Super Smash Bros. series

Up aerial

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Link using his up aerial in Brawl.
Link's up aerial in Brawl.
Mario's up aerial in Melee.

An up aerial (上空中攻撃, Up/above/upper midair attack; commonly abbreviated as Uair or u-air, and referred to as AttackAirHi internally) is an aerial attack that is performed in midair by pressing the attack button and tilting the control stick upward. Its official term varies between titles; it is known as an up midair attack in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and an up air attack from Super Smash Bros. Brawl onward. Many up aerials are flip kicks, which have a wide coverage above the user. They also tend to launch the opponent at a predominantly upward angle, making them crucial for juggling. A lot of up aerials have a landing animation involving the character falling on their back and having to get back up.

List of up aerials

Character Description
Banjo & Kazooie Kazooie swings her wings in an upward motion.
Bayonetta Performs a frontflip kick. If the button is held, Bayonetta somersaults repeatedly forward and kicks all around herself while firing Bullet Arts from her feet.
Bowser Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl Leans his head down, then swings it upward.
Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Headbutts in an arc starting from the front.
Bowser Jr. Swings a hammer above himself. The Koopalings swing their respective wands instead in Ultimate.
Byleth Unlatches the Sword of the Creator into its whip form, waving it above his head.
Captain Falcon Performs a backflip kick.
Charizard Super Smash Bros. Brawl Bites above itself.
Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Swings its head upward in an arc starting from the front.
Chrom Performs a somersaulting slash above himself in an arc starting from the front.
Cloud Holds the Buster Sword parallel to the ground and thrusts it upward.
Corrin Performs a somersaulting slash above himself in an arc starting from the front.
Daisy Swipes one arm after the other from back to the front above herself, creating two magic rainbow trails.
Dark Pit Twirls the Silver Bow above himself, hitting multiple times.
Dark Samus Performs an upside-down corkscrew kick aimed slightly forward, hitting multiple times.
Diddy Kong Super Smash Bros. Brawl Performs a backflip kick.
Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Kicks in an overhead arc starting from the front.
Donkey Kong Super Smash Bros. Swipes one arm in an overhead arc starting from the front, much like his up tilt.
Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Headbutts in an arc starting from behind.
Dr. Mario Performs a backflip kick.
Duck Hunt The duck pecks upward three times.
Falco Super Smash Bros. Melee Flips forward, hitting with his tail and then his legs.
Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Performs a frontflip kick.
Fox Flips forward, hitting with his tail and then his legs.
Ganondorf Performs a backflip kick.
Greninja Performs an upside-down corkscrew kick, hitting multiple times.
Hero Kicks straight upward.
Ice Climbers Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl Thrust their hammers upward.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Swing their hammers upward in an arc starting from the front.
Ike Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4 Twirls Ragnell above himself in a helicopter motion.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Slashes above himself in an arc starting from the front.
Incineroar Kicks in an overhead arc starting from the front.
Inkling Kicks twice with one leg after the other in an overhead arc starting from the front.
Isabelle Thrusts two turnips upward.
Ivysaur Blasts pollen from its bulb above itself, falling down at a faster speed afterward.
Jigglypuff Waves one arm in an overhead arc starting from behind.
Joker Performs an upside-down corkscrew kick aimed slightly forward, hitting multiple times. If active, Arsene swings one hand upward in tandem with Joker's last hit.
Ken Kicks at a diagonally upward angle.
King Dedede Twirls his hammer above himself, hitting multiple times.
King K. Rool Stretches his body and thrusts his head upward, falling while laughing afterward.
Kirby Super Smash Bros. Performs a cartwheel. From Melee onward, this is his neutral aerial.
Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Performs a backflip kick.
Link Performs a prolonged stab above himself with the Master Sword.
Little Mac Weakly throws out a hook in an overhead arc starting from behind.
Lucario Kicks straight upward, releasing aura from its foot.
Lucas Headbutts in an arc starting from behind.
