Techniques (SSBU)
Techniques is a sub menu of the Help menu in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This menu will provide a list of various techniques in the game on the left side of the screen, which can be sorted by Common techniques, Fighter-specific techniques, or All techniques using the L or R buttons. Highlighting a technique will give players information on that specific technique and a quick demonstration video on the right side of the screen.
List of techniques
Common
Technique | Description |
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Moving | Tilt the left stick left and right to walk.
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Jumping | Jump using the jump button. You can also tilt the left stick upward! You can jump in midair as well. |
Attacking | Use the attack button to attack.
Smash attacks are super effective! |
Special Moves | Use the special move button and the left stick to use four different moves.
Up special is helpful for returning to the stage. |
Shielding | Press the shield button to defend yourself. Use this to guard against enemy attacks, then strike back! |
Dodging | Flick the left stick while shielding to quickly evade an attack.
Using this move repeatedly can leave you wide open to attack, so be careful. |
Grabs and Throws | Grab opponents by pressing the attack button while shielding.
After Grabbing an Opponent
You can also grab with the grab button. |
Getting Up | If you get knocked down, get back up quickly!
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Grabbing Edges | While Hanging from an Edge
If you tilt the left stick away from the edge, you will let go and fall. |
Throwing Items | Press the attack button while also using your shield to throw items. You can do this with the grab button as well.
When Throwing Items
The speed and power of throwing an item will increase when using smash throws! |
Stun Recovery | If you get stunned, move the left stick around or repeatedly press buttons to recover faster. |
Final Smash | If a Smash Ball appears, attack it and claim it for yourself! Once you get it, making sure not to tilt the left stick, press the special-move button to activate your Final Smash!
Use it wisely! You generally only get one chance to land your Final Smash. |
Meteor Smash | Launch opponents straight down for an instant KO!
Many moves can cause a meteor smash.
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Shifting Attacks | The direction of some side tilt attacks and some side smashes can be shifted with the left stick.
Shifting your attacks can be useful when you and your opponents are at different heights. |
Charging Smash Attacks | If you hold the attack button during a smash attack, you can charge up its power. It'll reach max charge after one second, and you can hold on to the charge for a couple more seconds. |
Short Hop | Press the jump button briefly to jump a little.
Press the jump and attack button at the same time to perform a short-hop attack. There are many ways to use low-altitude attacks against your opponents! |
Breaking Your Fall | You can stop yourself from bouncing if you press the shield button just before you hit a wall or the ground after being launched.
This will help you avoid being KO'd from a bounce, and get you back on your feet quickly! |
Launch Shuffling | You can affect the direction you're launched in by tilting the left stick as you're launched.
If you get launched, try to fly in the direction with the highest chance of survival. |
Hitstun Shuffling | If you tap the left stick in a direction right as you're hit with an attack, you can move your body in that direction.
You can use this method to break free of an opponent's combos. |
Perfect Shield | If you stop shielding at the moment your opponent's attack hits your shield, nullifying the attack isn't all that happens.
Your shield won't be depleted at all, and you will be able to immediately counterattack your opponent! |
Shield Shift | Tilt the left stick lightly to adjust the shield while shielding. Use either of the inputs below to keep from triggering a dodge.
This is especially useful when your shield is smaller. |
Shield-Cancel Up Smash | Flick the left stick up and press the attack button while shielding to unleash an up smash instantly.
Shield until you're ready to unleash a sudden attack on your opponent! |
Air Dodge | Press the shield button while airborne to quickly dodge attacks. Tilt the left stick in a certain direction to dodge in that direction.
You can also use this for a little extra boost when returning to the stage! |
Catching Items | Press the attack button right before an item hits you to grab it out of the air. You can pull this off while standing on the ground, or while in the air yourself! |
Footstool Jump | Jump on an opponent's head to use them as a launchpad for another jump!
