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Tripping

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Four of Mario's palette swaps in Brawl, the blue one tripping. Source: Source
The Mario on the far right can be seen Prat Falling.

Tripping (転倒, Falling Down; officially called prat falling and referred to in game files as slipping) is a gameplay mechanic introduced in Super Smash Bros. Brawl in which a fighter trips, falls over, and sits in a prone state with a confused expression. Certain attacks can cause opponents to trip, and some items (including Poké Ball Pokémon and Assist Trophies) will cause tripping without directly attacking at all. Most attacks have a chance to trip provided the knockback dealt does not lift the target off the ground, while a few attacks are guaranteed to trip opponents.

In Brawl only, when the control stick is tapped so that the character performs a dash, there exists a 1% chance that the character will trip. In addition, if the character attempts to perform a turnaround during their run, there is a 1.25% chance that they will trip. Brawl keeps track of the total number of Prat Falls each character or name has experienced in Group Brawls.

Kirby in his tripped position after stepping on a Banana Peel.
Source
Kirby in his tripped position after stepping on a Banana Peel.

The sound effect for tripping changes depending on whether the character tripping is from a "cartoony" or "realistic" series. In general, characters from more serious or "realistic" franchises make a light, quick whooshing sound, followed by an unimpressive falling-down noise, while more cartoonish characters make a swabbing noise, like a sliding mop, before landing with a distinctive timpani noise. This sound effect is significantly louder in SSB4 than in Brawl.

When sitting down, a character has the same options as when lying down; however, a tripped character is more vulnerable. Unlike prone or supine fighters, sitting fighters can be grabbed; getup attacks from a sitting position are weaker than from a lying down position, usually dealing 5% as opposed to 6%, lacking transcendent priority, and possessing only 8 intangible frames (getup attacks are usually intangible until the attack's hitboxes end); and rolls and stand-ups are generally subpar to their lying down counterparts, possessing fewer invincibility frames while still retaining their long animations.

Causes of tripping[edit]

Dash-dancing to cause a trip. Recorded in Dolphin.
Dash-dancing is based on the intial dash animation, so tripping can occur during dash-dancing.
  • In Brawl, whenever the control stick is smashed left or right to input a dash or running-turnaround, there is a 1% / 1.25% chance for the player to trip, respectively. Note that by doing a side-smash or side-special input, they will usually start with some dash frames, so these can also have a 1% chance to trip.
    • Terrain with a lack of traction, such as ice, increases the chance of tripping by 2.5x.
  • Any attack with more than 55 units of knockback, and an angle that doesn't lift the foe off the ground has a low chance of tripping them. This rate is 13.5% in Brawl, and from version 1.1.4 of SSB4 onward and in Ultimate, it was changed to 7%.
    • In addition, some attacks have an additional trip chance. For example, a move with an additional trip chance of 40% has a combined trip chance of 53.5% (Brawl, old SSB4) or 47% (current SSB4, Ultimate). Even with less than 55 units of knockback, moves with a bonus trip chance always add the base trip chance.
  • Tingle from the Assist Trophy can summon a banana peel effect, causing constant tripping to all opponents until he leaves the screen.
  • Luigi's Negative Zone can cause incessant tripping.
  • Certain hazards such as the wall on Port Town Aero Dive can cause tripping.
  • In Ultimate, the Earthquake effect in spirit battles causes players to trip constantly unless they have a Falling Immunity spirit effect active.

List of tripping attacks in Brawl[edit]

Most attacks can only make an opponent trip if the target is not already sitting down and the attack knockback does not knock the target into the air. However, some have the slip effect and will therefore result in a trip regardless of these circumstances; these are represented in this list with "Slip".

