Traction

Because Luigi has a very small amount of traction, he slides very noticeably after finishing a dash.

Traction is a measure of how long it takes for a character to stop moving from a sideways force when grounded. Characters with low traction slide farther than others after walking, dashing, wavedashing, being hit by an attack while grounded, and so on.

Having high traction affords greater ground control over a character, so high traction is generally an advantage. Characters with low traction generally require more precise movement across the ground and cannot punish attacks as effectively out of shield since they will get pushed further away from the opponent. However, there are cases where low traction is useful: low traction is necessary for a long wavedash in Super Smash Bros. Melee and a long DPC in Brawl, and there are cases where sliding away from a shielded attack can help escape later hits of it. Luigi is well-known for having the least traction of any character in all games.

Traction is significantly lessened by slippery terrain such as ice; all characters have decreased traction on slippery surfaces (except the Ice Climbers, who are unaffected).

Traction rankings

Super Smash Bros.

Rank	Character	Value
1-5	Link	2
1-5	Samus	2
1-5	Fox	2
1-5	Pikachu	2
1-5	Ness	2
6	Captain Falcon	1.8
7	Donkey Kong	1.7
8	Yoshi	1.6
9	Mario	1.5
10	Kirby	1.4
11	Jigglypuff	1.1
12	Luigi	0.7

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Rank	Character	Value
1-4	Peach	0.1
1-4	Link	0.1
1-4	Zelda	0.1
1-4	Pichu	0.1
5-6	Pikachu	0.09
5-6	Jigglypuff	0.09
7-13	Donkey Kong	0.08
7-13	Young Link	0.08
7-13	Sheik	0.08
7-13	Kirby	0.08
7-13	Fox	0.08
7-13	Falco	0.08
7-13	Captain Falcon	0.08
14	Ganondorf	0.07
15-23	Mario	0.06
15-23	Dr. Mario	0.06
15-23	Bowser	0.06
15-23	Yoshi	0.06
15-23	Samus	0.06
15-23	Ness	0.06
15-23	Marth	0.06
15-23	Roy	0.06
15-23	Mr. Game & Watch	0.06
24	Mewtwo	0.04
25	Ice Climbers	0.035
26	Luigi	0.025

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Rank	Character	Value
1	Lucario	0.0736
2	Jigglypuff	0.0718
3-6	Wario	0.07
3-6	Zero Suit Samus	0.07
3-6	Wolf	0.07
3-6	Sonic	0.07
7-8	Peach	0.068
7-8	Ganondorf	0.068
9	Falco	0.065
10	Link	0.064
11-16	Mario	0.06
11-16	Sheik	0.06
11-16	Fox	0.06
11-16	Mr. Game & Watch	0.06
11-16	Olimar	0.06
11-16	R.O.B.	0.06
17	Pikachu	0.0596
18	Samus	0.0585
19	Bowser	0.0577
20-22	Meta Knight	0.055
20-22	Charizard	0.055
20-22	Marth	0.055
23	Toon Link	0.0547
24	Ness	0.0546
25	Snake	0.0542
26	Zelda	0.054
27	Ivysaur	0.0532
28	Donkey Kong	0.0529
29	Pit	0.0505
30	Captain Falcon	0.05
31	Kirby	0.0493
32-33	Diddy Kong	0.0484
32-33	King Dedede	0.0484
34	Lucas	0.045
35	Ike	0.044
36	Yoshi	0.0426
37	Squirtle	0.042
38	Ice Climbers	0.035
39	Luigi	0.022

Super Smash Bros. 4

Rank	Character	Value
n/a	Mii Brawler	0.045
n/a	Mii Swordfighter	0.064
n/a	Mii Gunner	0.045
38-43	Mario	0.045
31	Donkey Kong	0.0529
11	Link	0.064
22	Samus	0.0585
46	Yoshi	0.0426
35	Kirby	0.0493
12-20	Fox	0.06
21	Pikachu	0.0596
48	Luigi	0.024
34	Captain Falcon	0.05
29	Ness	0.0546
2	Jigglypuff	0.0718
6-9	Peach	0.068
23	Bowser	0.0577
30	Zelda	0.054
12-20	Sheik	0.06
24-27	Marth	0.055
12-20	Mr. Game & Watch	0.06
6-9	Ganondorf	0.068
10	Falco	0.065
38-43	Dr. Mario	0.045
3-5	Wario	0.07
24-27	Meta Knight	0.055
32-33	Pit	0.0505
3-5	Zero Suit Samus	0.07
12-20	Olimar	0.06
36-37	Diddy Kong	0.0484
36-37	King Dedede	0.0484
44-45	Ike	0.044
1	Lucario	0.0736
12-20	R.O.B.	0.06
28	Toon Link	0.0547
47	Charizard	0.04
12-20	Sonic	0.06
24-27	Lucina	0.055
32-33	Dark Pit	0.0505
6-9	Rosalina	0.068
12-20	Wii Fit Trainer	0.06
3-5	Little Mac	0.07
12-20	Villager	0.06
6-9	Palutena	0.068
24-27	Robin	0.055
38-43	Duck Hunt	0.045
38-43	Bowser Jr.	0.045
44-45	Shulk	0.044
38-43	Greninja	0.045
38-43	Pac-Man	0.045
12-20	Mega Man	0.06
n/a	Giga Bowser	0.067
n/a	Wario-Man	0.06
n/a	Giga Mac	0.07
n/a	Mega Lucario	0.0736