Meta Knight (SSB4)/Down smash

Hitbox visualization showing Meta Knight's down smash.

Overview

Meta Knight slashes around himself while spinning. In terms of start-up and hitbox intervals, it is the overall fastest smash attack in the game, and has decent range. It is tied with his down aerial for the fastest semi-spike in the game, with the first hit coming out on frame 4, giving very little chance to DI and segueing well into his potent edge-guarding ability. The second hit is considerably stronger, KOing at around 110% near the ledge.

However, the first hit has very low power, and the move has high ending lag. Meta Knight has other attacks capable of putting opponents offstage while not carrying as much risk, most notably his down aerial and back throw. As such, down smash is best used for relieving pressure in tight situations.

Hitboxes

ID	Part	Damage	SD	Angle	BK	KS	FKV	Radius	Bone	Offset			SDIx	H×	T%	Clang	Rebound	Type	Effect	G	A	Sound	Direct
Hit 1
0	0	7%	0		50	93	0	4.5	0	0.0	3.5	11.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Slash
1	0	7%	0		50	93	0	4.0	0	0.0	3.5	15.5	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Slash
Hit 2
0	0	10%	0		50	93	0	4.5	0	0.0	3.5	-11.0	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Slash
1	0	10%	0		50	93	0	4.5	0	0.0	3.5	-15.5	1.0x	1.0x	0%							Slash

Timing

Charges between	0-1
Hit 1	4
Hit 2	9
Interruptible	38
Animation length	49

Legend (1 square = 1 frame)

Lag time

Charge interval

Hitbox

Interruptible

Meta Knight's moveset

Neutral attack · Forward tilt (1 · 2 · 3) · Up tilt · Down tilt · Dash attack · Forward smash · Up smash · Down smash
Neutral aerial · Forward aerial · Back aerial · Up aerial · Down aerial
Grab · Pummel · Forward throw · Back throw · Up throw · Down throw
Forward roll · Back roll · Spot dodge · Air dodge · Techs
Floor attack (front) · Floor getups (front) · Floor attack (back) · Floor getups (back) · Floor attack (trip) · Floor getups (trip)
Edge attack · Edge getups
Neutral special (def · c1 · c2) · Side special (def · c1 · c2) · Up special (def · c1 · c2) · Down special (def · c1 · c2) · Final Smash