Attack Trip chance
Bowser Forward tilt (angled down) 40%
Down tilt 30%
Giga Bowser Forward tilt (angled side) 50%
Forward tilt (angled down) 100%
Up tilt 50%
Captain Falcon Down tilt 50%
Forward air (sour spot) 30%
Diddy Kong Banana Peel Slip
Donkey Kong Forward tilt (angled down) 15%
Down tilt 40%
Falco Down tilt 40%
Down smash 40%
Reflector 40%
Fox Down tilt 40%
Down smash 35%
Ganondorf Down tilt 35%
King Dedede Neutral attack (hit 2) 20%
Down tilt 40%
Back aerial 30%
Kirby Down tilt 35% (foot)
30% (toe)
Link Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Lucas Down tilt (foot) 40%
Down smash 40%
Luigi Down tilt 35%
Dash attack (last hit) 30%
Negative Zone Unknown
Mario Down tilt 40%
Cape 30%
Meta Knight Down tilt 30%
Mr. Game & Watch Judge #2 20%
Ness Down tilt 30%
Peach Down tilt 30%
Down smash 20%
Pikachu Neutral attack 10%
Down tilt 30%
Down smash (last hit) 30%
Skull Bash 30%
Samus Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Sheik Down tilt 40%
Down smash 40% (hit 1)
30% (hits 2-3)
Toon Link Down tilt 40%
Dash attack 30%
Down smash 30%
Neutral air 30%
Wario Down tilt 40%
Down smash (before frame 32) 30%
Wario Waft (uncharged) Slip
Wolf Down tilt 40%
Forward smash (rear segment) 60%
Down smash 35%
Up air 35%
Blaster 40% (claw front)
37% (claw back)
Yoshi Down tilt (clean) 30%
Down tilt (tip) 40%
Zelda Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Zero Suit Samus Forward tilt 20% (angled side)
60% (angled down)
Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Items Banana Peel Slip
Fan neutral 10%
Fan tilt 20%
Fan smash 30%

*Copy abilities not mentioned are the same as their originals.

List of tripping attacks in SSB4[edit]

As in Brawl, attacks can only trip if they do not knock the target into the air, so most attacks with trip chances will never trip or will only trip at low percents. Some attacks have the slip effect and cause soft trips that immobilize for around 30 frames, while attacks with trip chances cause hard trips that immobilize for around 40 frames. Attacks with slip are again noted here with Slip.

Attack Trip chance
Bowser Down tilt 30%
Slip Bomb Slip
Giga Bowser Forward tilt 50%
Up tilt 50%
Bowser Jr. Down tilt (hit 3) 40%
Captain Falcon Down tilt 50%
Forward air (late) 20%
Charizard Down tilt 30%
Down smash 40%
Dark Pit Down tilt 20%
Down smash 30%
Diddy Kong Down tilt 20%
Monkey Flip (kick and footstool) 30%
Flying Monkey Flip (kick and footstool) 30%
Banana Peel Slip
Donkey Kong Forward tilt (angled down) 15%
Down tilt 40%
Hand Slap (aerial, all variations) 20%
Dr. Mario Down tilt 40%
Super Sheet (all variations*) 30%
Falco Down tilt 40%
Down smash 40%
Reflector 25%
Accele-Reflector 25%
Fox Down tilt 40%
Down smash 35%
Ike Down tilt 35%
Down smash 20%
Jigglypuff Down tilt 35%
Pound 40%
Sideways Pound 40%
King Dedede Down tilt 40%
Kirby Down tilt 30% (foot)
35% (toe)
Link Down tilt 20%
Down smash 30%
Little Mac
Giga Mac
Down tilt 20%
Lucario
Mega Lucario
Down tilt 40%
Force Palm (all variations) (blast) 20%
Lucina Down tilt 20%
Luigi Down tilt 25%
Dash attack (hit 7) 30%
Mario Down tilt 40%
Cape (all variations*) 30%
Marth Down tilt 35%
Mega Man Down tilt 40%
Meta Knight Down tilt 25%
Mii Brawler Down tilt 20%
Head-On Assault (ground leap) 100%
Mii Swordfighter Down tilt 30%
Down smash 20%
Reversal Slash 20%
Mii Gunner Down tilt 20%
Mr. Game & Watch Chef (food) 10%
Short-Order Chef (food) 10%
Judge #2 20%
Ness Down tilt 30%
Olimar Down tilt 40%
Down smash 20%
Pac-Man Down tilt 25%
Peach Down tilt 30%
Pikachu Down tilt 30%
Down smash (hit 6) 30%
Pit Down tilt 20%
Down smash 30%
R.O.B. Down tilt 20%
Slip Gyro Slip
Rosalina Down smash (R) 30%
Shooting Star Bit 100%
Roy Down tilt 35%
Ryu Forward tilt (tapped) 50%
Down tilt (held) 30%
Samus Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Slip Bomb 100%
Sheik Down tilt 40%
Down smash (hit 2) 30%
Shulk Down tilt 30%
Sonic Down tilt 20%
Toon Link Dash attack 30%
Down tilt 50%
Neutral air 30%
Villager Down tilt 30%
Timber Counter (sapling) Slip
Wario Down tilt 20%
Dash attack (late) 100%
Down smash (clean, mid) 30%
Garlic Breath (far) Slip
Wario Waft (uncharged) Slip
Quick Waft (uncharged, slightly charged) Slip
Wario-Man Down tilt 40%
Down smash (clean, mid) 30%
Wario Waft 100%**
Wii Fit Trainer Down tilt 40%
Yoshi Down tilt 30% (base)
40% (tip)
Zelda Down tilt 20%
Down smash 20%
Nayru's Rejection (last hit) 30%
Zero Suit Samus Down tilt 20%
Items Banana Peel Slip
Inkay: Topsy-Turvy Slip

