Forward air attack

The forward air attack is a common attack used in the Super Smash Bros. series. As the name implies, the forward air attack is an attack performed midair while facing forward. It is commenced by jumping once or twice and then pressing the attack button moving forward. Samus Aran, Zero Suit Samus, Ridley, and Dark Samus each have their own forward air attack. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the attack is named the front air attack.

Samus's forward air attack is the Aerial Fire (エアリアルヘルファイア). Samus sticks her Arm Cannon downward and unleashes a series of four fiery explosions dealing 2-20% damage. Landing all four hits to an opponent is tricky, although the final hit can be chained with other moves. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, the total damage was buffed to 23%. In subsequent games the move's power has been heavily nerfed: to 18% in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and further to 12.8% in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.

Zero Suit Samus's Front Air is a double kick, with the second kick being faster and stronger. The first kick's knockback makes hitting with the second kick more difficult unless Zero Suit Samus uses upward and/or forward momentum from a jump to her advantage. However, she can land the second kick without landing the first with the right timing. In Brawl, the attack deals 6-11% damage, for a total of 17% if both kicks connect. Despite the addition of Jet Boots in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, the attack deals 5-7%, max 12%, a nerf from the previous game.

On January 29, 2019, an update for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate shortened the amount of time that Zero Suit Samus and Ridley cannot grab edges after using their Front Air Attacks.

Samus
''Damage 1~5% Max Damage 11% : 5 Hits Samus blasts her arm cannon in a downward arc in front of her. Can hit multiple times for a lot of damage.''

Zero Suit Samus
''Damage 5~7% Max Damage 12% : 2 Hits Similar to her Side Smash, this attack has Zero Suit Samus use her jet boots to kick twice in front of her.''