Super Smash Bros. series

Traction

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"Friction" redirects here. For aerial friction, see here.
Because Luigi has a very small amount of traction, he slides very noticeably after finishing a dash.

Traction is a measure of how long it takes for a character to stop moving from a sideways force when grounded. Characters with low traction slide farther than others after walking, dashing, wavedashing, being hit by an attack while grounded, and so on.

Having high traction affords greater ground control over a character, so high traction is generally an advantage. Characters with low traction generally require more precise movement across the ground and cannot punish attacks as effectively out of shield since they will get pushed further away from the opponent. However, there are cases where low traction is useful: low traction is necessary for a long wavedash in Super Smash Bros. Melee and a long dash pivot cancel in Brawl, and there are cases where sliding away from a shielded attack can help escape multiple hits. In Super Smash Bros., characters with lower traction get pushed further away when being attacked when in shield, which makes follow-ups and potential shield breaks harder.

Luigi is well-known for having the least traction of any character in all games except Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; this originates from his low traction in most of the Mario platformers, which balances out his higher jumping.

Traction is also affected by terrain. For instance, nearly all characters have decreased traction on slippery surfaces such as ice. However, the Ice Climbers uniquely have the reverse of this functionality: their normally low traction becomes higher on slippery surfaces.

Traction rankings

Super Smash Bros.

Rank Character Value
1-5 Link (SSB) Link 2
1-5 Samus (SSB) Samus 2
1-5 Fox (SSB) Fox 2
1-5 Pikachu (SSB) Pikachu 2
1-5 Ness (SSB) Ness 2
6 Captain Falcon (SSB) Captain Falcon 1.8
7 Donkey Kong (SSB) Donkey Kong 1.7
8 Yoshi (SSB) Yoshi 1.6
9 Mario (SSB) Mario 1.5
10 Kirby (SSB) Kirby 1.4
11 Jigglypuff (SSB) Jigglypuff 1.1
12 Luigi (SSB) Luigi 0.7

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Rank Character Value
1-4 Peach (SSBM) Peach 0.1
1-4 Link (SSBM) Link 0.1
1-4 Zelda (SSBM) Zelda 0.1
1-4 Pichu (SSBM) Pichu 0.1
5-6 Pikachu (SSBM) Pikachu 0.09
5-6 Jigglypuff (SSBM) Jigglypuff 0.09
7-13 Donkey Kong (SSBM) Donkey Kong 0.08
7-13 Young Link (SSBM) Young Link 0.08
7-13 Sheik (SSBM) Sheik 0.08
7-13 Kirby (SSBM) Kirby 0.08
7-13 Fox (SSBM) Fox 0.08
7-13 Falco (SSBM) Falco 0.08
7-13 Captain Falcon (SSBM) Captain Falcon 0.08
14 Ganondorf (SSBM) Ganondorf 0.07
15-23 Mario (SSBM) Mario 0.06
15-23 Dr. Mario (SSBM) Dr. Mario 0.06
15-23 Bowser (SSBM) Bowser 0.06
15-23 Yoshi (SSBM) Yoshi 0.06
15-23 Samus (SSBM) Samus 0.06
15-23 Ness (SSBM) Ness 0.06
15-23 Marth (SSBM) Marth 0.06
15-23 Roy (SSBM) Roy 0.06
15-23 Mr. Game & Watch (SSBM) Mr. Game & Watch 0.06
24 Mewtwo (SSBM) Mewtwo 0.04
25 Ice Climbers (SSBM) Ice Climbers 0.035
26 Luigi (SSBM) Luigi 0.025

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Rank Character Value
1 Lucario (SSBB) Lucario 0.0736
2 Jigglypuff (SSBB) Jigglypuff 0.0718
3-6 Wario (SSBB) Wario 0.07
3-6 Zero Suit Samus (SSBB) Zero Suit Samus 0.07
3-6 Wolf (SSBB) Wolf 0.07
3-6 Sonic (SSBB) Sonic 0.07
7-8 Peach (SSBB) Peach 0.068
7-8 Ganondorf (SSBB) Ganondorf 0.068
9 Falco (SSBB) Falco 0.065
10 Link (SSBB) Link 0.064
11-16 Mario (SSBB) Mario 0.06
11-16 Sheik (SSBB) Sheik 0.06
11-16 Fox (SSBB) Fox 0.06
11-16 Mr. Game & Watch (SSBB) Mr. Game & Watch 0.06
11-16 Olimar (SSBB) Olimar 0.06
11-16 R.O.B. (SSBB) R.O.B. 0.06
17 Pikachu (SSBB) Pikachu 0.0596
18 Samus (SSBB) Samus 0.0585
19 Bowser (SSBB) Bowser 0.0577
20-22 Meta Knight (SSBB) Meta Knight 0.055
20-22 Charizard (SSBB) Charizard 0.055
20-22 Marth (SSBB) Marth 0.055
23 Toon Link (SSBB) Toon Link 0.0547
24 Ness (SSBB) Ness 0.0546
25 Snake (SSBB) Snake 0.0542
26 Zelda (SSBB) Zelda 0.054
27 Ivysaur (SSBB) Ivysaur 0.0532
28 Donkey Kong (SSBB) Donkey Kong 0.0529
29 Pit (SSBB) Pit 0.0505
30 Captain Falcon (SSBB) Captain Falcon 0.05
31 Kirby (SSBB) Kirby 0.0493
32-33 Diddy Kong (SSBB) Diddy Kong 0.0484
32-33 King Dedede (SSBB) King Dedede 0.0484
34 Lucas (SSBB) Lucas 0.045
35 Ike (SSBB) Ike 0.044
36 Yoshi (SSBB) Yoshi 0.0426
37 Squirtle (SSBB) Squirtle 0.042
38 Ice Climbers (SSBB) Ice Climbers 0.035
39 Luigi (SSBB) Luigi 0.022