You can also do this to make an opponent's recovery more difficult. |
Juggling | Keep opponents in the air with continuous attacks to quickly rack up damage. Up tilt attacks work well for this.
It tends to work the best when your opponent hasn't accumulated much damage. |
Fast Falling | Flick the left stick down while airborne to get back to the ground quickly.
Falling faster might throw off an opponent's timing, but be careful not to self-destruct! |
Dash Grabbing | Perform a grab while running to grab opponents within a wider range.
But if you miss the grab, you'll be left wide open! |
Edge Meteor | If you send an opponent flying into the side of the stage below the edge of Battlefield or Final Destination, they'll be bounced downward!
It's a risky play, but satisfying when you pull it off! |
Stealing the Edge | If you get close enough to grab an edge that an opponent is already hanging from, the opponent will get pushed off.
This leaves them vulnerable to your attacks! |
Repeated Edge-Grabbing | Repeatedly grabbing the edge of the stage without landing can be risky.
Each time you grab an edge without landing, you become more vulnerable, and the length of time you are invincible when climbing up from an edge shortens. If you grab it too many times, you won't be able to grab it at all! |
Value of the Last Hit | Whoever is the last player to hit an opponent will be awarded a point for the KO.
Be the last person to hit someone as they fly off the screen, and you'll get credit for the KO! |
Fighter-specific
Technique | Characters | Description |
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Storing Your Charge | Donkey Kong, Samus... | Some fighters have special moves that can be charged up. A fully charged special move will deal some serious damage!
If you use your shield while charging, you can store the charged attack. Chargeable Special Moves And more! |
Counters | Marth, Little Mac... | Counter while getting attacked by adopting a particular stance. The more powerful the attack received is, the stronger the counter will be.
Counter Moves And more! |
Reflecting | Mario, Fox... | It's possible to reflect projectiles and items. The strength and speed of reflected things goes up, making them more dangerous!
Moves That Can Reflect
And more! If you get in a reflecting war with another fighter, the power of the reflected thing can increase and break through your reflecting move. Watch out! |
Absorbing to Heal | Ness, Lucas... | The moves below will absorb energy-type projectiles, healing you proportionally to the power of the projectile: |
Absorbs and Reflect | Mr. Game & Watch | Mr. Game & Watch's down special can absorb energy-type projectiles. If you absorb until the barrel fills, you can unleash a powerful oil attack!
The oil's strength depends on the power of the absorbed attacks. Anything that cannot be absorbed will be reflected. |
Counter and Reflect | Palutena | Palutena's down special is actually two moves in one!
It can counter when attacked, and it projects a reflecting plane when hit with a projectile! |
Edge Grappling | Samus, Toon Link... | If you hit the edge of a platform with some moves, you can dangle from the edge.
Once dangling, press the attack button to hoist yourself up and grab the edge. This can also be done by tilting the left stick up. Fighters with moves that can grab the edge include And more! |
Wall Jumping | Mario, Samus... | While touching a wall in the air, you can kick off the wall in the opposite direction by flicking the left stick away from the wall.
Fighters that can wall jump include And more! If a platform is particularly steep, wall jumping can help you get back to the stage. |
Multiple Jumps | Kirby, Pit... | Some fighters can jump in the air multiple times. Each time you jump, the jump height will decrease.
Fighters that can jump multiple times in the air include
And more! |
Special-Move Input | Link, Yoshi... | Some special moves will change depending on how you press the button.
For example, Samus's side special is normally a homing missile, but if you flick the left stick while executing the move, it becomes a fast Super Missile. Special moves that change include And more! |
Flip | Mario, Dr. Mario... | The Cape and Super Sheet can play havoc with your opponents:
Keep in mind that the Super Sheet has greater vertical coverage! |
Kong Karry | Donkey Kong | Donkey Kong can carry opponents by tilting the left stick toward the grabbed opponent.
