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{{disambig2|the hitbox property|attacks that can be pointed in different directions|angling}}
[[File:TrainingSSBU.jpg|thumb|250px|The exclusive [[Training Mode]] stage in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' shows the angles and trajectories of where the targeted character could be sent. The red, green, and blue lines correspond to the angle and trajectory for 0% damage, 50% damage, and 100% damage, respectively.]]
The '''angle''' of an [[attack]], also known as '''trajectory''', is what direction it sends opponents when it connects, such as horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Many attacks have multiple [[hitbox]]es that possess slightly (or even significantly) different angles, so opponents being hit by different parts of one attack can be sent in different directions. Angle is a basic property of all hitboxes that has a major effect on an attack's effectiveness as a whole.

The angle of a hitbox is defined as a number of {{iw|wikipedia|degree|angle}}s and can span any integer number, where 0 equals "away from the attacker", 90 equals "straight up", 180 equals "towards the attacker", and 270 equals "straight down"; negative angles such as -90 can also be used, and can carry an additional meaning depending on the game.

==Types of angles==
Generally, no one angle is better than any other; two otherwise identical attacks that have differing angles will often have different purposes. One of the most dramatic of these comparisons is in ''Melee'': despite [[Reflector (Fox)|Fox's]] and [[Reflector (Falco)|Falco's]] Reflectors having very similar properties, and both being central to their characters, they have completely different usages in competitive play. A character that lacks a type of move within one of these broad classes (for example, a vertical KO move) will often be at a disadvantage compared to a character that has at least one of every option.
*Attacks with vertical angles are suited for aerial combos and [[juggling]], and are more effective at KOing characters near the top [[blast line]], especially if they are [[floaty]].
*Attacks with diagonal angles can be used to set up [[tech-chase]]s, especially on [[fast faller]]s or near platforms, and are more effective for KOing opponents near the horizontal blast lines, as well as getting them offstage for [[edgeguarding]].
*Attacks with almost purely horizontal angles, known as [[semi-spike]]s, are especially deadly as they leave opponents in a highly disadvantageous position to [[recover]] offstage, and can guarantee tech-chases onstage.
*Downward angles, known as [[meteor smash]]es, are very dangerous against offstage opponents and usually efficient combo starters onstage, although these attacks can be [[meteor cancel]]ed in ''[[Melee]]'' and ''[[Brawl]]''.
**In ''Melee'', an attack that sends opponents in a downward angle outside of the window between 260 and 280 degrees is called a [[spike]]; an attack with this angle functions similarly to a meteor smash, but the knockback cannot be meteor canceled, making it even more lethal offstage. In other games, all downward-angled attacks count as meteor smashes.

In all ''Smash'' games, moves that launch at angles between 70° and 110° put characters in a special [[hitstun]] animation (known as DamageFlyTop internally), which usually has them face upward, compared to moves that launch at other angles, which can induce up to three hitstun animations depending on the height they hit the character at. In most games, the difference between this animation and others is purely aesthetic; however, in ''Ultimate'', it has a special effect, causing characters to use different [[falling speed]] and [[gravity]] values during knockback that are homogenized across the cast. As a result, vertical finishers in ''Ultimate'' KO most characters at roughly the same percentage, unlike in previous games, where their individual falling speed and gravity could greatly affect their vertical endurance (especially in ''Melee'').

==Angle flipper==
Generally, the definition of "away" versus "towards" is based on where the attacker and the opponent are positioned, not the hitboxes and hurtboxes involved. In ''[[SSB]]'' and ''Melee'', all attacks work this way, which results in some attacks being able to send opponents in unexpected directions; {{SSBM|Fox}}'s [[back air]] and {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}'s [[Knee Smash]] in ''Melee'' are notable examples of cases where players intentionally try to land "reverse" hits for combo purposes. Likewise, throwing an item against an opponent too close to them might cause the hit to be registered from behind them, and thus launch them towards the attacker instead of away.

From ''Brawl'' onward, hitboxes can have a property known as an '''angle flipper''' set to them, which can determine whether the target is always set in the direction the attacker is facing (forward), or opposite to said direction (backward), among other variables. Otherwise, this direction is based on the attacker and target's positions as usual. Although angle flippers are relatively uncommon in ''Brawl'', several moves in ''[[Smash 4]]'' use them, namely various [[forward smash]]es always sending the target forward, and most [[back aerial]]s always launching them backward (forward for characters whose back aerials turn them around). They are also present on all [[pummel]]s and [[edge attack]]s, which launch the target forward. In ''[[Ultimate]]'', angle flippers are even more widespread: all characters' entire [[neutral attack]]s, as well as almost all [[dash attack]]s, [[forward tilt]]s, forward smashes, and [[forward aerial]]s launch opponents forward, while all back aerials launch them backward (including those that did not in ''Smash 4''); the only exceptions are {{SSBU|King Dedede}}, {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}, and {{SSBU|Wii Fit Trainer}}'s dash attacks, {{SSBU|R.O.B.}}'s forward tilt and forward aerial, {{SSBU|Luigi}}'s forward smash and forward aerial, {{SSBU|Olimar}}'s forward aerial (except with Red Pikmin), and {{SSBU|Wario}}'s forward aerial.

Since angle flippers overall cause the behavior of a move's knockback to be more consistent, they tend to be beneficial for moves aimed on a specific direction. For example, forward tilts and forward smashes can ensure the opponent is sent in the desired direction and preserve the user's advantage state, instead of ending up in a position that is more difficult to capitalize on. On the other hand, they can be detrimental to certain moves with notable reach behind the user, such as [[Marth]]'s forward aerial and [[Ike]]'s forward smash, as the former's cannot be used for more unique followups if it hits from behind, while the latter is less effective for catching opponents near the edge attempting to jump over Ike. However, certain moves that hit around the user, more specifically multi-hitting ones, can benefit from angle flippers, allowing the user to more consistently determine the opponent's ending position after the final hit and either start and extend combos; notable examples of this are [[Bayonetta]]'s [[Witch Twist]], and {{SSBU|Palutena}}'s [[neutral aerial]] in ''Ultimate''.

==Special angles==
Certain angles are dynamic, changing the exact direction they launch based on additional factors.
*In all games, the [[Sakurai angle]] (coded as a value of 361) changes from horizontal to diagonal as the knockback delivered increases, allowing for grounded battles at low damage and maximum knockback distance at high damage.
*From ''Brawl'' onward, various [[autolink angle]]s (coded as values from 362 to 368) match the direction and strength of knockback to the attacker's movements in an attempt to more consistently link multi-hit attacks together.
*In ''Ultimate'', an angle of 0° changes from horizontal to 32° when the knockback dealt is greater than or equal to 120 units, similarly to the Sakurai angle in ''SSB'', but occurring later and remaining a semi-spike.
**Notably, this effect does not occur for the angle of 180˚, which can cause certain anomalies, such as [[Octopus]]' release behaving differently on left facing walls than right facing walls. Additionally, the opponent is still forced off the ground and put into tumble, only to immediately collide with the ground when the knockback commences.

==See also==
*[[Directional influence]], a mechanic from ''Melee'' onward that allows the opponent to slightly alter their launch angle.

[[Category:Game physics]]
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