Dash

Dashing is a standard move in the Mario franchise that allows a character to run faster than normal. Mario, Luigi, and their friends can dash when the player holds, , or and/or uses / (depending on the game and/or control setup), letting them run over small pits. They can also jump farther and/or higher than normal while dashing. After running for a while, they sprint and reach their top speed; this move is called a Super Dash in Super Mario 3D World, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, and the respective style in Super Mario Maker 2. In Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario 64 DS, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Mario 3D Land, Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, each of the playable characters is capable of sprinting at different speeds after running for a while (or grabbing an object in Super Mario Bros. 2); the sprint quickness also varies in Super Mario 3D World, being inversely proportional to one's top speed (the faster runners take longer to sprint, and vice-versa). Additionally, the Cat form lets one sprint quicker than normal. In Super Mario 64 DS, the playable characters can also "charge up" a dash (when the player holds the run button while the characters stand still) to take off at top speed.

In Paper Mario, Mario is able to dash by using the Spin Dash, performed by pressing. The Speedy Spin Badge makes him go even faster, the Dizzy Attack Badge lets him reflect enemy projectiles and make enemies he runs into dizzy at a battle's start, and the Spin Attack Badge lets him defeat weak enemies on the field with this move. Mario stops moving after the Spin Dash is done, though jumping right after performing the move relieves the lag. The move is used to avoid enemies and cross obstacles such as conveyor belts.

In Super Paper Mario, Dashell can let the party members dash when the player holds, in a similar fashion as the 2D Super Mario games.

Dashing is a key form of movement in the Super Smash Bros. series, having more utility than simply walking. Characters can also perform an attack while dashing, specifically called the dash attack. In the first five games, only up smashes, grabs, and special moves can be used out of a dash; in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, however, all ground attacks can be used out of a dash. All characters have an initial dash: This form of movement is usually very fast and short-distanced, and continuing to tap the Control Stick results in the initial dash either accelerating or decelerating into the character's consistent running speed.

In Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Mario and Luigi can dash when they gain a new ability called Dash. This move can be used to dash past or through obstacles in a short time.

In Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, Mario, Luigi, and Paper Mario gain the ability to dash with the Dash Socks. They can dash when the player holds after a Team Jump. They can bloom Spinny Flowers for coins, use catapults, and catch characters that run from them, such as Paper Toads and Nabbit. Like in Paper Mario, dashing into enemies initiates a First Strike, in which the trio dashes into them on the battle screen.

In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, after Mario collects a Super Mushroom before attacking Bowser's minions with Donkey Kong, he dashes with his arms stuck out behind his back similar to his dashing animation in several Super Mario games.

Super Mario 3D Land

 * North American website bio: "In a hurry? This move puts some pep in Mario's step."

New Super Mario Bros. 2

 * European website bio: "Use the Circle Pad or the +Control Pad to make Mario mosey at a leisurely pace. Hold the X or Y Button while moving to speed up and become a truly 'dashing' fellow!"

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS

 * Digital manual description: "Move while holding "

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

 * Instruction manual description (overworld): "Hold to charge the dash. Once it's ready, hold  in any direction and release  to start dashing in the direction you're holding."
 * Instruction manual description (papercraft battle): "Press to dash at enemies and slam into them. You can also use this to break blocks."