Down Special Move

Thunder, Pikachu's down special move in all Super Smash Bros. games.

Down Special (also commonly referred to as Down B) is a special move performed by pressing the special move button while holding down on the control stick (or control pad on the Wii Remote). These moves are often gimmick moves, like reflectors or absorbers, or moves with unique properties when used in different ways. For example, Falcon Kick sends Captain Falcon downwards when used in the air, or Meta Knight can teleport and choose to attack if he wishes. They also usually include minimal character movement horizontal or vertically.

List of Down Specials

Character	Move	Description	Image
Banjo & Kazooie	Rear Egg	Kazooie releases a grenade out of the backpack which bounces and explodes after a while.
Bayonetta	Witch Time	When an opponent attacks her, she dodges the attack and slows them down for several seconds. If activated late, she uses Bat Within, where she dodges the strike.
Bowser	Bowser Bomb	Leaps into the air and smashes into the ground with his bottom.
Bowser Jr.	Mechakoopa	Releases a Mechakoopa which walks down the stage and explodes. It can be picked up and thrown, and can hurt Bowser Jr.
Captain Falcon	Falcon Kick	Rushes forward with a flaming leg outstretched. Goes downward diagonally if used while airborne.
Charizard	Rock Smash	Smashes a rock with his head, dealing heavy damage to nearby opponents. Was formerly his Side Special Move until Super Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U.
Cloud Strife	Limit Charge Finishing Touch (when Limit Break is active)	Limit Charge: Charges up a Limit bar. When the bar is full, Limit Break will be active, allowing him to use a powered-up Special Move. Finishing Touch: When Limit Break is active, he spins his sword around in a whirlwind motion. Deals only 1% damage, but has high knockback.
Corrin	Counter Surge	Takes on a defensive stance. If attacked, turns into a dragon and slams into the ground, dealing heavy damage on both sides.
Dark Pit	Guardian Orbitars	Projects shields on both sides of him, which reflect projectiles. Breaks after usage for a number of times
Diddy Kong	Banana Peel	Throws a banana peel backward, which causes opponents to trip. Can be picked up as an item.
Donkey Kong	Hand Slap	Slaps the ground with his hands, creating shockwaves.
Dr. Mario	Dr. Tornado	Spins around with fists outstretched. Stronger than Mario Tornado, and sends opponents flying in a random direction.
Duck Hunt	Wild Gunman	Summons a gunman that fires a bullet. The gunman can take damage and be stopped.
Falco	Reflector	Kicks a Reflector forward, which electrifies and trips opponents, and reflects projectiles.
Fox	Reflector	Projects a stationary reflector around his body, reflecting projectiles and decreasing Fox's falling speed if used in the air.
Ganondorf	Wizard's Foot	Rushes forward with his foot outstretched, exuding darkness. Slower and more powerful than Falcon Kick. Goes diagonally downward when airborne.
Greninja	Substitute	Takes on a defensive stance. If attacked, substitutes itself with a doll and appears nearby, rushing at the attacker and kicking them.
Ice Climbers	Blizzard	Shoot a stream of frigid air which can freeze opponents.
Ike	Counter	Takes on a defensive stance. If attacked, retaliates with a slash dealing 1.2 times the damage of the original attack.
Jigglypuff	Rest	Falls asleep. If an opponent is caught during the initial frames, however, they will take heavy damage and a Lip's Stick will be put on their head.
King Dedede	Jet Hammer	Charges his hammer with a jet engine and unleashes a powerful blow. However, if charged after a certain length of time, he will start taking damage.
Kirby	Stone	Transforms into a stone and falls to the ground, dealing moderate damage in the fall. Cannot take damage while in stone form, but can be grabbed.
Link	Bomb	Takes out a bomb and throws it. If held too long, the bomb will explode, damaging Link.
Little Mac	Slip Counter	Enters a defensive stance. If attacked, he will counter with a punch of his own.
Lucario	Double Team	Enters a defensive stance. If attacked, he will teleport behind the attacker and kick them from behind.
Lucas	PSI Magnet	Creats a psychic field in front of him that absorbs energy attacks and decreases his damage.
Lucina	Counter	Enters a defensive stance. If attacked, will retaliate with attack that deals 1.1x the initial attack.
Luigi	Luigi Cyclone	Spins around with fists outstretched. Can also rise up in the air if the special move button is mashed repeatedly.
Mario	F.L.U.D.D. (SSBB, 3DS/Wii U Mario Tornado (SSB, SSBM)	F.L.U.D.D.: Charges up water in the eponymous pack and sprays it out at high pressure, which pushes opponents back but does not damage them. Mario Tornado: Spins around with fists outstretched. Became his down aerial starting in Brawl.
Marth	Counter	Enters a defensive stance and will launch a counterattack if attacked, dealing 1.1 times the damage of the original attack.
Mega Man	Leaf Shield	Surrounds himself with the Leaf Shield, which can be thrown.
Meta Knight	Dimensional Cape	Teleports a short distance away, slashing with his sword upon doing so.
Mewtwo	Disable	Fires a short blast which will briefly stun opponents.
