Standard attack

The first hit of Mario's neutral attack in Brawl.

A neutral attack, (officially standard attack, also known as a jab, neutral A, neutral combo, AAA or A), is an attack performed by pressing the A button while one's character is standing, and the control stick or Wiimote directional pad is in a neutral position. Jabs are typically fast, short-ranged, weak hits that are useful for starting combos, or breaking opponents'. Many jabs, such as Mario's, form natural "neutral" combos of two or three hits, the final hit usually inflicting the most damage and knockback, while others, such as Fox's, initiate rapid, continuous, multi-hit attacks that opponents must often DI out of.

The speed at which each hit in the sequence of a neutral combo is executed can be controlled through the timing of a player's button taps. In Melee and Brawl, neutral combos may be interrupted by crouching or shielding, in order to restart them, or to perform other moves quickly after canceling them.

In Super Smash Bros.

In the original Super Smash Bros, standard attacks consisting of consecutive hits, which form neutral combos, are executed by tapping A the appropriate number of times. Characters who possess a rapid jab are able to repeat it steadily and indefinitely if a player repeatedly taps A once the rapid jab is initiated. The Neutral attack is usually a physical attack that must be used up close.

Character	Neutral combo	Rapid jab
Captain Falcon	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Donkey Kong	2 hits	N
Fox	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Jigglypuff	2 hits	N
Kirby	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Link	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Luigi	3 hits	N
Mario	3 hits	N
Ness	3 hits	N
Pikachu	1 hit	N
Samus	2 hits	N
Yoshi	2 hits	N

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Similarly to the original Super Smash Bros., in Melee, standard attacks that form neutral combos are executed by tapping A the appropriate number of times, and characters who possess a rapid jab are able to repeat it steadily and indefinitely if a player repeatedly taps A once the rapid jab is initiated. Many CPUs use this attack often.

Character	Neutral combo	Rapid jab
Bowser	2 hits	N
Captain Falcon	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Doctor Mario	3 hits	N
Donkey Kong	2 hits	N
Falco	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Fox	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Ganondorf	1 hit	N
Ice Climbers	2 hits	N
Jigglypuff	2 hits	N
Kirby	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Link	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Luigi	3 hits	N
Mario	3 hits	N
Marth	2 hits	N
Mewtwo	1 hit	launches after 1st hit
Mr. Game & Watch	1 hit	launches after 1st hit
Ness	3 hits	N
Peach	2 hits	N
Pichu	1 hit	N
Pikachu	1 hit	N
Roy	1 hit	N
Samus	2 hits	N
Sheik	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Yoshi	2 hits	N
Young Link	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Zelda	1 hit	N

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

In Brawl, holding the A button has several uses when performing neutral attacks. Standard attacks consisting of consecutive hits that form neutral combos may be executed either by tapping A the appropriate number of times, or by holding A when one of the attacks connects with an opponent. Characters who possess a rapid jab are able to repeat it steadily and indefinitely if a player holds A once the rapid jab is initiated, however, tapping A repeatedly also works. Additionally, if A is held without attacking an opponent, some characters are able to repeat the first hit of their jab continuously until it does connect, after which their neutral combo will follow, a technique called consecutive jabbing. It should be noted that different characters' consecutive jabs repeat at different paces, with Fox and Snake possessing very fast consecutive jabs, and Ike and Sonic very slow ones.

Character	Consecutive jab	Neutral combo	Rapid jab
Bowser	N	2 hits	N
Captain Falcon	Y	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Charizard	N	3 hits	N
Diddy Kong	N	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Donkey Kong	N	2 hits	N
Falco	N	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Fox	Y	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Ganondorf	N	1 hit	N
Ice Climbers	N	2 hits	N
Ike	Y	3 hits	N
Ivysaur	N	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Jigglypuff	Y	2 hits	N
King Dedede	N	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Kirby	Y	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Link	N	3 hits	N
Lucario	N	3 hits	N
Lucas	Y	3 hits	N
Luigi	N	3 hits	N
Mario	Y	3 hits	N
Marth	N	2 hits	N
Meta Knight*	N	N	launches immediately
Mr. Game & Watch	N	1 hit	launches after 1st hit
Ness	Y	3 hits	N
Olimar	N	2 hits	N
Peach	N	2 hits	N
Pikachu	Y	1 hit	N
Pit**	N	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
R.O.B	N	2 hits	N
Samus	N	2 hits	N
Sheik	N	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Snake	Y	3 hits	N
Sonic	Y	3 hits	N
Squirtle	Y	3 hits	N
Toon Link	N	3 hits	N
Wario	N	2 hits	N
Wolf	Y	3 hits	N
Yoshi	N	2 hits	N
Zelda	N	1 hit	N
Zero Suit Samus	Y	3 hits	N

