The down special move (commonly referred to as down B) is a special move performed by pressing the special move button while holding the control stick downwards.
Down specials are the most varied of special moves and are often of the character's more "gimmicky" attacks - the majority of reflectors, absorbers, counterattacks, item-creating moves, mid-match character transformations, difficult recoveries and chargeable attacks are down specials. They tend to involve minimal character movement.
Reverse Down Special[]
In Brawl, some characters' down special moves can be reversed by pushing the control stick or D-pad in the opposite direction a few frames after inputting the move. There is no animation for reversing a down special. Unlike other reverse specials, a reverse down special has a limited number of characters that can do it and fewer who will gain an advantage from it. The characters who can perform it are: Bowser, Yoshi, Pit, Ice Climbers, R.O.B., Pikachu, Marth, Ike, Ness, Lucas, Fox, Wolf, and Mr. Game and Watch. Since only Bowser, R.O.B., and Yoshi have a use for a reverse down special on the ground, some characters can use it in the air to gain a boost in the opposite direction and surprise opponents like Marth, Ike and Pikachu. The boost is most likely caused from a reverse down special having no animation and swaps the momentum around with the character.
List of Special Moves[]
| Character | Neutral Special Move |
|---|---|
| Dr. Mario | Dr. Tornado |
| Mario | Mario Tornado |
| Metal Mario | Metal Vaccum |
| Cat Mario | Lucky Cat Statue |
| Luigi | Luigi Cyclone |
| Captain Toad | Pick Up |
| Toadette | Giant Turnip |
| Peach | Turnip |
| Daisy | Daisy Mine |
| Bowser | Bowser Bomb |
| Bowser Jr. | Mechakoopa |
| Rosalina & Luma | Gravitiational Pull |
| Birdo | Suction Cannon |
| Plum | Club Change |
| Yoshi | Yoshi Bomb |
| Kamek | Magic Boost |
| Mallow | Psychopath |
| Geno | Geno Blast |
| Paper Mario | Color Splash |
| Pauline | Mini Capsule |
| Stanley | Pirahana Plant |
| Donkey Kong | Hand Slap |
| Donkey Kong Jr. | Temper Tantrum |
| Diddy Kong | Banana Peel |
| Dixie Kong | Gutiar Wave |
| King K Rool. | Krem Barrel |
| Cranky Kong | Pogo Cane |
| Wario | Wario Waft |
| Waluigi | Waluigi Dance |
| Captain Syrup | Blast Bomb |
| Ashley | Hocus Cloud |
| Mona | Mona Pinwheel |
| Link | Bomb |
| Young Link | Super Bomb |
| Toon Link | Chu Bomb |
| Wild Link | Flurry Rush |
| Zelda | Phantom Slash |
| Sheik | Bouncing Fish |
| Ganondorf | Twilight Blade |
| Saria | Rapid Blast |
| Toon Zelda | Mirror Shield |
| Tetra | Spoils Bag |
| Impa | Naginata |
| Lana | Magic Trap |
| Skull Kid | Lost Melody |
| Ghirahim | Shadow Slip |
| Marin | Ballad of the Wind Fish |
| Linkle | Giant Bomb |
| Samus | Bomb |
| Zero Suit Samus | Flip Jump |
| Federation Soilder | Plasma Grenade |
| Ridley | Dragon Charge |
| Dark Samus | Phazon Dive |
| Sylux | Lockjaw |
| Pit | Guardian Orbitars |
| Dark Pit | Violet Palm |
| Palutena | Counter |
| Magnus | Curb Stomp |
| Viridi | Lunar Sancity |
| Hades | Looking Tasty |
| Fighter | EZ Cannon |
| Kirby | Stone |
| Meta Knight | Dimensional Cape |
| King Dedede | Jet Hammer |
| Waddle Dee | Wapod |
| Gooey | Spark |
| Adeline | Bumper Crop |
| Prince Fluff | Digger |
| Bronto Burt | Combo Bomb |
| Sir Keeble | Dual Cutter |
| Knuckle Joe | Energy Blast |
| Magolor | Star Portal |
| Susie | Bomb Bot |
| Olimar | Pikmin Call |
| Alph | Pikmin Call |
| Fox | Reflector |
| Falco | Reflector |
| Peppy | Old Reflector |
| Slippy | A.T.K. Unit |
| Krystal | Shine |
