Gravity is a measure of how fast a falling character reaches their maximum falling speed. A character with high gravity does not necessarily have a fast falling speed; they simply reach their top falling speed faster.

From Super Smash Bros. Brawl onward, the vertical knockback suffered by characters is based on both their weight and their gravity (once they enter tumble), with higher-gravity characters taking more knockback; horizontal knockback is unaffected. This reduces the natural effect of gravity on launch distance, keeping characters with low weight but high gravity (most notably Fox) from having disproportionally high vertical endurance, and in fact results in their endurance being slightly worse than a fighter with lower gravity. Despite horizontal knockback being unaffected, fighters with higher gravity tend to have poorer horizontal endurance, due to most moves with horizontal knockback having some degree of vertical knockback. Since a character's air friction only takes effect after the hitstun ends, this results in it taking slightly longer for fighters with higher gravity to be slowed down by their air friction, thus getting KOed earlier. It also affects how difficult the character is to combo - gravity does not take effect on knockback if a character is not put into tumble. By applying slightly more knockback to characters that more quickly fall into the next attack, it slightly normalizes the effect of setup and multi-hit moves on the cast. This also makes characters with higher gravity considerably more vulnerable to chain grabs in Brawl and in Brawl and Smash 4, it makes moves with low knockback chain into them-self and other moves more reliably on characters with higher gravity when combined with Brawl removing DI against moves which do not put opponents into tumble (such as with Sheik's forward tilt).

As gravity does not take a direct effect on vertical knockback in Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, it acts as a force against vertical knockback giving characters with higher gravity greater vertical endurance but increasing their susceptibility to combos. An example to show the effect on gravity with knockback is with Zelda and Sheik in Melee and Brawl. In both games, Zelda and Sheik have the same weight and in Melee, Zelda and Sheik have the same horizontal endurance but Sheik has better vertical endurance due to her higher falling speed and gravity. In Brawl however, Zelda has better endurance both horizontally and vertically due to her lower gravity (although Sheik has slightly better vertical endurance with momentum canceling).

Gravity also affects how high a character is able to jump; two characters with the same jump force will not jump the same height if they have different gravity. Naturally, a character with higher gravity would jump lower than a character with lower gravity (assuming they have the same jump force).

In Melee and Brawl, gravity also affects how high a character will travel if they are aerial grab released. A character with high gravity will gain little height and will land quickly while a character with low gravity will gain a lot more height. Characters with very high gravity are at an advantage especially in Brawl as they will land before their grab release animation will end (although this puts them in a bad position if they end up off stage). Characters with very low gravity are also at an advantage as they will be released much higher into the air making it harder for characters to chase them and followup (in Brawl).

In Super Smash Bros. 4, a character's gravity can be altered by using the equipment bonus effects, Thistle Jump or Anchor Jump, with Thistle Jump decreasing it, while Anchor Jump increases it. However, both bonus effects also alter a character's falling speed.

Super Smash Bros. gravity values

Compared to the later Smash games, Smash 64 has very low gravity values for all characters and as with most attributes, Smash 64 uses a different scale to measure gravity.

Source: [1]

Super Smash Bros. Melee gravity values

Melee significantly increased the gravity for all characters and it is largely the main factor as to why Melee is a less floaty game than its predecessor. Melee uses an alternate scale to measure gravity which would be reused in later games.

Rank Character Gravity
n/a Giga Bowser 0.25
1   Fox 0.23
2   Falco 0.17
3-5   Bowser 0.13
3-5   Ganondorf 0.13
3-5   Captain Falcon 0.13
6   Sheik 0.12
7   Roy 0.114
8-11   Link 0.11
8-11   Young Link 0.11
8-11   Pikachu 0.11
8-11   Pichu 0.11
12-13   Donkey Kong 0.1
12-13   Ice Climbers 0.1
14-16   Mario 0.095
14-16   Dr. Mario 0.095
14-16   Mr. Game & Watch 0.095
17   Yoshi 0.093
18   Ness 0.09
19   Marth 0.085
20   Mewtwo 0.082
21-22   Peach 0.08
21-22   Kirby 0.08
23   Zelda 0.073
24   Luigi 0.069
25   Samus 0.066
26   Jigglypuff 0.064

Notes

  • Wireframes have gravities of 0.09 (Male) and 0.073 (Female).
  • Sandbag has a gravity of 0.05.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl gravity values

Much like with falling speeds, every character's gravity (except for Sheik's) was decreased. Brawl also introduced the gravity penalty where gravity would be added into the knockback formula for vertical knockback causing characters with higher gravity to suffer from increased knockback once they enter tumble.

