- For the effect causing characters to be dazed for a period of time, see Stun.
There are a few attacks in the Smash Bros. series that cause the paralyze effect. Targets hit by these attacks will be frozen in place for about two seconds, shaking back and forth, before taking knockback. The user of the paralyzing effect can follow up with a smash attack or other powerful move during the stun, making the effect very useful. Repeatedly using a paralyzing attack will not increase the duration of the effect. This is often confused with the electric effect.
List of paralyzing attacks
By characters
| Character | Move(s) | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Falcon | Lightning Falcon Kick (side hitboxes, landing) | 
|
| Dark Pit | Dark Pit Staff (trapping hit) | |
| Donkey Kong | Focused Slap (first of each pair) | |
| Ganondorf | Beast Ganon (trapping hit) | 
|
| Greninja | Secret Ninja Attack (trapping hit) |
|
| Ike | Paralyzing Counter | |
| Kirby | Ultra Sword (first trapping hit) | |
| Link | Triforce Slash (trapping hit) |
|
| Little Mac | Stunning Straight Lunge |
|
| Lucario | Stunning Double Team | |
| Pac-Man | Bonus Fruit (bell) | |
| Lazy Fruit (bell) | ||
| Pikachu | Thunder Wave | |
| R.O.B. | Super Diffusion Beam (second-last hit) | |
| Robin | Pair Up (Chrom's trapping dash) | |
| Toon Link | Triforce Slash (trapping hit) |
|
| Sheik | Light Arrow (trapping hit) | |
| Paralyzing Needle |
| |
| Zelda | Light Arrow (trapping hit) |
|
| Zero Suit Samus | Down smash | |
| Paralyzer | ||
| Electromagnetic Net |
|
By items
| Item | Attack | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Assist Trophies | Starman: PK Beam γ and PK Beam Ω |
|
| Poké Ball Pokémon | Spewpa: Stun Spore |
By enemies and bosses
| Enemy/Boss | Attack(s) | Games |
|---|---|---|
| Devil Car | Paralyzing fumes | 
|
| Kihunter | Acid | |
| Starman | PK Beam γ and PK Beam Ω |