Drop Dash

Press and hold the Spin Jump button during a jump to perform a Spin Dash immediatly upon landing. Steep hills can be cleared quickly and easily.

— English instruction manual, Sonic Mania^[1]

The Drop Dash^[1] (ドロップダッシュ^[2], Doroppu Dasshu^?) is a move that appears the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It is a technique that, when used, makes the user launch a midair Spin Dash.

Concept and creation

According to Christian Whitehead, the Drop Dash was designed with new players in mind.^[3] When testing out the game, he noticed a lot of new players, when reaching steep or tall slopes they could not get through, would resort to using the Spin Dash, thus causing them to come to a complete stop to charge it up. Thus, the Drop Dash was created so that players can maintain their momentum and keep the flow going without having to constantly stop to charge up a traditional Spin Dash.

Description

When performing the Drop Dash, the user will begin to rapidly spin their body as they drop down to the ground, upon where they will be perform a quick Spin Dash^[1] and roll forward.^[4]

In gameplay, the Drop Dash is charged in midair when initiated. Doing so will cause the user to launch straight into a Spin Dash once they touch the ground.^[3] This allows them to gain an instant and offensive speed boost just after a drop or jump from midair. However, the move cannot be performed if the user takes damage before landing, or if they are wielding a Shield-derived power-up.

Game appearances

Sonic Mania

In Sonic Mania, and its expansion Sonic Mania Plus, the Drop Dash is used by Sonic and Super Sonic. To perform the Drop Dash in gameplay, the player has to execute the following actions:

PlayStation 4	Nintendo Switch	Xbox One	PC
Spin Jump > //	Spin Jump > //	Spin Jump > //	Spin Jump > [A]/[Q]/[S]

By collecting enough medalions in the Bonus Stages, this move can be replaced with the Super Peel-Out or the Insta-Shield by accessing the Options Menu in the Save Select. These options were originally only available on a "No Save" playthrough; however, as of Version 1.04/RC 1.05.0713, they are also available for use on saved files. Also, the player can enter a hidden Sound Test code that allows them to use all three moves.

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, the Drop Dash is a move that is utilized by Classic Sonic and Classic Super Sonic. When using it in this game, Classic Sonic gets enveloped in a faint blue aura, much like the one present around his modern counterpart during a jump. To perform the Drop Dash in gameplay, the player has to press and hold // while in mid-air.

Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog

In Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog, the Drop Dash is used by Sonic. It can be performed in gameplay by enabling it in the Options menu.

Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

In Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Drop Dash is used by Sonic. Like in Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog, it can be performed in gameplay by enabling it in the Options menu.

Sonic Origins

In Sonic Origins, the Drop Dash is featured as an additional move for Sonic in Anniversary Mode.

Sonic Frontiers

In Sonic Frontiers, the Drop Dash is set to make an appearance as part of Sonic's moveset.^[5]

Trivia

In a prototype of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Sonic is able to use a move similar to the Drop Dash, which is performed by holding up on during a jump.^[6]
In Sonic Mania, the sprites for the dust cloud created when releasing the Drop Dash are oddly labeled under the "Explosions.gif" file.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Sonic Mania English instruction manual, "Unique Character Actions".
↑ Sonic Mania Japanese instruction manual, "キャラクターアクション".
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 TWN: Comic-Con Round-Up; Sonic Mania Interview with Christian Whitehead. YouTube. Teek Vids (31 July 2016). Retrieved on 31 July 2016.
↑ Sonic Mania - 25th Anniversary Debut. YouTube. Sega (22 July 2016). Retrieved on 23 July 2016.
↑ Sonic Frontiers: Answering Your Questions About Cyber Space and More. YouTube. IGN (30 June 2022). Retrieved on 30 June 2022.
↑ McFerran, Damien (18 November 2019). A Sonic Mania-Style 'Drop Dash' Almost Made It Into Sonic 3. Nintendolife. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019.

