< SSBU
Controls
Control Scheme
Smash Ultimate can be played using multiple different input devices, but the control scheme aims to utilize an entire controller layout, both sticks and triggers/bumpers included. This can be modified to your tastes in the game's settings, but for the sake of this controls rundown, we'll be speaking in terms of the default control scheme.
Basic Movement
- Walk
or 
- The most basic movement option; your character will walk in either direction you hold your Analog stick. The closer to the joystick gate you hold the Analog stick, the faster your character will walk and vice versa.
- Crouch / Platform Drop
/ 
- Holding down on the Analog stick allows you to crouch, shrinking the character's hurtbox. Some characters are also able to crawl by holding
or 
. - Flicking the Analog stick all the way down quickly allows the character to fall through some platforms, if they are on top of one.
- Dash and Run
or 
- Pushing the Analog stick all the way left or right makes your character dash. Dashes move your character forward faster than walking. Keep holding the direction after starting a dash to run.
- Jump
or 
or 
- Makes the character jump into the air, with the height determined by how long you hold the button or up direction. Both buttons and the analog input do the same thing.
- Short Hop
- or lightly, or ( + )
- Tapping any jump command without holding it will perform a short hop, which is a jump with a shorter peak height. Pressing both jump buttons at once will always perform a short hop, regardless of how long you hold them.
- Aerial Drift
- or while airborne
- Holding the stick left or right makes the character drift in the respective direction in the air, changing their air momentum and trajectory.
- Fastfall
- while falling
- Flicking the control stick all the way down at or past the apex of a jump allows the character to fall faster than their normal fall speed.
Common Offensive and Defensive Actions
- Normal Attacks
- (Neutral or any direction) +
- Press the
to do a basic attack, both on the ground and in the air. You can combine this button with any direction on the Analog stick (
or 
, 
, 
) to perform various other attacks in that specific direction.
- Special Attacks
- (Neutral or any direction) +
- Press the
button to perform a special attack that tends to have unique effects or properties. You can also combine this with other Analog directions to perform various other special attacks, just like normal attacks. Special moves range from standard projectiles, to advancing moves, or even some invincible moves, and the list goes on. Refer to each character's pages for more details.
- Smash Attacks
or 
, 
, 
(or Smashing the Analog in any direction) + at the same time)- Flicking the C-Stick in any direction (or flicking the Analog stick quickly & all the way in any direction and pressing at the same time) makes the character perform a Smash Attack, which is a strong attack that is generally stronger than normal attacks and many specials. They can be charged by holding the stick in the direction or button, to increase their damage and knockback.
- Shielding
or 
- Press and hold either trigger button to put up the character's Shield, which will block a majority of attacks for as long as it is held. Grabs, however, are not blockable. You can tilt your shield in various directions with the Analog stick to better defend against certain angles of attack as well.
- Spot Dodge
- while shielding
- Flicking the Analog stick all the way down while shielding will perform an on-spot dodge, which has a period of invincibility that can be used to dodge attacks.
- Dodge Roll
- or while shielding
- Flicking the Analog stick left or right while shielding will make your character do a dodge roll. It has invincibility in the middle like a spotdodge, but will also move your character in the respective direction. It can be used as a way of quickly repositioning away from the opponent.
- Air Dodging
- (Neutral or any direction) + or while airborne
- Press either trigger button to perform an Air Dodge, which has a period of invincibility that can be used to dodge attacks while airborne, since you cannot Shield in the air. You can also input an air dodge with a direction on the Analog stick to dodge in that particular direction.
Jargon
In spoken and written discussion, players will typically shorthand moves with just the first letter of the move direction before the attack type. For example, a Neutral Aerial attack will typically be referred to as a "N-Air" or "NAir".