Footstool Jump
The Footstool Jump (踏み台ジャンプ Fumidai Janpu, Springboard Jump) is a technique introduced Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It returns in Super Smash Bros. 4, where it is called the Stepping Stone Jump. When characters are directly above another character, they can press the jump button to bounce off of the character's head. When used on a grounded opponent, it briefly freezes the opponent while they are in an animation of the player bouncing off their head. When used on an opponent in midair, it causes the opponent to tumble a set distance. It does no damage and can be used between two and six times in succession (depending on which character is used - a faster falling speed means that the character cannot footstool jump as many times), with each jump resulting in approximately half the rebound. Teammates cannot jump on each other (unless Friendly Fire is set on). Like a normal jump, this jump can be short hopped. Players can also footstool off someone hanging on a ledge, but the character being jumped off will not fall and will not gain as much height. Pit performs this move in a cutscene in the Subspace Emissary.
While said to be a meteor smash on the Smash Bros. DOJO!!, it does not actually function as a meteor smash, as it doesn't produce proper knockback nor can the tumble animation from being footstooled be cancelled early like a meteor smash can through meteor cancelling.
Characters who are sleeping cannot be footstool jumped until they are awake. Additionally, a footstool cannot cancel out an opponent's move, so if a footstool is used on an opponent that is in the process of performing a move, the player will still do a footstool jump while the opponent continues through with their move without tumbling.
Applications
Footstool jumping is primarily used to gimp opponents when edge-guarding. It can also lead straight into meteor smashes with fast startup, such as Marth and Falco's down aerials. Footstools can additionally be used onstage to knock an opponent down, which can then setup for a free hit or one of the various locks that work on knocked down opponents, such as one of the many jab locks and laser lock. The bouncing animation on a grounded opponent is also long enough to hit the opponent after bouncing off, which can be used to land a free hit. Using the footstool to intentionally achieve these things can be difficult, due to its inability to affect an opponent that is performing a move.
Vertical spacing
A more advanced application is using the footstool jump to aid in the landing of Marth's down aerial meteor smash.
Infinite Footstool combos on R.O.B.
Captain Falcon and Zero Suit Samus can perform an infinite Footstool combo on R.O.B. Captain Falcon's combo begins with a neutral aerial, then immediately fast falling, and afterwards performing a Footstool Jump on R.O.B. and repeating. When Captain Falcon racks up enough damage, he can use the Knee Smash as a finisher. Zero Suit Samus' combo can be initiated with her down smash, then using the Footstool Jump on R.O.B., then immediately using her down aerial and repeating. Zero Suit Samus can also use her dash attack, forward tilt, the second jab in her jab combo, and/or the Paralyzer to mix it up as those moves have jab lock properties which can lead to finishers such a Plasma Whip.
In Super Smash Bros. 4
Link ws first seen stepping stone jumping on Pikachu during gameplay on the Living Room stage in the Developer Direct. The technique was later confirmed on the website in the daily image for the Wii U version, and received its new name at the Nintendo E3 Digital Event.
Origins
The Footstool Jump is identical to the classic Mario series action of Mario jumping on an enemy, such as a Goomba. Additionally, the move is very similar to one seen in Kirby Super Star and in Kirby And The Amazing Mirror, where players are able to get a large jump by doing so off of their partner's or another Kirby's head.
The Footstool Jump is also identical to a jump Luigi performs in his introduction in the alternate scene of Super Smash Bros. Melee's Adventure Mode after completing the first part of Stage 1: Mushroom Kingdom with a 2 in the seconds spot (XX:X2:XX). There, he jumps on Mario's head and sends him plummeting to the bottom of Princess Peach's Castle, where the part of Stage 1 is located. Luigi subsequently takes Mario's place in the event.
Gallery
Yoshi jumps from Wario.
A footstool jump in midair.
A footstool jump used for edge-guarding.
