Mario (SSB)/Up aerial

Overview

Mario does an aerial flip kick, dealing 12% damage clean, and 9% damage late. Like Captain Falcon's up aerial, the angle it sends the opponent depends on what part of the attack hits, but compared to Falcon's up aerial, Mario's is overall less versatile and useful. Still, Mario's up aerial is a particularly useful comboing and juggling move, and is considered Mario's primary aerial combo move. It has extremely fast startup lag coming out on frame 2. Along with Luigi's up aerial, it is the fastest aerial in the entire game in terms of startup. This allows it easily be used after a down aerial at low percentages, where it can lead into another down aerial to continue the chain, and its low knockback allows it to chain into itself. The late hit is also useful at high percentages, being able to lead into other aerials, and even finishers such as up smash, especially when platforms are involved in the combo. It does have some weaknesses, such as being difficult to time and use perfectly in combos, along with having moderately high landing lag if not Z-cancelled. Overall, a usable move in many situations, though when it is used often depends on the player's preference.