Final Smash
“ | The basic gist of it? I suppose you could say it’s kind of like a powerful and personalized hammer. (Or maybe not...) | ” |
—Masahiro Sakurai, Smash Bros. DOJO!! |
A Final Smash (最後の切りふだ, Last Trump Card) is a type of last resort in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Smash Bros. 4, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Overview
Final Smashes tend to be incredibly powerful attacks, often leaving the user invincible for the move's duration (the periods vary from character to character, but always apply upon startup/execution), and are generally unblockable. If properly executed, they usually have the capacity to KO at least one opponent. Final Smashes performed correctly will give the player a great advantage, and may help to catch up to others or cement a commanding lead. Many Final Smashes also temporarily slow down stage elements, such as platform movements and motions in the background.
To perform a Final Smash, a player must first either destroy a Smash Ball, fill the Final Smash Meter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (although then the Final Smash will be weaker), be given the ability by Victini or fall sufficiently far behind in a match that they are given a "Pity Final Smash" upon respawning. Once any of these happen, the screen will darken, the player's character will be engulfed in a multi-colored aura and their eyes will glow a bright yellow; in this state, the character's neutral special move is effectively replaced with a single use of their Final Smash.
In Brawl, the majority of Final Smashes are powerful enough that they have the potential to KO incredibly early or even one-hit KO if used properly. In SSB4, Final Smashes were universally made much weaker, many of them no longer being able to KO opponents at low percentages. In Ultimate, they have been slightly nerfed overall once again. If a player doesn't use their Final Smash in about 20 seconds, the effect will expire. Final Smashes have also been tweaked to be less disruptive to the gameplay.
Bayonetta's Infernal Climax in SSB4 became the first Final Smash with the potential to instantly KO trapped opponents. In Ultimate, several Final Smashes have this property.
Most Final Smashes cause the camera to temporarily zoom in on the user when activated, though there are some situations where this does not occur, such as with Pac-Man's Final Smash, Super Pac-Man. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, through a currently unconfirmed nature, there are some cases where Final Smashes that normally zoom in don't zoom in at all. In Ultimate, there are two types of zooms: activating after breaking the Smash Ball will have a closeup on the user from a different angle, and activating from a Final Smash Meter will have a standard zoom similar to Brawl and SSB4.
Only one Smash Ball or Final Smash can be present onscreen at any given time. When most Final Smashes are performed in the air, upon ending the move, the character gains a slight boost in height and regains their spent midair jumps, usually preventing a self-destruct.
Final Smashes are affected by Rage and Stale-Move Negation (and therefore will usually gain a freshness bonus), but are not affected by stat changes from equipment or Mii Fighter sizes.
Prior to Brawl
Masahiro Sakurai revealed in an interview with former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata that he intended to include Final Smashes in the original Super Smash Bros., even going as far as to record voice clips for each of them. However, the Nintendo 64’s console limitations could’ve been the reason why they were scrapped and the idea wouldn’t be implemented until Brawl. Some of these voice clips, which were contained in the Super Smash Bros. debug menu, were eventually and correspondingly used in Brawl.
Pity Final Smash
A Pity Final Smash (Easy Final Smash in SSB4 and Ultimate) randomly occurs when any player is KO'd and is 5 points behind the current leader. Also, in SSB4, at least 6 KOs between all players must be landed for any player to acquire one. This player respawns with the ability to perform a Final Smash. This Final Smash cannot be dropped by the player.
In a 2-player timed match in Brawl, since the points differ by two for each kill, it is possible to go from a lead of 4 points to 6 without triggering the Pity Final Smash condition (which is to be exactly 5 points behind). If a player SD's, and consequently loses only one point, then a Pity Final Smash is possible.
Pity/Easy Final Smashes cannot occur while a Smash Ball is present on the battlefield, even when the requirements are met. In Brawl, Pity Final Smashes can be disabled only by turning the Smash Ball off; simply setting the overall item frequency to "None" does not prevent players from getting them if Smash Balls are still turned on. In SSB4, either method will prevent Easy Final Smashes. Additionally, they cannot occur in 2-player matches, for non-human players, or by a player SD'ing.
Changes in Ultimate
Sakurai stated in a Nintendo Direct that every Final Smash would be standardized to be simple and straight to the point. As a result, Final Smashes were made universally faster in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, removing most player-controlled ones; the KO potential of Final Smashes has also been reduced. Because of the universal speed increase and control removal applied to Final Smashes, many Final Smashes such as Bowser's Giga Bowser, Wario's Wario-Man, and Little Mac's Giga Mac had their functionality changed significantly (they no longer use their full moveset transformation Final Smash; it is instead a single hit that quickly returns to regular gameplay). Others such as Fox and Falco's Landmaster and Donkey Kong's Konga Beat, have been completely replaced. The Final Smash Meter (FS Meter) is also introduced, which is a toggle feature in the rules that allows players to gain a weaker form of their Final Smash by filling up their gauge during battle. However, while multiple meters can be full at once, only one Final Smash can be performed at a time. In addition, when Victini appears, it will give the fighter who summoned it access to their Final Smash without filling up their meter.