You can even carry them off the edge, then throw them! |
Remote Bomb | Link, Snake | Use your down special to take out a bomb. Get to a safe distance, then use it again to set the bomb off! |
Inhale | Kirby | Inhale the opponent with the neutral special, then do one of the following:
Copy the opponent to use their neutral special, and taunt to get rid of the copy. |
Directional Special Moves | Pikachu, Greninja... | Quick Attack and Hydro Pump will send you in the direction the left stick is tilted. If you change the input direction in the middle of the move, you'll head in the new direction!
Use this to travel farther than normal! |
Recover with PK Thunder | Ness, Lucas | Controlling PK Thunder and hitting yourself with it will launch you in the direction the attack was heading, hitting anyone in your path.
It's also a great way to return to the stage! |
Rest | Jigglypuff | If you overlap with an opponent and use this down special to fall asleep, the enemy you're touching will take serious damage.
It's super effective! |
Rocketbarrel Boost | Diddy Kong | You can charge this up special by holding down the special-move button. This move travels farther after charging! |
Gliding in the Air | Peach, Daisy | Hold the jump button down to maintain your current height.
If you tilt the left stick downward while pressing the jump button, you'll glide right above the ground. |
Pokémon Change | Pokémon Trainer | Change the Pokémon you're currently using with down special. The Pokémon will change in the following order: |
Monado Arts | Shulk | Use neutral special to change your abilities with Monado Arts.
Hold down the button, and five symbols will appear. Use the left stick to select a symbol, and then let go of the button to choose. Quickly hitting the special-move button multiple times will select symbols as well. |
Pikmin Information | Olimar | Each Pikmin has different qualities, depending on their color.
Use Pikmin for Special Moves
If you're running low on Pikmin, replenish them by using your neutral special. Pikmin will appear in a set order. You can change the Pikmin you use with down special. |
Wario Waft | Wario | Use down special to attack with farts.
A charged-up fart will deal more damage. Holding it for 110 seconds will maximize its fart power! Put your backside into it! |
Lloid Rocket | Villager | Ride the Lloid Rocket by continuing to hold the button after initiating Villager's side special.
It can be used to return when off the stage, but when thr Lloid Rocket is destroyed, you are left vulnerable. |
Villager, Isabelle | Use neutral special to pocket nearby items or projectiles.
Once pocketed, neutral special can bring the object out again. If thrown, the object that was pocketed may be stronger than before! | |
Balloon Trip | Get balloons and float away with up special.
The balloons will pop if attacked, so be careful! | |
Robo Burner | R.O.B. | Start flying with up special and then use the special-move button to rise in the air.
You will use fuel while you are flying, but it will be replenished upon landing. The fuel level can be seen on the gauge on R.O.B.'s chassis. You can travel farther by repeatedly pressing the special-move button instead of holding it. |
KO Uppercut | Little Mac | The KO Meter will fill when dealing or receiving damage.
When the meter is full, use the special-move button to unleash a KO Uppercut! You (and your opponents) will hear a bell when it's ready to use! |
The Levin Sword and Tomes | Robin |
The durability of the Levin Sword and tomes decreases with each use. When it reaches zero, you will not be able to use these items until they recharge. You can see how much durability is left by looking at the bottom of the screen. |
Luma's Attacks | Rosalina & Luma | Send Luma flying with a neutral special.
You can control Luma with the attack controls even if Luma is far away. Choose to attack from afar or sandwich and attack opponents from both sides. Use the special-move button to have Luma return to Rosalina. |
Shooting | Duck Hunt | After you've thrown out a can or a clay pigeon with your special moves, you can shoot them by pressing the special-move button again. |
Spin | Sonic | You can increase the spin speed for the side special and down special.
Spinning at high speed will enable you to roll incredibly fast. While rolling, you can control your movement with the left stick or the jump button. |
Holding Attacks | Ryu, Ken | The strength of the attack depends on how long you hold the button.