| Wolf | Reflector |
| Panther | Shadow Pounce |
| Captain Falcon | Falcon Kick |
| Jody Summer | Cat Kick |
| Black Shadow | Shadow Kick |
| Villager | Timber |
| Isabelle | Ordinance |
| Ash[1] | Goodra - Dragon Rage
Quilava - Flame Wheel Snivy - Energy Ball Totodile - Water Gun Krokodile - Crunch |
| Dawn[1] | Turtwig - Bullet Seed
Monferno - Fake Out Empoleon - Bubble Beam |
| Micheal | Quick Attack |
| Pichu | Nuzzle |
| Pikachu | Thunder Jolt |
| Raichu | Discharge |
| Charizard | Flamethrower |
| Ivysaur | Solar Beam |
| Squirtle | Water Gun |
| Meowth | Pay Day |
| Gengar | Hypnosis |
| Mewtwo | Shadow Ball |
| Scizor | Bullet Punch |
| Sceptile | Leech Seed |
| Gardevoir | Magical Leaf |
| Weavile | Ice Shard |
| Lucario | Aura Sphere |
| Zoroark | Dark Pulse |
| Genesect | Techno Blast |
| Braixan | Fire Blast |
| Greninja | Water Shuriken |
| Decidueye | Spirit Shackle |
| Lycanroc | Accelerock/Counter Stone |
| Marth | Shield Breaker |
| Roy | Flare Blade |
| Lucina | Shield Breaker |
| Anna | Storage |
| Alm | Attack Breaker |
| Lyn | Brave Bow |
| Ike | Eruption |
| Micaiah | Light Tome |
| Robin | Thunder |
| Chrom | Dual Strike |
| Corrin | Dragon Fang Shot |
| Azura | Watery Temple |
| Alphonse | Slaying Edge |
| Itsuki | Zio |
| Joker | Eiha |
| Henry Fleming | Eagle Spike |
| Ninten | PK Beam |
| Ness | PK Flash |
| Poo | Mirror |
| Lucas | Offense Up |
| Kumatora | PK Freeze |
| Masked Man | PK Love |
| Isaac | Move |
| Andy | Advance Troop |
| Demille | Linear Glove |
| Maya | Camera Obscura |
| Ray Mk II | Gatling Gun |
| Metabee | Ultra Shot |
| Ashley Robbins | DTS |
| Chibi Robo | Chibi Blaster |
| Wii Fit Trainer | Sun Salutation |
| Reporter | Chorus Wave |
| Captain Rainbow | Rainbow Punch |
| Trendsetter | New Footwear |
| Duna | Elegant Bite |
| Satoru | Summon |
| Aisya | Aqua |
| Mallo | Jump Slam |
| Dillon | Dash Roll |
| Wonder Red | Fire Fist |
| Inkling | Splattershot |
| Spring Man | Sparky Punch |
| Tethu | Leaf Wall |
| Eudiel | |
| Pulseman | Charge Swipe |
| Snake | Grenade |
| Raiden | Zandatsu |
| Frogger | Checkpoint |
| Bomberman | Bomb |
| Sonic | Homing Attack |
| Classic Sonic | Elemental Ability |
| Metal Sonic | Shock Attack/Spin Attack |
| Tails | Electro Ball Blaster |
| Knuckles | Dig |
| Amy | Pink Tornado |
| Shadow | Homing Attack |
| Blaze | Fly Claw |
| Sticks | Guided Boomerang |
| Dr. Eggman | Lava Spitter |
| Alex Kidd | Janken |
| Ristar | Star Tackle |
| Arle | Fire |
| Bayonetta | Bullet Climax |
| Megaman | Metal Blade |
| Roll | Roll Buster |
| Bass | Bass Buster |
| Protoman | Proto Buster |
| X | X Buster |
| Zero | Z Buster |
| Ryu | Hadoken |
| Chun-Li | Kikoken |
| Leon Kennedy | Throwing Knife |
| Phoenix Wright | Objection!/Take That! |
| Pac-Man | Bonus Fruit |
| Blinky | Power Pellet |
| Dig Dug | Pump |
| Klonoa | Wind Bullet |
| Jin Kazama | Penetrating Fist |
| Lloyd | Demon Fang |
| Agumon[2] | Pepper Breath/Nova Blast/Giga Destroyer/Grey Fire |
| Black Mage | Gravity |
| Onion Knight | Multi-Hit/Firaga/Shuriken |
| Cloud | Blade Beam |
| Sephiroth | Black Materia |
| Crono | Wind Slash |
| Alena | Multifist |
| Rayman | Fist Toss |
| Travis Touchdown | Strawberry Shortcake |
| Hero | Free Draw |
| Maxwell | Rocket Launcher |
| Banjo And Kazooie | Egg Fire |
| Professor Layton | Accusation |
| Shantae | Belly Dance Transformation |
| Shovel Knight | Chaos Sphere |
| Mii Brawler | Put Shot |
| Mii Swordfighter | Gale Strike |
| Mii Gunner | Charge Blast |
| Mii Bionic | Metal Pursuit |
| Mii Athlele | Soccer Kick |
| Mii Sorcerer | Magical Sphere |