Recovery
A recovery is the attempt to return on-stage after being knocked off. Some tools to achieve this end are the second jump and the third jump (usually an up Special Move). Some recovery moves only go nearly straight up, while others are for long horizontal differences.
For many characters, recovery can be augmented or replaced by moves other than the standard second jump plus up special. This page documents the maximum recovery potential of each character. In the case that a character has multiple recovery options for horizontal or vertical movement, both are listed.
List of Recoveries
Bowser
The standard jump plus up B is Bowser's most efficient recovery. In Brawl, if he can grab another character with the Flying Slam, he can use the vertical movement of that move to augment his recovery, but only before he has used his up special.
Captain Falcon
In SSBM, the Falcon Kick would allow Falcon to regain his 2nd jump in midair, and move him forward somewhat. Raptor Boost is also a good horizontal recovery move, even more so in Brawl where it bounces up upon striking, although missing puts him in a helpless state.
Charizard
Charizard has an extra mid-air jump and the ability to glide. The up-special provides the most vertical distance of his moves.
Diddy Kong
Diddy Kong can use his side special Monkey Flip to move forward a fairly large distance. Provided that the attack or special buttons are not pressed - which would cause Diddy to stick his foot out - his up special and mid air jump can be used after a Monkey Flip.
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong does not have any special recovery techniques, but his Headbutt slows both horizontal and vertical momentum. His Spinning Kong can be used for horizontal recovery and some poor vertical recovery.
Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario can use the Super Sheet (side special) to propel himself forward a bit and slow his fall speed. Also, if the player rapidly presses B during the Dr. Tornado, he rises up in the air. His up special can be used following either or both of these moves.
Falco
Falco's recovery is dependent on the direction that is needed. For vertical movement, the Fire Bird is the primary move, while the Falco Phantasm is the best choice for horizontal movement.
Fox
Fox has the same options on recovery as Falco. In addition, his reflector greatly slows his fall speed, but at the cost of his horizontal momentum as well. Also, his Forward aerial can slow down his momentum, propel him slightly to the side he's facing and slightly upwards.
Ganondorf
In Melee, the Wizard's Foot would give Ganondorf his second jump back, allowing for large horizontal recoveries. In Brawl, he is forced to use either the Flame Choke for horizontal movement or the Dark Dive for vertical recovery.
Ice Climbers
Belay is an incredible recovery move when both Ice Climbers are present. When one is missing, Squall Hammer becomes the recovery move of choice. Like the tornado moves, rapidly pressing B allows the Climber to gain some height.
Ike
Ike is limited to either vertical recovery (Aether) or horizontal (Quick Draw). Both give good distances in their respective directions, but cannot be combined, limiting Ike's total recovery.
Ivysaur
Ivysaur's U-Air and D-Air either propel him downward or upward respectively. Due to the small size of the upward boost, it is actually more helpful in getting more horizontal distance to set up his Vine Whip Tether Recovery.
Jigglypuff
Jigglypuff is capable of using her Rising Pound technique for unlimited horizontal distance. While she lacks an up special that gives her vertical distance, her five mid air jumps provide the same hight that most characters can get from up specials. Also, if you are near either of the side Blast lines, sometimes Rollout can be useful.
King Dedede
King Dedede has four mid-air jumps, along with an incredibly high up special. While his mid-air jumps are the smallest of any character and he has the worst lateral air movement, he is still capable of huge recoveries due to the Super Dedede Jump.
Kirby
Kirby's recovery consists of five midair jumps and the Final Cutter for good vertical movement. In addition, by using a forward aerial after each jump and tilting the control stick slightly up, Kirby can perform a technique similar to Rising Pound, albeit not infinitely. In addition, Kirby can use his Hammer can be to move diagonally down to recover from the upper-corners while preventing interference. This is similar to Samus' Bomb Recovery.
Link
Link has a variety of techniques to augment Spin Attack. Link's bomb, if it explodes while he is holding it, can aid his recovery by giving him back his Spin Attack (see Bomb recovery). Also, in SSBM, the Hookshot grabs onto walls, and in SSBB, the Clawshot (its replacement) is a Tether Recovery.
Lucario
Interestingly, Lucario's dair stops all momentum, making it easier to recover. Its recovery, ExtremeSpeed, is also "bendable". Lucario also possesses a unique trait, the ability to wall jump after using his third jump. This only takes effect if Lucario reaches the wall before Extremespeed ends and is very useful on stages with space to wall jump under the ledge, such as Final Destination. Additionally due to him having the highest wall jump and his floatiness he can jump and wall cling/jump straight up a wall without having to have another one.
Lucas
Lucas has multiple recovery options: the standard PK Thunder, his Rope Snake (which functions as a tether recovery), Zapjump, Magnet Pull, and Wave Zap. He can also use his PSI Magnet to hover in the air.
Luigi
Luigi's Green Missile, combined with the mobility of the Luigi Cyclone, give a hard-to-match horizontal recovery. In addition, both moves can be used in combination with Super Jump Punch, since neither of the two makes Luigi helpless.
Mario
Mario can use the Cape to propel himself forward a bit. Also, if the player rapidly presses B during the Mario Tornado, in SSB and SSBM, he rises up in the air. This does not work in Brawl, as it is a dair.
