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{{ArticleIcons|series=y|unofficial=yes|fa=yes}}
{{ArticleIcons|series=y|unofficial=yes|fa=yes}}
{{disambig2|priority in relation to attacks|controller slot priority|Port priority}}
{{disambig2|priority in relation to attacks|controller slot priority|Port priority}}
[[File:Jab cancel.png|250px|right|thumb|The white "bubble" between {{SSBB|Kirby}} and {{SSBB|Pikachu}}'s attacks indicates that two hitboxes have collided.]]
[[File:Jab cancel.png|250px|thumb|The white "bubble" between {{SSBB|Kirby}} and {{SSBB|Pikachu}}'s attacks indicates that two hitboxes have collided.]]
'''Priority''' is a property of [[hitbox]]es in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series that describes their behavior upon interacting with other hitboxes. While the priority of the hitboxes produced by normal [[ground attack]]s follows a set of rules that is dependent upon the amount of damage they deal (the ''law of high and low priority''), different rules apply to those of normal [[aerial attack]]s, and certain [[special move]]s when performed in the air. Furthermore, some hitboxes and attacks, such as shots from [[Fox|Fox's]] [[Blaster (Fox)|Blaster]], possess a special kind of priority called '''transcendent priority''', which ignores the rules of normal priority. '''Rebound''' is a term used to describe an animation that occurs when two direct grounded moves with normal priority mechanics are within 9% of each other when they collide. The length of this animation changes based on the damage output of both attacks.
'''Priority''' is the system that governs how opposing [[attack]]s interact with each other in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series. Most commonly, when the [[hitbox]]es of two characters' attacks collide with each other, they '''clank''', freezing both in place for a moment. If the attacks are roughly equal in strength - the difference in damage is 9% or less - then both characters '''rebound''' from the impact and pause for a moment before they can do anything else. If one attack is much stronger than the other, it wins outright, and more often than not will continue on to strike the enemy stuck rebounding. The most common exception is [[aerial attack]]s, which usually can clank with [[projectile]]s, but not with [[ground attack]]s or other aerials, and cannot rebound at all. Certain hitboxes are also marked as being "cannot clank" or "cannot rebound", affecting their ability to cancel out (and be cancelled out by) opposing moves.


Priority in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series is not to be confused with the general term "priority" that is used to gauge the relative usefulness of a move with regards to its speed, the size or duration of its hitbox, or any other property it might have (e.g. [[armor]] or [[intangibility]]/[[invincibility]] around part of or the entire body). The concept of priority also governs how individual hitboxes and objects react, not attacks as a whole. For example, an attack can be cancelled if its only non-transcendent hitbox is outprioritized, regardless of the status of its other transcendent hitboxes. In addition, attacks being cancelled via priority rules is on a per-object basis, meaning that an attack that is outprioritized can still damage other players or objects if it hits at the same time.
While the effects of priority are calculated based on individual hitboxes, the results are applied to the attacker as a whole. For example, if one hitbox clanks with an enemy attack, the entire move clanks, regardless of how many other hitboxes would not have clanked. In addition, an attack that clanks is still dangerous to bystanders until rebound begins, even if it was entirely outprioritized by the opposing attack.
 
The term "priority" is often informally used to describe a move's general ability to beat other moves, due to factors such as its damage output, hitbox position, attack speed, non-vulnerable [[hurtbox]]es, or other properties.


==Normal priority==
==Normal priority==
[[File:WindyHillSSB4.png|thumb|{{SSB4|Mario}}'s [[Fireball]] colliding with {{SSB4|Sonic}}'s [[neutral attack]] in {{forwiiu}}.]]
[[File:WindyHillSSB4.png|thumb|{{SSB4|Mario}}'s [[Fireball]] colliding with {{SSB4|Sonic}}'s [[neutral attack]] in {{forwiiu}}.]]
''Normal priority'' describes the set of rules that apply to normal attack hitboxes, that is, any attack hitbox that is not classified as ''transcendent''. As such, the majority of standard attacks, aerials, special attacks, and projectiles contain hitboxes with ''normal priority''.
''Normal priority'' describes the set of rules that apply to normal attack hitboxes, that is, any attack hitbox that does not have a special property such as ''transcendent'' or ''trample''. As such, the majority of standard attacks, aerials, special attacks, and projectiles contain hitboxes with ''normal priority''.


===Ground attacks===
===Ground attacks===
When two ground attack hitboxes overlap, they will clank. This collision is signified by a white "bubble", and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]]'', a distinct "ting" sound, as if swords are clanging, is also heard. If two actual swords clank, such as Link and Marth's blades, a more realistic "ting" sound is heard.
When two ground attack hitboxes overlap, they will clank. This collision is signified by a white "bubble", and in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]]'', a distinct "ting" sound, as if swords are clanging, is also heard. If two actual swords clank, such as Link and Marth's blades, a more realistic "ting" sound is heard. If the stronger hitbox (by %) deals more than 9% (the "priority range") more than the weaker hitbox, the stronger move will continue as normal and the weaker move will end, with the character going into rebound. If both hitboxes deal within 9% of each other, both moves will end and both characters will go into rebound. (note that in the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', the priority range is instead 10%). This comparison happens after most damage multipliers but before the 1v1 multiplier in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|Ultimate]]''.
 
Clanking leads to both hitboxes being deactivated '''for that frame only''' vs the clanking opponent. On the following frame, one or both characters will go into the rebound animation. If the stronger hitbox (by %) deals more than 9% (the "priority range") more than the weaker hitbox, the stronger move will continue as normal and the weaker move will end, with the character going into rebound. If both hitboxes deal within 9% of each other, both moves will end and both characters will go into rebound. (note that in the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', the priority range is instead 10%). This comparison happens after most damage multipliers but before the 1v1 multiplier in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|Ultimate]]''.


If the stronger move continues, it can hit the clanking opponent on the following frame, assuming the move still has a hitbox on that frame.
In Melee, the weaker hitbox won't hit the opponent if it clanks. However, the stronger hit can still hit the user of the weaker hit immediately, or on the following frames. In Ultimate, however, neither player can be hit by the clanking opponent '''on the frame that the clank occurs'''. If the stronger move continues, it can hit the clanking opponent on the following frame, assuming the move still has a hitbox on that frame.


For example:
For example:
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After the freeze frames are over, characters go through a unique rebound animation.
After the freeze frames are over, characters go through a unique rebound animation.


Prior to ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|Ultimate]]'', the length of the rebound animation increased proportionately to the damage each hitbox would have dealt. This meant that the fighter that performed the weaker attack would get out of rebound before the other and have frame advantage. The calculation for rebound duration depends on the game, but "R" always means rebound frames and "d" always means damage dealt, rounded down. In [[Melee]], the calculation is roughly <code>R=Roundup(0.559*(d+10))</code>, except for Dr. Mario, for which it is <code>R=Roundup(0.615*(d+10))</code> instead. In [[Smash 4]], the calculation is <code>R=Floor((d*15/8)+7.5)</code>.
Prior to ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate|Ultimate]]'', the length of the rebound animation increased proportionately to the damage each hitbox would have dealt. This meant that the fighter that performed the weaker attack would get out of rebound before the other and have frame advantage. The calculation for rebound duration depends on the game, but "R" always means rebound frames and "d" always means damage dealt, rounded down. In ''[[Melee]]'', the calculation is roughly <code>R=Roundup(0.559*(d+10))</code>, except for Dr. Mario, for which it is <code>R=Roundup(0.615*(d+10))</code> instead. In ''[[Smash 4]]'', the calculation is <code>R=Floor((d*15/8)+7.5)</code>.


