View source for Z button

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{{for|other uses|Z (disambiguation)}}
[[File:ZButtonGamecube.JPG|thumb|250px|The Z button on a [[GameCube]] controller.]]
The '''Z button''' refers to the rectangular gray trigger located on the back of a [[Nintendo 64 controller]], the long purple button at the top right corner of a [[GameCube controller]], and the rectangular button on the back of the [[Nunchuk]]. The Z button matches the color of the Nunchuk shell.

==Overview==
The functionality of the Z button has changed throughout the series. In the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', the Z button is used to [[shield]]. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', shield functionality was moved to the L and R buttons, and the Z button now activates a [[grab]]. Holding the button past the grab will [[shield]] the character and pressing the button in ''Melee'' specifically can grab items in midair. If the character being played as has a tether grab, pressing Z while airborne will instead use their tethering object as an attack. In ''Melee'', pressing Z while airborne as a character with a tether while there is an item nearby will grab the item instead of using the tether as an attack. While the GameCube controller functions identically in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', the Z button on the newly introduced Nunchuk activates shield. The functionality of both controllers are retained in {{forwiiu}}, but only the GameCube controller is retained in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. A Nintendo 64 controller was created for [[Nintendo Switch]] Online subscribers, albeit being an N64 controller in design only with the internal components of a [[Nintendo Switch Pro Controller]].

In ''Brawl'', ''For Wii U'', and ''Ultimate'', the Z button can all be customized [[Controls]] to perform other functions. While not directly related, [[Nintendo Switch]] hardware version 10.0.0 introduced the ability to map the functionality of any button to any other button from the console options menu, further diversifying how the Z button can be used in ''Ultimate'' (although the GameCube controller cannot have controls customized through Nintendo Switch)

In terms of ''Brawl''{{'}}s programming, the Z button on the GameCube controller is considered to be both a shield button and a standard [[attack]] button at the same time. This is known because nowhere in [[character]] movesets does the game check to see if a grab button has been pressed - it only checks for if a shield and an attack button have been pressed simultaneously. This explains why the Z button can execute both attack-based functions ([[natural combo]] continuations, [[smash attack|smash]] charging) and shield-based functions ([[air dodging]]). It is currently unconfirmed if this is the case for the other games as well.

==ZL and ZR button==
{{main|ZL button|ZR button}}
Starting with the [[Wii]] [[Classic Controller]], controllers developed by Nintendo split the Z button into two different buttons, the '''ZL button''' and '''ZR button'''. This was done to add more buttons and give developers more freedom to make the game they want. In ''Brawl'' and ''For Wii U'', both buttons functioned identically to the Z button on the GameCube controller. ''For 3DS'' initially had the ZL and ZR button perform identically to the L and R button, respectively, due the game releasing before the New Nintendo 3DS introduced these buttons to the system. However, [[version]] 1.0.5 swapped the functionality so now the ZL and ZR button perform identically to the R and L button, respectively.  ''Ultimate'' changed their functionality by instead activating [[shield]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Z Button N64.png|Nintendo 64 controller's Z button.
Nunchuk Z button.png|Nunchuk's Z button.
</gallery>

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[[Category:Game controls]]