Air Attacks

Air attacks (also known as aerial attacks) are attacks only usable in the air. Because you can not use air attacks on the ground, vice versa applies. Each character has 5 attacks for the air:

 1. A attack executed by pressing A and no direction. This attack usually hit either in a single place or in front and back. Few have ones that hit in all directions. (ex. Kirby's is a spin in all directions, while Mario's is a simple kick forward, while Link's hits in front and back.) This attack is called a neutral air or a nair.

 2. A attack executed by pressing A and the direction your character is facing. This attack always hits in front. It can also spike. (ex. Fox's move hits multiple times in front, while Snake's move spikes with a kick slamming down.) This attack is called a forward air or a fair.

 3. A attack executed by pressing A and the opposite direction your character is facing. The move always hits behind. Except for Lucas, the move never spikes. (ex. Bowser's move hits by jabbing his back into characters, while Lucas does a psycho kick that spikes.) This move is called back air or bair.

 4. A attack executed by pressing A and down on the control stick. The attack commonly spikes, but can also have shot the user down at high speeds. (ex. Captain Falcon's move spikes with a strong smash of his feet downward, while Zero Suit Samus's move is a kick downward that pierces through the foe and goes a lot faster than her normal falling speed.) This move is called down air or dair.

 5. A attack executed by pressing A and upward on the control stick. This move often juggles opponents. It can also hit hard or hit repeatedly. (ex. Ness's move is a headbutt that is a good juggler, while Sheik's move hits quickly by spinning with her leg out front, while Zelda's move is a fireball-like explosion with tons of knockback.) This move is called up air or uair.

Air attacks can also be linked into a Shorthop, a small jump off the ground with the purpose of to hit with air attacks. This is a large technique for many Marth mains; it lets them link many fair (forward air) combos together. Shorthopping can be used by any character but only useful to a few characters.

Linking attacks is another way of saying chaining or hitting many of the same moves in succession, but not fast enough to get a combo in Training mode. Usually you can only link air attacks.