In Ultimate, the length of the rebound animation for both characters is based on the damage dealt by the stronger hitbox (again, regardless of whether the user of the stronger move is going through rebound or not). It uses the same formula as Smash 4, although the maximum rebound is 58 frames.
In ''Ultimate'', the length of the rebound animation for both characters is based on the damage dealt by the stronger hitbox (again, regardless of whether the user of the stronger move is going through rebound or not). It uses the same formula as ''Smash 4'', although the maximum rebound is 58 frames.


Overall, this means that, in Ultimate, if both characters go through rebound they will be actionable on the same frame. The exception is if one character clanked using an electric move; that character will be actionable a bit later than the opponent due to the extra freeze frames.
Overall, this means that, in ''Ultimate'', if both characters go through rebound they will be actionable on the same frame. The exception is if one character clanked using an electric move; that character will be actionable a bit later than the opponent due to the extra freeze frames.


If only one character goes through rebound, they will often be hit by the opponent's move as it continues. However, this is not necessarily the case if the original move was sufficiently disjointed or if the clank happens on the last frame of the opponent's hitbox. In that case the opponent will suffer the end lag of their attack whereas the character will suffer the freeze frames plus rebound animation, with the length of both based on the opponent's move.
If only one character goes through rebound, they will often be hit by the opponent's move as it continues. However, this is not necessarily the case if the original move was sufficiently disjointed or if the clank happens on the last frame of the opponent's hitbox. In that case the opponent will suffer the end lag of their attack whereas the character will suffer the freeze frames plus rebound animation, with the length of both based on the opponent's move.
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*However, if Ganondorf's forward aerial collides with Samus' fully charged Charge Shot (17% vs. 25%), his forward aerial will cancel out the Charge Shot and Ganondorf will not be harmed.
*However, if Ganondorf's forward aerial collides with Samus' fully charged Charge Shot (17% vs. 25%), his forward aerial will cancel out the Charge Shot and Ganondorf will not be harmed.


==Exceptions to normal priority==
===Grabs===
===Considered both airborne and grounded===
Grabboxes are not bound by usual priority rules. Instead, in each game, they behave differently if a grab connects with an opponent at the same time the opponent strikes the grabber with a standard hitbox.
{{incomplete|Needs data on non-Brawl games}}


{| class="wikitable sortable" width=47%
*In ''Smash 64'' and ''Melee'', the grab has full priority over the hitbox, with the grabber ignoring it entirely and hitting the opponent.
|-
*In ''Brawl'', the grab has priority over the hitbox, but the hitbox still causes damage to the grabber, instead having them [[armor]] through it.
!width=8%|Character
*In ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate'', hitboxes outprioritize grabs; in this situation, the grabber receives full damage and knockback from the standard hitbox, while the attacker is [[grab release]]d and takes 3% damage (or more if the grab came from a special move and the grab itself dealt damage, like the beginning of [[Falcon Dive]]). In ''Ultimate'', however, a select few attacks' hitboxes are coded to be outprioritized by grabs, with the grabber taking damage but armoring through the attack like in ''Brawl''; this is the case for {{SSBU|Sonic}}'s [[Homing Attack]], [[Spin Dash]], and [[Spin Charge]], and more notably {{SSBU|Banjo & Kazooie}}'s [[Wonderwing]] (which also causes the grabber to take 0.25× damage from the hitbox).
!width=35%|Move
!width=4%|Games
|-
|{{SSBB|Falco}}
|[[Falco Phantasm]]
|rowspan=10|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|-
|{{SSBB|Fox}}
|[[Fox Illusion]]
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSBB|Meta Knight}}
|[[Mach Tornado]] (both grounded and airborne)
|-
|[[Drill Rush]] (both grounded and airborne)
|-
|[[Glide attack]]
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSBB|Ness}}
|Up smash
|-
|[[Down smash]]
|-
|{{SSBB|Olimar}}
|All [[Pikmin (species)|Pikmin]]-based attacks
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}}
|[[Neutral aerial]]
|-
|[[Up smash]]* (second hitbox only)
|}


'''*'''The second hitbox of Zero Suit Samus' up smash behaves like an aerial. It may be out-prioritised by another character's aerial, but the up smash's animation and subsequent hitboxes cannot be cancelled.
Likewise, if both characters attempt to grab each other at the same time, the situation is resolved differently in each game. In ''Smash 64'', ''Melee'', and ''Brawl'', this is determined by [[port priority]], with the character in the lower port always getting the grab. In ''Smash 4'', port priority is no longer a factor, with either character having an equally [[random]] chance to get the grab instead. ''Ultimate'' resolves both quirks by simply causing both grabs to cancel each other out, akin to a [[clang]]. This property is known as '''grab parrying''' by the in-game [[tip]]s, and results in both characters taking 1% damage and performing their rebound animation (unless they are in the air, where their grab release animation is used instead). The exact timing of when this can happen is specific to every animation of every character, and may even be assigned to actions that are not grabs.


The hitboxes of the above attacks can collide with the hitboxes of other attacks regardless of if they're ground or aerial attacks. When such a collision occurs, the clash bubble will appear and the outcome will follow the law of high and low priority. However, airborne attacks cannot be cancelled out, including airborne special moves. Thus, while the results of a collision will follow the law of high and low priority, the appearance of such a collision will differ to that of two colliding ground attacks.
==Exceptions to normal priority==
 
===Transcendent priority===
If one of the above ground attacks collides with an aerial, or one of the above aerials collides with a ground attack, and the ground attack is below the priority range of the aerial, the ground attack will be cancelled and the airborne attack can damage the wielder of the ground attack. If the two hitboxes are within the priority range, the ground attack will be cancelled out, and, since it is an aerial attack, the animation of the airborne attack will persist. However, the airborne hitbox becomes harmless, and the wielder of the ground attack will not at all be knocked or damaged by the airborne hitbox, regardless of whether it connects or not.
 
For example:
*If King's Dedede up tilt collides with Meta Knight's glide attack (13% vs. 13%), Dedede's up tilt will be cancelled out, but he will not be harmed, even if the hitbox of Meta Knight's glide attack contacts King Dedede's body.
 
If the hitbox of a ground attack is above the priority range of a colliding airborne hitbox, both attack animations will persist, but the airborne hitbox will become harmless, while the ground attack is still able to damage. Thus, if the hitbox of the ground attack connects with the body of the character who used the airborne special, this character will take the damage and knockback of the ground attack. A notable example of a special move that can collide with the hitboxes of other attacks while airborne is {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}'s [[Mach Tornado]]. If performed on the ground (grounded), it can be cancelled out, but if airborne, it cannot be cancelled. Mach Tornado is a multi-hit move that deals 1% per hit during the main portion of the attack.
 
For example:
*If Captain Falcon's forward tilt collides with a hitbox of Meta Knight's grounded Mach Tornado (10% vs. 1%), the forward tilt will collide with, and cancel out the Mach Tornado.
*If the Mach Tornado is airborne, Captain Falcon's forward tilt can cancel one of its hitboxes, but cannot cancel the hitboxes that follow. Mach Tornado cannot cancel his forward tilt either, because it is too weak (10% vs. 1%). However, unless the hitbox of Captain Falcon's forward tilt connects with Meta Knight's body, the Mach Tornado will continue and can afterwards damage Captain Falcon, despite the fact that his forward tilt out-prioritised it.
 