Super Smash Bros. 4

Rank Character Value
1 Lucario (SSB4) Lucario 0.0736
2 Jigglypuff (SSB4) Jigglypuff 0.0718
3-5 Wario (SSB4) Wario 0.07
3-5 Zero Suit Samus (SSB4) Zero Suit Samus 0.07
3-5 Little Mac (SSB4) Little Mac 0.07
6-9 Peach (SSB4) Peach 0.068
6-9 Rosalina (SSB4) Rosalina 0.068
6-9 Ganondorf (SSB4) Ganondorf 0.068
6-9 Palutena (SSB4) Palutena 0.068
n/a Giga Bowser 0.067
10-11 Falco (SSB4) Falco 0.065
10-11 Corrin (SSB4) Corrin 0.065
12-13 Link (SSB4) Link 0.064
12-13 Mii Swordfighter (SSB4) Mii Swordfighter 0.064
14-24 Sheik (SSB4) Sheik 0.06
14-24 Fox (SSB4) Fox 0.06
14-24 Roy (SSB4) Roy 0.06
14-24 Mr. Game & Watch (SSB4) Mr. Game & Watch 0.06
14-24 Olimar (SSB4) Olimar 0.06
14-24 R.O.B. (SSB4) R.O.B. 0.06
14-24 Villager (SSB4) Villager 0.06
14-24 Wii Fit Trainer (SSB4) Wii Fit Trainer 0.06
14-24 Sonic (SSB4) Sonic 0.06
14-24 Mega Man (SSB4) Mega Man 0.06
14-24 Ryu (SSB4) Ryu 0.06
n/a Wario-Man 0.06
25 Pikachu (SSB4) Pikachu 0.0596
26 Samus (SSB4) Samus 0.0585
27 Bowser (SSB4) Bowser 0.0577
28-33 Meta Knight (SSB4) Meta Knight 0.055
28-33 Marth (SSB4) Marth 0.055
28-33 Lucina (SSB4) Lucina 0.055
28-33 Robin (SSB4) Robin 0.055
28-33 Cloud (SSB4) Cloud 0.055
28-33 Bayonetta (SSB4) Bayonetta 0.055
34 Toon Link (SSB4) Toon Link 0.0547
35 Ness (SSB4) Ness 0.0546
36 Zelda (SSB4) Zelda 0.054
37 Donkey Kong (SSB4) Donkey Kong 0.0529
38-39 Pit (SSB4) Pit 0.0505
38-39 Dark Pit (SSB4) Dark Pit 0.0505
40 Captain Falcon (SSB4) Captain Falcon 0.05
41 Kirby (SSB4) Kirby 0.0493
42-43 Diddy Kong (SSB4) Diddy Kong 0.0484
42-43 King Dedede (SSB4) King Dedede 0.0484
44-52 Mario (SSB4) Mario 0.045
44-52 Dr. Mario (SSB4) Dr. Mario 0.045
44-52 Bowser Jr. (SSB4) Bowser Jr. 0.045
44-52 Greninja (SSB4) Greninja 0.045
44-52 Lucas (SSB4) Lucas 0.045
44-52 Duck Hunt (SSB4) Duck Hunt 0.045
44-52 Pac-Man (SSB4) Pac-Man 0.045
44-52 Mii Brawler (SSB4) Mii Brawler 0.045
44-52 Mii Gunner (SSB4) Mii Gunner 0.045
53-54 Ike (SSB4) Ike 0.044
53-54 Shulk (SSB4) Shulk 0.044
55 Yoshi (SSB4) Yoshi 0.0426
56-57 Mewtwo (SSB4) Mewtwo 0.04
56-57 Charizard (SSB4) Charizard 0.04
58 Luigi (SSB4) Luigi 0.024

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

In Ultimate, traction has been significantly increased across the cast, with even the lowest traction values being higher than the highest traction values in SSB4. This allows for every character to slow down faster on the ground after moving horizontally, and most notably benefits characters with low traction (such as Luigi and Charizard), as shielded attacks now push them back a much shorter distance, and it is therefore easier for them to punish out of shield. However, the increased traction also results in slide smashes covering less distance than in SSB4 as well. Unlike in previous games, Luigi no longer has the most slippery shoes of the cast, nor is he even in the bottom tenth; the character with the least traction is now the Mii Gunner.

