Edge slipping

Defenestration is the technique of knocking a shielding character off the platform above you and down to your level. It is usually used to set up a kill.

How it Works

Defenestration is not a specific technique; that is, it can be performed in many ways, not just one. To defenestrate a character on a platform above you, hit them with a strong attack (usually an Up Smash, but it is possible to do this with an Up tilt, or even jumping and using an aerial). Usually, they will shield, preventing them from taking damage - however, even shielded characters will take some knockback, sliding across the ground. If the attack is strong enough, the enemy will slide right off the platform and enter their tumble animation, as if they had been Footstooled, and land on the ground next to you. You can now hit the wide-open opponent at your leisure.

Uses

A particularly good user of this move is Bowser. His kill moves are generally slow. However, he can defenestrate very easily because of his powerful, wide Up-Smash. A Bowser player on Battlefield, for instance, could force an opponent onto one of the low platforms, Up-Smash, and then use one of his powerful finishers on his tumbling opponent. Other characters with powerful Up-Smashes (Donkey Kong) or multi-hit Up Smashes (Sonic, Metaknight) can also put this technique to good use.

Disadvantages

The main problem with defenestration is that the opponent can break out of the tumble animation with an attack if they have quick enough reflexes. The technique completely relies on your opponent being too slow to realize what has happened until too late.