===Moves that cannot rebound===
{{incomplete|Needs a complete list of moves for every game}}
 
Some attacks cannot ever rebound after colliding with an attack within the priority range (also known as '''trampling'''); in other words, they will continue their animations as if they did not collide at all, but the hitbox will be deactivated if the other move was within the 9% range. However, if the trampling move has hitboxes that are created on later frames, those hitboxes will still function. This can be advantageous for moves with this property that are either multihitting in nature, very fast, or very damaging (which would increase the length and therefore vulnerability of the rebounding animation), but is disadvantageous if the move's endlag is longer than the length of the opponent's freeze frames plus rebounding animation. Additionally, two moves that cannot rebound that are used against each other are more prone to damaging both characters instead of cancelling out their hitboxes.
 
Strangely in ''Brawl'', the hitbox flag which should determine whether a move can rebound or not is discarded as soon as the hitbox is generated. This means that moves in ''Brawl'' which are not supposed to rebound (such as {{mvsub|Jigglypuff|SSBB|dash attack|poss=y}}) will rebound anyway. This was most likely a coding error.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=47%
|-
!width=8%|Character
!width=35%|Move
!width=5%|Games
|-
|{{SSB4|Bayonetta}}
|All [[smash attack]]s (except the aerial-only hitbox in ''Ultimate'')
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSB4|Bowser}}
|[[Forward smash]] (late)
|-
|[[Up smash]] (first hit only)
|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}*{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSB4|Cloud}}
|[[Limit Break]] [[Cross Slash]]
|rowspan=3|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|[[Climhazzard]] (regular and Limit Break version, first hit only)
|-
|[[Finishing Touch]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Falco]]
|Forward smash
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}**
|-
|[[Falco Phantasm]]
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Fox]]
|Forward smash
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSBB}}*{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|[[Fox Illusion]]
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|{{SSBU|Hero}}
|Forward tilt (hit 1)
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Ike}}
|[[Dash attack]] (early)
|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|[[Jigglypuff]]
|Dash attack
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSBB}}*{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSB4|Little Mac}}
|[[Neutral attack]]
|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|All [[tilt attack]]s
|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Lucario}}
|[[Force Palm]] (projectile portion)
|rowspan=5|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Mewtwo}}
|Neutral attack (infinite)
|-
|{{SSB4|Mii Brawler}}
|[[Shot Put]]
|-
|{{SSB4|Mii Swordfighter}}
|[[Gale Strike]]
|-
|{{SSB4|Palutena}}
|All tilt attacks
|-
|{{SSBU|Richter}}
|[[Forward tilt]]
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSB4|Ryu}}
|Forward tilt (held, both hits)
|rowspan=3|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|[[Tatsumaki Senpukyaku]] (all versions)
|-
|[[Focus Attack]] (arm hitbox)
|-
|{{SSBU|Simon}}
|Forward tilt
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}}
|[[Up tilt]] (both hits)
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Zelda}}
|[[Farore's Wind]] (first hit, grounded)
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Should not rebound but rebounds anyway, due to the anti-rebound flag not working properly in ''Brawl''.
 
<nowiki>**</nowiki> Does not rebound in later games, but the effect is nullified by the move gaining transcendent priority.
 
===Non-character objects with complex animations===
A select few attacks in ''SSB4'' will collide with other attacks, but can only nullify projectiles within the 9% range and will always lose a trade with regular hitboxes regardless of the 9% rule, much like a grab. For example, Bayonetta's up smash cannot be used as effectively as other up smashes to hit opponents in the air, as any hitbox that comes into contact with it will render the up smash inert, and if the hitbox is close enough to Bayonetta at the moment of colliding, only Bayonetta will take damage. However, if the opposing hitbox is a projectile or another attack with this property (i.e. Lucario's [[Aura Sphere]] or another Bayonetta's up smash), both characters will take damage as if one of them used an aerial hitbox (but the collision bubble will still appear). The overarching pattern among these attacks is that they are character-specific props that feature complex animations beyond simply moving or rotating, and thus it is possible (but not proven) that the game short-sightedly does not attempt to make them capable of trading with attacks from other animating elements (i.e. characters).
 
Because they cannot override regular hitboxes and it is not always clear to players whether a hitbox is attached to a character or a prop, these attacks are often perceived as having "low priority", and some moveset repositories such as [[Kurogane Hammer]] list them under such term.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=47%
|-
!width=8%|Character
!width=35%|Move
!width=4%|Games
|-
|{{SSB4|Bayonetta}}
|All smash attacks (except for first hit of [[down smash]])
|rowspan=6|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSB4|Corrin}}
|Forward smash (non-[[charge|charging]] portion)
|-
|[[Dragon Fang Shot]] (both portions)
|-
|[[Dragon Lunge]] (initial lunge only)
|-
|{{SSB4|Olimar}}
|All [[Pikmin (species)|Pikmin]]-based attacks
|-
|{{SSB4|Villager}}
|[[Timber]] (tree hitboxes only, both sprouting and falling)
|}
 
==Transcendent priority==
'''Transcendent priority''' (also known as '''transcending priority''') refers to hitboxes that cannot clank with other hitboxes, meaning they won't cancel out, or be cancelled out by, other hitboxes, even other transcendent hitboxes.
'''Transcendent priority''' (also known as '''transcending priority''') refers to hitboxes that cannot clank with other hitboxes, meaning they won't cancel out, or be cancelled out by, other hitboxes, even other transcendent hitboxes.


Line 260: Line 81:
Transcendent projectiles will go through other projectiles as if they're not there, and can't clank with aerials or grounded moves (meaning that they will generally hit the opponent if the opponent attempts to clank).
Transcendent projectiles will go through other projectiles as if they're not there, and can't clank with aerials or grounded moves (meaning that they will generally hit the opponent if the opponent attempts to clank).


In ''Smash 64'', transcendent priority only existed for certain projectiles (such as {{SSB|Fox}}'s [[Blaster (Fox)|Blaster]]) but from ''Melee'' onward, it could exist for any kind of attack.
In ''Smash 64'', transcendent priority only existed for certain projectiles (such as {{SSB|Fox}}'s {{b|Blaster|Fox}}) but from ''Melee'' onward, it could exist for any kind of attack.


For example:
For example:
Line 267: Line 88:
*As of version 9.0.0, many [[rapid jab]]s and their finishers in ''[[Ultimate]]'' are transcendent. This is to ensure that the final hit will connect without the fear of an opponent canceling the move with their own [[jab]].
*As of version 9.0.0, many [[rapid jab]]s and their finishers in ''[[Ultimate]]'' are transcendent. This is to ensure that the final hit will connect without the fear of an opponent canceling the move with their own [[jab]].