Marth
Marth's side special (Dancing Blade) slows his fall speed and propels him forward if only the first attack of the combo is used. This does not put him in a helpless state. In Brawl, a charged Shield Breaker will also propel Marth very forward and leave him open to perform more attacks. His Dolphin Slash can be used for quick vertical recovery, but self stage spikes if hits lips under ledges.
Meta Knight
Meta Knight is gifted with multiple mid air jumps and the ability to glide. In addition, all of his special moves can be used as recovery moves, although all of them put him in helpless animation. The Shuttle Loop is notable in that it allows him to perform a second glide after using it (helpless animation begins after the glide is terminated). Because of this, Meta Knight's recovery is often considered one of the best.
Mewtwo
Mewtwo's large second jump, slow fall speed, and high air speed allow for long recoveries even before his up special, Teleport. The massive recoil of Shadow Ball can also help in recovery.
Mr. Game & Watch
Mr. Game & Watch has no particular recovery techniques besides the standard second jump plus up special. However he is one of the few charecters who doesn't go into helpless position after using his recovery. This combined with his down+B (key) can make for good combos.
Ness
Ness has no particular recovery techniques besides the standard second jump plus up special, although his PSI Magnet slows his fall speed somewhat.
Peach
Peach has the ability to float, allowing her to maintain the same vertical position while moving horizontally. In addition, her side special (Peach Bomber) can be used to climb up walls. Both of these techniques can be followed with an up special.
Pichu
Pichu can use his Skull Bash (side special) to travel great horizontal distances, and then follow it with an up special.
Pikachu
In Melee and Brawl, Pikachu can perform the same recovery techniques as Pichu. In the original, he is limited to his up special.
Olimar
Olimar lacks any move besides his second jump that gives him vertical movement in the air. He is limited to using his up special as a tether recover.
Pit
Pit has multiple mid air jumps, the ability to glide, and his Wings of Icarus which give him the largest vertical recovery in the game.
R.O.B.
R.O.B. can use his up special multiple times in the air, although the total time is the same. However, using the Robo Burner in segments, even quick ones, adds recovery distance. In addition, his back aerial propels him forward each time it is used, and his down aerial causes him to stay stationary for about one second.
Roy
Roy can perform the same recovery techniques as Marth in Melee. However, his faster falling speed, slower air speed, less forward motion on side special, and greater lag after side special combine to make his recovery much less than Marth's.
Samus
Samus's Morph Ball Bombs can be used to perform a Bomb recovery. In addition, she can use her grab as a tether recovery. Lastly, she can utilize her Screw Attack to gain vertical height.
Sheik
In Melee, for long distance recoveries with Shiek, players would switch to Zelda, as her recovery is strictly better. However, due to the longer change times in Brawl, this has become inadvisable. Instead, Sheik can now use her chain as a tether recovery.
Snake
Snake can use his C4 on himself in mid-air to get his up special back just as link can. His up-special is his Cypher, a flying stealth cam.
Sonic
Sonic's greatest vertical recovery is provided by his Spring Jump. His other special moves can provide more horizontal distance, but they cannot be used after his up special. It is recommended that you use his Spin Dash move for horizontal recovery and jump out of it for a bit of vertical recovery, use his Homing Attack for close-range recovery, and Spring Jump for desperate vertical recovery.
Squirtle
Squirtle can use Withdraw to aid its horizontal recovery, although it continues to fall during this move. Also, its Waterfall can be used for vertical/diagonal recovery, although it leaves Squirtle in a helpless state.
Toon Link
Like Link, Toon Link can use a Bomb Recovery or a Tether Recovery followed by a Spin Attack.
Wario
Wario can use his bike to gain a third mid-air jump. Also, if he uses a fully charged Wario Waft, it rockets him up farther than his actual recovery. Since his Corkscrew leaves him helpless, use it as a last resort.
Wolf
Wolf is more limited in recovery options than Fox and Falco. His side special (Wolf Flash) covers much less ground than either of theirs. His up special provides him fast directional recovery, but he falls almost straight down after using it.
Yoshi
Yoshi's recovery is hampered by the fact that he really only has his one mid air jump to use. However, his second jump is the highest in the game. Yoshi's Egg Roll had a place of recovery in Melee, but very little. Yoshi's Egg Throw in Brawl gives him a slight hop in mid air.
Young Link
Like Link, Young Link can use a Bomb Recovery or a Tether Recovery or a Spin Attack. The Bomb Recovery will help after the Spin Attack.
Zelda
Zelda's recovery comes mainly in the form of her long ranged up special, Farore's Wind. Additionally, she can use Din's Fire to glide horizontally short distances (Din's Hover), much likes Peach's float. However, these moves cannot be combined as they each put Zelda into helpless animation.
Zero Suit Samus
Zero Suit Samus has two tether recoveries (Plasma Whip for horizontal recovery, and Plasma Wire for vertical recovery) and can use Flip Jump. Her Flip Jump can help in offensive recovery in the sense that she can Meteor Smash an opponent by attacking during it, and is useful if you are in a situation where tether recovery will not work, whether the ledge cannot be sweet spotted or it is being edge-guarded by another character. None of her moves permit her helplessness, so her moves can be used multiple times. Also, note that her Plasma Wire raises her height a bit if she hasn't yet used her second jump, similarly to most characters' up aerials.
