Forward aerial

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Captain Falcon's forward aerial attack: the Knee Smash.

The forward aerial (abbreviated as "fair", "FAir", or "AFA", referred in the Brawl manual as "Front air") is an aerial attack that is performed in midair by pressing the attack button and tilting the control stick/d-pad in the direction the character is facing. Its official term varies between titles, where it is known as a "Front midair attack" in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and a "Front air attack" in Brawl.

List of forward aerials in Super Smash Bros.

• Pikachu: A very useful combo move if it was difficult to DI out of drills. Combos into up smash and all other aerial attacks.
• Yoshi: A useful edgeguarding move and both a combo starter and a combo ender. Combos into his down special move on the ground. It can meteor smash an opponent. 18% damage.
• Samus: A useful combo move. It has high damage and is good at breaking down shields. Combos into down aerial.
• Donkey Kong: A good spike move for edgeguarding. Combos into giant punch and into another forward aerial at middle to high percentages. Most known for its ability to be used vs. shields into a dash grab or down special. 16% damage.
• Link: Link's strongest aerial in terms of knockback. His main combo ender outside of up special move and forward smash.
• Luigi: Luigi kicks forward while spinning. Good edgeguarding tool. Good range compared to Luigi's other aerials. Combos into the Hyrule tent into an up special.
• Mario: It is similar to Luigi's move. It is good versus certain characters like Jigglypuff. It has good range.
• Kirby: A very useful combo move. Down aerial→up tilt→short hop→forward aerial→forward smash is one of Kirby's staple combos. 20% if all hits connect.
• Jigglypuff: Good range but low priority. Can "wall of pain" similar to Melee but to less of an extent. Combos into a rest.
• Fox: Another good aerial move of Fox's Combos into up smash and virtually all of his aerials. Good approaching and baiting tactics.
• Captain Falcon: Will become Falcon's neutral aerial in future Smash Bros. iterations. First hit combos into up smash. 2nd hit has enough shield stun to forward throw out of it.
• Ness: Throws his hands out forcefully, knocking the opponent backwards. Similar to his dash attack.

List of forward aerials in Super Smash Bros. Melee

• Mario: Punches downwards. Meteor smashes. 15% damage.
• Luigi: A quick karate chop. High horizontal knockback and is one of his primary KO'ing aerial attacks. 12% damage.
• Dr. Mario: Similar to Mario. Good for KOing.
• Peach: Slaps forward with her crown.
• Bowser: Claws forwards. Bowser's best aerial.
• Donkey Kong: Clutches his hands together and punches down. Meteor smashes at the end of the move. 16% damage.
• Yoshi: Swings head downwards while flipping. Meteor smashes powerfully.
• Link: Horizontally spins twice while slashing with his sword.
• Young Link: Similar to Link.
• Zelda: The "Lightning Kick". Zelda kicks forward. Powerful if sweetspotted.
• Sheik: Does a quick karate chop. Semi-spikes.
• Ganondorf: Punches downwards. Great KO move.
• Samus: Shoots fire in an arc in front of herself.
• Ice Climbers: Swings their hammer down. Meteor smashes if timed well.
• Kirby: Kicks forward three times. 16% if all hits connect.
• Fox: Kicks forward five times. 17% if all hits connect
• Falco: Similar to Fox.
• Captain Falcon: The Knee Smash. Very powerful when sweetspotted. 18% when sweetspotted.
• Pikachu: Twirls forward while emitting sparks.
• Pichu: Similar to Pikachu.
• Mewtwo: Slashes forwards with its claw infused with darkness.
• Jigglypuff: Kicks forward with its two legs.
• Marth: Slashes forwards.
• Roy: Similar to Marth.
• Ness: Shoots multiple PSI shots out of his hands.
• Mr. Game & Watch: Swings a box forwards.