* The unused fourth variation of this move has a trip chance of 40% instead.
** As this causes the stun effect, it can only cause tripping if the target cannot be stunned.

List of tripping attacks in Ultimate[edit]

While some moves have been added, removed, and some probabilities have been altered, tripping has largely been unchanged from Smash 4. Attacks with slip are again noted here with Slip.

Attack Trip chance
Bayonetta Down tilt 30%
Bowser Down tilt 30%
Captain Falcon Down tilt 50%
Forward air (late) 20%
Charizard Down tilt 30%
Chrom Down tilt 20%
Cloud Down tilt 20%
Dark Pit Down tilt 20%
Down smash 30%
Dark Samus Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Diddy Kong Down tilt 20%
Monkey Flip (kick, footstool) 30%
Banana Peel Slip
Donkey Kong Forward tilt (angled down) 15%
Down tilt 40%
Hand Slap (aerial hands) 20%
Dr. Mario Down tilt 40%
Falco Down tilt 40%
Down smash 40%
Fox Down smash 35%
Ganondorf Down tilt 35%
Ice Climbers Down tilt 40%
Ike Down tilt 35%
Down smash 20%
Isabelle Down tilt 30%
Ivysaur Down tilt 40%
Down smash 40%
Jigglypuff Down tilt 35%
Pound 40%
Kazuya Stature Smash (down-back tilt) 100%
Ken Forward tilt (tapped far) 50%
Down tilt (held) 30%
King Dedede Down tilt 35%
Kirby Down tilt (close, tip) 30%, 35%
Link Down smash 30%
Little Mac Down tilt 20%
Lucario Down tilt 40%
Force Palm (blast) 20%
Lucina Down tilt 20%
Mario Down tilt 40%
Marth Down tilt 35%
Mega Man Down tilt 40%
Meta Knight Down tilt 25%
Mii Brawler Down tilt 20%
Mii Gunner Down tilt 20%
Mii Swordfighter Down tilt 30%
Down smash 20%
Mr. Game & Watch Chef (food) 10%
Olimar Down tilt 40%
Down smash 20%
Pichu Forward tilt 100%
Pikachu Down smash (final hit) 30%
Piranha Plant Down tilt 40%
Pit Down tilt 20%
Down Smash 30%
R.O.B. Down tilt 20%
Rosalina & Luma Down smash (Rosalina) 30%
Roy Down tilt 35%
Ryu Forward tilt (tapped far) 50%
Down tilt (held) 30%
Samus Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Sheik Down tilt 40%
Down smash 30%
Shulk Down tilt 30%
Sonic Down tilt 20%
Squirtle Down tilt 40%
Terry Down tilt 40%
Toon Link Dash attack 30%
Down tilt 50%
Neutral air 30%
Villager Down tilt 30%
Wario Down tilt 20%
Down smash 30%
Wario Waft (lowest charge) Slip
Wii Fit Trainer Down tilt 40%
Wolf Down tilt 40%
Down smash 35%
Yoshi Down tilt (close, tip) 30%, 40%
Zelda Down smash 20%
Zero Suit Samus Down tilt 20%
Items Banana Peel Slip
Inkay: Topsy-Turvy Slip
Ditto: Transform (if the summoner possesses slipping attacks) Slip

