Charge

Lucario charging an Aura Sphere, making it bigger and more powerful within each second of charging.

Charging is the powering up of an attack or item in order to increase its potency (damage, range, speed, etc.).

• In all games except Super Smash Bros., smash attacks can be charged for up to 60 frames (1 second) by holding the attack button, which increases their damage up to a maximum of 1.4x, and greatly increases their knockback.
• Certain special moves can also be charged, sometimes by holding the special attack button.
  • With some moves, namely Giant Punch, Charge Shot, Aura Sphere, Needle Storm, F.L.U.D.D., and Shadow Ball, the charge can be held by the character indefinitely until the move is used again or the character is KO'd. These moves tend to be known as "auto-charge" moves, in that:
    • ...they will automatically enter a charging state once the special attack button is tapped, and during this time, the user of the move can use any attack button to use the move, or use a Shield to cancel the charge and store it (inputting the special attack button again will resume the charge, and moving left or right will cause an automatic roll that produces the same cancel effect as the shield).
      • Once the charge is complete, the move will (in most cases) automatically stop charging and the character will repeatedly flash to give the signal (as well as some other special effect on the character as well). From a full charge, pressing the special attack button will use the fully charged version of the move, and the charging process must be repeated. If charging in the air, a normal cancel will be applied as opposed to a shield or roll if cancelled in the manner as stated above.
        • Also, once the full charge is reached, the character may or may not continue charging until the attack is performed or if a cancel was done to perform it at a later time. Examples of characters who will still stay in their charging animation even at full charge unless cancelled are Mewtwo and Lucario for their neutral specials.
        • Sheik in Melee is the only exception to this, in that her Needle Storm must be charged up by holding down the special button, and if released will use the attack. Yet, she can roll and shield cancel it in the same manner as an auto-charge special.
          • In 64, both the normal and special move buttons can be used to unleash an auto-charge attack during the charging period. From Melee onwards, only the special move button is allowed for such.
    • In terms of most auto-charge specials being projectiles, Greninja's Water Shuriken and Bowser Jr.'s Clown Cannon are the only projectile-based charging moves whose charges can't be held via a special auto-charge cancel, since they are normal chargeable special moves.
  • Some special moves are automatically charged with time until activated (Wario Waft, Robo Burner), at which point they are discharged.
    • Sonic's Spin Charge is unique in that it is charged by pressing the special button repeatedly, and Little Mac's Straight Lunge is unique in that it is used when the player presses the B button again or when the charge is complete.
      • In Super Smash Bros. 4, when a character fully charges a special move that is able to be held, his or her portrait's eyes will flash.
• There are a few items which can be charged. The Ore Club's tornado's size varies with charging its smash attack, and the Super Scope's shots can be charged (though it runs out of ammunition faster that way). Also, the Hothead will be charged as it receives Flame and Electric damage on the field.

