Super Smash Bros. series

Charge

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Samus charging Charge Shot.

Charging is the powering up of an attack or item in order to increase its potency (damage, range, speed, etc.).

In all games except Super Smash Bros., smash attacks can be charged for up to 60 frames (1 second) by holding the attack button, which increases their damage up to a maximum of 1.4x (1.3671x in Melee), with a corresponding increase in knockback. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, charged smash attacks can be held for significantly longer. Certain special moves can also be charged, either by holding the special attack button or by pressing the button once to begin charging and again to launch the attack. Sonic's Spin Charge is unique in that it is charged by pressing the special button repeatedly. Some chargeable special moves, most of them projectiles, can be charge-canceled, allowing a charge to be saved for later.

In addition to manually chargeable moves, a few passive charging mechanics exist. Moves such as Wario's Wario Waft and R.O.B.'s Robo Burner automatically charge over time, while Little Mac's Power Meter and Cloud's Limit Break are charged by dealing and receiving damage.

There are also items which can be charged. The Ore Club's tornado's size varies with the charge of smash attack, and the Super Scope's shots can be charged (though it runs out of ammunition faster that way). Also, the Hothead will be charged as it receives Flame and Electric damage.

Charging should not be confused with charge motions, a particular type of command-input move that requires holding in a direction before attacking while inputting in the opposite direction. Currently, Terry's Rising Tackle is the only charge motion move to appear in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Chargeable special moves[edit]