Mii Brawler	Head-On Assault Feint Jump Foot Flurry	Head-On Assault: Leaps into the air and slams headfirst into the ground, burying opponents. Feint Jump: Does a backflip with invincibility frames. If the special move button is pressed again, they will kick diagonally toward the ground. Foot Flurry: Rushes forward, kicking rapidly.
Mii Gunner	Echo Reflector Bomb Drop Absorbing Vortex	Echo Reflector: Surrounds themself in a field of energy that can reflect projectiles. Bomb Drop: Shoots a small bomb from their arm cannon that explodes soon after. Absorbing Vortex: Surrounds themself in a vortex which absorbs projectile attacks and decreases their damage.
Mii Swordfighter	Blade Counter Reversal Slash Power Thrust	Blade Counter: Enters a defensive stance and unleashes a counterattack if attacked. Reveral Slash: Creates a rainbow with their slash that reflects projectiles. Power Thrust: Rushes forward and thrusts their sword.
Min Min	ARMS Change	Min Min changes her right extendable. She has three options: The Ramram has the least endlag but is the weakest. The Megawatt is the strongest albeit the slowest. The Dragon is the middle ground.
Mr. Game & Watch	Oil Panic	Catches energy projectiles in a bucket, and can fire a powerful blast of oil afterwards after absorbing three projectiles.
Ness	PSI Magnet	Surrounds himself in an energy field that absorbs energy projectiles and heals him. Unlike Lucas', Ness' PSI Magnet surrounds his body.
Olimar	Pikmin Order	Brings all his Pikmin back to him and reorders them. Gives Super Armor frames.
Pac-Man	Fire Hydrant	Sets a fire hydrant on the ground, which fires blasts of water that can push opponents.
Palutena	Counter Lightweight Celestial Firework	Counter: Enters a defensive stance and retaliates if attacked. Lightweight: Makes herself significantly lighter and faster, but decreases her damage output and makes her easier to launch. Celestial Firework: Shoots fireworks right in front of her, which hit opponents repeatedly and drag them upwards before exploding.
Peach	Vegetable	Pulls out a vegetable which has varying effects depending on its face. Can occasionally pull out other items.
Pichu	Thunder	Hits itself with a lightning bolt, damaging nearby enemies. However, this damages Pichu unless it uses the move under a platform.
Pikachu	Thunder	Hits itself with a lightning bolt. Meteor Smashes opponent in Wii U/3DS.
Pit	Guardian Orbitars (3DS/Wii U) Mirror Shield (SSBB)	Guardian Orbitars: Surrounds himself with two shields that reflect projectiles. Mirror Shield: Crouches down and reflects projectiles in front of him with the shield.
Pokémon Trainer	Pokémon Change	Switches between his three Pokémon.
R.O.B.	Gyro	Charges a spinning Gyro and launches it forward, which does considerable damage. Can be picked up later.
Robin	Nosferatu	Projects dark magic from his hand which damages any opponent caught in it while simultaneously healing Robin.
Rosalina & Luma	Gravitational Pull	Pulls all items in range to her. Can also be used to nullify all projectile attacks.
Roy	Counter	Enters a defensive stance and will retaliate if attacked, dealing 1.5 times the damage of the original attack.
Ryu	Focus Attack	Enters a charging state. When released or after a second, punches forward, causing the opponent to crumple if fully charged.
Samus	Bomb	Spins into a ball and releases a small bomb that does minor damage. Samus' spinning can be used to halt downward momentum.
Sheik	Bouncing Fish (3DS/Wii U) Transform (SSBM, SSBB)	Bouncing Fish: Flips up into the air and attacks with her heels. Transform: Transforms into Zelda. Is invincible during transformation period.
Shulk	Vision	Enters a defensive stance. As he is about to be attacked, Shulk foresees the attack before dodging it and launching a counterattack.
Snake	C4	Plants a mine on the ground which will explode by pressing the B button again or after a certain amount of time. Can be attached to other opponents.
Sonic	Spin Charge	Spins across the stage. Unlike Spin Dash, Sonic does not jump at first and mashing the special move button during the move can make it more powerful.
Toon Link	Bomb	Pulls out a bomb, which can be thrown. Has a bigger blast radius than Link's.
Villager	Timber	Plants a sapling, waters it until it grows into a tree, and cuts it down. The tree sprouting and falling deals massive damage.
Wario	Wario Waft	Farts. Is initially harmless, but if not used for a long time, will grow in power.
Wii Fit Trainer	Deep Breathing	Heals a little damage and powers herself up for a time. If used in fast succession, the move will be much slower.
Wolf	Reflector	Projects an energy field around himself which reflects projectiles, similar to Fox's. However, Wolf's Reflector is pink and has a countering effect.
Yoshi	Yoshi Bomb	Leaps up and slams into the ground. Stars emerge from each side, dealing damage.
Young Link	Bomb	Pulls out a bomb similar to Link's.
Zelda	Phantom Slash (3DS/Wii U) Transform (SSBM, SSBB)	Phantom Slash: Charges and unleashes a phantom that slashes any opponent it encounters. Cannot be used for a certain amount of time if Phantom is damaged repeatedly. Transform: Transforms into Sheik. Invincible during the duration.
Zero Suit Samus	Flip Jump	Flips up into the air and can follow up with a kick attack. Gains invincibility frames at the start, and Meteor Smashes if kick hits during the first frames. Buries grounded opponents in Wii U/3DS.