Lucina Performs a somersaulting slash above herself in an arc starting from the front.
Luigi Performs a backflip kick.
Mario Performs a backflip kick.
Marth Performs a somersaulting slash above himself in an arc starting from the front.
Mega Man Uses the Air Shooter, firing a small tornado above himself that hits opponents multiple times and carries them upward alongside it.
Meta Knight Slashes above himself in an arc starting from the front.
Mewtwo Backflips and swings its tail overhead.
Mii Brawler Kicks in an overhead arc starting from the front.
Mii Gunner Fires several shots upward from their arm cannon.
Mii Swordfighter Performs a twirling stab upward.
Min Min Performs a backflip kick.
Mr. Game & Watch Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4 Blows two puffs of air above himself. Note: Mr. Game and Watch cannot L-Cancel his up aerial in Melee because it actually functions as a special move, thus being unable to L-Cancel. This trait is shared with his neutral and back aerials.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Blows a puff of air that rises upward, hitting opponents multiple times and carrying them alongside it.
Ness Super Smash Bros.Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4 Headbutts in an arc starting from behind.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Swings one arm in an overhead arc starting from behind, releasing PSI sparks from his index finger that hit multiple times.
Olimar Super Smash Bros. Brawl Throws his leading Pikmin above himself, hitting multiple times.
Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Grabs his leading Pikmin by its stem and twirls it above himself.
If no Pikmin are following Olimar, he still performs the respective moves, but they have no effect.
Pac-Man Performs a backflip kick.
Palutena Twirls and summons her halo, hitting multiple times.
Peach Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl Kicks at a diagonally upward angle.
Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Swipes one arm after the other from back to the front above herself, creating two magic rainbow trails.
Pichu Swings its tail in an overhead arc starting from behind.
Pikachu Swings its tail in an overhead arc starting from behind.
Piranha Plant Headbutts in an arc starting from behind.
Pit Twirls the Palutena Bow above himself, hitting multiple times.
R.O.B. Flails both arms above himself, hitting multiple times.
Richter Whips upward with the Vampire Killer. Can function as a tether recovery.
Ridley Thrusts his closed wings upward, stabbing with their sharp ends.
Robin Performs a somersaulting slash in an overhead arc starting from the front. Can use either the Bronze Sword or the Levin Sword.
Rosalina & Luma Rosalina: Summons a rising planetary ring above herself.
Luma: Super Smash Bros. 4 Performs a backflip kick.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Performs an uppercut.
Roy Slashes above himself in an arc starting from the front.
Ryu Uppercuts in front of himself, hitting twice.
Samus Performs an upside-down corkscrew kick aimed slightly forward, hitting multiple times.
Sephiroth Performs an upward slash with Masamune in a front-to-back arc.
Sheik Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. Brawl Performs an upside-down corkscrew kick aimed slightly forward.
Super Smash Bros. 4Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Performs an upside-down corkscrew kick aimed slightly forward, hitting multiple times, then follows up with a stretch kick.
Shulk Thrusts the Monado upward, then activates its beam blade for a second hit.
Simon Whips upward with the Vampire Killer. It can function as a tether recovery.
Snake Performs an upside-down dropkick.
Sonic Performs a scissor kick.
Squirtle Backflips and swings its tail overhead.
Steve Swings his axe above himself.
Terry A flipping kick above.
Toon Link Performs a prolonged stab above himself with the Master Sword.
Villager Thrust one, two, or three turnips upward, with the amount being random.
Wario Claps his hands and feet together.
Wii Fit Trainer Assumes the Half-Moon pose, swinging her outstretched arms in an overhead arc that starts from the front.
Wolf Swipes his claws with one arm in an overhead arc starting from the front.
Yoshi Super Smash Bros.Super Smash Bros. MeleeSuper Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. 4 Somersaults and flicks his tail upward.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Swings his tail upward in an arc starting from behind.
Young Link Performs a prolonged stab above himself with the Kokiri Sword.
Zelda Releases an explosion above herself from one hand.
Zero Suit Samus Performs a backflip kick.