Character Move Charge effect Charging method Shield-cancellable? Notes
Banjo & Kazooie Shock Spring Jump Increases height Automatically activates at full charge No Charging will briefly stall the duo in mid air and increase the height of the jump.
Bayonetta Bullet Climax Increases damage Automatically activates at full charge Yes[1] The bullets become more prominent in appearance, accompanied by a magic circle effect.
Bowser Jr. Clown Cannon Increases damage, speed, and range Automatically activates at full charge No The cannonball will bounce off of opponents that it hits. Bowser Jr. glows yellow when charging this move.
Byleth Failnaught Increases damage, speed, and range Automatically activates at full charge Yes[1] Cannot be charge-cancelled once the second phase is reached.
Chrom Flare Blade Increases damage and knockback Automatically activates at full charge No Attack is stronger when almost-fully charged; fully charged attack directly deals 10% damage to Chrom. Can turn around while charging.
Cloud Limit Charge Gives access to Limit Breaks Auto-charge special; also charges by dealing and receiving damage Yes When fully charged, this move becomes Finishing Touch. In Ultimate, if Cloud is interrupted while manually charging, some charge is lost; furthermore, a full charge can only be retained for up to 15 seconds.
Corrin Dragon Fang Shot (shot) Increases damage and paralysis duration. Automatically activates at full charge No Dragon Fang Shot is the only move with two different chargeable attacks.
Dragon Fang Shot (arm) Increases damage.
Dark Pit Silver Bow Increases damage Automatically activates at full charge No Can aim upwards or turn around while charging, allowing the move to charge indefinitely.
Dark Samus Charge Shot Increases range, damage, and size of sphere Auto-charge special Yes
Diddy Kong Peanut Popgun Increases damage and lowers angle of fire Automatically activates at full charge No If charged too long, the popgun will explode and Diddy Kong will be momentarily stunned in Brawl or create a damaging explosion in Smash 4 and Ultimate.
Rocketbarrel Blast Increases height and damage Automatically activates at full charge No
Donkey Kong Giant Punch Increases damage Auto-charge special Yes Near fully charged is more powerful than fully charged; fully charged version is faster and, in Brawl, grants super armour.
Greninja Water Shuriken Increases size and number of hits. Automatically activates at full charge. No
Shadow Sneak Increases knockback and distance covered. Automatically activates at full charge. No Greninja can traverse freely while charging.
Hero Frizz Increases spell rank, increasing damage, knockback and MP cost. Auto-charge special Yes The spell used changes depending on charge level. The attack will fail if the user has less MP than needed for the given charge level.
Zap Automatically activates at full charge. No
Woosh Increases spell rank, increasing damage, recovery distance and MP cost. Automatically activates at full charge. No
Inkling Splat Bomb Increases speed and throw distance. Automatically activates at full charge. No If charged, Inkling will throw the bomb at a long distance, otherwise she will throw it at a short arc in front of herself.
Ike Eruption Increases damage.Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
Increases damage and range.Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Automatically activates at full charge No Near fully charged is more powerful than fully charged; Fully charged deals 10% to Ike, and gives knockback resistance. In Ultimate it creates more flame pillars at high charge levels which increase the move's range.
Quick Draw Increases damage, knockback, and distance covered. Can be held indefinitely in all games except Ultimate. No
Jigglypuff Rollout Increases speed, duration, damage Can be held indefinitely in all games except Ultimate. No
Ken Focus Attack Increases damage and hitstun, causes crumpling animation Automatically activates at full charge No Can be cancelled by inputting either direction twice on the control stick.
King Dedede Jet Hammer Increases damage Can be held indefinitely No Near fully charged is slightly more powerful than fully charged; while fully charged, 1% is dealt to Dedede every second until Dedede is up to 150%; Dedede can move while charging
Kirby Inhale Various (see notes) Kirby can copy a chargeable neutral special from some characters.
Hammer Flip Increases damage Can be held indefinitely No While fully charged, 1% is dealt to Kirby every second; Kirby can move while charging.
Link Hero's Bow Increases damage and speed of arrow Can be held indefinitely. No
Bow and Arrows (Ultimate) Increases damage and speed of arrow Once at full charge, can be held for three seconds before automatically firing. No
Spin Attack (Brawl onwards) Increases damage and duration Automatically activates at full charge No Aerial version cannot be charged.
Little Mac Straight Lunge Increases range; increases damage in Ultimate. Gains high power but heavy ending lag when fully charged Automatically activates at full charge NoSuper Smash Bros. 4
Yes[1]Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Has 8% damage-based armor while charging, making it a niche way to escape combos.
Becomes KO Uppercut Filling the Power Meter by dealing and receiving damage No
Lucario Aura Sphere Increases damage, range, and size of sphere Auto-charge special Yes Charging animation has a damaging hitbox and can be held indefinitely, even after reaching full charge. Per Lucario's Aura, grows stronger at higher damage percentages.
Lucas PK Freeze Increases damage, and freezing duration Automatically activates at full charge No Makes Lucas helpless when used in the air.
Lucina Shield Breaker Increases damage and shield damage Automatically activates at full charge. No
Luigi Green Missile Increases damage and distance Luigi travels Automatically activates at full chargeSuper Smash Bros. Melee
Can be held indefinitelySuper Smash Bros. Brawl
Can be held for a few seconds before Luigi gives up and cancels the move on the ground but can be held indefinitely in the airSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
No Can misfire (1 in 8 chance Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl or 1 in 10 chance Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate), sending Luigi a very far distance, regardless of charging time.
Luigi Cyclone (Melee only) Allows Luigi to ascend when using the move in the air once. Finish or interrupt the move while on the ground. No Unlike most charged moves that can be stored, Luigi Cyclone has no visual indicator.
Mario (Brawl onwards) F.L.U.D.D. Increases range and pushback Auto-charge special Yes
Marth Shield Breaker Increases damage and shield damage Automatically activates at full charge. No
Mewtwo Shadow Ball Increases damage, range, and size of sphere Auto-charge special Yes Charging animation can be held indefinitely, even after reaching full charge. In Melee, the charging animation has a damaging hitbox.
