User:CanvasK/Sandbox
Formula
The formula for calculating the number of frames of hitlag experienced by both the attacker and victim has been different for most of the games (the final result is rounded down):
- In Super Smash Bros. Melee, it is
(d/3 + 3) * e * c - In Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4, it is
(d * 0.3846154 + 5) * e * c * h - In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it is
(d * 0.65 * p + 6) * e * c * h
The values correspond to the following:
- d, the amount of damage an attack would deal rounded down
- e, electric effect; 1.5× (for the victim only in Melee, and for both the attacker and victim in every other game)
- c, crouch canceling; 0.666667× in Melee and 0.67× in Brawl onward (applied to the victim only in all games)
- h, hitlag multiplier; defined by every hitbox and defaults to 1×
- For example, the majority of Marth's attacks have a hitlag multiplier of 1.25× if the tipper connects, and 0.7× otherwise.
- Some moves are coded to deal no hitlag at all, either by being given a hitlag multiplier of 0× or using a special parameter that disables hitlag when turned on. Examples of such moves are Bowser Bomb in Brawl and Falco's Reflector in Smash 4.
- In Brawl and Smash 4 prior to version 1.1.0, shielding opponents were not affected by these hitlag multipliers; therefore, moves with below-average multipliers were safer on shield, while those with above-average multipliers were less safe, as the attacker experienced less or more hitlag (respectively) than the shield user. Beginning in version 1.1.0 of Smash 4, shields are properly affected by hitlag multipliers, therefore removing the difference in shield safety caused by them.
- In Smash 4, starting in version 1.1.0, if the hitlag multiplier of a move is higher than 1×, it is multiplied by 0.8× if it hits a shield, though without dropping below 1×. For example, the 1.25× hitlag multiplier of Marth's tippers is reduced to 1× if they are shielded. This applies only to the attacker in 1.1.0, and to both the attacker and victim from 1.1.1 onward. As a result, in the former case, moves with above-average hitlag are effectively safer on shield, while in the latter case, shielding them merely reduces the usual hitlag period.
- In Brawl and Smash 4 prior to version 1.1.0, shielding opponents were not affected by these hitlag multipliers; therefore, moves with below-average multipliers were safer on shield, while those with above-average multipliers were less safe, as the attacker experienced less or more hitlag (respectively) than the shield user. Beginning in version 1.1.0 of Smash 4, shields are properly affected by hitlag multipliers, therefore removing the difference in shield safety caused by them.
- p, based on player count:
Players 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ultimate 1.0 0.925 0.862 0.8116 0.77464 0.752464 0.75
- In Melee, the intermediate result is rounded down before applying the electric modifier and before applying the crouch cancel modifier. If both modifiers apply, the electric modifier is applied first.
- Similarly in Ultimate, the intermediate result isn't rounded down but gets rounded down after applying each modifier.
- In Ultimate, if a move is shielded, hitlag is multiplied by 0.67× for both the attacker and victim, and the move's hitlag multiplier is ignored if it is lower than 1×. This is especially noticeable for moves such as Cloud's Limit Cross Slash, which normally uses a hitlag multiplier of 0.3× for its linking hits; the move's hits transition considerably slower if it hits a shield.
- In Ultimate, if Spirits are turned on in the Rules, regardless of if any spirits are used in the match, hitlag growth beyond 15 frames (10 frames when crouch cancelling) is reduced to about a third of its usual rate (0.65→~0.2), likely to prevent moves from dealing excessive hitlag due to damage increases.
As shown by the formulas, the general amount of hitlag on moves is at its lowest in Melee, and has since increased throughout the series, with Ultimate having the most hitlag. In all games, hitlag is higher the more damage a move deals. For example, weak attacks such as Mario's jab have minimal hitlag, but the hitlag of strong or sweetspoted attacks can last much longer; up to a maximum of 20 frames in Melee, and 30 frames from Brawl onward. In addition, Brawl introduced the mechanic of hitlag modifiers, causing variance in the hitlag duration of attacks; this is in contrast to Melee and Smash 64, where the duration of hitlag was predictable.
Hitlag only affects the object that deals the damage; all other game elements (including, interestingly enough, any particle effects the attack generated) are uninterrupted. For example, both Captain Falcon and his opponent sustain hitlag upon a sweetspotted Knee Smash, while Samus' movement is not interrupted by a Charge Shot hitting someone, since it is a projectile not attached to her. Hitlag affects the attacker as long as the attack connects, even if it deals no damage as a result of hitting opponents with invincibility. Hitlag is also exaggerated if two attacks clash, or if an attack is perfect shielded; in the latter case, the attacker suffers from hitlag while the defender receives none. Additionally, if an attack deals no knockback, the target does not experience any hitlag.
Attacks with the electric effect are unique in that they increase the amount of hitlag, multiplying the number of frames by 1.5 (rounded down), which stacks with the hitlag multiplier that the move otherwise has (for example, an electric attack with a hitlag multiplier of 1.2 deals 1.8 times the amount of hitlag). Interestingly, in Smash 4 if a character is hit by an electric attack from another, and either character is affected by slowdown (such as the Timer item), then the target receives additional hitlag, while the attacker does not. This phenomenon does not occur with non-electric attacks, even those that have a hitlag multiplier.