===Attacks with transcendent priority===
====Attacks with transcendent priority====
{{incomplete|Very likely not complete}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=62%
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=62%
|-
|-
Line 541: Line 363:
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}
|-
|-
|{{SSBB|Olimar}}
|rowspan=2|[[Olimar]]
|Down smash (sweetspot only)
|Down smash (sweetspot only)
|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|-
|All Pikmin based aerials
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSB4|Palutena}}
|rowspan=2|{{SSB4|Palutena}}
Line 608: Line 433:
|[[Arm Rotor]]
|[[Arm Rotor]]
|-
|-
|[[Robin]]
|rowspan=6|[[Robin]]
|[[Rapid jab]]
|rowspan=4|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|[[Rapid jab]] finisher
|[[Rapid jab]] finisher
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|[[Arcfire]] (pillar)
|-
|[[Neutral aerial]] (Bronze)
|-
|All smash attacks (Levin)
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|All late aerials (Levin)
|-
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Roy]]
|rowspan=3|[[Roy]]
Line 628: Line 464:
|Focus Attack (fist hitbox only)
|Focus Attack (fist hitbox only)
|-
|-
|{{SSBM|Samus}}
|rowspan=2|{{SSBM|Samus}}
|Grab aerial
|Grab aerial
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}
|-
|[[Bomb]]
|{{GameIcon|SSB}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Sheik]]
|rowspan=4|[[Sheik]]
Line 654: Line 493:
|[[Rapid jab]] finisher
|[[Rapid jab]] finisher
|-
|-
|{{SSBB|Snake}}
|rowspan=4|[[Snake]]
|Forward smash
|Forward smash
|rowspan=3|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|rowspan=3|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|[[Hand Grenade]] (explosion)
|-
|[[C4]]
|-
|-
|{{SSBB|Squirtle}}
|Down smash
|Up smash
|rowspan=1|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|-
|-
|{{SSBB|Sonic}}
|rowspan=1|[[Squirtle]]
|Neutral aerial
|Up smash (launcher hit only)
|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=1|[[Terry]]
|rowspan=1|[[Terry]]
Line 669: Line 513:
|-
|-
|{{SSBB|Toon Link}}
|{{SSBB|Toon Link}}
|Spin Attack
|Spin Attack (all hits except final grounded hit)
|rowspan=4|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|rowspan=1|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSBB|Wario}}
|Forward smash
|-
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Wario]]
|Down aerial (final hit only)
|Down aerial (final hit only)
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|-
|[[Wario Waft]]
|[[Wario Waft]]
|-
|Forward smash
|rowspan=1|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Wolf]]
|rowspan=3|[[Wolf]]
Line 737: Line 583:
|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Zero Suit Samus]]
|rowspan=3|[[Zero Suit Samus]]
|Dash attack
|Dash attack
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|-
|Down smash
|Down smash
|-
|[[Flip Jump]] (kick)
|rowspan=1|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|-
|}
===Moves that cannot rebound===
{{incomplete|Needs a complete list of moves for every game}}
Some attacks cannot ever rebound (also known as '''trampling'''); in other words, they will continue their animations as if they did not collide at all, but the hitbox will count as blocked for other clanking character, as long as the trampling move was not more than 9% stronger. However, if the trampling move has multiple hits, then later hits can still connect as clanking blocks only the current hit. This can be advantageous for moves with this property that are either multihitting in nature, very fast, or very damaging (which would increase the length and therefore vulnerability of the rebounding animation), but is disadvantageous if the move's endlag is longer than the length of the opponent's freeze frames plus rebounding animation. Additionally, two moves that cannot rebound that are used against each other are more prone to damaging both characters instead of cancelling out their hitboxes.
Strangely in ''Brawl'', the hitbox flag which should determine whether a move can rebound or not is discarded as soon as the hitbox is generated. This means that moves in ''Brawl'' which are not supposed to rebound (such as {{mvsub|Jigglypuff|SSBB|dash attack|poss=y}}) will rebound anyway. This was most likely a coding error.
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=47%
|-
!width=8%|Character
!width=35%|Move
!width=5%|Games
|-
|{{SSB4|Bayonetta}}
|All [[smash attack]]s (except the aerial-only hitbox in ''Ultimate'')
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSB4|Bowser}}
|[[Forward smash]] (late)
|-
|[[Up smash]] (first hit only)
|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}*{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSB4|Cloud}}
|[[Limit Break]] [[Cross Slash]]
|rowspan=3|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|[[Climhazzard]] (regular and Limit Break version, first hit only)
|-
|[[Finishing Touch]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Falco]]
|Forward smash
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}**
|-
|[[Falco Phantasm]]
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Fox]]
|Forward smash
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSBB}}*{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|[[Fox Illusion]]
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|{{SSBU|Hero}}
|Forward tilt (hit 1)
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Ike}}
|[[Dash attack]] (early)
|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|[[Jigglypuff]]
|Dash attack
|{{GameIcon|SSBM}}{{GameIcon|SSBB}}*{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSB4|Little Mac}}
|[[Neutral attack]]
|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|All [[tilt attack]]s
|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Lucario}}
|[[Force Palm]] (projectile portion)
|rowspan=5|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Mewtwo}}
|Neutral attack (infinite)
|-
|{{SSB4|Mii Brawler}}
|[[Shot Put]]
|-
|{{SSB4|Mii Swordfighter}}
|[[Gale Strike]]
|-
|{{SSB4|Palutena}}
|All tilt attacks
|-
|{{SSBU|Richter}}
|[[Forward tilt]]
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSB4|Ryu}}
|Forward tilt (held, both hits)
|rowspan=3|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|[[Tatsumaki Senpukyaku]] (all versions)
|-
|[[Focus Attack]] (arm hitbox)
|-
|{{SSBU|Simon}}
|Forward tilt
|{{GameIcon|SSBU}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}}
|[[Up tilt]] (both hits)
|rowspan=2|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|{{SSB4|Zelda}}
|[[Farore's Wind]] (first hit, grounded)
|}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Should not rebound but rebounds anyway, due to the anti-rebound flag not working properly in ''Brawl''.
<nowiki>**</nowiki> Does not rebound in later games, but the effect is nullified by the move gaining transcendent priority.
===Considered both airborne and grounded===
{{incomplete|Needs data on non-Brawl games}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=47%
|-
!width=8%|Character
!width=35%|Move
!width=4%|Games
|-
|{{SSBB|Falco}}
|[[Falco Phantasm]]
|rowspan=10|{{GameIcon|SSBB}}
|-
|{{SSBB|Fox}}
|[[Fox Illusion]]
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSBB|Meta Knight}}
|[[Mach Tornado]] (both grounded and airborne)
|-
|[[Drill Rush]] (both grounded and airborne)
|-
|[[Glide attack]]
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSBB|Ness}}
|Up smash
|-
|[[Down smash]]
|-
|{{SSBB|Olimar}}
|All [[Pikmin (species)|Pikmin]]-based attacks
|-
|rowspan=2|{{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}}
|[[Neutral aerial]]
|-
|[[Up smash]]* (second hitbox only)
|}
'''*'''The second hitbox of Zero Suit Samus' up smash behaves like an aerial. It may be out-prioritised by another character's aerial, but the up smash's animation and subsequent hitboxes cannot be cancelled.
The hitboxes of the above attacks can collide with the hitboxes of other attacks regardless of if they're ground or aerial attacks. When such a collision occurs, the clash bubble will appear and the outcome will follow the law of high and low priority. However, airborne attacks cannot be cancelled out, including airborne special moves. Thus, while the results of a collision will follow the law of high and low priority, the appearance of such a collision will differ to that of two colliding ground attacks.
If one of the above ground attacks collides with an aerial, or one of the above aerials collides with a ground attack, and the ground attack is below the priority range of the aerial, the ground attack will be cancelled and the airborne attack can damage the wielder of the ground attack. If the two hitboxes are within the priority range, the ground attack will be cancelled out, and, since it is an aerial attack, the animation of the airborne attack will persist. However, the airborne hitbox becomes harmless, and the wielder of the ground attack will not at all be knocked or damaged by the airborne hitbox, regardless of whether it connects or not.
For example:
*If King's Dedede up tilt collides with Meta Knight's glide attack (13% vs. 13%), Dedede's up tilt will be cancelled out, but he will not be harmed, even if the hitbox of Meta Knight's glide attack contacts King Dedede's body.
If the hitbox of a ground attack is above the priority range of a colliding airborne hitbox, both attack animations will persist, but the airborne hitbox will become harmless, while the ground attack is still able to damage. Thus, if the hitbox of the ground attack connects with the body of the character who used the airborne special, this character will take the damage and knockback of the ground attack. A notable example of a special move that can collide with the hitboxes of other attacks while airborne is {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}'s [[Mach Tornado]]. If performed on the ground (grounded), it can be cancelled out, but if airborne, it cannot be cancelled. Mach Tornado is a multi-hit move that deals 1% per hit during the main portion of the attack.
For example:
*If Captain Falcon's forward tilt collides with a hitbox of Meta Knight's grounded Mach Tornado (10% vs. 1%), the forward tilt will collide with, and cancel out the Mach Tornado.
*If the Mach Tornado is airborne, Captain Falcon's forward tilt can cancel one of its hitboxes, but cannot cancel the hitboxes that follow. Mach Tornado cannot cancel his forward tilt either, because it is too weak (10% vs. 1%). However, unless the hitbox of Captain Falcon's forward tilt connects with Meta Knight's body, the Mach Tornado will continue and can afterwards damage Captain Falcon, despite the fact that his forward tilt out-prioritised it.
===Non-character objects with complex animations===
A select few attacks in ''SSB4'' will collide with other attacks, but can only nullify projectiles within the 9% range and will always lose a trade with regular hitboxes regardless of the 9% rule, much like a grab. For example, Bayonetta's up smash cannot be used as effectively as other up smashes to hit opponents in the air, as any hitbox that comes into contact with it will render the up smash inert, and if the hitbox is close enough to Bayonetta at the moment of colliding, only Bayonetta will take damage. However, if the opposing hitbox is a projectile or another attack with this property (i.e. Lucario's [[Aura Sphere]] or another Bayonetta's up smash), both characters will take damage as if one of them used an aerial hitbox (but the collision bubble will still appear). The overarching pattern among these attacks is that they are character-specific props that feature complex animations beyond simply moving or rotating, and thus it is possible (but not proven) that the game short-sightedly does not attempt to make them capable of trading with attacks from other animating elements (i.e. characters).
Because they cannot override regular hitboxes and it is not always clear to players whether a hitbox is attached to a character or a prop, these attacks are often perceived as having "low priority", and some moveset repositories such as [[Kurogane Hammer]] list them under such term.
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=47%
|-
!width=8%|Character
!width=35%|Move
!width=4%|Games
|-
|{{SSB4|Bayonetta}}
|All smash attacks (except for first hit of [[down smash]])
|rowspan=6|{{GameIcon|SSB4}}
|-
|rowspan=3|{{SSB4|Corrin}}
|Forward smash (non-[[charge|charging]] portion)
|-
|[[Dragon Fang Shot]] (both portions)
|-
|[[Dragon Lunge]] (initial lunge only)
|-
|{{SSB4|Olimar}}
|All [[Pikmin (species)|Pikmin]]-based attacks
|-
|{{SSB4|Villager}}
|[[Timber]] (tree hitboxes only, both sprouting and falling)
|}
|}