Rank Character Gravity
n/a Giga Bowser 0.1975
1   Fox 0.175
2   Sheik 0.1409
3   Wolf 0.13
4   Falco 0.112
5   Squirtle 0.1067
6-8   Bowser 0.1027
6-8   Ganondorf 0.1027
6-8   Captain Falcon 0.1027
9   Meta Knight 0.0956
10   Diddy Kong 0.092
11   Lucas 0.09
n/a Wario Man 0.09
12   Link 0.089
13   Zero Suit Samus 0.0884
14   Pikachu 0.087
15-16   Charizard 0.085
15-16   Sonic 0.085
17   Wario 0.0842
18-19   King Dedede 0.0837
18-19   Ike 0.0837
20   Donkey Kong 0.081
21   Snake 0.08
22   Ice Climbers 0.077
23   Mr. Game & Watch 0.07505
24-25   Mario 0.075
24-25   Pit 0.075
26   Yoshi 0.07347
27   Ness 0.0711
28-29   Toon Link 0.07
28-29   Ivysaur 0.07
30   Marth 0.06715
31   Zelda 0.067
32-33   Luigi 0.065
32-33   R.O.B. 0.065
34   Peach 0.0632
35   Lucario 0.0625
36   Kirby 0.061
37   Olimar 0.06
38   Samus 0.058
39   Jigglypuff 0.05056

Notes

  • The Fighting Alloys all share Mario's gravity value of 0.075, just as they share his weight.
  • In Melee and Brawl, Captain Falcon, Ganondorf, and Bowser have all shared the same gravity values.
  • Sheik is the only veteran to have her gravity increased from Melee to Brawl.

Super Smash Bros. 4 gravity values

Much like with falling speeds, gravity was increased across the board with most characters having higher gravity.

Rank Character Gravity
n/a Giga Bowser 0.198
1   Fox 0.19
2   Greninja 0.18
3   Sheik 0.15
4   Falco 0.13
5-8   Zero Suit Samus 0.12
5-8   Captain Falcon 0.12
5-8   Ryu 0.12
5-8   Bayonetta 0.12
n/a Giga Mac 0.12
9   Roy 0.114
10-12   Bowser 0.11
10-12   Meta Knight 0.11
10-12   Charizard 0.11
13   Ganondorf 0.107835
14   Mega Man 0.1071
n/a Wario-Man 0.1071
15-16   Diddy Kong 0.105
15-16   Palutena 0.105
17   Mii Brawler 0.1
18   Cloud 0.098
19-20   Link 0.096
19-20   Mii Swordfighter 0.096
n/a   Mii Swordfighter (Fighting Mii Team) 0.096
21   Pikachu 0.095
22-25   Bowser Jr. 0.092
22-25   Wario 0.092
22-25   Ike 0.092
22-25   Corrin 0.092
26-29   Lucas 0.09
26-29   R.O.B. 0.09
26-29   Wii Fit Trainer 0.09
26-29   Sonic 0.09
n/a   Mii Brawler (Fighting Mii Team) 0.09
30   Robin 0.089
31   King Dedede 0.087885
32-34   Mario 0.08715
32-34   Dr. Mario 0.08715
32-34   Mii Gunner 0.08715
n/a   Mii Gunner (Fighting Mii Team) 0.087
35   Donkey Kong 0.08505
36   Shulk 0.085
37   Lucario 0.084
n/a Mega Lucario 0.084
38   Mewtwo 0.082
39-40   Pit 0.081
39-40   Dark Pit 0.081
41-43   Yoshi 0.08
41-43   Mr. Game & Watch 0.08
41-43   Little Mac 0.08
44   Toon Link 0.079
45   Villager 0.078
46-47   Samus 0.077
46-47   Ness 0.077
48   Duck Hunt 0.076
49-51   Luigi 0.075
49-51   Marth 0.075
49-51   Lucina 0.075
52   Pac-Man 0.072
53   Zelda 0.071
54-55   Peach 0.068
54-55   Olimar 0.068
56   Kirby 0.06405
57   Rosalina 0.062
58   Jigglypuff 0.053088