Holding an attack will affect how the move behaves. For special moves, the speed and power will change. Neutral attack and side tilt attack will change if opponents are near. |
Special Command Input | Input specific commands with the left stick to power up your special moves!
When Ryu Is Looking Right
When facing left, the directional inputs will be reversed. | |
Attack Canceling | After hitting an opponent with a basic attack, you can immediately use a special move to cancel the end of the attack animation, allowing you to do damage more quickly and avoid being vulnerable.
You can do this with various attacks, except for up or side smash attacks. | |
Focus Attack | While your down special is charging, you can take an attack without flinching.
Charge it enough and strike and opponent, and they'll faint. You can unleash this move midcharge to counterattack against an opponent. If your opponent hits you while you're charging, quickly flick the left stick to the side twice to cancel this down special and get in some damage with other attacks! | |
Limit Break | Cloud | You can charge your Limit Gauge with your down special.
When the Limit Gauge is at max, you can use a powered-up special once. If you get attacked while charging, the gauge will go down. Also, the fully charged state will expire after a certain period of time. |
Dragon Lunge | Corrin | The side special will change depending on if you are in the air or on the ground.
If the spear stabs the ground, you will stay in place. After Stabbing the Ground
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Special Controls | Bayonetta | Bayonetta's side special changes depending on certain conditions.
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Reload Ink | Inkling | Smash attacks and special moves use up ink.
Shield + hold the special-move button to refill ink. If you run out of ink, some moves will be unusuable, and others less effective. Keep a careful eye on your ink! |
Whip Hold | Simon, Richter | You can dangle the whip by holding down the button for some attacks. After doing so, use the left stick to twirl the whip.
It's perfect for disrupting the opponent's attempt to return to the stage or for disabling projectiles. |
Belly Power | King K. Rool | King K. Rool's belly is extremely tough.
Being hit in the belly will not cause King K. Rool to flinch, allowing him to counterattack immediately. It also reduces the damage you take. However, taking too much belly damage will break your belly and leave you stunned. King K. Rool can be hit in the belly during these attacks:
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Blunderbuss | Fire a cannonball with your neutral special.
Once you shoot, keep holding the special-move button to suck in not only the cannonball but opponents, too! You can shoot things back out as well! Depending on the direction you tilt the left stick, you can change which direction you fire things out. This move can be especially brutal if you manage to hit an opponent with another opponent. | |
Revenge | Incineroar | Get ready with down special.
If you get hit with an attack during this time, your attack power will increase relative to the power of the attack that hit you, making your next attack stronger. Take that rage and deal it back out in a strong attack! |
Alolan Whip | When the opponent you threw bounces back toward you, deliver an attack by pressing the special-move button at a certain time.
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Ptooie | Piranha Plant | Blow a spiked ball upward. Press and hold the special-move button to make the spiked ball float up and down.
Tilt the left stick to the left or right to toss the spiked ball in that direction. The spiked ball will fly farther and faster when it's closer to Piranha Plant's mouth. |
Long-Stem Strike | Piranha Plant retreats into its flowerpot before lunging out to bite.
Press and hold the special-move button to charge the move. When charging, you can tilt the left stick to the left or right, which changes the direction Piranha Plant will lunge. Charge the move longer to increase the range of the attack. The attack's power increases with distance. | |
Gun / Gun Special | Joker | You can press and hold the special-move button to shoot continuously, but the time between each shot will be shortened if you press the button repeatedly.
You can shoot the gun in different ways by tilting the left stick in different directions or jumping.
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Rebellion Gauge | The Rebellion Gauge will fill quickly if you're hit by an opponent's attack while using the Rebel's Guard down special. The gauge will also fill if Joker or a teammate is hit or KO'd.
When the Rebellion Gauge is full, Joker will summon Arsene, who will power up Joker's attacks and special moves. After Arsene is summoned, the Rebellion Gauge will begin to drain. The gauge will also drain a bit when Joker takes damage. Once the gauge is empty, Arsene will depart. | |
Special Moves That Change When Charged | Hero |
These moves have three levels of power. Each level of charge requires more MP than the level before it. You can store the charge of your neutral special by shielding or dodging while charging. |
Command Selection | Use down special to open a command window, and then select a command.
