31 64
39-42   Inkling 33 17.54 36.33 69.33
39-42   King K. Rool 33 13.5 32.61 65.61
43   King Dedede 32.85 16.02 32.85 164.25*
44   Mega Man 32.8 11.49 32.8 65.6
45-48   Cloud 32.5 17 32.5 65
45-48   Isabelle 32.5 15.69 32.5 65
45-48   Villager 32.5 15.69 32.5 65
45-48   Joker 32.5 14.2 34 66.5
49   Ivysaur 32.25 15.58 32.25 64.5
50   Wolf 32.02 15.38 30.71 62.73
51-52   Charizard 32 15.43 36 104*
51-52   Meta Knight 32 13.92 28.93 176.65*
53   Incineroar 31.6 14.4 32.8 64.4
54   Zelda 31.55 15.24 31.55 63.1
55   Mewtwo 31.11 17.5 57.35 88.46
56-57   Pit 31 14.96 31 124*
56-57   Dark Pit 31 14.96 31 124*
58-59   Roy 30.97 13 28 58.97
58-59   Chrom 30.97 13 28 58.97
60   Mii Gunner 30.9 14.6 32.3 63.2
61   Dr. Mario 30.8805 13.414592 27.785184 58.665684
62   Mythra 30.8 15.6 33 63.8
63   Min Min 30.7 16 29 59.7
64-65   Wario 30.5 14.7 30.5 61
64-65   Sephiroth 30.5 10 34 64.5*
66-67   Peach 30.03 14.5 30.03 60.06
66-67   Daisy 30.03 14.5 30.03 60.06
68-69   Simon 30 18 29 59
68-69   Richter 30 18 29 59
70   Ike 29.9 16 31 60.9
71   Banjo & Kazooie 29.8 17.8 32 93.8*
72   Lucas 29.41 13 44.13 73.54
73   Hero 29 15.5 31 60
74   Mii Swordfighter 28.3 12.3 28.3 56.6
75   Link 27.8 13.38 29 56.8
76   Mr. Game & Watch 27.51 13.26 27.51 55.02
77   Terry 27 15.2 29 56
78   Byleth 26.5 14 28.5 55
79   Pyra 26.3 15.2 29 55.3
80-82   Little Mac 26 12.53 26 52
80-82   Ryu 26 15 29.5 55.5
80-82   Ken 26 15 29.5 55.5
83   Ganondorf 25.49 12.24 26 51.49
84   Kirby 25.37 12.24 22 131.62*
85   Snake 21.62 13.69 34.07 55.69
86   Jigglypuff 19.79 11.26 19.79 118.74*
87   Kazuya 18 12 49 67
88   Steve 16.5 10 22.5 39
  • Multiple air jumps may not allow the character to jump at the apex of each jump, slightly decreasing max height.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U digital manual description

"Jump by tapping   up or by pressing   or  . You can then jump while in midair by tapping   up or tapping   or   again."

References

See also