*Meta Knight's neutral attack is unique, as it is the only jab that functions as a rapid attack, but can't function as a single hit attack. When A is pressed, a rapid attack is immediately launched and may be continued indefinitely. However, even if A is not held, Meta Knight will slash several times before the move ends.
**Pit's neutral attack can function as either a three-hit combo, or a two-hit combo that launches into a rapid attack, depending on the player's input. If the attack is held during the second hit, Pit performs the three-hit combo, but if the attack button is mashed, the rapid attack initiates and continues for as long as the attack button is held afterwards. Pit is the only character who possesses two different types of jabs.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

New to Super Smash Bros. 4, all rapid jabs now end with a stronger finishing hit that launches the opponent away from them after enough time in the jab. These finishers have slightly longer range than rapid jabs, allowing the attacker to safely end the move and knock away opponents if they escape. The attacker will also be gradually pushed backwards as they land more hits. All this serves a dual purpose, to both remove infinite combos and give jabbing fighters the ability to knock their opponent away when they are done with them. Additionally, rapid jabs themselves seem to have been sped up.

Character	Consecutive jab	Neutral combo	Rapid jab
Bowser	N	2 hits	N
Bowser Jr.	Y	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Captain Falcon	Y	2 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Charizard	N	3 hits	N
Dark Pit	N	2 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Diddy Kong	N	3 hits	launches after 3rd hit
Donkey Kong	N	2 hits	N
Dr. Mario	Y	3 hits	N
Duck Hunt	N	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Falco	N	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Fox	Y	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Ganondorf	N	1 hit	N
Greninja	N	2 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Ike	Y	3 hits	N
Jigglypuff	Y	2 hits	N
King Dedede	N	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Kirby	Y	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Link	N	3 hits	N
Little Mac	Y	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit*
Lucario	N	3 hits	N
Lucas	Y	3 hits	N
Lucina	N	2 hits	N
Luigi	N	3 hits	N
Mario	Y	3 hits	N
Marth	N	2 hits	N
Mega Man	N	up to 3 shots	N
Meta Knight	N	N	launches immediately
Mewtwo	N	1 hit	launches after 1st hit
Mii Brawler	Y	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Mii Gunner	N	3 hits	N
Mii Swordfighter	N	3 hits	N
Mr. Game & Watch	N	1 hit	launches after 1st hit
Ness	Y	3 hits	N
Olimar	N	2 hits	N
Pac-Man	Y	3 hits	N
Palutena	N	1 hit	launches after 1st hit
Peach	N	2 hits	N
Pikachu	Y	1 hit	N
Pit	N	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
R.O.B	N	2 hits	N
Robin	N	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Rosalina & Luma	N	3 hits	can launch after 2nd hit
Roy	N	1 hit	N
Ryu	N	3 hits (tapped) 1 hit (held)	N
Samus	N	2 hits	N
Sheik	N	2 hits	launches after 2nd hit
Shulk	Y	3 hits	N
Sonic	Y	3 hits	N
Toon Link	N	3 hits	N
Villager	Y (both hits used)	2 hits	N
Wario	N	2 hits	N
Wii Fit Trainer	Y	3 hits	N
Yoshi	N	2 hits	N
Zelda	N	1 hit	N
Zero Suit Samus	Y	3 hits	N

*Little Mac's can only initiate is rapid jab if the attack button is pressed rapidly after connecting the second hit near an opponent. He's the only character to have this distinction.

Gallery

These are the more notable jab attacks.

The third hit of Luigi's jab; it is an unconventional attack for a jab.

Peach's jab; it is based off of the Slap Glove from Super Mario RPG.

Mr. Game and Watch's jab; it is very fast and consist of only one attack.

Zelda's jab, consists of one attack.

Ganondorf's jab, it consists of one attack.

Palutena's jab, it consists of one attack.

Kirby's jab attack; it is very fast and powerful.

Meta-Knight's jab attack, a rapid series of haphazard slashes.

Little Mac's jab; it is one of the fastest jabs in the game, coming out very early.

Villager's jab; one of the few jabs in the game to have no finisher or launching blow.

The last hit of Wii Fit Trainer's jab; it can burrow grounded opponents when it connects.

Wii Fit Trainer's jab burrowing Kind Dedede in the ground.

Roy's jab; it consists of one hit.

Mega Man's unique jab attack; it is the only jab to have a projectile and has the longest range of all jabs.

See also

• Jab Fake
• Jab Lock