Mario dashing in Melee
Mario dashing in Brawl
"Run" redirects here. For information on the CPU mode in Brawl, see List of CPU modes.
For the Japanese term "Dash Fighter", see Clone.

A dash is a form of ground movement faster than walking. It is performed by tapping sideways on the control stick. The player's character enters his or her initial dash animation, in which they change directions with very little lag, and then proceeds to his or her running animation. In Brawl, a character attempting to dash can trip instead. In Smash 4, dashing off a platform will cause the character to perform a short flipping animation, and landing on another platform while continuing to hold the control stick in that direction will allow them to continue dashing. While dashing, characters can also perform their dash attack, shield, or jump. The Bunny Hood, Superspicy Curry, and Super Mushroom items increases a character's running speed.

Other terminology

The initial dash is the first part of a character's dash, during which a character can change directions with only 1 frame of lag. The concept of the initial dash is vital to many forms of ground movement, such as dash-dancing, fox-trotting, and pivoting. However, from Brawl onwards, the window for turning around during an initial dash does not last for the entire dash (six frames in Smash 4), making dash-dancing much harder, and fox-trotting is also not entirely dependent on the length of the initial dash. The best example of this is Sheik and Roy, who have nearly identical fox-trots despite Roy's initial dash being over twice as long as Sheik's (17 frames to her 8 frames).

The turn-around animation plays when the character attempts to change directions after their initial dash. Unlike in an initial dash, attempting to turn around during a run can take as long as 51 frames (Marth in Melee), and before Smash 4, it can only be cancelled with a jump (and therefore up smash and up special) or reversed side special. However, from Brawl onwards, cancelling the jump with an up smash or up special also reverses its direction, and in Smash 4, the turn-around animation can be cancelled with a reversed forward tilt or forward smash.

A stutter step is the term for when a character begins to dash but stops almost immediately, often used for positioning and mindgames. Along with merely stopping, characters can also dash cancel via a variety of other methods.

The skidding animation plays when the character stops running after their initial dash and attempts to stop their momentum. The length of this animation varies between characters, but it can also vary depending on the speed the character is running at relative to their maximum running speed. Shorter skidding animations are preferred, particularly in Smash games where dash cancelling is impossible. For example, in Smash 4, Bowser, Charizard, Ganondorf, and Lucario have extremely short skidding animations even after stopping at maximum speed, which effectively allows them to do any attack out of their runs with little lag in between, or even seamlessly begin another dash in the opposite direction. This animation can only be cancelled with a jump, or with an item pick up if one is nearby. Its first few frames can also be cancelled into any special move.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Initial dash

Because the initial dash animation translates into the running animation much later than in Brawl, it is a vital tool for movement in general and dash-dancing in particular. During the initial dash, the following actions can be used:

  • Altering the speed of the dash with the control stick, most notably backwards to Moonwalk.
  • Turning around by mashing the control stick in the opposite direction. Turning around takes one frame during which the character is standing and can do all ground attacks except neutral B. If the control stick stays in a neutral position after this pivot frame, the character will keep standing.
  • Pressing A or C-Stick forward/backward during the first 3 frames to do a small step forward smash. This is only possible after dashing forward, not backward.
  • Pressing A after the first 3 frames to do a dash attack.
  • Pressing L or R to shield. During the first two frames of a forward dash, L/R always trigger a roll. On frame 3, they trigger the shield, but with 1 frame delay.
  • Pressing L+A, R+A or Z to do a dash grab.
  • Jumping and jump cancelling.
  • Using forward special.
  • Pressing forward again to enter run break animation. From here you can crouch immediately and do any move. This can be used for a quick dash into dtilt, or a non JC down special.

Run

During the run — the later part of the dash — different options are available:

  • Pressing down to crouch. (Spending 1 frame in the RunBrake animation is necessary before the crouch can start.)
  • Turning around by mashing or pushing the control stick in the opposite direction. Turning around takes very long, up to 51 frames (Marth). During the turnaround animation, only a jump can interrupt it.
  • Pressing A or C-Stick forward/backward during the first 3 frames to do a small step forward smash. This is only possible after dashing forward, not backward.
  • Pressing A to do a dash attack.
  • Pressing L or R to shield.
  • Pressing L+A, R+A, or Z to do a dash grab.
  • Jumping and jump cancelling.
  • Using special moves.

