What exactly does "Stick Sensitivity" do in Smash Ultimate custom controls?

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch allows players to customize their controls.

Under "Other Settings" there is an option for Stick Sensitivity:

Stick Sensitivity: Low | Normal | High

Change how much speed is needed to perform a stick flick.

What exactly does this Stick Sensitivity setting control? What is a "stick flick"?

What are practical examples of in-game differences when using the Low/Normal/High settings?

How does sensitivity affect the timing or position of the stick when performing different actions?

2 Answers

Stick Sensitivity is a deceptively named control option. It has nothing to do with run/walk/dash sensitivity, platform drops, stick distance/movement/precision, or anything like that.

Stick Sensitivity only controls the frame window that differentiates between a Smash and a Tilt.

• Low stick sensitivity = easier Tilts

• High stick sensitivity = easier Smashes

After you "stick flick" your left analog, if you press "A" you will input a directional attack. Stick Sensitivity adjusts the frame window that determines if that attack will be a Smash or Tilt.

• Press "A" in the next X frames = Smash

• Press "A" after those X frames = Tilt

Lengthening this frame window results in Smashes being easier to input and Tilts more deliberate.

Stick Sensitivity Frames ======================== | L | N | H | F-Smash | 5 | 6 | 7 | U-Smash | 3 | 4 | 5 | D-Smash | 3 | 4 | 5 | 

Your optimal Stick Sensitivity will primarily depend on whether you set your C-Stick / Right Analog to input Smash or Tilt. You will want to set Stick Sensitivity so that the opposite class of attacks is easier to perform with the Left Analog Stick + Attack button.

• If you use Smash Stick, make A-button Tilts easier to perform with Low Sensitivity
• If you use Tilt Stick, make A-button Smashes easier to perform with High Sensitivity

Set a lower sensitivity if you find it hard to Tilt with the A-button.

If you primarily Smash with the A+B shortcut, set Low sensitivity for easier Tilts.

Setting sensitivity to Low is the closest you can currently get to disabling Smash attack input from your A-button and Left Stick. You unfortunately cannot completely turn off Smash attacks.

References:

In Japanese, the Stick Sensitivity option is titled はじき入力 meaning "Flick Input".

The options are:

• はじき入力 "Flick Input".
  • 出にくい "Hard to input" (Low)
  • 普通 "Normal"
  • 出やすい "Easy to input" (High)

This seems to indicate that "Stick Sensitivity" is a bad translation of the Japanese original. It's much easier to understand "easy" and "hard" settings for "Flick Input" aka Smash Attacks.

Source - user Logo121 on Reddit