During a Final Smash, the camera controls are disabled. Additionally, as the Final Smash is activated, a still portrait of the fighter's eyes will be briefly shown zoomed in.
List
Fighter | Final Smash | Final Smash | Final Smash | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Banjo & Kazooie | The Mighty Jinjonator | ||||||||||||||||||
Bayonetta | Infernal Climax | ||||||||||||||||||
Bowser | Giga Bowser[1] | Giga Bowser Punch | |||||||||||||||||
Bowser Jr. | Shadow Mario Paint | ||||||||||||||||||
Byleth | Progenitor God Ruptured Heaven | ||||||||||||||||||
Captain Falcon | Blue Falcon[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
Charizard | Triple Finish (Fire Blast) (Pokémon Trainer) | Mega Charizard X | Triple Finish (Fire Blast) (Pokémon Trainer) | ||||||||||||||||
Chrom | Awakening Aether | ||||||||||||||||||
Cloud | Omnislash | ||||||||||||||||||
Corrin | Torrential Roar | ||||||||||||||||||
Daisy | Daisy Blossom | ||||||||||||||||||
Dark Pit | Dark Pit Staff | ||||||||||||||||||
Dark Samus | Phazon Laser | ||||||||||||||||||
Diddy Kong | Rocketbarrel Barrage | Hyper Rocketbarrel | |||||||||||||||||
Donkey Kong | Konga Beat | Jungle Rush | |||||||||||||||||
Dr. Mario | Doctor Finale | ||||||||||||||||||
Duck Hunt | NES Zapper Posse[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
Falco | Landmaster | Team Star Fox | |||||||||||||||||
Fox | |||||||||||||||||||
Ganondorf | Beast Ganon | Ganon, The Demon King[3] | |||||||||||||||||
Greninja | Secret Ninja Attack | ||||||||||||||||||
Hero | Gigaslash | ||||||||||||||||||
Ice Climbers | Iceberg[1] | Iceberg[1] | |||||||||||||||||
Ike | Great Aether | ||||||||||||||||||
Incineroar | Max Malicious Moonsault | ||||||||||||||||||
Inkling | Killer Wail | ||||||||||||||||||
Isabelle | Dream Town Hall | ||||||||||||||||||
Ivysaur | Triple Finish (Solar Beam) (Pokémon Trainer) | Triple Finish (Solar Beam) (Pokémon Trainer) | |||||||||||||||||
Jigglypuff | Puff Up | ||||||||||||||||||
Joker | All-Out Attack | ||||||||||||||||||
Ken | Shippu Jinraikyaku / Shinryuken[4] | ||||||||||||||||||
King Dedede | Waddle Dee Army | Dedede Burst | Dede-Rush | ||||||||||||||||
King K. Rool | Blast-O-Matic | ||||||||||||||||||
Kirby | Cook Kirby | Ultra Sword | |||||||||||||||||
Link | Triforce Slash | Ancient Bow and Arrow | |||||||||||||||||
Little Mac | Giga Mac | Giga Mac Rush | |||||||||||||||||
Lucario | Aura Storm | Mega Lucario[2] | Aura Storm | ||||||||||||||||
Lucas | PK Starstorm[5] | ||||||||||||||||||
Lucina | Critical Hit | ||||||||||||||||||
Luigi | Negative Zone[6] | Poltergust 5000 | Poltergust G-00[3] | ||||||||||||||||
Mario | Mario Finale | ||||||||||||||||||
Marth | Critical Hit | ||||||||||||||||||
Mega Man | Mega Legends | ||||||||||||||||||
Meta Knight | Galaxia Darkness | Darkness Illusion | |||||||||||||||||
Mewtwo | Psystrike | ||||||||||||||||||
Mii Brawler | Omega Blitz | ||||||||||||||||||
Mii Gunner | Full Blast | ||||||||||||||||||
Mii Swordfighter | Final Edge | ||||||||||||||||||
Min Min | ARMS Rush | ||||||||||||||||||
Mr. Game & Watch | Octopus[2][7] | ||||||||||||||||||
Ness | PK Starstorm[5] | ||||||||||||||||||
Olimar | End of Day | ||||||||||||||||||
Pac-Man | Super Pac-Man[2][7] | ||||||||||||||||||
Palutena | Black Hole Laser | ||||||||||||||||||
Peach | Peach Blossom | ||||||||||||||||||
Pichu | Volt Tackle[7] | ||||||||||||||||||
Pikachu | Volt Tackle | ||||||||||||||||||
Piranha Plant | Petey Piranha | ||||||||||||||||||
Pit | Palutena's Army[6] | Three Sacred Treasures | Lightning Chariot | ||||||||||||||||
Pokémon Trainer | Triple Finish | Triple Finish | |||||||||||||||||
Richter | Grand Cross | ||||||||||||||||||
Ridley | Plasma Scream | ||||||||||||||||||
R.O.B. | Diffusion Beam | Super Diffusion Beam | Guided Robo Beam | ||||||||||||||||
Robin | Pair Up | ||||||||||||||||||
Rosalina & Luma | Power Star | Grand Star[3] | |||||||||||||||||
Roy | Critical Hit | ||||||||||||||||||
Ryu | Shin Shoryuken / Shinku Hadoken[4] | ||||||||||||||||||
Samus | Zero Laser | ||||||||||||||||||
Sheik | Light Arrow | Sheikah Dance | |||||||||||||||||
Shulk | Chain Attack[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
Simon | Grand Cross | ||||||||||||||||||
Snake | Grenade Launcher | Covering Fire | |||||||||||||||||
Sonic | Super Sonic | ||||||||||||||||||
Squirtle | Triple Finish (Hydro Pump) (Pokémon Trainer) | Triple Finish (Hydro Pump) (Pokémon Trainer) | |||||||||||||||||
Terry | Triple Wolf | ||||||||||||||||||
Toon Link | Triforce Slash | ||||||||||||||||||
Villager | Dream Home[8] | ||||||||||||||||||
Wario | Wario-Man[7] | ||||||||||||||||||
Wii Fit Trainer | Wii Fit | ||||||||||||||||||