Sonic Mania

Playable characters		Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Tails (Super Tails) \| Knuckles (Super Knuckles) \| Mighty* (Super Mighty) \| Ray (Super Ray*)
Non-playable characters		Cluckoid \| Dr. Eggman \| Egg-Robo \| Hard Boiled Heavies (Heavy Gunner, Heavy King, Heavy Magician, Heavy Rider, Heavy Shinobi) \| Jimmy \| Metal Sonic (Giga Metal) \| Phantom Heavies (Phantom Gunner, Phantom King, Phantom Magician, Phantom Rider, Phantom Shinobi) \| Rock Drill \| Animals (Becky, Cucky, Flicky, Locky, Micky, Pecky, Picky, Pocky, Ricky, Rocky, Tocky, Wocky)
Zones		Angel Island Zone* \| Green Hill Zone \| Chemical Plant Zone \| Studiopolis Zone \| Flying Battery Zone \| Press Garden Zone \| Stardust Speedway Zone \| Hydrocity Zone \| Mirage Saloon Zone \| Oil Ocean Zone \| Lava Reef Zone \| Metallic Madness Zone \| Titanic Monarch Zone \| Egg Reverie Zone \| Special Stage \| Bonus Stage \| Pinball Stage*
Enemies		Amy Doll \| Aquis \| Armadiloid \| Asteron \| Ball Hog \| Batbrain \| Blaster \| Blastoid \| Bloominator* \| Bugernator \| Bumpalo \| Buzz Bomber \| Cactula \| Canister \| Caterkiller Jr. \| Chopper \| Clucker \| Crabmeat \| Dango \| Dragonfly \| Fireworm \| Flasher Mk. II \| Gohla \| Grabber \| Hotaru \| IceBomba \| Iwamodoki \| Jawz \| Jellygnite \| Juggle Saw \| Kabasira \| Kanabun \| Madmole \| Matryoshka-Bom \| Mecha-Bu \| Mega Chopper \| Mic Drop \| Monkey Dude* \| Motobug \| Newtron \| Octus \| Poh-Bee \| Pointdexter \| Rattlekiller \| Rexon \| RhinoBot* \| Roller Mk. II \| Scarab \| Sentry Bug \| Shutterbug \| Silver Sonic \| Spiny \| Splats \| Sweep \| Technosqueek \| Toxomister \| Tubinaut \| Turbo Spiker \| Turbo Turtle \| Vultron \| Woodrow
Bosses	Mini-bosses	DD Wrecker \| Amoeba Droid \| Heavy Gunner \| Big Squeeze \| Shiversaw \| Hotaru Hi-Watt \| Dive Eggman \| Uber Caterkiller \| Meter Droid \| Drillerdroid \| Egg Pistons mk.II \| Crimson Eye
Bosses	Zone bosses	Death Egg Robot \| Mean Bean Machine \| Weather Globe \| Spider Mobile \| Heavy Shinobi \| Metal Sonic \| Laundro-Mobile \| Heavy Magician \| Mega Octus \| Heavy Rider \| Heavy King \| Gachapandora \| Phantom Egg \| Phantom King and Klepto Mobile
Moves/Techniques		Air Glide* \| Bounce Jump \| Climb \| Crouch \| Double Jump \| Drop Dash \| Fireball Spin Dash \| Glide \| Hammer Drop* \| Insta-Shield \| Propeller Flying \| Ring Spark Field \| Spin Attack \| Spin Dash \| Spin Jump \| Super Peel Out \| Swim \| V. Maximum Overdrive Attack
Gimmicks and obstacles		Arrow column \| Beanstalk \| Bomb \| Bumper \| Bungee Rope \| Bumper wall \| Cannon \| Capsule \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Dash Panel \| Dropping platform \| Electrical conduit \| Fan \| Fireball \| Flipper \| Flywheel \| Glove on a stick \| Goal Plate \| Hang Glider \| High-speed spiral tube \| High-speed warp tube \| Ice Spring \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel \| Lighting switch \| Magnetic sphere \| Platform-raising Wheel \| Pulley \| Ruby Mist \| Saw \| Seesaw \| Sinking pool \| Shrink ray \| Snowblower \| Spikes \| Spring \| Star Post \| Switch \| Transport \| Vine \| Zipline
Items		Air Bubble \| Chaos Emerald \| Giant Ring \| Giant spear \| Item Box (1-UP, Blue Shield, Bubble Shield, Character, Hyper Ring, Eggman Mark, Fire Shield, Invincible, Lightning Shield, Player Swap, Power Sneakers, Random, S, Super Ring) \| Little Planet flowers \| Master Emerald \| Metal Sonic hologram \| Medallion \| Ring \| Robot transporter \| Schrodinger's Capsule \| Sphere \| Star Circle \| Time Warp sign \| UFO \| Warp Point
Music		Sonic Mania (vinyl album) \| Sonic Mania Original Soundtrack (Selected Edition) \| Sonic Mania Plus Original Soundtrack
Other		Angel Island \| Auto Running \| Continue \| Corkscrew \| Death Egg Robot \| Debug Mode \| Eggmobile \| Freeze \| Game Over \| Klepto Mobile \| Level Select \| Life \| Little Planet \| Loop \| Mega Mack \| Phantom Ruby \| Perfect Bonus \| Popgun \| Sonic Mania Adventures ("Sonic Returns", "Sonic and Tails", "& Knuckles", "Mighty and Ray", "Metal Mayhem", "From: A. Rose", "The Complete Mini-Series") \| S pipe \| Time Attack \| Time Over \| Time Warp \| Tornado \| Water Appears in only Sonic Mania Plus*