Rank Character Value
1 Sonic (SSBU) Sonic 0.138
2-3 Dark Pit (SSBU) Dark Pit 0.135
2-3 Pit (SSBU) Pit 0.135
4 Pikachu (SSBU) Pikachu 0.132
5-8 Isabelle (SSBU) Isabelle 0.131
5-8 Mr. Game & Watch (SSBU) Mr. Game & Watch 0.131
5-8 Ness (SSBU) Ness 0.131
5-8 Villager (SSBU) Villager 0.131
9 Joker (SSBU) Joker 0.13
10 Corrin (SSBU) Corrin 0.129
11 Wii Fit Trainer (SSBU) Wii Fit Trainer 0.128
12 Falco (SSBU) Falco 0.127
13 Ganondorf (SSBU) Ganondorf 0.125
14 Donkey Kong (SSBU) Donkey Kong 0.123
15 Ivysaur (SSBU) Ivysaur 0.121
16 Mii Brawler (SSBU) Mii Brawler 0.12
17-25 Kirby (SSBU) Kirby 0.116
17-25 Little Mac (SSBU) Little Mac 0.116
17-25 Lucario (SSBU) Lucario 0.116
17-25 Lucas (SSBU) Lucas 0.116
17-25 Mewtwo (SSBU) Mewtwo 0.116
17-25 Pac-Man (SSBU) Pac-Man 0.116
17-25 Snake (SSBU) Snake 0.116
17-25 Zelda (SSBU) Zelda 0.116
17-25 Zero Suit Samus (SSBU) Zero Suit Samus 0.116
26 Fox (SSBU) Fox 0.115
27-29 Incineroar (SSBU) Incineroar 0.114
27-29 Lucina (SSBU) Lucina 0.114
27-29 Marth (SSBU) Marth 0.114
30 Link (SSBU) Link 0.113
31 Ike (SSBU) Ike 0.112
32-33 Daisy (SSBU) Daisy 0.111
32-33 Peach (SSBU) Peach 0.111
34-40 Bayonetta (SSBU) Bayonetta 0.11
34-40 Charizard (SSBU) Charizard 0.11
34-40 Ken (SSBU) Ken 0.11
34-40 Mii Swordfighter (SSBU) Mii Swordfighter 0.11
34-40 Pichu (SSBU) Pichu 0.11
34-40 Ryu (SSBU) Ryu 0.11
34-40 Wolf (SSBU) Wolf 0.11
41-42 Chrom (SSBU) Chrom 0.107
41-42 Roy (SSBU) Roy 0.107
43-47 Cloud (SSBU) Cloud 0.106
43-47 Dr. Mario (SSBU) Dr. Mario 0.106
43-47 Palutena (SSBU) Palutena 0.106
43-47 Sheik (SSBU) Sheik 0.106
43-47 Wario (SSBU) Wario 0.106
48-52 Captain Falcon (SSBU) Captain Falcon 0.105
48-52 King K. Rool (SSBU) King K. Rool 0.105
48-52 R.O.B. (SSBU) R.O.B. 0.105
48-52 Robin (SSBU) Robin 0.105
48-52 Young Link (SSBU) Young Link 0.105
53 Bowser (SSBU) Bowser 0.104
54-55 Inkling (SSBU) Inkling 0.102
54-55 Mario (SSBU) Mario 0.102
56 Rosalina (SSBU) Rosalina 0.099
57 Meta Knight (SSBU) Meta Knight 0.097
58 Luigi (SSBU) Luigi 0.096
59 Yoshi (SSBU) Yoshi 0.095
60-61 Mega Man (SSBU) Mega Man 0.094
60-61 Shulk (SSBU) Shulk 0.094
62-63 Diddy Kong (SSBU) Diddy Kong 0.093
62-63 Olimar (SSBU) Olimar 0.093
64 Duck Hunt (SSBU) Duck Hunt 0.09
65 Squirtle (SSBU) Squirtle 0.088
66-67 Greninja (SSBU) Greninja 0.087
66-67 Jigglypuff (SSBU) Jigglypuff 0.087
68 Toon Link (SSBU) Toon Link 0.086
69-72 Bowser Jr. (SSBU) Bowser Jr. 0.085
69-72 King Dedede (SSBU) King Dedede 0.085
69-72 Richter (SSBU) Richter 0.085
69-72 Simon (SSBU) Simon 0.085
73-74 Dark Samus (SSBU) Dark Samus 0.082
73-74 Samus (SSBU) Samus 0.082
75 Ridley (SSBU) Ridley 0.08
76 Ice Climbers (SSBU) Ice Climbers 0.077
77 Mii Gunner (SSBU) Mii Gunner 0.076