List of forward aerials in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

• Mario: Arcs his arm downward as his fist enlarges. Can be a meteor smash if the opponent is near to Mario. 13% damage.
• Luigi: Karate chops forward. Quick and weak though it can still KO at 150% (unless edgeguarding). 10% damage.
• Peach: Slaps her crown forward. Often considered her best KO move.
• Bowser: Slashes forwards. It looks like his Flying Slam (or Koopa Klaw).
• Donkey Kong: Swings both hands down, clasped together. A very powerful but slow move that can meteor smash. 16% damage.
• Diddy Kong: Kicks out both legs and spins around. Similar to Mario's back aerial.
• Yoshi: Swings his head downward. Can meteor smash.
• Wario: Kicks forward. Has below average knockback, but great priority and lasts a very long time, good for wall of pain. 7% damage.
• Link: Swings sword forward and spins around, then swings it again. Its second hit is more powerful.
• Zelda: Lightning Kick. Kicks forward with a powerful sweet spot on her foot. 20% if sweetspotted.
• Sheik: Karate chops forward. Similar in power and knockback to Luigi's karate chop but with less range.
• Ganondorf: Punches his fist downward, similar to Mario's forward aerial. Stronger and higher in knockback but does not spike and has a large landing lag. Also ties with Bowser's down aerial as the aerial attack with the longest duration. 17% if sweetspotted, 15% if sourspotted.
• Toon Link: Swings sword upward. Similar in animation to his back aerial, but a bit slower, though it is a much better finisher with high priority and knockback.
• Samus: Creates a few small blasts with her arm cannon, slowly moving them downward. Has no landing lag.
• Zero Suit Samus: Two very fast kicks. The first kick is weaker but often cannot combo into the second hit.
• Pit: Stabs both swords forward. Has a bit of start-up lag.
• Ice Climbers: Swing hammers downward. Nana's hammer can spike.
• R.O.B.: Pushes its hands forward in midair. Good for wall of pain.
• Kirby: Three fast foot slices forward. When combined with a jump this gives slight horizontal recovery. 12% if all hits connect.
• Meta Knight: Three very fast sword slashes. The first two hits can be ground-canceled, and from this, Meta Knight can lead in to almost any move.
• King Dedede: Swings his hammer upwards. 15% damage.
• Olimar: Swings a Pikmin.
• Fox: Five fast kicks; gives a slight hovering effect. 23% if all hits connect.
• Falco: Barrel rolls with his body horizontal, hitting five times with his head/beak. Has high landing lag.
• Wolf: Slashes forward. Has upward knockback and is one of his KO moves.
• Captain Falcon: Knee Smash. Very powerful when sweet spotted, which is difficult. 19% if sweetpotted.
• Pikachu: Spins forward surrounded by electricity. Multiple hits available. Similar to Sonic and Falco's forward aerials. 11% damage if all hits connect.
• Squirtle: Sticks feet forward. Similar to Mario's back aerial.
• Ivysaur: Whips forward with vines. Vertical knockback.
• Charizard: Covers himself with his wings and breaths fire outwards with good horizontal knockback and range, making it good for the wall of pain. Oddly, if the opponent is far enough away from Charizard, they will not take any knockback or hitstun from this attack - just damage.
• Lucario: Kicks forward; aura appears at the end of the foot. Inflicts little damage but can combo. It can be used twice in one short hop.
• Jigglypuff: Kicks forward with both feet. Used for the wall of pain. 12% damage.
• Marth: Swings sword downward. Can fit two in one short hop.
• Ike: Swings sword downward. Has great range, but is a slow move like most of his moves.
• Ness: Creates small bubbles of PSI energy for multiple hits. Good for combos. 11% damage if all hits connect.
• Lucas: Kicks forward with PSI energy at the end of his foot.
• Mr. Game & Watch: Swings a box forward. Powerful if hits when it comes out, but has high landing lag. If hit after it comes out, it deals a weak hit.
• Snake: Brings his leg upward, then ax-kicks. Slight upward boost, the foot spikes very powerully, the leg sends the opponent upwards with slight horizontal knockback as well. Strongest forward aerial meteor smash in Brawl.
• Sonic: Spins around headfirst very quickly. Similar to Captain Falcon's up smash. 14% if all hits connect.