Mii Brawler Ultimate Uppercut Increases damage Auto-charge special Yes
Burning Dropkick (Smash 4 only) Increases damage and travel distance Automatically activates at full charge. No
Mii Gunner Charge Blast Increases range, damage, and size of sphere Auto-charge special Yes
Mii Swordfighter Blurring Blade Increases damage Automatically activates at full charge. No
Airborne Assault (Smash 4 only) Increases damage and travel distance Automatically activates at full charge. No
Slash Launcher/Gale Stab Increases damage and travel distance Can be held indefinitely.Super Smash Bros. 4
Once at full charge, can be held for a few seconds before automatically activating.Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
No Mii Swordfighter flashes red upon reaching full charge.
Hero's Spin Increases damage and duration Automatically activates at full charge. No
Mr. Game & Watch Oil Panic Gives access to a powerful attack Absorb up to 3 energy projectiles Yes Charge can be held even after Mr. Game & Watch is KO'd. If Oil Panic is fully charged, Bucket Braking cannot be performed. As of Smash 4, strong projectiles will fill multiple segments at once.
Mythra Lightning Buster Increases damage, performs an additional slash at full charge Automatically activates at full charge No The charging animation has a damaging hitbox. Can turn around as the move is released.
Ness (Melee onwards) PK Flash Increases damage Automatically activates at full charge No Makes Ness helpless when used in the air.
Pac-Man Bonus Fruit Advances to next fruit, each with varying damage and travel behavior Auto-charge special Yes Once orange is reached, time to charge to the next stage doubles. Opponents can attack the fruit during the charge, although this causes only hitlag with no negative effect.
Power Pellet Increases travel distance Automatically activates at full charge No If the pellet is attacked, it will drop to the ground as a healing item and interrupt the move.
Pichu Skull Bash Increases damage and travel distance Automatically activates at full charge. No Causes the same level of recoil regardless of charge level.
Pikachu Increases damage and travel distance Automatically activates at full charge. No
Piranha Plant Poison Breath Increases damage and distance Auto-charge special Yes
Long-Stem Strike Increases distance Automatically activates at full charge. No
Pit Palutena's Arrow Increases damage Automatically activates at full charge No Can aim upwards or turn around while charging, allowing the move to charge indefinitely.
Pyra Flame Nova Increases damage and duration Automatically activates at full charge No
Ridley Plasma Breath Increases amount of fireballs Automatically activates at full charge No If he is hit in the mouth while charging he will take more damage while negating knockback.
R.O.B. Robo Burner Increases duration (and therefore range) Automatically charges when R.O.B. is on the ground. No
Robo Beam Increases damage; lowers speed Automatically charges when R.O.B. is not using it. No
Gyro Increases duration and damage Auto-charge special Yes
Robin Thunder Advances rank of thunder magic, which increases effectiveness Auto-charge special Yes
Rosalina Luma Shot Increases range Can be held indefinitely. No
Roy Flare Blade Increases damage and knockback Automatically activates at full charge No Attack is stronger when almost-fully charged; fully charged attack directly deals 10% damage to Roy. As of Ultimate, can turn around while charging.
Ryu Focus Attack Increases damage and hitstun, causes crumpling animation Automatically activates at full charge No Can be cancelled by inputting either direction twice on the control stick.
Samus Charge Shot Increases range, damage, and size of sphere Auto-charge special Yes Prior to Ultimate, cannot be charged in midair.
Sephiroth Flare Increases spell rank, increasing damage and explosion size; lowers travel distance Automatically activates at full charge Yes[1]
Shadow Flare Increases range and number of shadow balls attached to opponents Automatically activates at full charge No Can turn around as the move is released.
Blade Dash Becomes Octaslash, increasing number of hits, damage and recovery distance Automatically activates at full charge No
Sheik Needle Storm Increases duration and damage Can be held indefinitely (Melee)
Auto-charge special (Brawl onwards)
Yes In Melee, the attack is performed after releasing the button and must be shield-cancelled to store the charge; as of Brawl it functions like a standard auto-charge special.
Burst Grenade Increases duration of vacuum effect. Automatically activates at full charge No
Shulk Monado Arts (Ultimate onwards) Opens the Monado Art wheel Automatically activates at full charge No Shulk can act freely while charging, but can't crouch, shield, airdodge, or use other special moves. Any stored charge normally resets when used freely, but can be accessed and resumed by using dial storage.
Sonic Spin Charge Increases speed and damage Charged by rapidly pressing the special move button. No The move will cancel once enough time has passed without pressing the button.
Spin Dash Increases speed and damage Can be held indefinitely. Yes[1]Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4
NoSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Squirtle Water Gun Increases duration, range and pushback Auto-charge special Yes In Brawl, the move will deal damage if uncharged.
Toon Link Hero's Bow Increases damage, range, and speed Can be held indefinitely. No
Spin Attack Increases damage and duration Automatically activates at full charge No
Wario Wario Waft Increases damage, travel distance and range Charges automatically over time No Almost fully charged stronger than fully charged. Charge can be held even after Wario is KO'd
Wii Fit Trainer Sun Salutation Increases size, range, and damage Auto-charge special Yes
Young Link Fire Bow Increases damage, speed, and range Once at full charge, it can be held for three seconds before automatically firing. No
Spin Attack (Ultimate onwards) Increases damage Automatically activates at full charge No Aerial version cannot be charged.
Zelda Din's Fire Increases travel distance Automatically activates at full charge No Prior to Ultimate, leaves Zelda helpless when used in midair.
Phantom Slash Increases damage and range Automatically activates at full charge. No
Zero Suit Samus Paralyzer Increases damage and hitstun Automatically activates at full charge No

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Charge cannot be stored.

Trivia[edit]

  • R.O.B., Hero and Sephiroth each have the most chargeable special attacks at three (though two of R.O.B's attacks have a passive charging phase).
  • In Melee, Ness cannot charge his up and down smashes if he stands on an edge and the yo-yo reaches beyond the edge.
  • In Smash 4 and Ultimate, the fighter's eye in their icons will briefly glint when an attack is fully charged.