Wolf | Landmaster | Team Star Wolf | |||||||||||||||||
Yoshi | Super Dragon | Stampede![9] | |||||||||||||||||
Young Link | Triforce Slash | ||||||||||||||||||
Zelda | Light Arrow | Triforce of Wisdom | |||||||||||||||||
Zero Suit Samus | Power Suit Samus | Gunship | [[Zero Laser
Tails Team Sonic In competitive playIn tournaments, all items, including Smash Balls, are turned to "none" and "off," respectively, meaning that Final Smashes do not appear in tournaments. While there has been some dispute in the past whether Smash Balls solely of all items should be allowed, due to Final Smashes resembling the "super move" concept of more traditional fighting games, the general consensus is that they are detrimental to competitive play for several reasons:
Because items are turned to off and none and tournament rules generally specify lower stock than what is required to trigger them, Pity Final Smashes also do not appear in tournaments. The common argument for including them is that, as Pity Final Smashes do not appear at random, one can reap the benefits of a Final Smash without relying on luck, allowing players in a heavy losing position to stage an easy yet effective comeback. However, this can only happen in a match of at least 6 stocks, which is considered to be far too high for tournaments as it drastically increases playtime, and competitive players generally consider an element designed solely to aid a worse-performing player to be anti-competitive. In SSB4, as they cannot occur in a 1v1 setting, in which most competitive matches take place, it can be said that Smash Balls must be disabled solely due to Easy Smashes having the capacity to occur in a doubles match but not a singles match. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate seems to address a number of these issues:
Despite all the aforementioned restrictions set within Ultimate's configurations, Final Smashes continue to be plagued by many of the same complications that were of concern in the past:
As such, Final Smashes of any form remain universally banned in competitive play. GlitchesEyeball glitchIn SSB4, a glitch can occur affecting the eyeballs of multiple characters, most notably Jigglypuff, as a result of an oversight in the coding of the graphical effects of characters eyeballs during Final Smashes. When breaking the Smash Ball with a move that causes a character's eyeballs to point in a certain direction, upon finishing their Final Smash, said fighter's eyeballs will be locked in this same position until a move or action is performed that also causes the fighter to look in a direction. This occurs because a fighter's eyeballs are temporarily replaced with yellow eyeballs when they break a Smash Ball, at which point their regular eyeballs are stored exactly as they were just before their eyeball model was replaced. In some extreme cases, this glitch can even be carried over into victory animations, such as one of Jigglypuff's victory animations. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U digital manual description"Break a Smash Ball and then press to unleash your character's unique Final Smash." Trivia
External links
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- ^ a b c These Final Smashes leave the character vulnerable (either entirely or just to damage) during their Final Smash.
- ^ a b c d e f Prior to Ultimate, these Final Smashes never zoomed in on the user of the Final Smash. In the case of Shulk, the camera did move, but it did not necessarily zoom in on him.
- ^ a b c Different name, but still have similar functions from the previous game.
- ^ a b The move that is used depends on the range at which the Final Smash is activated.
- ^ a b This Final Smash's function was heavily modified in the transition from Brawl to Smash 4, then reverted back to resemble its original incarnation in Ultimate. However, its title has remained the same across all three titles.
- ^ a b These Final Smashes leave the character vulnerable during part of their Final Smash.
- ^ a b c d These Final Smashes function in a completely different fashion in Ultimate than they did in previous titles, but are considered to be the same move due to retaining similar aesthetic details and keeping the same name. In the case of Volt Tackle, Pichu gains it as a new move due to last appearing in Melee (in which Final Smashes did not exist), while Pikachu keeps the move from its post-Melee appearances but has had its function dramatically changed.
- ^ Known as “Housewarming Party” in PAL regions.
- ^ While this move is called “Stampede!” on the Move List, it is known as “Yoshi Stampede” in the tips.