Sonic Forces

Playable characters		Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Classic Sonic (Classic Super Sonic) \| Avatar \| Shadow
Non-playable characters		Resistance (Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Team Chaotix (Vector, Espio, Charmy), Silver, Team Dark (Shadow, Rouge, Omega) \| Dr. Eggman \| Infinite \| Orbot \| Cubot \| Metal Sonic \| Chaos \| Zavok \| Animals (Cucky, Flicky, Pecky, Picky, Pocky, Ricky, Rocky)
Wisps		Blue Wisp \| Green Wisp \| Indigo Wisp \| Ivory Wisp \| Red Wisp \| Violet Wisp \| White Wisp \| Yellow Wisp
World Map regions		Chemical Plant \| City \| Death Egg \| Eggman Empire Fortress \| Green Hill \| Metropolis \| Mystic Jungle
Stages	General	Lost Valley \| Spaceport \| Ghost Town \| Prison Hall \| VS. Zavok \| Egg Gate \| Arsenal Pyramid \| Luminous Forest \| VS. Infinite \| Green Hill \| VS. Eggman \| Park Avenue \| Casino Forest \| Aqua Road \| Sunset Heights \| Capital City \| VS. Infinite \| Chemical Plant \| Red Gate Bridge \| Guardian Rock \| Network Terminal \| Death Egg \| Metropolitan Highway \| Null Space \| Imperial Tower \| Mortar Canyon \| VS. Infinite \| Iron Fortress \| Final Judgement \| VS. Death Egg Robot
	Episode Shadow	Enemy Territory \| Eggman's Facility \| Virtual Reality
	Secret	Fire Cannon 1 \| Vanish Panel 1 \| Bomb Block 1 \| Plasma Cannon 1 \| Laser Cannon 1 \| Reverse Block 1
	Extra	Flying Pod \| Bomb Block 2 \| Laser Cannon 2 \| Reverse Block 2 \| Vanish Panel 2 \| Fire Cannon 2 \| Plasma Cannon 2
Enemies		Aero-Chaser \| Buzz Bomber \| Chopper \| Egg Pawn \| Egg Tank \| Egg Walker \| Galaga Bee \| Moto Bug \| Missile Pod \| Nebula \| Sandworm \| Sprinkler \| Valkeen
Bosses		Death Egg Robot \| Eggman \| Egg Dragoon \| Infinite \| Metal Sonic \| Zavok
Moves/Techniques		Air Boost \| Boost \| Crouch \| Double Boost \| Double Jump \| Drop Dash \| Grind Step \| Grinding \| Homing Attack \| Side Step/Cartwheel \| Skydiving \| Slide \| Super Sonic Boost \| Spin Attack \| Spin Dash \| Spin Jump \| Stomp \| Triple Boost \| V. Maximum Overdrive Attack \| Wall Jump \| Wire Attack
Gimmicks and obstacles		Amber block \| Balloon \| Bottomless pit \| Bumper \| Capsule \| Conveyor Belt \| Dash Panel \| Dash Rail \| Dash Ring \| Drop Target \| Electrical emitter \| Fan \| Flipper \| Floating turret \| Flywheel \| Goal \| Goal Plate \| Grind Rail \| High-speed warp tube \| Hint Ring \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel \| Laser field \| List of pinball obstacles \| Pulley \| Rainbow Ring \| Ring Shooter \| Saw \| Slot machine \| Spikes \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Spring Pole \| Star Post \| Wide spring \| Wire Target \| Zip Line