Latest revision as of 15:20, March 28, 2024

This article is about priority in relation to attacks. For controller slot priority, see Port priority.
The white "bubble" between Kirby and Pikachu's attacks indicates that two hitboxes have collided.

Priority is the system that governs how opposing attacks interact with each other in the Super Smash Bros. series. Most commonly, when the hitboxes of two characters' attacks collide with each other, they clank, freezing both in place for a moment. If the attacks are roughly equal in strength - the difference in damage is 9% or less - then both characters rebound from the impact and pause for a moment before they can do anything else. If one attack is much stronger than the other, it wins outright, and more often than not will continue on to strike the enemy stuck rebounding. The most common exception is aerial attacks, which usually can clank with projectiles, but not with ground attacks or other aerials, and cannot rebound at all. Certain hitboxes are also marked as being "cannot clank" or "cannot rebound", affecting their ability to cancel out (and be cancelled out by) opposing moves.

While the effects of priority are calculated based on individual hitboxes, the results are applied to the attacker as a whole. For example, if one hitbox clanks with an enemy attack, the entire move clanks, regardless of how many other hitboxes would not have clanked. In addition, an attack that clanks is still dangerous to bystanders until rebound begins, even if it was entirely outprioritized by the opposing attack.

The term "priority" is often informally used to describe a move's general ability to beat other moves, due to factors such as its damage output, hitbox position, attack speed, non-vulnerable hurtboxes, or other properties.

Normal priority[edit]

Mario's Fireball colliding with Sonic's neutral attack in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Normal priority describes the set of rules that apply to normal attack hitboxes, that is, any attack hitbox that does not have a special property such as transcendent or trample. As such, the majority of standard attacks, aerials, special attacks, and projectiles contain hitboxes with normal priority.

Ground attacks[edit]

When two ground attack hitboxes overlap, they will clank. This collision is signified by a white "bubble", and in Melee, a distinct "ting" sound, as if swords are clanging, is also heard. If two actual swords clank, such as Link and Marth's blades, a more realistic "ting" sound is heard. If the stronger hitbox (by %) deals more than 9% (the "priority range") more than the weaker hitbox, the stronger move will continue as normal and the weaker move will end, with the character going into rebound. If both hitboxes deal within 9% of each other, both moves will end and both characters will go into rebound. (note that in the original Super Smash Bros., the priority range is instead 10%). This comparison happens after most damage multipliers but before the 1v1 multiplier in Ultimate.

In Melee, the weaker hitbox won't hit the opponent if it clanks. However, the stronger hit can still hit the user of the weaker hit immediately, or on the following frames. In Ultimate, however, neither player can be hit by the clanking opponent on the frame that the clank occurs. If the stronger move continues, it can hit the clanking opponent on the following frame, assuming the move still has a hitbox on that frame.

For example:

  • In Brawl, if Marth's un-tipped forward smash collides with Ike's forward smash (14% vs. 22%), both moves will end and both characters will go through rebound.
  • However, if Marth's un-tipped forward smash collides with Ganondorf's forward smash (14% vs. 24%), Ganondorf's forward smash will continue and may hit Marth as Marth rebounds.
  • If Captain Falcon's forward smash collides with Ness' up tilt (19% vs. 7%), Captain Falcon's forward smash will continue and hit Ness as Ness starts to rebound.

Rebound[edit]

Depending on the relative strength of the ground moves, either one or both characters will go through rebound.

First, a rebounding character will suffer freeze frames equal to the hitlag of the stronger attack (by %). This is true whether the user of the stronger attack goes through rebound or not. During these freeze frames, all hitboxes are disabled. This takes into account all hitlag modifiers, with one exception: the electric modifier is applied based on whether the character's hitbox has the electric effect. So if Pichu's ftilt clanks with Chrom's ftilt, Chrom will be frozen for 13 frames (typical for Chrom ftilt, which is the stronger move), but Pichu will be frozen for 19 frames (equivalent to hitlag that Chrom's ftilt would have if it had the electric effect).

After the freeze frames are over, characters go through a unique rebound animation.

Prior to Ultimate, the length of the rebound animation increased proportionately to the damage each hitbox would have dealt. This meant that the fighter that performed the weaker attack would get out of rebound before the other and have frame advantage. The calculation for rebound duration depends on the game, but "R" always means rebound frames and "d" always means damage dealt, rounded down. In Melee, the calculation is roughly R=Roundup(0.559*(d+10)), except for Dr. Mario, for which it is R=Roundup(0.615*(d+10)) instead. In Smash 4, the calculation is R=Floor((d*15/8)+7.5).

