Crouch

The crouch or duck move has been used in almost every Mario platformer. To use it, the player must simply press in 2D games, or / in 3D games. If the player releases the button, characters return to their standing position. It is used to duck under projectiles and slide under walls while moving. In 3D games, the player can chain it to a Somersault or Long Jump while dashing; Super Mario Sunshine is an exception, as Mario can perform a Somersault, but he cannot crouch or Long Jump. If characters use it at the same time as a jump in side-scrollers, they can jump while still crouching. This can be utilized to get into one-block tall holes. It can also be used within these tunnels to move slightly with each jump, but if the player releases the down button, the character performing it will automatically go towards the opposite direction they are facing. Small characters can only crouch in Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario World, the New Super Mario Bros. games, Super Mario 3D Land, and Super Mario 3D World.

In Super Mario Bros. 2, if characters stay still in a crouch position for a small period of time, the character will start to flash and can jump higher (once per charge). This ability is called the Power Squat Jump. The somersault move in Super Mario 3D Land and Super Mario 3D World operates similarly to this.

In some games, such as Super Mario 64 and games in the Super Smash Bros. series since Super Smash Bros. Brawl, attempting to move while in a crouch allows the character to crawl, which allows Mario to scale steep slopes and walk carefully on sloped surfaces. Only a number of characters in the Super Smash Bros. series can do this. In Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario Odyssey, the characters can also roll while crouching.