Command Window Controls
You will be left vulnerable while selecting. | |
Wonderwing | Banjo & Kazooie | Tackle while invincible with side special.
You will need a Golden Feather to use it. If you don't have enough, you will fall and become vulnerable. Golden Feathers will not be replenished until you are KO'd. You will normally get five Golden Feathers. You can use only one during Sudden Death. |
Breegull Blaster | Press and hold the special-move button to enter Breegull Blaster mode. While in this mode, you can repeatedly shoot eggs.
As you shoot, the power will eventually drop (up to two times). After canceling Breegull Blaster, the power will gradually return to normal. You can cancel Breegull Blaster mode by shielding, crouching, or using another special move. | |
Differentiating Special Moves and Commands | Terry | The strength of the attack depends on how long you hold the button.
Also, use a specific input with the left stick to power up the move. Command Input (When Facing Right)
The input will be reversed when facing left. |
Attack Canceling | After hitting an opponent with a normal attack, you can immediately use a special move to cancel the end of the attack animation, allowing you to do damage more quickly and avoid being vulnerable.
The attacks below cannot be quickly followed by a special move:
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Super Special Move | You can use a powerful command-input move after having taking significant damage.
Command Input (When Facing Right)
The input will be reversed when facing left. If you input the command with everything reversed, Terry will reverse his attack. | |
Dodge Attack | You can use an up tilt attack that makes Terry's upper body briefly invincible by pressing the attack button when dodging in place.
Dodge a devastating blow from the enemy, then quickly counterattack! This is especially useful against foes that are attacking from above. | |
Failnaught | Byleth | Your neutral special will draw the bow. You can dodge or shield while drawing the bow, as well as change the direction you're aiming by pressing the left stick left or right.
Hold the button down to charge the attack. You cannot dodge, shield, or change directions while charging. Once the bow has been drawn and the attack has charged for a period of time, a powerful attack will fire straight out in the direction you are facing. |
Sword of the Creator | Use the up special to extend the sword upward at an angle. The attack's behavior will change depending on what it hits.
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Aymr | Swing the axe in a powerful downward blow with the down special.
After starting the move, you can use the left stick to turn in the opposite direction you're facing. If you're on the ground when you swing the axe, you won't flinch if an opponent strikes you. You can also move through some platforms by holding the left stick down while using this move. | |
ARM Attack | Min Min | The attack button punches with the left ARM and the special-move button punches with the right.
You can still move while attacking, and you can even throw a punch with the other ARM! Flick the stick to the side to use a smash attack. This increases the range and power, but you won't be able to move, leaving you vulnerable. When on the ground, tilt the stick up or down right before throwing a punch to aim it up or down. |
Three ARMS in One | Use the down special to switch between three ARMS.
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Transforming into a Dragon | When throwing opponents, the left ARM will power up, transforming into a dragon.
This transformation will end after some time passes, if Min Min is grabbed, or if Min Min is knocked down. When Min Min's Final Smash is charged, the left ARM will turn into a dragon. | |
ARMS Jump / ARM Hook | The up special changes depending on if it's used on the ground or in the air.
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Materials and Mining | Steve | Mine the floor right below you to get some materials. Depending on the ground, the materials you can get easily will vary.
In order of weak to strong: dirt, wood, stone, iron. Gold, redstone, and diamond can also be mined. |
Material Gauge | The materials you've collected are visible on the lower part of the screen.
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Craft | Stand in front of the crafting table and use your neutral special to create or repair tools.
Tools will be created from the strongest materials first. Dash, jump, shield, or press the attack button to cancel the move. | |
Create Block | Use neutral special in the air to place blocks at your feet. This move uses the weakest materials first.