Controversy[edit]

Brawl's addition of random tripping was highly controversial. Though sometimes a mere annoyance in a brawl, random tripping has the potential to significantly impact matches. Since tripping leaves the player in a significant state of vulnerability while moving them a small distance forward, it is a common occurrence for players to unintentionally trip into an otherwise avoidable attack; the effects of this can range from minor damage to a premature KO. Tripping also leaves a player in a vulnerable position, akin to a tech-chase situation. Upon tripping, a player has three main getup options; rolling, standing up, or using a getup attack, and this means that an opponent can more successfully predict the action of the tripped player, often using this to land an easy combo or KO.

On the other hand, in rare cases random tripping can also make it slightly more difficult to read an opponent; a fighter may read an opponent's action and input a punish, but instead, the opponent trips, keeping them out of the reach of the attack.

The randomness of Brawl's tripping mechanic was generally negatively received, viewed as counterproductive to the idea of a skill-based match with a minimum of disruptive, chance-based elements. Furthermore, unlike some other heavily chance-based elements such as stage selection or item availability, random tripping cannot be turned off in Brawl. Owing to its negative reception, gameplay mods generally remove random tripping from gameplay.

While random tripping is considered a detriment to tournament play, forced tripping by certain moves is generally better-received, since, unlike random tripping, its deliberate use can be planned for and planned against. As such, while random tripping was removed in SSB4 and remained absent in Ultimate, forced tripping is still important in some characters' metagames in these two games, such as Diddy Kong and his banana peels.

Trivia[edit]

  • Super Smash Bros. Melee features a bonus called "Pratfaller". It has no relation to later games' tripping, and is instead awarded to players who always fall face-up after tumbling.
  • Tripping was first discovered during the Brawl demo at E for All. It was not recognized as random at the time, and some players tried to learn how to trigger it at will for use as a technique. For a time, it was known as Ink Dropping, as noted in Gimpyfish's famous SmashBoards thread.
  • While characters from the Kirby and Kid Icarus universes generally use the "cartoonish" tripping sound, Meta Knight and Palutena use the "realistic" sound, even though they have similar aesthetics to the other characters in their respective series; this is presumably due to their being more "serious" and adultlike in terms of personality, although other such characters as Mewtwo or Rosalina do not follow this rule.
    • Toon Link and Young Link are the only The Legend of Zelda character to make the "cartoony" noise, but in Toon Link's case this is justified because of his being based on the cartoonish Wind Waker aesthetics rather than the more realistic ones used by the other characters.
    • Wolf is also an example, as he uses the "realistic" tripping sound whereas Fox and Falco use the "cartoony" sound.
    • Sora uses the "realistic" tripping sound despite his cartoony proportions.
    • Mii Brawlers use the "cartoon" tripping sound effect, while Mii Gunners and Mii Swordfighters use the "realistic" noise.