Editing Edge

{{disambig2|the stage element referred to as edges|for other uses of the name '''Edge'''|Edge (disambiguation)}}

[[File:BTLFD-PLATF-SSBM.png|thumb|''[[Melee]]''{{'}}s {{SSBM|Battlefield}} showing platforms. Edges (grabbable platforms) are denoted with red.]]

[[File:Ledge Grab.png|250px|thumb|{{SSBB|Marth}} grabbing the ledge of {{SSBB|Final Destination}} in ''[[Brawl]]''.]]

[[File:Edge grab SSB4.jpg|250px|thumb|{{SSB4|Link}} stealing a ledge from {{SSB4|Mario}} in {{forwiiu}}.]]

In the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', a character cannot grab the edge if facing the opposite direction, with some exceptions, such as when using [[Falcon Dive]] and [[Spinning Kong]] in ''Melee''. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', characters can grab an edge behind them, but with a range of 40% less than in front. Characters will automatically grab a nearby edge while in the air unless the player is actively holding down on the [[control stick]] or [[D-pad]]. Multiple characters cannot hold onto an edge at the same time, with the exception of the [[Ice Climbers]] in ''Brawl'' and ''Ultimate'', where both climbers belonging to one player can grab the same edge.  

When a character grabs an edge, they will briefly become [[intangible]]. The amount of intangibility gained depends on the game and if certain conditions are met. In ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', if a character lets go of the ledge, they will keep their intangibility. This is the basis of [[ledgestall]]ing (see that article for more detailed analysis of how edge-grabbing works in ''Melee''). This ledge intangibility could also be carried over with regular ledge options. If the intangibility of a ledge option ends but the player still has carried over ledge intangibility, they will stay intangible until the ledge intangibility ends. This is mainly relevant with ledge attacks and ledge jumps, allowing players to stay intangible for a longer period of time if they ledge attack/jump as early as possible after grabbing an edge. However, in ''Smash 64'', ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate'', the intangibility immediately ends once a player lets go of the ledge by pressing down or back on the control stick, preventing characters from having indefinite ledge intangibility. The intangibility from ledge options also completely overrides ledge intangibility in these games.

 

In ''Ultimate'', grabbing an edge consecutively without landing or taking hitstun decreases the intangibility frames of subsequent edge recovery options, with a reduction factor of 0.8× for the second edge grab, 0.5× for the third one, and no intangibility at all from the fourth one onward. Additionally, in the same vein as Ike's [[Aether]] in previous games, characters can only grab an edge up to six times under these conditions; subsequent attempts will still show the visual effect for an edge grab if the character comes in contact, but without it actually happening. These mechanics further reduce the effectiveness of planking strategies.

[[File:Edge Recovery.png|thumb|left|A chart showing different ways for a character to edge recover in ''[[Brawl]]''.]]

Prior to ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', when a character's [[damage]] is lower than 100%, the character is considered "fresh", and is able to climb back onto the stage from the edge rather quickly. However, at percentages of 100% and above, the character can be considered "tired", and climbing becomes a harder task. As a result, all edge actions aside from letting go have two possible animations: one with the character performing the action in a fluent and fast manner, and another with the character doing so in a clumsy and slow manner. The fast and slow animations are often noticeably different in execution, such as a quick flip kick versus a slow trip kick, or a quick roll versus a slow crawl.

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The amount of [[intangibility]] gained upon grabbing an edge differs between games, but is generally a fixed value. This changes starting in ''Smash 4'', where both air time and percentage have an effect.

!Value

!Notes

|(plus the duration of the edge-grabbing animation, which is 3 frames, excluding {{SSB|Yoshi}}, {{SSB|Mario}}, and {{SSB|Luigi}}, for which it's 7 frames)

|(plus the duration of the edge-grabbing animation, which is 7 frames, excluding {{SSBM|Link}}, for which it's 3 frames)

|(plus the duration of the edge-grabbing animation, which is 23 frames, excluding {{SSBB|Pikachu}}, for which it's 11 frames)

!SSB4<br>SSBU

|(60 * (a / 300)) + (44 - (p / 120 * 44)) frames

|(plus the duration of the edge-grabbing animation, which is 19 frames)<br/>(a = airtime in frames with max 300, p = percentage with max 120)<br/>(minimum 23 frames, maximum 123 frames)

The following behaviors arise from the system in ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate'':

*Players with low damage and low airtime are intangible for 63 frames (~1 second).

*Players with high damage and high airtime can be intangible for up to 79 frames (~1.333 seconds). As a result, fresh players that grab the edge are about even with highly-damaged players trying to recover.

*Players with high damage and low airtime are only intangible for 23 frames (0.4 seconds), so it does no good to grab the edge multiple times when recovering.

*Players with low damage and high airtime can be intangible for up to 123 frames (~2 seconds), much more than any other game. However, this is difficult to achieve, as the required airtime is 5 seconds.

===Grounded actionable ledge intangibility===

!''SSB4'' and ''SSBU''

|rowspan=2|6.5 seconds

A two frame punish is a mechanic introduced in ''Smash 4'' that allows a potential edge guarder to attack an opponent attempting to recover without even leaving the stage or hardly coming off. When a character grabs the ledge, there are two [[frames]] (or 1/30th of a second) of tangibility directly before they grab the ledge. This was most likely added to compensate for the removal of edge-hogging, as it still allows players to be punished for going for a ledge grab, even though it is more difficult and less consistent than edge-hogging. The two frames of punish time don't appear if the character recovering grabs the ledge not by coming up, but by going past the ledge and grabbing it on the way back down, or just jumping and not using their up special, though both can lead to punishment regardless. If the recovering character uses a teleport recovery (like [[Sheik]]'s [[Vanish]]) starting from above the ledge, the two vulnerable frames don't apply and there will be no room for punishment.

 

Tilts and Z-Dropped items are generally the best tactics to make use of the frames. Any attack that goes below the ledge will work, but they're the least punishable. The downward half of [[Ike]]'s [[Aether]] and [[Mii Brawler]]'s [[Mii Brawler (SSBU)/Up special|Soaring Axe Kick]] can act as an extremely powerful [[meteor smash]] or [[sacrificial KO]] if landed during this period.

 

Any move that '''pierces''' the ledge goes all the way through it to the other side (at least 8 units below ground level). While these can of course two-frame, doing so is unnecessary, as they reach low enough to hit fighters attempting a recovery before they even have the chance to grab the edge. Moves such as [[R.O.B. (SSBU)/Down aerial|R.O.B.'s down aerial]], or [[Pyra (SSBU)/Down aerial|Pyra's down aerial]], pierce the ledge.

Typically, when attempting a recovery, it is more useful to aim up special moves for the ledge in an attempt to sweetspot the ledge (if possible), rather than recovering to the stage, as grabbing the ledge offers brief intangibility and multiple getup options which will give the opponent a harder time with [[edgeguarding]]. The edges on {{SSBM|Battlefield}} in ''Melee'' are quite infamous for being difficult to grab on to.