Cardboard box

The cardboard box is an item that is spawned by all of Snake's taunts in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. By using any of his taunts, Snake crouches under a cardboard box, which he removes either after another input is pressed, or after a set period of time.

Overview
The cardboard box can uniquely deal minimal damage (1%-2%) and low knockback if it hits opponents, making Snake one of four characters that can damage opponents with his taunt, alongside Luigi, Greninja, and Kazuya. Any character can pick up the box before Snake removes it; they will lift the box like a heavy item, but they will automatically throw it when it is picked up. Donkey Kong's unique heavy-item mechanics, however, can allow him to carry the box around and throw it at will, while Villager and Isabelle can pocket it for later use, Kirby can also do this if he copies either one of those characters. Unusually, removing the box does not interrupt the taunt's duration.

A glitch exists where a player can generate an infinite number of boxes at once using the Stage Builder.

Role in Subspace Emissary
The cardboard box appears inside the Halberd's cargo hold before Snake is revealed to be in it. In a later cutscene, Snake sheds the box, saying "Kept you waiting, huh?" Later, while Snake is sneaking around the ship, he hides under the box again to avoid detection by and. However, Lucario uses its aura powers to detect Snake and removes the cardboard box, resulting in the trademark "!" appearing.

Origin
Snake must often sneak around enemy territory undetected in the Metal Gear series. One reoccurring way to avoid detection by guards in industrial areas is to hide under a cardboard box in order to not catch their attention, as well as potentially sneak past them or covertly subdue them. However, Snake must be careful not to be caught moving while under the box. Its first appearance was in Metal Gear and calling Big Boss while within the room where the player obtains the box leads to him mockingly asking if the player is moving house. Ironically, Big Boss himself had made use of it during Snake Eater, back when he was known as Naked Snake.

The design of boxes in the Metal Gear series varies depending on their location. As a result, the box in Smash has no real origin and is instead composed entirely of meta-elements: it has the Super Smash Bros. logo with "Smash Bros." printed on the long sides and a "!" on the short sides.