Cloud doing an edge attack in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

An edge attack (ガケのぼり攻撃 or 崖登り攻撃, Cliff climbing attack) is an attack performed by pressing the attack button while hanging on an edge. This allows the character to get up onto the stage while performing an attack. Edge attacks are often called "getup attacks," though this is also used to refer to floor attacks.

In the first three games, once a character has received 100% or more damage, they begin to perform a different edge attack than normal. The attacks are usually slower, but do more damage to opponents, although the increase is usually only 3-5%. For example, Yoshi's edge attack involves a quick 6% tail whip, while when at high damage, it becomes a slow 12% headbutt. However, in Smash 4, this effect is removed and the edge attack is the same regardless of damage percent for all characters.

Edge attacks are generally avoided in competitive play due to their slow speed and limited usefulness. They possess intangibility frames that make them appear to be safe options, but prior to Ultimate these frames do not cover the attack's active frames, making them vulnerable to trading with opposing attacks. As of Ultimate edge attacks are universally intangible until their hitboxes are no longer active, but players will still often use other techniques or attacks to return to the stage instead. However, players will often mix in edge attacks to catch the opponent off guard, especially if their character's edge attack has great reach (such as Donkey Kong's and Wolf's).

List of fast edge attacks/edge attacks

Character Description
Banjo & Kazooie Banjo climbs up and swipes one claw forward.
Bayonetta Climbs up and does a low legsweep forward.
Bowser    Climbs up and spins forward while retreating inside his shell.
   Climbs up and swipes one claw forward.
Bowser Jr. Flips over and attacks with two wrecking balls from the Junior Clown Car.
Byleth Swings the Sword of the Creator.
Captain Falcon Climbs up and kicks forward.
Charizard Climbs up and rams its head forward.
Chrom Flips onto the stage and swings his sword forward.
Cloud Climbs up and swings the Buster Sword forward.
Corrin Climbs up and swings the Omega Yato forward.
Daisy Climbs up and swipes one hand forward.
Dark Pit Climbs up and does a legsweep forward.
Dark Samus Climbs up and does a jump kick forward.
Diddy Kong Climbs up and swings his tail forward.
Donkey Kong     Climbs up, turns around and throws his rear forward.
   Climbs up and hammers one arm downward.
Dr. Mario   Climbs up and does a dropkick at an upward angle.
   Climbs up and does a dropkick forward.
Duck Hunt Climbs up and the duck pecks forward.
Falco Climbs up and does a dropkick forward.
Fox Climbs up and does a dropkick forward.
Ganondorf   Climbs up and kicks forward.
    Climbs up and does a backhand punch.
Greninja Climbs up and does a legsweep.
Hero Climbs up and does an inward sword slash forward.
Ice Climbers    Climbs up and slams their hammer on the ground.
  Climbs up does a forward hammer swing.
Ike   Climbs up and does a leaping upward sword swing.
   Climbs up and swings his sword forward.
Incineroar Climbs up and swipes one hand forward.
Inkling Climbs up and swings the Splattershot forward.
Isabelle Climbs up and thrust a pom-pom forward while sliding on the ground.
Ivysaur Climbs up and swings one vine forward.
Jigglypuff     Flips onto the stage, with one foot extended.
   Flips onto the stage and kicks forward.
Joker Climbs up and swings his knife forward.
Kazuya Climbs up and performs a shin kick.
Ken Climbs up and kicks forward.
King Dedede Climbs up and kicks forward.
King K. Rool Climbs up and swipes one hand forward.
Kirby     Flips onto the stage, with one foot extended.
   Flips onto the stage and extends one foot forward.
Link     Flips onto the stage and swings his sword downward.
   Climbs up and thrusts his sword forward.
Little Mac Climbs up and thrusts his fist forward.
Lucario Climbs up and thrusts both arms forward.
Lucas Flips onto the stage and does a legsweep forward.
Lucina Flips onto the stage and swings her sword forward.
Luigi     Climbs up and does a dropkick at an upward angle.
   Climbs up and does a leg sweep.
Mario     Climbs up and does a dropkick at an upward angle.
   Climbs up and does a dropkick forward.
Marth Flips onto the stage and swings his sword forward.
Mega Man Climbs up and kicks forward.
Meta Knight Climbs up and does a forward reverse slash.
Mewtwo   Flips onto the stage and swings its tail downward.
   Climbs up and does a low tailsweep.
Mii Brawler Climbs up and does a low karate chop forward.
Mii Gunner Climbs up and swings their Arm Cannon forward.
Mii Swordfighter Climbs up and swings their sword forward.
Min Min Cimbs up and kicks forward.
Mr. Game & Watch Climbs up and swings a bell forward.
Mythra Climbs up and swings her sword forward.
Ness    Climbs up and does a dropkick at an upward angle.
    Flips onto the stage and does a legsweep forward.
Olimar   Flips and does a headbutt at the ground.
   Climbs up and punches forward.
Pac-Man Climbs up and kicks forward.
Palutena Climbs up and does a sweepkick.
Peach    Jumps onto the stage and quickly thrusts her rear forward.
   Climbs up and swipes one hand forward.
Pichu   Climbs up and does a flipping axe-kick.
  Climbs up and swings its tail forward.
Pikachu   Climbs up and does a flipping axe-kick.
    Flips onto the stage and strikes with its tail.
Piranha Plant Climbs up and thrust its pot/pipe forward.
Pit Climbs up and does a legsweep forward.
Pyra Climbs up and swings her sword forward.
R.O.B.   Climbs up and swings both arms forward.
   Climbs up and fires a blast from his burner.
Richter Climbs up and does a legsweep forward.
Ridley Climbs up and swings one arm forward.
Robin Climbs up and does a low stab with the Bronze Sword.
Rosalina & Luma Climbs up and does a legsweep forward.
Roy Flips onto the stage and swings his sword forward.
Ryu Climbs up and kicks forward.
Samus Climbs up and does a jump kick forward.
Sephiroth Climbs up and kicks forward.
Sheik Climbs up and does a dropkick forward.
Shulk Climbs up and swings the Monado forward.
Simon Climbs up and does a legsweep forward.
Snake Climbs up and does a low legsweep forward.
Sonic Climbs up and Spin Dashes forward.
Sora Climbs up and stabs the Keyblade at a low angle.
Squirtle Climbs up and swings its tail forward.
Steve Climbs up and swipe his sword/fist.
Terry Climbs up and performs a sweep kick with one leg.
Toon Link   Flips onto the stage and swings his sword downward.
   Climbs up and does a reverse swipe with his sword.
Villager Climbs up and does a legsweep.
Wario Climbs up and flips onto his back, attacking forward with both his hands.
Wii Fit Trainer Climbs up and performs a Side Plank.
Wolf   Climbs up and does a dropkick forward.
  Climbs up and swipes one claw forward.
Yoshi Climbs up and swings his tail forward.
Young Link   Flips onto the stage and swings his sword downward.
  Climbs up and swings his sword forward.
Zelda Climbs up and does a legsweep forward.
Zero Suit Samus Climbs up and performs a low kick forward.

