Dimensional Cape

Dimensional Cape
	; Dimensional Cape in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
User	Meta Knight
Universe	Kirby

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“	Vanish with a flourish of his cape. If you hold down the A Button, Meta Knight will attack upon reappearing.	”
—Brawl manual description

“	Warp in any direction. Hold to perform an additional attack.	”
—Description from the Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS Foldout

Dimensional Cape (ディメンジョンマント, Dimension Mantle) is Meta Knight's down special move. It seems to have debuted in the first trailer, when Meta Knight avoided Pit's Palutena Arrow. It is apparently different or toned down from the trailer appearance, much like the Wario Waft. When describing down special moves, Dojo!! states that "Many of these do unusual things, like reflect enemy attacks," though this does not necessarily suggest that the Dimensional Cape has such a property, the trailer that revealed Meta Knight and the move certainly did. This is not true as no hitbox of the move can reflect.

The slash attack done just after the Dimensional Cape is done by holding down either attack button during the initial frames of the move, and does around 14% of damage as well as some knockback. Many players disregard the cape due to its very poor offensive abilities, but it is a very useful recovery option in many situations. After using this move, Meta Knight will enter helpless state.

It actually makes Meta Knight teleport for a short distance in any direction; When the player uses the technique, moving the control stick in any direction the player wishes to move, along with the aforementioned slash. However, Meta Knight, while using this move, is invisible, but not invincible, and can be hit by any attack during the teleport, a fact CPUs often exploit (which is exacerbated by the fact that they often exhibit frame-perfect reactions).

Meta Knight will slash in the opposite direction in which he moved while using the attack (moved left, he will slash to his right side - moved right, will slash to his left side). If the player performs the move downward while on the ground, Meta Knight will stay in the same spot he was in, and will slash in the opposite direction he was facing before using the attack. This downward directional can be used as a sort counter move if timed correctly.

In Super Smash Bros. 4, the move was heavily buffed, dealing slightly more damage and significantly more knockback. Because of its knockback buff, it is now one of Meta Knight's finishing moves, and it has more utility compared to the version in Brawl. It can also benefit from the new edge-stealing mechanic, acting as a surprise recovery as it now has very slight invincibility frames. It is overall Meta Knight's most buffed move from Brawl to Smash 4 in terms of knockback.

Customization

Special Move customization was added in Super Smash Bros. 4. These are the known variations:

1. Dimensional Cape	2. Shield Piercer	3. Stealth Smasher

"Vanish, teleport in any direction, and then attack when reappearing."	"The attack penetrates shields, but the power and distance are lower."	"Longer travel distance, but you're left vulnerable for longer."

Dimensional Cape: Default.
Shield Piercer: Becomes an unblockable attack, but deals reduced normal damage, doesn't go as far, and has increased startup lag and ending lag.
Stealth Smasher: Travels farther and deals more damage. Despite having "stealth" in its name, it telegraphs where Meta Knight is going by showing a visible blur - which also means he is not invincible while performing the move.

Shield Piercer being used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
Shield Piercer's strike.
Stealth Smasher being used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
The visible blur during Stealth Smasher.
Stealth Smasher's strike.

Ledge techniques

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The Dimensional Cape can be used for edgeguarding in a number of ways. A few of these are listed here:

Dashing Dimensional edgehog: Dash toward the edge and use the Dimensional Cape. If the player is at the right distance, Meta Knight will fall over the edge and grab it. The player has a very small DI influence, so they can lean toward the edge slightly if they are about to SD. Doing this technique at the wrong distance will result in either an SD or not reaching the edge. It is used to reach the edge quicker for edgehogging.

Dimensional edgestall: By pressing down on the control stick/d-pad and the special move button, Meta Knight will perform the Dimensional Cape while falling slightly off the edge. Quickly tap the control stick/d-pad upward, then return it to its neutral position. If done correctly, Meta Knight will reappear right on the edge, and will grab it. This can be used to create an endless edgestall. The player can also use the cape without tapping the stick downward or moving it after the player initates the move, resulting in disappearing and reappearing in place. If done wrongly however, this will usually result in an SD.

Dimensional edgeguard punish: By performing the first part of the first Dimensional Edgestall method above, but by keeping hold of the special move button and keeping the control stick/d-pad pointed upwards, Meta Knight will reappear right next to the edge and perform the slash, punishing edgeguarders. the player can move slightly to the left and right by holding the stick/pad diagonally upward.

Infinite

In Brawl, it is possible to do an Infinite Dimensional Cape where Meta Knight can be invisible for periods of time. This technique is banned from tournaments due to its potential to stall matches. This technique is performed by holding down on the analog stick and very quickly using the u-smash repeatedly after the activation of the move.

Origin

This move is likely based on Meta Knight's ability to teleport using his cape in the Kirby games. Usually, after he is defeated in the games, his mask falls off, revealing a face similar to Kirby's, and he wraps himself in his cape and jumps, disappearing. It is not too much of a stretch to suggest that Meta Knight could use this technique as a sneak attack. However, Meta Knight prides himself on honorable fighting.

He has also been using this move in Kirby Super Star to destroy the platform he is standing on and make a dramatic entrance.

Trivia

Meta Knight is one of the few characters to actually speak when using his down special move (some others are Lucario, Ike, Snake, Sonic, and Pit). In this move, just as he initiates it, he growls "Fool!" before vanishing, though many may mistake this sound for "fworp" or "for". In the Japanese version, he says "amaina!" ("weak!").
If the player pauses and zooms in on Meta Knight just as he's about to vanish, and twist the camera, it moves in slow motion.
The area around Meta Knight becomes blurry just as he is about to vanish. This also affects items around Meta Knight.
The custom move Stealth Smasher is easily exploited by opponents in the Nintendo 3DS version, in which the blur is far more visible than in the Wii U.