In Ultimate, the length of the rebound animation for both characters is based on the damage dealt by the stronger hitbox (again, regardless of whether the user of the stronger move is going through rebound or not). It uses the same formula as Smash 4, although the maximum rebound is 58 frames.

Overall, this means that, in Ultimate, if both characters go through rebound they will be actionable on the same frame. The exception is if one character clanked using an electric move; that character will be actionable a bit later than the opponent due to the extra freeze frames.

If only one character goes through rebound, they will often be hit by the opponent's move as it continues. However, this is not necessarily the case if the original move was sufficiently disjointed or if the clank happens on the last frame of the opponent's hitbox. In that case the opponent will suffer the end lag of their attack whereas the character will suffer the freeze frames plus rebound animation, with the length of both based on the opponent's move.

Projectiles[edit]

Similar rules apply when ground attack hitboxes overlap normal projectile hitboxes. If the ground move deals more than 9% more than the projectile, the projectile is destroyed and the ground move continues uninterrupted. If the two moves deal within 9% of each other, the projectile is destroyed and the ground move is canceled into rebound. If the projectile deals at least 9% more than the ground hitbox, the ground move is canceled into rebound and the projectile continues (usually hitting the opponent on the following frame).

Similarly, if two projectiles collide, the projectiles will clank and the weaker projectile will be destroyed. The stronger projectile will either continue or also be destroyed depending on whether it does at least 9% more than the weaker projectile.

Note that there are some projectiles that don't get destroyed by clanking. However, their hitboxes are generally disabled for the character or object that clanked with them.

For example:

  • Marth's un-tipped forward smash is out-prioritised by Samus' fully charged Charge Shot (14% vs. 25%).
  • However, if the second hitbox of Bowser's forward smash collides with Samus' fully charged Charge Shot, they will cancel each other out (23% vs. 25%).

While most normal projectiles follow the rules of ground priority, Snake's Remote Missile, Diddy Kong's Peanut Popgun, and King Dedede's Waddle Dee Toss behave differently. While the 9% range does apply to Dedede's Gordo, its hitbox behaves like an airborne attack as it cannot be cancelled out. For example, if Captain Falcon's forward smash collides with a Gordo (19% vs. 23%), the clash bubble will appear, and the forward smash will be cancelled out while the Gordo is not. However, since both hitboxes are within the priority range, the Gordo will go right through Captain Falcon without harming him, and continue along its natural path. It will, however, still possess its damaging hitboxes, and can still harm any other character it happens to touch along its route.

Snake's Remote Missile has a damagable hitbox and behaves like a thrown item, such as a capsule. Hence, when opposing hitboxes collide with the Remote Missile, they will damage it instead of colliding with it. If the Remote Missile takes enough damage, it will be destroyed. The peanuts from Diddy Kong's Peanut Popgun behave the same way, but any colliding hitbox, even if it only deals 1%, will destroy the peanuts.

Aerial attacks[edit]

Different rules apply to the hitboxes of normal aerial attacks. When a normal aerial attack hitbox overlaps that of a normal ground attack or another normal aerial, the attacks do not clank. If an overlap between the hitboxes of two such attacks occurs, both will persist, irrespective of each other, and will damage their foes if they contact them.

For example:

  • If Sonic's back aerial overlaps Mario's up tilt, neither attack is cancelled, and both characters are hit by each other's attacks.

However, the hitboxes of aerial attacks can clank with projectiles. The aerial will suffer freeze frames based on the stronger move as described above, but then the aerial will continue. The projectile will be destroyed unless it deals more than 9% more than the aerial attack. In that case it is likely to hit the aerial user on the following frame.

For example:

  • If Marth's forward aerial collides with Samus' fully charged Charge Shot (10% vs. 25%), his forward aerial will not be cancelled out, but it will fail to cancel out the Charge Shot. As a result, the collision action will occur, but Samus' Charge Shot will out-prioritise the forward aerial and hit Marth.
  • However, if Ganondorf's forward aerial collides with Samus' fully charged Charge Shot (17% vs. 25%), his forward aerial will cancel out the Charge Shot and Ganondorf will not be harmed.

Grabs[edit]

Grabboxes are not bound by usual priority rules. Instead, in each game, they behave differently if a grab connects with an opponent at the same time the opponent strikes the grabber with a standard hitbox.

  • In Smash 64 and Melee, the grab has full priority over the hitbox, with the grabber ignoring it entirely and hitting the opponent.
  • In Brawl, the grab has priority over the hitbox, but the hitbox still causes damage to the grabber, instead having them armor through it.
  • In Smash 4 and Ultimate, hitboxes outprioritize grabs; in this situation, the grabber receives full damage and knockback from the standard hitbox, while the attacker is grab released and takes 3% damage (or more if the grab came from a special move and the grab itself dealt damage, like the beginning of Falcon Dive). In Ultimate, however, a select few attacks' hitboxes are coded to be outprioritized by grabs, with the grabber taking damage but armoring through the attack like in Brawl; this is the case for Sonic's Homing Attack, Spin Dash, and Spin Charge, and more notably Banjo & Kazooie's Wonderwing (which also causes the grabber to take 0.25× damage from the hitbox).

Likewise, if both characters attempt to grab each other at the same time, the situation is resolved differently in each game. In Smash 64, Melee, and Brawl, this is determined by port priority, with the character in the lower port always getting the grab. In Smash 4, port priority is no longer a factor, with either character having an equally random chance to get the grab instead. Ultimate resolves both quirks by simply causing both grabs to cancel each other out, akin to a clang. This property is known as grab parrying by the in-game tips, and results in both characters taking 1% damage and performing their rebound animation (unless they are in the air, where their grab release animation is used instead). The exact timing of when this can happen is specific to every animation of every character, and may even be assigned to actions that are not grabs.

Exceptions to normal priority[edit]

Transcendent priority[edit]

Transcendent priority (also known as transcending priority) refers to hitboxes that cannot clank with other hitboxes, meaning they won't cancel out, or be cancelled out by, other hitboxes, even other transcendent hitboxes.

Transcendent grounded moves cannot clank with other grounded moves, meaning that they are more prone to trading. They are also unable to cancel out projectiles.

Transcendent projectiles will go through other projectiles as if they're not there, and can't clank with aerials or grounded moves (meaning that they will generally hit the opponent if the opponent attempts to clank).

In Smash 64, transcendent priority only existed for certain projectiles (such as Fox's Blaster) but from Melee onward, it could exist for any kind of attack.

For example:

  • Brawl Meta Knight's forward smash is transcendent. If a pair of Meta Knights use their forward smash at the same time, and the forward smash hitboxes overlap each other, they will not collide, and their animations and damaging properties will continue until the attack ends naturally. If the two Meta Knights are close enough together, each will be hit by the other's forward smash.
  • Lucas' forward smash is transcendent. If Donkey Kong's forward smash overlaps with Lucas' forward smash (20% vs. 15%), Lucas' forward smash will go through Donkey Kong's without colliding. If its hitboxes touch Donkey Kong, he will receive damage and knockback from Lucas' forward smash, while Lucas will be hit by Donkey Kong's forward smash as well since normal hitboxes will go through transcendent hitboxes.
  • As of version 9.0.0, many rapid jabs and their finishers in Ultimate are transcendent. This is to ensure that the final hit will connect without the fear of an opponent canceling the move with their own jab.

