A natural combo is a move divided into multiple phases. After the first phase is activated, pressing the relevant button at the correct time will launch the next segment of the move, while not pressing the button will end the sequence. This is different from a standard combo as those require multiple attacks to pull off, and is more akin to the rekka seen in traditional fighting games.
The term is sometimes used interchangeably with neutral attack, its most common type; most characters will perform multiple attacks (such as Mario's jab, cross, kick), with some following into a rapid attack. Some characters, such as Snake, Bayonetta and Link, have natural combos using their tilts, aerials, or smashes, and some special moves, like Dancing Blade and Cross Slash, are natural combos as well.
Similarly to multi-hit attacks, most natural combos are useful in quickly damaging the opponent or otherwise applying pressure for relatively little effort (this is especially true for infinite attacks as of Brawl, since the player can simply hold the button down to perform the infinite most of the time). Natural combos tend to do significant damage and shield damage given their quick startup, and often prevent the opponent from using their shield at all if earlier hits connect. The user can also stop the combo early if the first hits are blocked or miss altogether, making them somewhat safer to use than comparable multi-hit attacks.
However, natural combos tend to deal less knockback than single-hit attacks, with early hits merely flinching opponents for the sake of leading into the finisher hit. Opponents can also sometimes escape using techniques like SDI, leaving the user open if they commit to later phases of the combo.
List of natural combos
Neutral attacks
| Character | Phases | Game(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Banjo & Kazooie | 3 / 2+infinite | 
|
| Bayonetta | 5 | 
|
| Bowser | 2 |  
|
| Bowser Jr. | 2+infinite |
|
| Byleth | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Captain Falcon | 3+infinite | 
|
| 3 / 2+infinite |
| |
| Charizard | 3 |
|
| Cloud | 3 |
|
| Corrin | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Daisy | 2 |
|
| Dark Pit | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Dark Samus | 2 |
|
| Diddy Kong | 3+infinite |
|
| 3 |
| |
| Donkey Kong | 2 |
|
| Dr. Mario | 3 |
|
| Duck Hunt | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Falco | 2+infinite |
|
| Fox | 2+infinite |
|
| Greninja | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Hero | 3 |
|
| Ice Climbers | 2 |
|
| Ike | 3 |
|
| Incineroar | 3 |
|
| Inkling | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Ivysaur | 2+infinite |
|
| Jigglypuff | 2 |
|
| Joker | 3 |
|
| Ken | 3 |
|
| King Dedede | 2+infinite |
|
| King K. Rool | 3 |
|
| Kirby | 2+infinite |
|
| Link | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| 3 |
| |
| Little Mac | 3 / 2+infinite[1] |
|
| Lucario | 3 |
|
| Lucas | 3 |
|
| Lucina | 2 |
|
| Luigi | 3 |
|
| Mario | 3 |
|
| Marth | 2 |
|
| Mega Man | 3[2] |
|
| Mewtwo | 1+infinite |
|
| Mii Brawler | 2+infinite |
|
| Mii Gunner | 3 |
|
| Mii Swordfighter | 3 |
|
| Min Min | 3 / 2+infinite[3] |
|
| Mythra | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Mr. Game & Watch | 1+infinite |
|
| Ness | 3 |
|
| Olimar | 2 |
|
| Pac-Man | 3 |
|
| Palutena | 1+infinite |
|
| Peach | 2 |
|
| Piranha Plant | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Pit | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Pyra | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| R.O.B. | 2 |
|
| Richter | 2+infinite |
|
| Ridley | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Robin | 3 / 2+infinite[4] |
|
| Rosalina & Luma | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Ryu | 3 |
|
| Samus | 2 |
|
| Sephiroth | 3 |
|
| Sheik | 2+infinite |
|
| Shulk | 3 |
|
| Simon | 2+infinite |
|
| Snake | 3 |
|
| Sonic | 3 |
|
| Squirtle | 3 |
|
| Terry | 3 |
|
| Toon Link | 3 |
|
| Villager | 2[5] |
|
| 2+infinite |
| |
| Wario | 2 |
|
| Wii Fit Trainer | 3 |
|
| Wolf | 3 |
|
| Yoshi | 2 |
|
| Young Link | 3 / 2+infinite |
|
| Zelda | 1+infinite |
|
| Zero Suit Samus | 3 |
|
Other moves
| Character | Move(s) | Phases | Game(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayonetta | forward tilt | 3 |
|
| forward aerial | 3 | ||
| Chrom | Double-Edge Dance[6] | 4 |
|
| Cloud | Cross Slash[7] | 3 |
|
| Climhazzard | 2 | ||
| Hero | forward tilt | 2 |
|
| Link | forward smash | 2 |
|
| Lucina | Dancing Blade[6] | 4 |
|
| Marth | Dancing Blade[6] | 4 |
|
| Mega Man | forward tilt | 2[2] |
|
| neutral aerial | |||
| Meta Knight | forward tilt | 3 |
|
| Mii Brawler | Soaring Axe Kick | 2 |
|
| Piranha Plant | forward tilt | 2 |
|
| Richter | down tilt | 2 |
|
| Roy | Double-Edge Dance[6] | 4 |
|
| Shulk | Air Slash | 2 |
|
| Simon | down tilt | 2 |
|
| Snake | forward tilt | 2 |
|
| Toon Link | forward smash | 2 |
|
| Young Link | forward smash | 2 |
|
Unconventional natural combos
Though the following moves are also divided into phases, they differ significantly from typical natural combos in other ways; early phases may not combo into later ones, and some phases may not even damage opponents at all.
| Character | Move(s) | Phases | Game(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banjo & Kazooie | Breegull Blaster | infinite |
|
| Duck Hunt | Clay Shooting | 3 |
|
| Falco | Blaster | infinite |
|
| Fox | Blaster | infinite |
|
| Joker | Gun | infinite |
|
| Mr. Game & Watch | Chef | infinite |
|
| Pichu | Agility | 2 |
|
| Pikachu | Quick Attack | 2 |
|
| Mii Brawler | Feint Jump | 2 |
|
| Min Min | Punch | 2[8] |
|
| Zero Suit Samus | Flip Jump | 2 [9] |
|
Notes
- ^ In Smash 4, holding or mashing the button leads to the rapid jab, while slowly tapping the button leads to the standard combo.
- ^ a b Mega Man's neutral attack, forward tilt, and neutral aerial are all considered part of the same natural combo.
- ^ Can also be performed with the special-move button. Holding the button will perform Punch instead.
- ^ If the Elwind or Arcfire tomes are depleted, Robin will be unable to use the rapid jab or normal jab finisher, respectively.
- ^ Villager's jab has two distinct parts but can be performed indefinitely.
- ^ a b c d All hits after the first can be tilted up or down for different effects.
- ^ Cannot continue the combo if the move does not connect.
- ^ Can use both arms by tapping the attack button then the special-move button or vice versa, or both at once if A+B Smash is enabled.
- ^ In Smash 4 and Ultimate, Flip Jump will automatically activate the hit if the move ends on top of an opponent.