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SSBM Portrait Marth.png

Basic Techniques

Standard Attacks

Button(s) Description/notes
A button An upward slash.
A button A button Two upward slashes.
Arcade-Modifier-Tap.png A button Same as the above, except Marth will continue alternating between the two slashes.
Forward + A button Another upward slash, but at a much wider arc.
Dash + A button Same as the above, but lower and while running.
Down control + A button Marth jabs his sword low against the floor, hitting his opponent's feet.
Up control + A button Marth Slashes in an arc above him.
Smash Forward + A button A large downward slash.
Smash Down control + A button He slashes in front of him, then behind him.
Smash Up control + A button He jabs his sword straight up.
A button (Lying down) Marth gets up, then stabs behind him, then in front of him.
A button (Hanging of Edge) Marth jumps back up from the ledge while slashing with the momentum.
Smash Forward + A button (Holding a weapon item) A unique ability shared with Roy, Marth will actually open with an attack from his sword before following up with an attack with the item he is holding.

Aerial Attacks

Button(s) Description/notes
A button Marth does one slash, then slashes in the other direction. The second slash can hit enemies behind Marth, too.
Forward + A button Marth slashes in a mostly downward arc. This can combo into another Forward + A button, Down control + A button or Up control + A button
Backwards + A button Marth slashes behind him. If the attack animation finishes, you are now facing in that direction. The tip of this also spikes opponents.
Down control + A button Marth slashes in a downward arc. Spikes opponents.
Up control + A button Marth Slashes upwards, the momentum from which causes him to do a backflip. This can be used to juggle opponents.

Special Attacks

Button(s) Attack Description/notes
B button Shield Breaker Marth holds his sword and charges up. When B button is released, Marth slashes in front of him. It is so named because it can break a shield when fully charged.
Up control + B button Dolphin Slash A rising slash that sends Marth upward a good distance. An opponent hit just when Marth jumps will be sent forward.
Down control + B button Counter Marth protects himself with his sword for a short while. If he is attacked in this time, he will block the attack and counter attack. This does not work for grabs though.
Left control (Right control) + B button Dancing Blade By pressing B button three more times, Marth will launch a four hit combo. The attacks can be modified by holding up or down while pressing B button, allowing for many different attack combinations.

Throws

Button(s) Description/notes
Down control He drops his opponent behind him.
Right control(or Left control) He simply drops his opponent.
Up control Throws his opponent upward. Can be used to chain throw opponents. It is the third strongest up throw in the game.
Left control(or Right control) He simply drops his opponent behind him

Advanced Techniques

Tippers

All of Marth's abilities have two separate hitboxes, one at the tip of the sword and one for the rest of the sword. The tipper does significantly more knockback and damage, and abilities such as the forward aerial, forward smash and Up control + B button can KO earlier than usual if hit with the tip.

Reverse Dolphin Strike

Marth's Up control + B button has a tipper hitbox right behind him, so turing around while Up control + B button can quickly kill high percent enemies. However, if you miss or if it is blocked, Marth's Up control + B button is easily punishable.

Melee Items

It is worth noting that, when smashing with a melee item (i.e. beam sword), Marth and Roy swing their sword first, followed by an item swing. Against low-percentage enemies, the first strike is a great check and provides excellent positioning.

Disjointed Hit Box

Marth’s sword is a disjointed hit box. His sword is not part of his body, and if someone hits his sword you will receive no damage.

Grab Range

Marth has the best non-grapple grab range in the game, and the grab hitbox extends well beyond where his hands reach. When considering the usefulness of his throws in chainthrows and combos, Marth can be said to have the best grab game in the game.

Forward Air Combos

Marth's forward air comes out and and finishes extremely quickly, and it is possible to pull off another aerial after short hopping a forward air, provided one performs the forward air quickly enough after leaving the ground. This is a crucial aspect of many of Marth's combos. By far the most popular aerials to perform after a short-hopped forward air is either simply another forward air or an up air to pop them up into the air for an up tilt or grab. Can also perform a Ken Combo by following a forward air with a down air when close to the edge to spike the enemy; can short hop in-between aerials if needed. Invented by the professional player Ken, who was known for playing red Marth.