Chargeable Special Moves

Character	Move	Charge effect	Notes
Bowser Jr.	Clown Cannon	Increases damage, speed, and range	The cannonball will bounce off of opponents that it hits. Bowser Jr. glows yellow when charging this move.
Diddy Kong	Peanut Popgun	Increases damage and lowers angle of fire	If charged too long, the popgun will explode and Diddy Kong will be momentarily stunned in Brawl or create a damaging explosion in Smash 4.
	Rocketbarrel Blast	Increases height and damage	Activates automatically at full charge.
Donkey Kong	Giant Punch	Increases damage	Near fully charged is more powerful than fully charged; fully charged version is faster and, in Brawl, grants super armour. Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground.
Greninja	Water Shuriken	Increases size and number of hits.	Automatically activates at full charge.
	Shadow Sneak	Increases knockback and distance covered.	Automatically activates at full charge. Greninja can traverse freely while charging.
Ike	Eruption	Increases damage	Automatically activates at full charge; Near fully charged is more powerful than fully charged; Fully charged deals 10% to Ike, and gives knockback resistance.
	Quick Draw	Increases damage, knockback, and distance covered.	Can be held indefinitely.
Jigglypuff	Rollout	Increases speed, duration, damage	Can be held indefinitely.
King Dedede	Jet Hammer	Increases damage	Near fully charged is slightly more powerful than fully charged; while fully charged, 1% is dealt to Dedede every second until Dedede is up to 150%; Dedede can move while charging.
Kirby	Inhale	Various (see notes)	Kirby can copy a chargeable neutral special from some characters.
	Hammer Flip	Increases damage	While fully charged, 1% is dealt to Kirby every second; Kirby can move while charging; charge cannot be saved.
Link	Hero's Bow	Increases damage, and speed of arrow	Can be held indefinitely.
	Spin Attack (Brawl and Smash 4 only)	Increases damage and duration	Activates automatically at full charge.
Little Mac	Straight Lunge	Increases range and damage	Can be held indefinitely; has knockback resistance while charging.
Lucario	Aura Sphere	Increases damage, range, and size of sphere	Can be charged indefinitely; charging animation has damaging hitbox; per Aura property of Lucario, grow stronger at higher damage percentages. Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground. Lucario will continue to charge the move at full charge.
Lucas	PK Freeze	Increases damage, opponent stays frozen longer	Activates automatically at full charge, makes Lucas helpless when used in the air.
Lucina	Shield Breaker	Increases damage	Automatically activates at full charge. Shield damage varies depending on level of charge.
Luigi	Green Missile	Increases damage and distance Luigi travels	Automatically activates in Melee, can be held indefinitely in Brawl; can misfire (1 in 8 chance), sending Luigi a very far distance, regardless of charging time. In SSB4, Luigi will give up after a while and the attack will be cancelled.
	Luigi Cyclone (Melee only)	Allows Luigi to ascend when using the move in the air once.	Charges by having the move finished or interrupted while on the ground.
Mario (Brawl and Smash 4 only)	F.L.U.D.D.	Increases the amount of water Mario can spray while using F.L.U.D.D., as well as range	Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground.
Marth	Shield Breaker	Increases damage	Automatically activates at full charge. Shield damage varies depending on level of charge.
Mewtwo	Shadow Ball	Increases damage, range, and size of sphere	Can be charged indefinitely; charging animation has damaging hitbox. Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground. Mewtwo will continue to charge the move at full charge.
Mr. Game & Watch	Oil Panic	Once Oil Panic absorbs 3 energy projectiles, the oil can be released as an attack	Charge can be held indefinitely and even if Mr. Game & Watch is KO'ed; If Oil Panic is fully charged, Bucket Braking cannot be performed
Ness (Melee, Brawl, and Smash 4 only)	PK Flash	Increases damage	Activates automatically at full charge, makes Ness helpless when used in the air
Pac-Man	Bonus Fruit	Advances to next fruit	If orange is reached, time to charge to the next stage doubles.
Pichu	Skull Bash	Increases damage, and distance it will cover	Activates automatically at full charge. Causes the same level of recoil regardless of charge level.
Pikachu	Skull Bash	Increases damage, and distance it will cover	Activates automatically at full charge.
Pit	Palutena's Arrow	Increases damage	Can be charged indefinitely only if one keeps on changing the direction in which the arrow is aimed
R.O.B.	Robo Burner	Increases duration (and therefore range)	Automatically charges when ROB is on the ground.
	Robo Beam	Increases damage; lowers speed	Automatically charges when ROB is not using it.
	Gyro	Increases duration and damage	Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground.
Robin	Thunder	Advances rank of thunder magic, which increases effectiveness	Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground.
Rosalina	Luma Shot	Increases range	Activates automatically at full charge.
Roy	Flare Blade	Increases damage and knockback	Automatically activates at full charge; attack is stronger when almost-fully charged; fully charged attack directly deals 10% damage to Roy.
Samus	Charge Shot	Increases range, damage, and size of sphere	Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground.
Sheik	Needle Storm	Increases duration and damage	Can be charged indefinitely in Melee; cannot be charged indefinitely in Brawl; maxes at six needles; Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground. However, in Melee, the B button must be held down to charge instead of inputting B then any attack button to attack during the charge; it is only up until Brawl it becomes a normal auto-charge special.
	Burst Grenade	Increases duration of vacuum effect.	-
Sonic	Spin Charge	Increases speed and damage	Charged by rapidly pressing the special move button.
	Spin Dash	Increases speed and damage	Can be held indefinitely.
Squirtle	Water Gun	Increases duration and range	Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground.
Toon Link	Hero's Bow	Increases damage, range, and speed	Can be held indefinitely
	Spin Attack	Increases damage and duration	Cannot be held indefinitely
Wario	Wario Waft	Increases damage, distance Wario shoots up, and range	Charges automatically over time; slightly fully charged stronger than fully charged.
Wii Fit Trainer	Sun Salutation	Increases size, range, and damage	Auto-charge special, and thus the attack must be manually inputted to come out during the charge, and said charge can be saved by shielding or rolling on ground.
Young Link	Fire Bow	Increases damage, speed, and range	Can be held indefinitely
Zero Suit Samus	Paralyzer	Increases damage and hitstun	Can be held indefinitely

Trivia

• In Melee, smash attacks can only attain a maximum charge of 1.3671x instead of the intended 1.4x. It's believed this implies that they can only be charged for 59 frames instead of 60, though this math is very slightly off.
• Even though two of the attacks technically have a passive charging phase, R.O.B. is the series' only character with three chargeable Special Attacks.