Healing

Healing refers to reducing one's damage percentage (or restoring HP in Stamina Mode). A few characters are capable of doing this with one of their special moves, and usually in only small amounts. Alternatively, some items may restore the user's health, and it is possible to be healed by certain stage elements. In Smash 4 exclusively, equipment can be used that has restorative properties. Since Brawl, most forms of healing are accompanied by a signature sound cue of escalating synth notes.

Healing special moves

 * Absorbing Vortex: Heals the user by around 1.2× the damage of the projectile absorbed by the Vortex in SSB4, and around 1.4× the damage of the projectile absorbed in Ultimate.
 * Chomp: In SSB4, it heals the user by 1% when eating a non-exploding item. In Ultimate, it can also heal the user when another character is inside.
 * Deep Breathing: Heals the user by 2% when used successfully.
 * Heal: Heals the user by 11%.
 * Inhale: In SSB4, eating most items while using Inhale heals Kirby by 1%. In Ultimate, Kirby can heal by eating most projectiles.
 * Judge: Mr. Game & Watch can spawn 1 apple (3 in Ultimate) with Judge 7. Each apple heals 4%.
 * Nosferatu: Heals every hit based on the difference between Robin's and the opponent's damage. Heals more if the target is attacked from behind.
 * PSI Magnet: Ness' variant heals around 1.6× the damage of the projectile absorbed by his Magnet, while Lucas' variant heals around 2.5× the damage of the projectile absorbed by his Magnet.
 * Sun Salutation: heals the user by 2% when it is used when fully charged.

Healing items

 * Apple
 * Egg
 * Fairy Bottle
 * Food (may appear with Judge, Cook Kirby, Timber, or left by Chef Kawasaki)
 * Healing Field
 * Healing Sprout
 * Heart Container
 * Maxim Tomato
 * Peaches (from Peach Blossom)
 * Daisies (from Daisy Blossom)
 * Peanut (from Peanut Popgun)
 * Power Pellet (from Pac-Man's special move of the same name)
 * Riki when he appears as a Assist Trophy
 * Sandbag (may drop healing items when hit)
 * Team Healer
 * Tortimer Fruits (on Tortimer Island)

Healing stage elements

 * Green Greens: The healing variants of the apples that spawn heal 10%.
 * WarioWare, Inc.: A character can be healed a small amount as a reward for successfully completing a Microgame.
 * PictoChat 2: Touching the heart in the Staring Contest variation of the stage will heal a player.
 * Saffron City: When Chansey appears at the door, it can heal 5% damage if touched.
 * Tortimer Island: The fruits that spawn on this stage can heal players.

Healing equipment

 * Vampire: Heals 0.5x damage dealt, although it only activates 50% of the time.
 * Shield Healer: Heals for 0.3x the damage of blocked attacks.
 * Food Lover: 1.5x damage healed when eating food.
 * Crouch Healer: The player recovers 2.5% damage every 1.5 seconds while crouching. However, the player must crouch uninterrupted for 1.5 seconds before the healing begins.
 * KO Healer: The player recovers 15% damage every time they KO an opponent.
 * Auto Healer: The player recovers 2% damage every three seconds.
 * Final Smash Healer: The player recovers 6% damage every two seconds while they are glowing after having broken a Smash Ball.

Healing spirits

 * Autoheal: Recovers 3% damage every 5 seconds.
 * Great Autoheal: Recovers 5% damage every 5 seconds.
 * Healing Shield: Recovers 0.125× the damage of blocked attacks.
 * KOs Heal Damage: Recovers 20% when the player gains a point (KO, Special Flag, etc.).
 * Critical-Health Healing: Recovers 50% damage (75% with 2 equipped) when above 100%, or below 20 HP in Stamina, once per match.
 * Critical-Health Healing ↑ ↑: Recovers 100% damage when above 100%, or below 20 HP in Stamina, once per match.
 * Lifesteal: Recovers 0.03× the damage dealt by direct attacks.
 * Fairy Bottle Equipped: The player starts with a Fairy Bottle.
 * Poison Heals: Recovers 0.15× the poison damage at the same frequency and duration the player would otherwise be taking poison damage.

Healing skills

 * Recovery Items ↑: Healing items recover 1.5× more damage.
 * Perfect Shield Recover: Recovers 0.2× the perfect-shielded damage.
 * Heal with Smash Attacks: Recovers 0.03× the damage dealt with smash attacks.