Notable up aerials

Zelda's up aerial in Melee.
  • Mega Man's up aerial, as well as Mr. Game & Watch's in Ultimate, are the only up aerials in the series to be projectiles, allowing them to be reflected or Pocketed.
    • Mega Man's is known for its ability to deal over 20% damage if all hits connect, as well as being composed of windboxes that push opponents upward, allowing it to juggle them efficiently and KO them near the upper blast line, especially if they attempt to jump out of it.
    • It can also meteor smash opponents if it's reflected.
  • Simon and Richter's up aerials function as tether recoveries.
  • Captain Falcon's up aerial is one of his most useful moves in each of his appearances. In Melee and Brawl, it is used as an aerial spacing tool because of its long-range, and can KO at fairly high percents. In Smash 64, Smash 4, and Ultimate, it is used as a juggling tool to string multiple up aerials together and finish off with another move (most infamously Falcon Dive in Smash 64, commonly known as the Stairway to Heaven.). It can also be used as a rather powerful edgeguarding tool in Smash 64.
  • Fox's up aerial in Melee is known for its deadly power, being the second strongest up aerial in the game, only behind Bowser's. It can KO most opponents under 100% from ground level, and can be comboed into from his up throw at a wide range of percents, including at high percents as a KO setup. It was slightly less powerful in Smash 64 although it had better combo potential, especially the first hit. While its knockback was greatly reduced from Brawl onward, it remains a powerful finisher, KOing under 150% from ground level.
  • Bowser's up aerial in Melee is the strongest up aerial, as well as one of the strongest aerials overall, although it has extremely high startup lag to compensate. Its power was reduced in Brawl (and reduced again in Smash 4) although it has noticeably less startup lag (which was reduced even further in Smash 4).
    • In Smash 64 the strongest up aerial was Ness' up aerial in the Japanese version and Jigglypuff's in the international versions.
    • From Brawl onward, this is the case for Zelda's up aerial instead which is particularly powerful in Brawl.
  • Mr. Game & Watch has the only up aerial in Melee that cannot be L-canceled, due to being coded as a special move. This oddity is also present in his neutral aerial and back aerial. It is also the only aerial move where his appearance changes in Ultimate.
  • Meta Knight's up aerial in Brawl is infamous for its range, juggling ability, and extreme speed (coming out on frame 2 and taking only 13 frames to finish), allowing it to true combo into itself even with Brawl's hitstun canceling. It is the fastest aerial attack in the entire series.
    • In Smash 4, it has been significantly nerfed, although, in combination with the changes to hitstun canceling, it can still combo into itself multiple times and then into Shuttle Loop, which easily KOs opponents near the upper blast line.
  • Rosalina & Luma's up aerial in Smash 4 is widely considered one of the best due to Luma's very fast startup (the lowest out of every up aerial in the game) and high base knockback, as well as Rosalina's large disjointed hitbox, which can be used in conjunction to combo into itself and as a followup from several other moves. Most infamously, with high rage, it can drag opponents to the upper blast line and KO them at extremely low percents. In Ultimate, it has been noticeably nerfed, with Luma's attack having more startup, and both characters' attacks having more ending lag to the point there are no longer any followups out of them, in addition to the effect of rage itself being weakened.
  • Cloud's up aerial in Smash 4 is often considered one of the best due to its speed, power, juggling ability, low landing lag, immediate auto-cancel after the hitboxes cease, and deceptively long range both vertically and horizontally, making it a powerful juggling option with little commitment and allowing it to start combos on grounded opponents. In Ultimate, it is much harder to use consistently, as it auto-cancels later, has less range especially vertically, and its power has been decreased, although it remains a solid anti-air option.
  • Zero Suit Samus's up aerial in Smash 4 is notorious for setting up ladder combos. It can combo into itself at low to mid percent to drag opponents near the upper blast line and combo into Boost Kick for an early KO. It can even be done with the aid of platforms. Even it is nerfed in Ultimate, she can still pull it off depending on the hitbox placement she hits with.
    • Mario's up aerial in Smash 4 and Ultimate (and Smash 64 to a lesser extent) is similar to ZSS's, easily setting up ladder combos into itself at low to mid percents, due to its combination of low lag all around and wide coverage above him. With the aid of platforms (such as those of Dream Land), these combos can be extended to drag opponents near the upper blast line and combo into Super Jump Punch for a KO.
  • Steve's up aerial in Ultimate is very fast and easily combos into itself or other aerials. It is also the only up aerial in the game that can be repeated by holding down the attack button, and is comparable to his up tilt.