Running speed

Running speed is the rate at which a character can run.

Super Smash Bros. rankings

The Japanese version data and NA dash data was taken from Antdgar's Frame Data

Super Smash Bros. Melee rankings

Rank Character Initial Dash Run Speed Dash Frames Acceleration
1 Captain Falcon 2.16 2.30 15 +.16
2 Fox 2.02 2.20 11 +.12
3 Pikachu 1.80 1.80 13 +.00
4 Sheik 1.80 1.80 7 +.00
5 Pichu 1.72 1.72 13 +.00
6 Marth 1.56 1.80 15 +.06
7 Young Link 1.72 1.60 13 -.08
8 Samus 1.80 1.40 8 -.06
9 Falco 1.82 1.50 11 -.08
10 Donkey Kong 1.60 1.60 15 +.00
11 Roy 1.47 1.61 15 +.07
12 Yoshi 1.43 1.60 13 +.10
13-14 Mario, Dr. Mario 1.50 1.50 10 +.00
15 Mr. Game & Watch 1.50 1.50 8 +.00
16 Mewtwo 1.40 1.40 18 +.00
17 Ice Climbers 1.40 1.40 13 +.00
18 Kirby 1.40 1.40 12 +.00
19 Ness 1.36 1.40 13 +.06
20 Ganondorf 1.35 1.35 15 +.00
21 Luigi 1.34 1.34 10 +.00
22 Peach 1.30 1.30 15 +.00
23 Link 1.30 1.30 12 +.00
24 Bowser 1.06 1.50 13 +.06
25 Jigglypuff 1.31 1.10 13 -.09
26 Zelda 1.10 1.10 15 +.00

Source

Super Smash Bros. Brawl rankings

Starting in Brawl, much like with air acceleration, there exist two acceleration values for each character's initial dash speed until it reaches their run speed: a base value that determines the minimum acceleration, and an additional value that is scaled based on how much the control stick is tilted. A character's maximum potential acceleration is the sum of these two values. For example, Lucario has a base value of 0.04 and an additional value of 0.15, so its dash acceleration can vary from 0.04 at minimum input to 0.19 at maximum input. If the character's initial dash speed is equal to their run speed, the acceleration values are not used, while if it is higher, the character's traction value is used to decrease it down to their run speed.

Rank Character Initial Dash Run Speed Dash Frames Base Acceleration Additional Acceleration
1 Sonic 1.5 3.5 11 +.04 +.15
N/A Wario-Man 1.3 3.5 13 +.04 +.0954
2 Captain Falcon 2.05 2.18 16 +.02 +.1618
3 Fox 2.1 2.08 11 +.04 +.1111
4 Zero Suit Samus 1.7 1.93 13 +.04 +.0942
5 Sheik 1.7 1.92 8 +.04 +.1143
6 Meta Knight 1.75 1.847 13 +.04 +.0948
7 Charizard 1.3 1.8 11 +.02 +.0963
8 Pikachu 1.8 1.765 14 +.04 +.0912
9 Diddy Kong 1.7 1.721 11 +.04 +.15
10 Marth 1.5 1.7 17 +.01 +.082
N/A Giga Bowser 1.9 1.7 15 +.05 +.12
11 Yoshi 1.33 1.68 15 +.04 +.096
12 Toon Link 1.5 1.65 13 +.04 +.0998
13 Donkey Kong 1.6 1.622 16 +.04 +.0667
14 Pit 1.5 1.583 13 +.04 +.1134
15 Mr. Game & Watch 1.5 1.553 9 +.04 +.0823
16 Bowser 1 1.527 14 +.04 +.0648
17 Mario 1.5 1.5 11 +.04 +.0998
18 Ivysaur 1.4 1.5 11 +.04 +.08
19 R.O.B. 1.3 1.5 11 +.04 +.1128
20 Lucas 1.3 1.5 11 +.02 +.0756
21 Samus 1.86 1.445 9 +.04 +.12
22 Falco 1.9 1.432 12 +.04 +.112
23 Lucario 1.8 1.414 11 +.04 +.15
24 Wolf 1.7 1.4 11 +.04 +.0998
25 Olimar 1.4 1.4 11 +.04 +.0872
26 Ness 1.3 1.393 14 +.04 +.0651
27 Ice Climbers 1.4 1.388 14 +.04 +.0736
28 Ike 1.5 1.371 11 +.01 +.0724
29 Kirby 1.4 1.371 13 +.04 +.0954
30 Squirtle 1.6 1.37 11 +.1 +.2
31 Snake 1.1 1.35 13 +.04 +.1154
32 Peach 1.5 1.35 16 +.04 +.1181
33 Wario 1.3 1.35 13 +.04 +.0954
34 Luigi 1.28 1.34 11 +.04 +.0786
35 Link 1.3 1.328 13 +.04 +.1197
36 Zelda 1.25 1.224 16 +.04 +.1175
37 King Dedede 1.4 1.22 11 +.01 +.0858
38 Ganondorf 1.3 1.16 16 +.02 +.0963
39 Jigglypuff 1.4 1.1 14 +.04 +.0829

