Assist Trophy: Difference between revisions

|image = {{tabber|title1=Ultimate|content1=[[File:SSBU_Assist_Figure.png|220px|Assist Trophy]]|title2=SSB4|content2=[[File:AssistTrophyWiiU.png|120px]]|title3=Brawl|content3=[[File:Assist Trophy.jpg|110px]]}}

Assist Trophies fall into three basic categories. The most common type are characters that attack opponents directly. Once an opponent is targeted, the character chases them down and attacks them with a limited moveset. While these characters are often very powerful and capable of overwhelming the opponent, they are also very predictable, meaning they can easily be avoided and tricked. A majority of damageable characters are this type of Assist Trophy. The second type are characters that act on a set script and do not directly engage in the battle. They indirectly cause collateral damage from their actions, such as flying objects or explosions. The third type are characters that act in a support role to the summoner. They either grant status effects to the summoner or the opponent or both, or effect the appearance of the game itself. This is the rarest type of Assist Trophy.

The majority of Assist Trophies in ''Brawl'' are undamageable, with only [[Starfy]] and [[Lakitu]] being able to be interrupted or otherwise hit or even [[KO'd]]. In ''Smash 4'', however, some Assist Trophies can be attacked, potentially interrupting their attacks or otherwise manipulating how they perform and even being able to KO them (this can be seen by their ending animations coming earlier than normal, them having their own death animation, or simply teleporting away). However, there is no reward for KOing an Assist Trophy. In ''Ultimate'', the number of damageable Assist Trophies was expanded to include nearly all that attack fighters directly. They now emit a yellowish aura when they are low on health, and grant the player who KO'd them one point as if they took an opponent's [[stock]]. When the Assist Trophy is close to becoming KO'd, the summoner can KO it to prevent other players from gaining a point. More than one Assist Trophy can now be on the stage at once, which introduced the concept of Assist Trophies fighting each other, as they are programmed as CPU characters and go after CPU characters as well. In addition, certain Assist Trophies now have the ability to teleport on command, such as teleporting closer to an opponent when too far away or when crossing a [[blast line]].

Either due to complications with the stage or the character's appearance in the background (e.g. because he's a vampire, which does not have a reflection, Alucard cannot appear in Wii Fit Studio, which features a giant mirror in the background, and because darkness would completely block out the drawings, Nikki cannot be summoned on stages that have a dark scenery (e.g. [[Gamer]])), many Assist Trophies cannot appear on certain stages in ''Ultimate''. The only stages where all Assist Trophies can appear are {{b|Training|stage}}, {{SSBU|Battlefield}}, [[Small Battlefield]], {{SSBU|Big Battlefield}}, {{SSB|Mushroom Kingdom}}, {{SSBB|Yoshi's Island}}, [[Skyworld]], [[Smashville]], [[Windy Hill Zone]], [[Yggdrasil's Altar]] and [[Northern Cave]].

There are 27 Assist Trophies in ''Super Smash Bros Brawl'', 6 of which are unlockable.

Assist Trophies return in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. They now sport their modern design, with a shorter, more iridescent design and a softer "popping" sound upon use, instead of the glass-shattering sound effect it had in ''Brawl''. Unlike in ''Brawl'', where no Assist Trophies apart from Starfy and Lakitu could even be damaged, let alone defeated, several Assist Trophies, including several returning ones who could not be attacked in ''Brawl'', can now be KO'd. There are 39 Assist Trophies in total, with 21 new ones and 18 returning from ''Brawl'', while nine were cut (with [[Little Mac|one]] of them becoming a fighter instead). Both the 3DS and Wii U versions include exactly the same Assist Trophies, and unlike in ''Brawl'', there are no unlockable Assist Trophies.

For the first time in the series, multiple Assist Trophies can appear at once. Up to two Assist Trophies may appear on screen at a time but no two Assist Trophy items can summon the same character. Some Assist Trophies cannot appear at the same time as others. Players get points in [[Time]] battles when KOing a defeatable Assist Trophy. Occasionally, opposing Assist Trophies may fight each other. Assist Trophies also respawn if they fall off the stage accidentally. The item itself reuses the rainbow dome from ''SSB4'', though the rainbow effect is more subtle, and it no longer has a bluish tint. There are 59 total Assist Trophies, with 27 new ones, 30 returning from ''SSB4'', and [[Gray Fox|two]] [[Isaac|returning]] from ''Brawl'' after being cut from ''SSB4''. Nine Assist Trophies from ''SSB4'' were also cut (with [[Dark Samus|two]] [[Isabelle|of]] them becoming fighters instead).

*[[Little Mac]], [[Dark Samus]], and [[Isabelle]] all debuted in the ''Smash'' series as Assist Trophies, then became playable characters in later installments.