Items	General	Air Bubble \| Blue Block \| Blue Ring \| Container (Unbreakable Container, Wooden Container) \| Costume \| Item Box (Bonus Rings, Invincibility, Power Sneakers, Shield) \| Medal \| Meteorite \| Number Ring \| Red Star Ring \| Ring \| Silver Moon Ring \| Wisp Capsule
Items	Wispons	Asteroid \| Burst \| Cube \| Drill \| Hover \| Lightning \| Void
English voice actors		Roger Craig Smith (Sonic) \| Mike Pollock (Eggman) \| Liam O'Brien (Infinite) \| Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails, Charmy) \| Travis Willingham (Knuckles, Zavok) \| Cindy Robinson (Amy) \| Kirk Thornton (Shadow, Orbot) \| Karen Strassman (Rouge) \| Vic Mignogna (Omega) \| Quinton Flynn (Silver) \| Keith Silverstein (Vector) \| Matthew Mercer (Espio) \| Wally Wingert (Cubot)
Japanese voice actors		Jun'ichi Kanemaru (Sonic) \| Kotaro Nakamura (Eggman) \| Takashi Kondō (Infinite) \| Ryō Hirohashi (Tails) \| Nobutoshi Canna (Knuckles) \| Taeko Kawata (Amy) \| Kōji Yusa (Shadow) \| Rumi Ochiai (Rouge) \| Taiten Kusunoki (Omega) \| Daisuke Ono (Silver) \| Kenta Miyake (Vector) \| Yūki Masuda (Espio) \| Yōko Teppōzuka (Charmy) \| Jōji Nakata (Zavok) \| Mitsuo Iwata (Orbot) \| Wataru Takagi (Cubot) \| Fumihiko Tachiki (Narrator)
Music	Songs	"Fading World" \| "Fighting Onward" \| "Fist Bump" \| "Infinite" \| "Justice" \| "Moonlight Battlefield" \| "Nowhere to Run" \| "Rhythm And Balance" \| "Set in Motion" \| "Supporting Me" \| "The Light of Hope" \| "Virtual Enemies"
Music	Albums	Sonic Forces Original Soundtrack - A Hero Will Rise \| Sonic Forces Vocal Traxx - On The Edge \| Sonic Forces Hi-Res Collection \| Sonic Forces Original Soundtrack The Vinyl Cutz
Other		Boost Gauge \| Chaos Control \| Challenge Mission \| Corkscrew \| Daily Mission \| Death Crab \| Death Egg \| Death Egg Robot \| Death Queen \| Egg Dragoon \| Egg Mobile \| Eggman Army \| Eggman Empire \| Eggman Fleet \| Experience \| Health Gauge \| Jackal Squad \| Loop \| Mega Mack \| Miles Electric \| Operation Big Wave \| Phantom Copy \| Phantom Ruby \| Phantom Ruby prototype \| Rank \| Real-Time Interaction \| Resistance HQ \| Robotomy Treatment \| Sandworm \| Skill \| Sonic Forces digital comic (Moment of Truth, Stress Test, Looming Shadow, Rise of Infinite) \| Sonic Forces: Speed Battle \| SOS Mission \| Time Over \| Totem pole \| Tunnel \| War to Take Back the Planet \| Wisp Gauge

Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)

Playable characters	Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Tails (Super Tails) \| Knuckles* (Super Knuckles*)
Non-playable characters	Dr. Robotnik \| Animals (Flicky, Pocky, Pecky, Cucky, Ricky, Picky, Rocky)
Zones	Green Hill Zone \| Marble Zone \| Spring Yard Zone \| Labyrinth Zone \| Star Light Zone \| Scrap Brain Zone \| Final Zone \| Special Stages
Enemies	Ball Hog \| Batbrain \| Bomb \| Burrobot \| Buzz Bomber \| Caterkiller \| Chopper \| Crabmeat \| Jaws \| Moto Bug \| Newtron \| Orbinaut (Uni Uni, Unidasu) \| Roller \| Spikes \| Splats
Bosses	Egg Wrecker \| Egg Scorcher \| Egg Stinger \| Egg Mobile \| Egg Spiker \| Egg Crusher
Moves/Techniques	Climb* \| Crouch \| Drop Dash* \| Glide* \| Insta-Shield* \| Propeller Flying* \| Spin Attack \| Spin Dash* \| Spin Jump \| Swim*
Gimmicks and obstacles	Bomb \| Bumper \| Capsule \| Chaos Emerald \| Color Block \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Dropping platform \| Electric shocker \| Elevator \| Fan \| Fireball \| Floating stone \| Flywheel \| Giant spear \| Goal \| Goal Plate \| Giant Ring \| Iron ball \| Jump Stand \| Lamppost \| Reverse \| Saw \| See-saw \| Spikes \| Spring \| Switch \| Up and Down
Items	Air Bubble \| Ring \| Video Monitor (Aqua Shield, Chaos Emerald, Eggman Mark, Elemental Shields, Extra Life, Flame Shield, Goggles, Invincible, Power Sneakers, S, Shield, Spikes, Super Ring, Thunder Shield*)
Music	Sonic the Hedgehog 1&2 Soundtrack
Other	Continue \| Debug Mode \| Egg Mobile \| Life \| Lock-on technology \| Loop \| Madonna \| Secret Bonus \| Sonic the Hedgehog (1991 U.S Gold) \| Sonic the Hedgehog (promotional comic) \| Sonic the Hedgehog Band (Max, Mach, Sharps, Vector) \| Sonic the Hedgehog Story Comic \| South Island \| Time Attack* \| Time Over \| Totem pole \| Tunnel \| Water *Appears in re-releases of the game only

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)