Update history

1.1.5

  •   Samus's gravity: 0.075 → 0.077

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate gravity values

Gravity values were once again increased across the board. Gravity values have also been notably changed for moves which send opponents at an angle between 70° and 110°; with heavier characters having higher gravity than lighter characters when being hit by vertical hitting moves.

Rank Character Gravity
1   Fox 0.23
2   Greninja 0.18
3   Mii Brawler 0.169
4   Sheik 0.15
5-6   Pichu 0.14
5-6   Piranha Plant 0.14
7-8   Falco 0.13
7-8   Wolf 0.13
9   Squirtle 0.128
10   Joker 0.127
11   Incineroar 0.126
12-13   Bowser 0.125
12-13   Diddy Kong 0.125
14-19   Bayonetta 0.12
14-19   Captain Falcon 0.12
14-19   Ken 0.12
14-19   Palutena 0.12
14-19   Ryu 0.12
14-19   Zero Suit Samus 0.12
20-21   Chrom 0.114
20-21   Roy 0.114
22-24   Charizard 0.11
22-24   Meta Knight 0.11
22-24   Banjo & Kazooie 0.11
25   Ganondorf 0.108
26-27   Mega Man 0.107
26-27   Wario 0.107
28   Mii Swordfighter 0.106
29   King K. Rool 0.105
30-32   Cloud 0.098
30-32   Mii Gunner 0.098
30-32   Shulk 0.098
33   King Dedede 0.097
34-35   Link 0.096
34-35   Young Link 0.096
36   Pikachu 0.095
37   Hero 0.094
38-40   Bowser Jr. 0.092
38-40   Corrin 0.092
38-40   Ike 0.092
41-47   Little Mac 0.09
41-47   Lucas 0.09
41-47   R.O.B. 0.09
41-47   Ridley 0.09
41-47   Sonic 0.09
41-47   Wii Fit Trainer 0.09
41-47   Terry 0.09
48-49   Robin 0.089
48-49   Byleth 0.089
50-52   Dr. Mario 0.087
50-52   Inkling 0.087
50-52   Mario 0.087
53-55   Donkey Kong 0.085
53-55   Richter 0.085
53-55   Simon 0.085
56   Lucario 0.084
57   Luigi 0.083
58-60   Ice Climbers 0.082
58-60   Ivysaur 0.082
58-60   Mewtwo 0.082
61-63   Dark Pit 0.081
61-63   Pit 0.081
61-63   Toon Link 0.081
64-66   Mr. Game & Watch 0.08
64-66   Snake 0.08
64-66   Yoshi 0.08
67   Villager 0.078
68   Ness 0.077
69   Duck Hunt 0.076
70-73   Dark Samus 0.075
70-73   Lucina 0.075
70-73   Marth 0.075
70-73   Samus 0.075
74   Pac-Man 0.072
75   Zelda 0.071
76-78   Daisy 0.07
76-78   Isabelle 0.07
76-78   Peach 0.07
79   Olimar 0.068
80   Kirby 0.064
81   Rosalina 0.062
82   Jigglypuff 0.053

Trivia

  • Not counting Giga Bowser, Fox holds the distinction of being the character with the highest gravity value in all games.
  • Lucas is the only character from the transition from Brawl to Smash 4 to have his gravity value kept the same. Similarly, fellow DLC veterans Roy and Mewtwo's gravity values are the same as in their last appearance in Melee.
  • Sheik is the only character to debut in Melee whose gravity has been increased in Brawl and Smash 4.

See also