Pivoting

Pivoting, or DA Dashing, is the use of the frame at which a character turns during a dash-dance, in which any normal ground options are available as if the character were standing still — smashes, grabs and tilts can occur here without the lag that usually comes from using these attacks after a dash. Special moves can also be pivoted. In Super Smash Bros., pivoting a special simply involved using the move while holding the control stick in the opposite direction the character is facing. In Melee with the introduction of side special moves, pivoting was much more difficult to pull off. In Brawl, all special moves can be pivoted by pressing the B button and immediately pushing the control stick in the direction opposite whichever one the character is facing. Captain Falcon's and Ganondorf's neutral special moves, the Falcon Punch and Warlock Punch respectively, have special animations for their pivots and even do different amounts of damage, with regular pivots being stronger than the normal attack and aerial pivots being even stronger. Pivoting special attacks can help with movement, especially in the air, as some characters carry momentum when they pivot (such as R.O.B. with his Gyromite and Diddy Kong with his Peanut Popgun, which upon pivoting is automatically canceled).

The tactic was discovered by Philly Billy.

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