Playable characters		Sonic (Super Sonic) \| Tails (Super Tails) \| Knuckles (Super Knuckles**)
Non-playable characters		Dr. Robotnik \| Animals (Becky, Cucky, Flicky, Locky, Micky, Pecky, Picky, Pocky, Ricky, Rocky, Tocky, Wocky)
Zones	Main	Emerald Hill Zone \| Chemical Plant Zone \| Aquatic Ruin Zone \| Casino Night Zone \| Hill Top Zone \| Mystic Cave Zone \| Hidden Palace Zone** \| Oil Ocean Zone \| Metropolis Zone \| Sky Chase Zone \| Wing Fortress Zone \| Death Egg Zone \| Special Stage
Zones	Other	Boss Attack Zone \| Egg Gauntlet Zone \| Genocide City Zone* \| Green Hill Zone* \| Proto Palace Zone** \| Rock World Zone* \| Sand Shower Zone* \| Wood Zone*
Enemies		Aquis \| Asteron \| Balkiry \| Banper* \| Batbot** \| BFish* \| Bubbler* \| Bubbler's Mother* \| Buzzer \| Cactus* \| Chop Chop \| Clucker \| Coconuts \| Crawl \| Crawlton \| Flasher \| Frog* \| Gator* \| Gohla \| Grabber \| Grounder \| Jellygnite** \| Lobster* \| Masher \| Nebula \| Octus \| Rexon \| Shellcracker \| Slicer \| Snail* \| Spiker \| Spiny \| Stegway \| Turtloids \| Redz \| Whisp
Bosses		Egg Drillster \| Egg Poison \| Egg Hammer \| Egg Claw \| Egg Scorcher Mk II \| Egg Digger \| Brass Eggman** \| Eggmarine \| Flying Eggman \| Barrier Eggman \| Mecha Sonic \| Death Egg Robot
Moves/Techniques		Climb \| Crouch \| Drop Dash** \| Glide \| Insta-Shield \| Propeller Flying \| Spin jump \| Super Dash Attack \| Super Spin Attack \| Swim
Gimmicks and obstacles		Arrow column \| Bomb \| Breakaway column \| Booster \| Bumper \| Bumper wall \| Cannon \| Conveyor Belt \| Crusher \| Drop Target \| Elevator \| Fan \| Flipper \| Giant spear \| Goal Plate \| Gondola \| High-speed warp tube \| Iron ball \| Jump Panel \| Mega Mack \| Metal nut \| Prison Egg \| Seesaw \| Sinking pool \| Slot machine \| Spikes \| Spring \| Spring Catapult \| Star Post \| Switch
Items		Air bubble \| Chaos Emerald \| Monitor (Eggman, Flame Shield, Invincible, Lightning Shield, One-Up, Power Sneakers, Random, S, Shield, Super Rings, Teleporter, Water Shield) \| Ring \| Star Circle
Music		Sonic the Hedgehog 1&2 Soundtrack
Other		Continue \| Corkscrew \| Death Egg \| Death Egg Robot \| Debug Mode \| Eggman's Mobile \| Life \| Lock-on technology \| Loop \| Perfect Bonus \| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CD \| Space rocket \| Time Attack \| Tornado \| Totem pole \| Tunnel \| Water \| West Side Island * Appears only in prototype versions ** Appears only in re-releases

Sonic Frontiers

Main article | Gallery

Playable characters	Sonic
Non-playable characters	Amy \| Big \| Dr. Eggman \| Koco (Elder Koco, Hermit Koco) \| Sage \| Tails
Levels	Kronos Island
Enemies	Banger \| Bubble \| Cyclone \| Moto Bug \| Shell \| Soldier
Bosses	Asura \| Ninja \| Tower
Moves/Techniques	Accel Rush \| Cyloop \| Double Jump \| Drop Dash \| Grind Step \| Grinding \| Homing Attack \| Jump Dash \| Lightspeed Dash \| Quick Step \| Spin Jump \| Stomp \| Trick Action \| Wild Crash
Gimmicks and obstacles	Balloon \| Dash Panel \| Dash Ring \| Dash Rail \| Grind Rail \| Jump Panel \| Pulley \| Rainbow Ring \| Sonic Boom \| Spring \| Switch \| Wide spring
Items	Chaos Emerald \| Container (Steel, Wooden) \| Memory Token \| Portal Gear \| Ring \| Super Ring \| Vault Key \| Voice Diary
English voice actors	Roger Craig Smith (Sonic) \| Mike Pollock (Eggman) \| Colleen O'Shaughnessey (Tails) \| Cindy Robinson (Amy)
Other	Cyber Space \| Experience Point \| Sonic Frontiers Prologue \| Starfall Islands

[ManiaManual-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Sonic Mania English instruction manual, "Unique Character Actions".

[2] Sonic Mania Japanese instruction manual, "キャラクターアクション".

[SM_2-3] 3.0 ^3.1 TWN: Comic-Con Round-Up; Sonic Mania Interview with Christian Whitehead. YouTube. Teek Vids (31 July 2016). Retrieved on 31 July 2016.

[SM-4] Sonic Mania - 25th Anniversary Debut. YouTube. Sega (22 July 2016). Retrieved on 23 July 2016.

[CyberSpaceVid-5] Sonic Frontiers: Answering Your Questions About Cyber Space and More. YouTube. IGN (30 June 2022). Retrieved on 30 June 2022.

[6] McFerran, Damien (18 November 2019). A Sonic Mania-Style 'Drop Dash' Almost Made It Into Sonic 3. Nintendolife. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019.

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