Item Techniques

Picking up Items
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Items can be picked up probably in more ways than you think.
- Pressing next to the item, also certain tilts/attacks
- Aerials (pressing in the air)
- Air Dodge ( in the air, will work even if the item is on the ground)
- Z-Catch ( in the air, will work even if the item is on the ground)

- During a tech
- Neutral B

Uses:
- Pressing Attack right next to the item is not actually that helpful, but it's one method to pick up an item. You can do it if you want to stay grounded and/or don't need to throw out an attack.
- Using an aerial to pick up an item can be helpful if you want to cover yourself with an attack while picking up an item. One of the better options.
- Using air dodge to pick up an item gives you temporary invincibility while picking up the item. If you want to pick up a grounded item, it's probably better to use Z-Catching to avoid air dodge landing lag.
- Z-Catching lets you pick up an item without any lag. Best if you don't need to throw out an attack, but don't need to be grounded. One of the better options.
- Teching is just one of the options to throw out there; if you find yourself being launched towards a grounded item, you can try teching right on top of it.
- Villager's Pocket lets you pick up an item from a lot farther away than what's normally possible for other characters (Rosalina being an exception of sorts). Also, it gives you invincibility.

Throwing Items
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- Normal throw (pressing with no directional input)
- Drop (pressing with no input, on the ground)

- Z-Drop (in the next section)

- Dash throw

- Forward/back/up/down tilt throw

- Forward/back/up/down smash throw

What's a smash throw? It's when you input a throw like a smash attack. It does more damage, and also travels further than a tilt throw.

Uses:
- Normal throw goes in an arch, so it might be helpful if you want to hit the opponent when they're at just the right spot.
- Dropping items isn't really common, probably because you have to do it while either walking or standing still, which is hard in the middle of a battle. It might help you cover your back, especially since it stays out a lot longer than some of the other throws, but I don't really see it happening in a match.
- Z-Dropping: next section
- Actually, please do NOT use dash throws when Jump Cancel Tossing exists (in the section after Z-Dropping).

Z-Dropping
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While holding an item in the air, press , or the Grab button. You'll drop the item, which will fall down slowly.
If you input a direction, however, you'll throw the item in that direction rather than Z-dropping. Also, pressing Grab right after any of these situations might lead to an item toss rather than a Z-drop:
- Air dodge
- Tumblestun
- After certain specials (e.g. Yoshi's Egg Toss)

Inputs:
(while holding an item, in the air)

Uses:
First of all, having a hitbox that follows the way you fall down can help (I often Z-drop a gyro into a Nair with R.O.B.; you get to hit the opponent twice at the same time). Second, due to the lack of a throw animation, you can do a followup attack easily.
Also, in 's case, Bonus Fruits can only last a few throws, while it can be Z-dropped as many times as you want (as long as you pick it up afterwards).

Z-Drop Aerials
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Z-drop, then do an aerial immediately after. You'll catch the item while doing the aerial.

Inputs:
(while holding an item, in the air) > (any direction) (in quick succession)
Throwing the item with the button also works.

Uses:
This is a pretty important tech to learn because you are able to attack while holding an item. Most people think that you have to let go of the item completely just to attack, but that's not the case if you're able to do this.
It'll also let you hold onto an item longer (which is especially helpful if the opponent is dependent on their item), since you don't have to give it up just to attack.
This also lets you do combos where you Z-drop aerial, then throw the item at the opponent.

Jump Cancel Tossing (note: this is NOT glide tossing)
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A bit more complicated than the last sections, this is basically another way to throw items.
Usually while running, press jump and toss the item in quick succession. This will let you throw the item in any direction you want.
There's a great video on it (shown below), so I don't have to go into too much detail:

Inputs:
(while holding item, usually while running) / > (any direction)
This must be done in quick succession to work properly; if your character left the ground, then you did it incorrectly.
Throwing the item with the button also works.

Uses:
The video explains everything, but it allows you to throw up, down, left, or right, unlike dash throwing. Also, it has a lot less endlag than dash throws, which makes followups a lot more possible.

Insta-Tossing
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While in the air, airdodge to pick up the item, then quickly press the direction to throw it in right after.

Inputs:
(while holding an item, in the air) /, (any direction)
This must be done in quick succession to work properly; if you did an airdodge, then you did it incorrectly.

Uses:
Basically shortens the time between picking up an item and throwing it. If there's an item on a platform, and you want to throw it at an opponent, just jump through the platform and insta-toss it at them. Also, if the opponent is throwing an item at you, you can quickly return it to them with the same technique.