Note that several slow runners can use their dash attack to travel a far distance quicker, and some characters have a DACUS to increase mobility. The most notable case of this is Snake, whose DACUS gives him much more stage control and ability to evade opponents.

Super Smash Bros. 4 rankings

Rank Character Initial Dash Run Speed Dash Frames Base Acceleration Additional Acceleration
1 Sonic 1.5 3.5 11 +.04 +.15
N/A Wario-Man 1.3 3.5 13 +.04 +.0998
N/A Giga Mac 2.05 2.8 16 +.06 +.1618
2 Captain Falcon 1.7 2.32 16 +.1 +.06
3 Little Mac 2.05 2.24 16 +.02 +.1618
4 Fox 2.4 2.184 11 +.04 +.1111
5 Zero Suit Samus 1.7 2.1 13 +.04 +.0942
N/A Mii Brawler (lightest) 1.952 2.0984 11 +.0488 +.0998
6 Greninja 1.6 2.08 11 +.05 +.12
7 Mewtwo 1.4 2.05 11 +.1 0
8 Sheik 1.7 2.016 8 +.04 +.1143
9 Charizard 1 2 11 +.015 +.0963
N/A Giga Bowser 1.9 2 14 +.05 +.12
10 Cloud 1.8 1.97 11 +.01 +.09
11 Roy 1.4 1.95 17 0 +.07
12 Meta Knight 1.7 1.9 13 +.04 +.0948
13 Palutena 1.5 1.888 14 +.04 +.1181
14 Yoshi 1.33 1.86 15 +.04 +.096
15 Pikachu 1.8 1.85325 14 +.04 +.0912
N/A Mii Swordfighter (lightest) 1.586 1.83 13 +.0488 +.1197
16 Diddy Kong 1.7 1.824 11 +.04 +.15
17 Bowser 1 1.792 14 +.04 +.0648
18-19 Lucina & Marth 1.5 1.785 17 +.01 +.082
20 Toon Link 1.5 1.7325 13 +.04 +.0998
21 Mii Brawler (default & Fighting Mii Team) 1.6 1.72 11 +.04 +.0998
22 Donkey Kong 1.6 1.7031 16 +.04 +.0667
23 Wii Fit Trainer 1.5 1.696 16 +.04 +.0998
24-25 Dark Pit & Pit 1.5 1.66215 13 +.04 +.1134
26 Rosalina 1.5 1.632 16 +.04 +.1181
27 Duck Hunt 1.55 1.63 11 +.04 +.0998
28 Bayonetta 1.7 1.6 11 +.04 +.0942
29-30 Mario & Ryu 1.6 1.6 11 +.04 +.0998
N/A Mii Gunner (lightest) 1.952 1.586 9 +.0488 +.0998
31 Kirby 1.5 1.57 13 +.04 +.0954
32 R.O.B. 1.3 1.568 11 +.04 +.1128
33 Lucario 1.8 1.55 11 +.04 +.15
34 Mr. Game & Watch 1.5 1.5264 9 +.04 +.0823
35 Pac-Man 1.6 1.52 11 +.04 +.0998
36 Shulk 1.5 1.52 11 +.01 +.0724
37 Samus 1.86 1.504 9 +.04 +.12
38 Ike 1.5 1.5 11 +.01 +.0724
39-41 Lucas 1.3 1.5 11 +.02 +.08
39-41 Mii Swordfighter (default & Fighting Mii Team) 1.3 1.5 13 +.04 +.1197
39-41 Wario 1.3 1.5 13 +.04 +.0954
42 Luigi 1.28 1.5 11 +.04 +.0786
N/A Mega Lucario 1.8 1.4847 11 +.04 +.15
43 Falco 1.9 1.472 12 +.04 +.112
44 Olimar 1.6 1.47 11 +.04 +.0998
45 Ness 1.3 1.46265 14 +.04 +.0651
46 Mega Man 1.5 1.456 11 +.04 +.0998
47 Corrin 1.8 1.45 8 +.01 +.0724
48 Bowser Jr. 1.6 1.424 11 +.04 +.0998
49 Peach 1.5 1.4175 16 +.04 +.1181
N/A Mii Brawler (heaviest) 1.312 1.4104 11 +.0328 +.0998
50 Link 1.3 1.3944 11 +.04 +.1197
51 King Dedede 1.4 1.36 11 +.01 +.0858
N/A Mii Gunner (Fighting Mii Team) 1.6 1.35 9 +.04 +.1
52 Dr. Mario* 1.3312 1.3312 11 +.03328 +.0830336
53-54 Mii Gunner (default) 1.6 1.3 9 +.04 +.0998
53-54 Zelda 1.6 1.3 16 +.04 +.1175
55 Villager 1.5 1.27 14 +.04 +.0998
N/A Mii Swordfighter (heaviest) 1.066 1.23 13 +.0328 +.1197
56 Ganondorf 1.3 1.218 16 +.02 +.0963
57 Jigglypuff 1.4 1.155 14 +.04 +.0829
58 Robin 1.5 1.15 17 +.01 +.082
N/A Mii Gunner (heaviest) 1.312 1.066 9 +.0328 +.0998