Attacks with transcendent priority[edit]

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The editor who added this tag elaborates: Very likely not complete
Character Move Games
Banjo & Kazooie Rapid jab finisher Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Bayonetta Heel Slide and After Burner Kick Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Bullet Arts on all applicable moves
Rapid jab finisher Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
All smash attacks (aerial-only hitbox)
Bowser Fire Breath Super Smash Bros. Melee
Koopa Klaw (the attack hitbox, not the grab)
Fire Shot Super Smash Bros. 4
Forward smash (clean hitbox only) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Captain Falcon Falcon Punch Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Charizard Up smash Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Chrom Flare Blade Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Double-Edge Dance
Cloud Limit Break Blade Beam Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Corrin Forward smash (charging portion)
Diddy Kong Dash attack Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Banana Peel Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Donkey Kong Hand Slap Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dr. Mario Forward smash (sweetspot only) Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Sheet Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dr. Tornado (all hitboxes except the final hit in Melee, only the final hit in Smash 4)
Falco Blaster Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Reflector Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Fox Blaster Super Smash Bros.Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Fox Illusion (only when airborne) Super Smash Bros. Melee
Ganondorf Down aerial Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Warlock Blade Super Smash Bros. 4
Warlock Thrust (sourspot only)
Hero Zap / Zapple / Kazap Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Woosh
Ice Climbers Squall Hammer Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Blizzard Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl
Ike Up smash Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Down smash
All aerial attacks
Eruption Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Aether (all hitboxes except the initial one in Brawl, all hitboxes in SSB4 and Ultimate)
Incineroar Darkest Lariat Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ivysaur Neutral attack Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Bullet Seed
Rapid jab finisher Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Joker Gun / Gun Special Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Kazuya Electric Wind God Fist Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
King Dedede All smash attacks Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Neutral aerial Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Dedede Jump Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Jet Hammer Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Kirby Dash attack Super Smash Bros. Melee
Hammer (grounded only in Melee, grounded and aerial from Brawl onwards) Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Final Cutter (projectile only in Melee, sword strike and projectile from Brawl onwards)
Link Grab aerial Super Smash Bros. Melee
Spin Attack (only initial hitbox for grounded version from Brawl onwards) Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Lucario Forward smash (sweetspot only in Brawl, late hitbox only in Smash 4) Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Aura Sphere (charging hitbox)
Force Palm (projectile portion) Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Lucas Forward smash
Down smash
Neutral aerial
Back aerial (sweetspot only)
PK Freeze
PSI Magnet
Lucina Shield Breaker Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dancing Blade
Dolphin Slash
Mario Forward smash (sweetspot only) Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Cape
Mario Tornado Super Smash Bros. Melee
Marth Shield Breaker Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Dancing Blade
Dolphin Slash
Meta Knight All standard attacks except dash attack, glide attack, and floor attack (trip) Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Shuttle Loop
Dimensional Cape
Rapid jab finisher Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Mewtwo Forward smash (sweetspot only) Super Smash Bros. Melee
Down smash
Disable
Mii Gunner Forward aerial Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Laser Blaze
Up aerial Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Forward smash
Min Min Rapid jab finisher Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Mr. Game & Watch Chef (frying pan hitbox) Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Mythra Lightning Buster Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Photon Edge
Ness Dash attack Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl
PK Flash
PK Thunder (projectile only) Super Smash Bros. Melee
Olimar Down smash (sweetspot only) Super Smash Bros. Brawl
All Pikmin based aerials Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Palutena All smash attacks Super Smash Bros. 4
Down aerial
Peach Up tilt Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Up smash (sourspot only)
Pichu Forward smash Super Smash Bros. Melee
Thunder
Pikachu Neutral attack Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Forward smash (sweetspot only in Brawl) Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Up smash (late hitbox only) Super Smash Bros. 4
Down smash Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Thunder Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl
Piranha Plant Ptooie Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rapid jab
Rapid jab finisher
Pyra Flame Nova (final hit only)
Richter Rapid jab
Rapid jab finisher
Ridley Forward smash
Rapid jab
Rapid jab finisher
R.O.B. Robo Beam Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Arm Rotor
Robin Rapid jab Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rapid jab finisher
Arcfire (pillar)
Neutral aerial (Bronze)
All smash attacks (Levin) Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
All late aerials (Levin)
Roy Flare Blade Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Double-Edge Dance Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Blazer Super Smash Bros. Melee
Ryu Shoryuken (all versions) Super Smash Bros. 4
Focus Attack (fist hitbox only)
Samus Grab aerial Super Smash Bros. Melee
Bomb Super Smash Bros.
Sheik Needle Storm Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Chain Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Vanish Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Bouncing Fish Super Smash Bros. 4
Shulk Up smash
Simon Rapid jab Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rapid jab finisher
Snake Forward smash Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Hand Grenade (explosion)
C4
Down smash Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Squirtle Up smash (launcher hit only) Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Terry Burning Knuckle / Crack Shoot Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Toon Link Spin Attack (all hits except final grounded hit) Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Wario Down aerial (final hit only) Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Wario Waft
Forward smash Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Wolf Blaster Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Forward tilt (only the highest priority hitboxes)
Up tilt (In Brawl, only the lowest priority hitbox of the clean hit. In Ultimate, only the highest priority hitbox of the clean hit)
Young Link Grab aerial Super Smash Bros. Melee
Spin Attack (airborne only)
Rapid jab finisher Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Zelda Neutral attack Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Forward tilt
Up tilt
Dash attack
Forward smash
Up smash (except final hitbox) Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Down smash Super Smash Bros. Melee
Neutral aerial Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Forward aerial (sweetspot only in Smash 4) Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. 4
Back aerial (sweetspot only in Smash 4)
Up aerial Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Down aerial (sourspot only) Super Smash Bros. 4
Nayru's Love Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Din's Fire Super Smash Bros. Melee
Farore's Wind Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Zero Suit Samus Dash attack Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Down smash
Flip Jump (kick) Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Moves that cannot rebound[edit]

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The editor who added this tag elaborates: Needs a complete list of moves for every game

Some attacks cannot ever rebound (also known as trampling); in other words, they will continue their animations as if they did not collide at all, but the hitbox will count as blocked for other clanking character, as long as the trampling move was not more than 9% stronger. However, if the trampling move has multiple hits, then later hits can still connect as clanking blocks only the current hit. This can be advantageous for moves with this property that are either multihitting in nature, very fast, or very damaging (which would increase the length and therefore vulnerability of the rebounding animation), but is disadvantageous if the move's endlag is longer than the length of the opponent's freeze frames plus rebounding animation. Additionally, two moves that cannot rebound that are used against each other are more prone to damaging both characters instead of cancelling out their hitboxes.

Strangely in Brawl, the hitbox flag which should determine whether a move can rebound or not is discarded as soon as the hitbox is generated. This means that moves in Brawl which are not supposed to rebound (such as Jigglypuff's dash attack) will rebound anyway. This was most likely a coding error.

Character Move Games
Bayonetta All smash attacks (except the aerial-only hitbox in Ultimate) Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Bowser Forward smash (late)
Up smash (first hit only) Super Smash Bros. Brawl*Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Cloud Limit Break Cross Slash Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Climhazzard (regular and Limit Break version, first hit only)
Finishing Touch
Falco Forward smash Super Smash Bros. Melee**
Falco Phantasm Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. 4
Fox Forward smash Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl*Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Fox Illusion Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. 4
Hero Forward tilt (hit 1) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ike Dash attack (early) Super Smash Bros. 4
Jigglypuff Dash attack Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl*Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Little Mac Neutral attack Super Smash Bros. 4
All tilt attacks Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Lucario Force Palm (projectile portion) Super Smash Bros. 4
Mewtwo Neutral attack (infinite)
Mii Brawler Shot Put
Mii Swordfighter Gale Strike
Palutena All tilt attacks
Richter Forward tilt Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Ryu Forward tilt (held, both hits) Super Smash Bros. 4
Tatsumaki Senpukyaku (all versions)
Focus Attack (arm hitbox)
Simon Forward tilt Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Zero Suit Samus Up tilt (both hits) Super Smash Bros. 4
Zelda Farore's Wind (first hit, grounded)

* Should not rebound but rebounds anyway, due to the anti-rebound flag not working properly in Brawl.

