Sidestepping (also known as "sidestep dodging", "spot dodging", "ground dodging", or simply "dodging") is a maneuver in Melee and Brawl that renders the character invincible for a split-second. Functionally similar to an air dodge, it is performed by pressing down while shielding, and can be employed to evade any and all harm of short duration. It is perhaps most useful in dodging projectiles and items along with quickly counter-attacking foes during the ending lag of their missed attack.
Sidestepping is the shortest and fastest of the three dodges (rolling, side, and air), the only one where the player effectively remains stationary.
Though the sidestep animation shows the character leaning into the back or foreground, the invincibility frames gained allows the character to dodge all attacks, including those that come from the foreground or background, such as the lava wave in Norfair.
Spot dodge frame list in Brawl
The numbers before the / are the invincibility frames of the spot dodge, and the number after the / is the total number of frames taken to perform the spot dodge.
2-20 / 22 Link
2-20 / 22 Pikachu
2-20 / 22 Falco
2-20 / 22 Yoshi
2-20 / 22 Toon Link
2-20 / 24 Marth
2-20 / 25 Mario
2-20 / 25 Samus
2-20 / 25 Zero Suit Samus
2-20 / 25 Kirby
2-20 / 25 Fox
2-20 / 25 Mr. Game & Watch
2-20 / 25 Luigi
2-20 / 25 Diddy Kong
2-20 / 25 Zelda
2-20 / 25 Sheik
2-20 / 25 Pit
2-20 / 25 Meta Knight
2-20 / 25 Squirtle
2-20 / 25 Ivysaur
2-20 / 25 Charizard
2-20 / 25 Ike
2-20 / 25 Snake
2-20 / 25 Peach
2-20 / 25 Ganondorf (Moves back slightly)
2-20 / 25 Ice Climbers
2-20 / 25 Wolf
2-20 / 25 Lucario
2-20 / 25 Ness
2-20 / 25 Sonic
2-20 / 25 Wario
2-20 / 25 R.O.B.
2-20 / 25 Captain Falcon
2-20 / 25 Lucas
3-20 / 25 Olimar
3-16 / 25 Jigglypuff
2-20 / 27 King Dedede
2-23 / 30 Donkey Kong
3-24 / 32 Bowser