Update history

1.1.3
  •   Kirby's run speed: 1.5 → 1.57
  •   Lucario's run speed: 1.4847 → 1.55
  •   Mewtwo's run speed: 1.696 → 1.9
1.1.5
  •   Corrin's run speed: 1.5 → 1.45
  •   Mewtwo's run speed: 1.9 → 2.05

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate rankings

Run speeds have been buffed across the board for most characters by roughly 10%. Most initial dash speeds are now greater than or equal to that of Cloud's from Smash 4, with even the slowest, Olimar's, surpassing Mario's from Smash 4.

Rank Character Initial Dash Run Speed Dash Frames Base Acceleration Additional Acceleration
1 Sonic 2.31 3.85 ??? ??? ???
2 Captain Falcon 1.98 2.552 ??? ??? ???
3 Little Mac 2.365 2.464 ??? ??? ???
4 Sheik 2.178 2.42 ??? ??? ???
5 Fox 2.09 2.402 ??? ??? ???
6-7 Zero Suit Samus 2.42 2.31 ??? ??? ???
6-7 Joker 1.95 2.31 ??? ??? ???
8 Greninja 2.170 2.277 ??? ??? ???
9 Mewtwo 2.255 2.255 ??? ??? ???
10-11 Charizard 2.288 2.2 ??? ??? ???
10-11 Ridley 1.8 2.2 ??? ??? ???
12 Cloud 2.145 2.167 ??? ??? ???
13-14 Roy 2.2 2.145 ??? ??? ???
13-14 Chrom 2.2 2.145 ??? ??? ???
15 Meta Knight 2.211 2.09 ??? ??? ???
16 Palutena 2.035 2.077 ??? ??? ???
17 Yoshi 1.98 2.046 ??? ??? ???
18 Pikachu 1.98 2.039 ??? ??? ???
19 Diddy Kong 2.09 2.006 ??? ??? ???
20 Bowser 2.255 1.971 ??? ??? ???
21-22 Marth 2.255 1.964 ??? ??? ???
21-22 Lucina 2.255 1.964 ??? ??? ???
23 Inkling 2.118 1.925 ??? ??? ???
24 Mii Brawler 1.97 1.92 ??? ??? ???
25 Toon Link 1.914 1.906 ??? ??? ???
26 Pichu 1.98 1.892 ??? ??? ???
27 Donkey Kong 2.09 1.873 ??? ??? ???
28 Wii Fit Trainer 2.024 1.866 ??? ??? ???
29-30 Pit 2.09 1.828 ??? ??? ???
29-30 Dark Pit 2.09 1.828 ??? ??? ???
31 Rosalina & Luma 2.035 1.795 ??? ??? ???
32 Duck Hunt 1.76 1.793 ??? ??? ???
33-36 Mario 1.936 1.76 ??? ??? ???
33-36 Ken 1.936 1.76 ??? ??? ???
33-36 Bayonetta 1.936 1.76 ??? ??? ???
33-36 Squirtle 1.936 1.76 ??? ??? ???
37 Young Link 2.09 1.749 ??? ??? ???
38 Kirby 1.9 1.727 ??? ??? ???
39 R.O.B. 2.002 1.725 ??? ??? ???
40 Piranha Plant 1.82 1.72 ??? ??? ???
41 Lucario 2.255 1.705 ??? ??? ???
42 Nana 1.68 1.683 ??? ??? ???
43 Mr. Game & Watch 1.98 1.679 ??? ??? ???
44-45 Shulk 1.87 1.672 ??? ??? ???
44-45 Pac-Man 1.87 1.672 ??? ??? ???