Hold down the button and move to continuously place blocks. The blocks will break after a certain amount of time if left alone, or faster if they are stepped on. | |
Minecart | Use your side special to ride the minecart. Riding in the minecart uses iron.
If you're riding in the minecart, you'll damage any opponents you hit. If the minecart is empty and hits an opponent, it will carry them away. If you have gold and redstone, use the button to place powered rails. | |
Elytra | Move the left stick up or down to change the direction of the up special.
You can fly higher by taking advantage of the speed increase at the start of the move or using the speed you build up when falling. | |
Wall Stab | Sephiroth | When there is a wall in front of you, you can use a forward air attack to stab into it with the blade.
After stabbing, you can hang around for a bit. You can even jump from that position! Be aware that you can only stab the wall so many times without touching the ground. |
Shadow Flare | Use a small, quick blast of energy with the side special.
If the energy hits an opponent, it will surround and orbit them for a time before exploding. You can increase the number of shots (up to five) orbiting an opponent with a combination of charged shots and hitting the opponent multiple times. | |
Scintilla | The down special will deploy a barrier of light that, after a bit, becomes Scintilla.
Or, if the barrier is struck, it will quickly change into Scintilla. It'll be stronger the more damage it takes. This move is similar to a counter, but it will become Scintilla after a while whether or not it is struck by an attack. | |
Winged Form | If the match isn't going your way, your one wing will emerge and enhance your abilities, increasing attack power and movement speed, as well as giving you two airborne jumps and super armor at the start of smash attacks.
Winged Form not only accounts for accumulated damage but will also come into play based on your score or a difference in stock remaining too! | |
Pyra and Mythra | Pyra, Mythra | The down special swaps between Pyra and Mythra.
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Flare Smash / Foresight | Pyra and Mythra each have their own unique traits.
The side smash deals a lot of damage and has high launch power.
If an opponent lands an attack right before you dodge, you will take less damage and trigger a slow effect. | |
Flame Nova / Lightning Buster | You can hold down the button to charge up the characters' neutral special in the following ways:
Fully charge the attack to increase the number of blows. The charge of these attacks cannot be stored. | |
Blazing End | Pyra | The side special will throw the sword forward and then rotate the sword at the new location.
Flick the stick to increase the distance the sword travels. You cannot attack until the sword returns. You can still dash, jump, or shield. |
Ray of Punishment / Chroma Dust | Mythra | The up special will change depending on what you do before reaching the jump's peak.
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Rage | Kazuya | Become engulfed in a red aura when you are in a pinch. The power of your attacks will increase, and you can use Rage Drive.
Rage will end once Rage Drive hits. Rage will also end if you miss with Rage Drive or take damage too many times. |
Rage Drive | You can use a powerful Rage Drive while in a Rage on the ground.
How to use Rage Drive
If you use → ↓ ↘ + hold down the button, the power will increase. The inputs will be reversed when facing left. If Rage Drive hits, the Rage will come to an end. | |
10 Hit Combo and Flash Punch Combo | The neutral attack will change into two moves depending on how you press the attack button.
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Moves That Can Be Used with Special Inputs | If you combine L and button inputs, you can use different moves.
Moves that can be performed with command-inputs (when Kazuya is facing right)
The inputs are reversed when facing left. | |
Moves That Trigger from Crouch Dash | During directional inputs → ↓ ↘, you can perform a special dash while invincible.
Input additional buttons to use different moves, too.
The inputs will be reversed when facing left. | |
Combo Attacks | Sora | Some moves can strike up to three times if the button is repeatedly pressed or is held down.
Moves that can strike repeatedly
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Firaga/Thundaga/Blizzaga | The neutral special will change each time it is used, in the following order:
Firaga → Thundaga → Blizzaga
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Sonic Blade | Charge forward while wielding the Keyblade using the side special. Charge up two additional times by tilting the control stick or holding the button while charging.
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