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Side special move

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Kirby's side special move, Hammer.
Samus' Super Missile is an example of a "smash" special move.

The side special move (also commonly called forward B, side B, smash B, or over B) is a special attack performed by pressing the special move button with the control stick held left or right.

Not counting Final Smashes, the side special is the only special attack to originate in a game other than the original Super Smash Bros. - namely, in Super Smash Bros. Melee. In the original, pressing the special button with the stick held sideways would result in a neutral special move. With the introduction of side specials in Melee, some characters' neutral specials were changed to be side specials, with a new neutral special taking their place.

Many side specials involve either significant sideways character movement or a projectile that has more horizontal range than the user's other projectiles. As a result, many can be utilized as approaches.

Smash special move

Some side special moves are different depending on whether or not the control stick (or pad) is "smashed" or simply tilted to the side. The characters where "smashing" the control stick influences the side special are;

  • Link's Boomerang, which flies a further distance and at a faster speed, also dealing more damage. Young Link and Toon Link's Boomerangs also have this property. Gale Boomerang is also affected by this, but its damage is not increased.
  • Samus' missiles, where the Smash missiles are more powerful, faster, non-homing missiles; known as Super Missiles.
  • Ivysaur's Razor Leaf also travels faster and is more powerful, but its trajectory cannot be arced as effectively.
  • Wario's Wario Bike, which moves faster when smashed, and deals more damage.
  • Duck Hunt's Clay Shooting, which moves faster, does more damage on contact, and in the case of Clay Break, will never break until the 3rd hit, and in the case of Rising Clay, scales in damage faster and arcs up lower and later.
  • Mii Swordfighter's Chakram, which flies much farther, dealing more damage.

List of moves

Character Move
Bowser Koopa Klaw (Melee)

Flying Slam (Brawl, SSB4)

Bowser Jr. Clown Kart Dash
Captain Falcon Raptor Boost
Charizard Rock Smash (Brawl)

Flare Blitz (SSB4)

Dark Pit Electroshock Arm
Diddy Kong Monkey Flip
Donkey Kong Headbutt
Dr. Mario Super Sheet
Duck Hunt Clay Shooting
Falco Falco Phantasm
Fox Fox Illusion
Ganondorf Gerudo Dragon (Melee)

Flame Choke (Brawl, SSB4)

Greninja Shadow Sneak
Ice Climbers Squall Hammer
Ike Quick Draw
Ivysaur Razor Leaf
Jigglypuff Pound
King Dedede Waddle Dee Toss (Brawl)

Gordo Toss (SSB4)

Kirby Hammer (Melee, Brawl)

Hammer Flip (SSB4)

Link Boomerang (Melee)

Gale Boomerang (Brawl, SSB4)

Little Mac Jolt Haymaker
Lucario Force Palm
Lucas PK Fire
Lucina Dancing Blade
Luigi Green Missile
Mario Cape
Marth Dancing Blade
Mega Man Crash Bomber
Meta Knight Drill Rush
Mewtwo Confusion
Mii Fighters Mii Brawler: Onslaught

Mii Gunner: Flame Pillar
Mii Swordfighter: Airborne Assault

Mr. Game & Watch Judgement (Melee)

Judge (Brawl)

Ness PK Fire
Olimar Pikmin Throw
Pac-Man Power Pellet
Palutena Reflect Barrier
Peach Peach Bomber
Pichu Skull Bash
Pikachu
Pit Angel Ring (Brawl)

Upperdash Arm (SSB4)

R.O.B. Arm Rotor
Robin Arcfire
Rosalina Star Bits
Roy Double-Edge Dance
Samus Missile
Sheik Chain (Melee, Brawl)

Burst Grenade (SSB4)

Shulk Back Slash
Snake Remote Missile
Sonic Spin Dash
Squirtle Withdraw
Toon Link Boomerang
Villager Lloid Rocket
Wario Wario Bike
Wii Fit Trainer Header
Wolf Wolf Flash
Yoshi Egg Roll
Young Link Boomerang
Zelda Din's Fire
Zero Suit Samus Plasma Whip

Reverse side special move

In Brawl, most side special moves can be reversed in the first few frames (except Bowser and Samus), although the usefulness is questionable, since any character can quickly turn around on the spot and immediately perform their side special move. The only true use for a reverse side special is while running; when running, the player cannot use their side special backwards without having to stop or turn around first. The reverse side special can be done while running and gives certain characters boosts when turning around, the most notable boosts being Donkey Kong's and Luigi's reverse side specials, where the former gets a quick boost backwards and has an unsurprising hit, and the latter will keep sliding forwards while being able to charge his move.