** Does not rebound in later games, but the effect is nullified by the move gaining transcendent priority.

Considered both airborne and grounded[edit]

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The editor who added this tag elaborates: Needs data on non-Brawl games
Character Move Games
Falco Falco Phantasm Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Fox Fox Illusion
Meta Knight Mach Tornado (both grounded and airborne)
Drill Rush (both grounded and airborne)
Glide attack
Ness Up smash
Down smash
Olimar All Pikmin-based attacks
Zero Suit Samus Neutral aerial
Up smash* (second hitbox only)

*The second hitbox of Zero Suit Samus' up smash behaves like an aerial. It may be out-prioritised by another character's aerial, but the up smash's animation and subsequent hitboxes cannot be cancelled.

The hitboxes of the above attacks can collide with the hitboxes of other attacks regardless of if they're ground or aerial attacks. When such a collision occurs, the clash bubble will appear and the outcome will follow the law of high and low priority. However, airborne attacks cannot be cancelled out, including airborne special moves. Thus, while the results of a collision will follow the law of high and low priority, the appearance of such a collision will differ to that of two colliding ground attacks.

If one of the above ground attacks collides with an aerial, or one of the above aerials collides with a ground attack, and the ground attack is below the priority range of the aerial, the ground attack will be cancelled and the airborne attack can damage the wielder of the ground attack. If the two hitboxes are within the priority range, the ground attack will be cancelled out, and, since it is an aerial attack, the animation of the airborne attack will persist. However, the airborne hitbox becomes harmless, and the wielder of the ground attack will not at all be knocked or damaged by the airborne hitbox, regardless of whether it connects or not.

For example:

  • If King's Dedede up tilt collides with Meta Knight's glide attack (13% vs. 13%), Dedede's up tilt will be cancelled out, but he will not be harmed, even if the hitbox of Meta Knight's glide attack contacts King Dedede's body.

If the hitbox of a ground attack is above the priority range of a colliding airborne hitbox, both attack animations will persist, but the airborne hitbox will become harmless, while the ground attack is still able to damage. Thus, if the hitbox of the ground attack connects with the body of the character who used the airborne special, this character will take the damage and knockback of the ground attack. A notable example of a special move that can collide with the hitboxes of other attacks while airborne is Meta Knight's Mach Tornado. If performed on the ground (grounded), it can be cancelled out, but if airborne, it cannot be cancelled. Mach Tornado is a multi-hit move that deals 1% per hit during the main portion of the attack.

For example:

  • If Captain Falcon's forward tilt collides with a hitbox of Meta Knight's grounded Mach Tornado (10% vs. 1%), the forward tilt will collide with, and cancel out the Mach Tornado.
  • If the Mach Tornado is airborne, Captain Falcon's forward tilt can cancel one of its hitboxes, but cannot cancel the hitboxes that follow. Mach Tornado cannot cancel his forward tilt either, because it is too weak (10% vs. 1%). However, unless the hitbox of Captain Falcon's forward tilt connects with Meta Knight's body, the Mach Tornado will continue and can afterwards damage Captain Falcon, despite the fact that his forward tilt out-prioritised it.


Non-character objects with complex animations[edit]

A select few attacks in SSB4 will collide with other attacks, but can only nullify projectiles within the 9% range and will always lose a trade with regular hitboxes regardless of the 9% rule, much like a grab. For example, Bayonetta's up smash cannot be used as effectively as other up smashes to hit opponents in the air, as any hitbox that comes into contact with it will render the up smash inert, and if the hitbox is close enough to Bayonetta at the moment of colliding, only Bayonetta will take damage. However, if the opposing hitbox is a projectile or another attack with this property (i.e. Lucario's Aura Sphere or another Bayonetta's up smash), both characters will take damage as if one of them used an aerial hitbox (but the collision bubble will still appear). The overarching pattern among these attacks is that they are character-specific props that feature complex animations beyond simply moving or rotating, and thus it is possible (but not proven) that the game short-sightedly does not attempt to make them capable of trading with attacks from other animating elements (i.e. characters).

Because they cannot override regular hitboxes and it is not always clear to players whether a hitbox is attached to a character or a prop, these attacks are often perceived as having "low priority", and some moveset repositories such as Kurogane Hammer list them under such term.

Character Move Games
Bayonetta All smash attacks (except for first hit of down smash) Super Smash Bros. 4
Corrin Forward smash (non-charging portion)
Dragon Fang Shot (both portions)
Dragon Lunge (initial lunge only)
Olimar All Pikmin-based attacks
Villager Timber (tree hitboxes only, both sprouting and falling)

Gallery[edit]

  • Marth's forward smash about to collide with Ike's forward smash.

    Marth's forward smash about to collide with Ike's forward smash.

  • Since both colliding hitboxes are within the priority range, they clash and cancel each other out.

    Since both colliding hitboxes are within the priority range, they clash and cancel each other out.

  • Marth's forward smash about to collide with Ganondorf's forward smash.

    Marth's forward smash about to collide with Ganondorf's forward smash.

  • Since the hitbox of Ganondorf's forward smash is above the priority range of the hitbox of Marth's un-tipped forward smash, Marth's forward smash is cancelled out.

    Since the hitbox of Ganondorf's forward smash is above the priority range of the hitbox of Marth's un-tipped forward smash, Marth's forward smash is cancelled out.

  • Captain Falcon's forward smash about to collide with Ness' up tilt.

    Captain Falcon's forward smash about to collide with Ness' up tilt.

  • Since the hitbox of Captain Falcon's forward smash is above the priority range of the hitbox of Ness' up tilt, Ness' up tilt is cancelled out.

    Since the hitbox of Captain Falcon's forward smash is above the priority range of the hitbox of Ness' up tilt, Ness' up tilt is cancelled out.

  • Bowser's forward smash about to collide with Samus' fully charged Charge Shot.

    Bowser's forward smash about to collide with Samus' fully charged Charge Shot.

  • Since the second hitbox of Bowser's forward smash is within the priority range of Samus' fully charged Charge Shot, they clash, and each is cancelled out.

    Since the second hitbox of Bowser's forward smash is within the priority range of Samus' fully charged Charge Shot, they clash, and each is cancelled out.

  • Captain Falcon's forward tilt about to collide with a grounded Mach Tornado.

    Captain Falcon's forward tilt about to collide with a grounded Mach Tornado.

  • Since the hitbox of Captain Falcon's forward tilt is above the priority range of Mach Tornado (excluding the final hit), Mach Tornado is cancelled out.

    Since the hitbox of Captain Falcon's forward tilt is above the priority range of Mach Tornado (excluding the final hit), Mach Tornado is cancelled out.

  • Captain Falcon's forward tilt collides with an airborne Mach Tornado.

    Captain Falcon's forward tilt collides with an airborne Mach Tornado.

  • Since attacks that are airborne cannot be cancelled out, neither attack is cancelled out and both continue to progress through their entire attack duration.

    Since attacks that are airborne cannot be cancelled out, neither attack is cancelled out and both continue to progress through their entire attack duration.

Trivia[edit]

  • In Melee and Ultimate, a unique metallic sound effect can be heard when hitboxes with a slash effect clang with each other.
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