46-47 Samus 1.87 1.654 ??? ??? ???
46-47 Dark Samus 1.87 1.654 ??? ??? ???
48-50 Lucas 1.815 1.65 ??? ??? ???
48-50 Luigi 1.815 1.65 ??? ??? ???
48-50 Wario 1.837 1.65 ??? ??? ???
51 Falco 2.035 1.619 ??? ??? ???
52 Olimar 1.606 1.617 ??? ??? ???
53 Ness 1.826 1.609 ??? ??? ???
54 Mega Man 1.958 1.602 ??? ??? ???
55 Ryu 1.76 1.6 ??? ??? ???
56-60 Peach 1.826 1.595 ??? ??? ???
56-60 Daisy 1.826 1.595 ??? ??? ???
56-60 Corrin 1.892 1.595 ??? ??? ???
56-60 Ivysaur 1.903 1.595 ??? ??? ???
56-60 Snake 1.76 1.595 ??? ??? ???
61 Mii Swordfighter 1.74 1.58 ??? ??? ???
62 Bowser Jr. 1.76 1.566 ??? ??? ???
63 Wolf 2.09 1.54 ??? ??? ???
64 Link 1.98 1.534 ??? ??? ???
65 Popo 1.68 1.53 ??? ??? ???
66-67 Simon 1.73 1.52 ??? ??? ???
66-67 Richter 1.73 1.52 ??? ??? ???
68 Ike 1.815 1.507 ??? ??? ???
69 King Dedede 1.815 1.496 ??? ??? ???
70 King K. Rool 1.936 1.485 ??? ??? ???
71 Isabelle 1.815 1.48 ??? ??? ???
72 Zelda 1.958 1.43 ??? ??? ???
73 Dr. Mario 1.936 1.397792 ??? ??? ???
74 Villager 1.815 1.397 ??? ??? ???
75 Mii Gunner 1.613 1.37 ??? ??? ???
76 Ganondorf 1.87 1.34 ??? ??? ???
77 Jigglypuff 1.65 1.271 ??? ??? ???
78 Robin 1.815 1.265 ??? ??? ???
79 Incineroar 1.716 1.18 ??? ??? ???

See also

Trivia

  • There are some strange inconsistencies for some characters' running speeds:
    • While generally being faster than Mario in the Mario games, Luigi has been slower in every Smash to date.
    • Wolf and Falco dash slower than Fox, despite being faster than him in Star Fox: Assault.
    • Ike is a generally slow character in the Smash games, despite having good speed stats in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn.
    • Lucario dashes significantly slower than Pikachu, Ivysaur, and Squirtle (Smash Ultimate) despite the former having the same base Speed stat and the latter two being slower in the Pokémon games.
      • Also, in Pokémon, Mega Lucario gets a slight speed increase, but Mega Lucario runs slower than regular Lucario in Smash 4.
    • King K. Rool is canonically faster than Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong in the Donkey Kong Country games when running away, yet is immensely slower than them in Ultimate.