List of slow edge attacks (100% or more)

Character Description
Bowser Climbs up and swipes one claw forward.
Captain Falcon Climbs up and throws an uppercut.
Charizard Climbs up and swings its tail forward.
Diddy Kong Climbs up and kicks forward.
Donkey Kong Climbs up and swipes one hand forward.
Dr. Mario Climbs up and kicks forward.
Falco Climbs up and does a flipping axe-kick.
Fox Climbs up and does a flipping axe-kick.
Ganondorf   Climbs up and throws an uppercut.
  Climbs up and does a low kick forward.
Ice Climbers Climbs up and does a low swing with their hammers.
Ike Climbs up and does a horizontal swing with his sword.
Ivysaur Slowly climbs up and headbutts forward.
Jigglypuff   Climbs up and charges forward with a headbutt.
   Climbs up and does a spinning split kick.
King Dedede Climbs up and slams his hammer down to the ground.
Kirby   Climbs up and charges forward with a headbutt.
   Climbs up and does a spinning split kick.
Link   Climbs up and swings his sword upward.
   Climbs up and thrust his sword forward.
Lucario Flips and does a downward kick.
Lucas Climbs up and punches forward.
Luigi Climbs up and kicks forward.
Mario Climbs up and kicks forward.
Marth Climbs up and does a horizontal slash.
Meta Knight Climbs up and does a horizontal slash.
Mewtwo Telekinetically walks on the side of the stage and swipes one hand forward.
Mr. Game & Watch Climbs up and swings a bell.
Ness    Climbs up and does a kick.
  Climbs up and punches forward.
Olimar Climbs up and does a low kick forward.
Peach Climbs up and does a legsweep forward.
Pichu Climbs up and swings its tail forward.
Pikachu Climbs up and swings its tail forward.
Pit Climbs up and thrusts his bow forward.
R.O.B. Climbs up and sticks one arm forward.
Roy Climbs up and does a horizontal slash.
Samus   Climbs up and punches forward.
   Climbs up and thrusts her arm cannon forward.
Sheik Climbs up and rams her elbow forward.
Snake Climbs up and does a low kick.
Sonic Climbs up and kicks twice with both feet.
Squirtle Climbs up and headbutts forward.
Toon Link Climbs up and thrust his sword forward.
Wario Climbs up and jabs his index finger downward.
Wolf Climbs up and does a flipping axe-kick.
Yoshi Climbs up and headbutts forward.
Young Link Climbs up and thrust his sword forward.
Zelda Climbs up and swipes her hand forward.
Zero Suit Samus Climbs up, spins and punches forward.

Trivia

  • Sonic is the only character with an edge attack (his slow one) that can hit twice.
  • Mr. Game & Watch's edge attacks are the only ones to not deal fixed knockback, instead dealing the same strength of knockback as floor attacks.
  • In SSB4, Bowser uses his secondary edge attack animation from Brawl for his edge attack, while Giga Bowser uses his standard edge attack animation from Brawl for his edge attack.
  • Bowser's under 100% edge attack in Melee is arguably the best edge attack in the game, having long range, many intangibility frames and very long hitbox duration, hitting his way in and all the way back.
  • Some edge attacks are able to stage spike opponents, if timed properly.[1]

References