Shadow Bug
Shadow Bug render used for Spirit. Ripped from Game files.

Official Render of Shadow Bugs.
SubspaceSymbol.svg

Universe Super Smash Bros.

Shadow Bugs are the small, glowing, violet spheres of which the members of the Subspace Army are made in The Subspace Emissary. They are apparently embodiments of a primordial substance. Shadow Bugs were created by extracting a mysterious substance from Mr. Game & Watch, leading Tabuu to have him captured to become the source of the Subspace Army's soldiers.

They first appeared in a Smash Bros. DOJO!! update called "This World", which introduced the main plot of The Subspace Emissary, shown being dropped down from the Halberd, as well as surrounding a single Primid.

Additionally, Shadow Bugs are mentioned in Palutena's Guidance for Mr. Game & Watch, in which Pit says, "Hey, it's a Shadow Bug!". This is a reference to how Shadow Bugs were extracted from Mr. Game & Watch.

Shadow Bug ClonesEdit

Main article: False character
 
The false Bowser pictured on the right is created from Shadow Bugs.

Shadow Bugs are capable of copying a character's trophy and assuming their appearance, but are also capable of altering certain qualities such as size, as seen in the fight with the giant Diddy Kong. A copy of a character created by Shadow Bugs will have a purple tinge, be surrounded by a smoky shadow aura, and possess glowing yellow eyes. Bowser himself had a platoon of Shadow Bugs which he ordered to serve as a clone of himself, both to act as a decoy and a second-in-command.

TrophyEdit

 
Shadow Bugs's trophy in Brawl
Shadow Bugs
Embodiments of a primordial substance that can take the form of any number of lesser Subspace foes. They can also copy the forms of trophies to create evil doppelganger versions of them. The mysterious substance inside Mr. Game & Watch can be extracted endlessly. Once Tabuu discovered this, he used Mr. Game & Watch to create the Subspace Army.
 : Super Smash Bros. Brawl

SpiritEdit

The Shadow Bug appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as an Advanced-class support spirit. It can be purchased at Beedle's Tent.

The Spirit Battle for Shadow Bug uses an army of Mr. Game & Watch puppet fighters and is fought on the Pokémon Stadium stage. During the battle, the stage will be covered in a poisonous cloud, referencing the Shadow Bugs' purple color and their ability to swarm.

No. Image Name Type Class Cost Ability Series
1,112 Shadow Bug
 
★★ 1 Trade-Off Attacks ↑ Super Smash Bros. Series

Names in other languagesEdit

Language Name
  Japanese 影虫
  English Shadow Bug
  French Matière d'ombre
  German Dämmer-Partikel
  Spanish Peste violeta
  Italian Cellule ombra
  Chinese (Simplified) 影虫
  Chinese (Traditional) 影蟲
  Korean 영충
  Dutch Shadow Bug
  Russian Мракожук

TriviaEdit

  • Bowser is the only character not seen as a trophy prior to having a Shadow Bug clone appear.