Underdog Boost
The Underdog Boost is an optional rule in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that helps to provide balance in matches between human players of different skill levels. When enabled, players will be given multipliers to increase the damage and knockback they deal and decrease the damage they take based on how far behind they are from the player in first. It can be enabled or disabled in the "Advanced" section in Rules.
The multipliers given change depending on how many players are in the match and whether it is a Timed, Stock, or Stamina match.[1]
| Point difference from 1st | 2-3 Players | 4 Players | 5 Players | 6-8 Players | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | Resistance | Knockback | Attack | Resistance | Knockback | Attack | Resistance | Knockback | Attack | Resistance | Knockback | |
| -1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| -2 | 1.18 | 0.904 | 1.12 | 1.16875 | 0.91 | 1.1125 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| -3 | 1.27 | 0.856 | 1.18 | 1.253125 | 0.865 | 1.165 | 1.2025 | 0.892 | 1.135 | 1.16875 | 0.91 | 1.125 |
| -4 | 1.36 | 0.808 | 1.24 | 1.3375 | 0.82 | 1.225 | 1.27 | 0.856 | 1.18 | 1.225 | 0.88 | 1.15 |
| -5 | 1.45 | 0.76 | 1.3 | 1.421875 | 0.775 | 1.28 | 1.3375 | 0.82 | 1.225 | 1.28125 | 0.85 | 1.1875 |
| -6 | 1.5 | 0.712 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.73 | 1.3 | 1.405 | 0.784 | 1.27 | 1.3375 | 0.82 | 1.225 |
| -7 | 1.5 | 0.664 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.685 | 1.3 | 1.4725 | 0.748 | 1.3 | 1.39375 | 0.79 | 1.2625 |
| -8 | 1.5 | 0.616 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.64 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.712 | 1.3 | 1.45 | 0.76 | 1.3 |
| -9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.676 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.73 | 1.3 |
| -10 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.64 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| Point difference from 1st | 2-3 Players | 4 Players | 5 Players | 6-8 Players | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack | Resistance | Knockback | Attack | Resistance | Knockback | Attack | Resistance | Knockback | Attack | Resistance | Knockback | |
| -1 | 1.18 | 0.904 | 1.12 | 1.16875 | 0.91 | 1.1125 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| -2 | 1.36 | 0.808 | 1.24 | 1.3375 | 0.82 | 1.225 | 1.27 | 0.856 | 1.18 | 1.225 | 0.88 | 1.15 |
| -3 | 1.5 | 0.712 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.73 | 1.3 | 1.405 | 0.784 | 1.27 | 1.3375 | 0.82 | 1.225 |
| -4 | 1.5 | 0.616 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.64 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.712 | 1.3 | 1.45 | 0.76 | 1.3 |
| -5 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.64 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| -6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.64 | 1.3 |
| -7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
| -8 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
| -9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
| -10 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
In competitive play
The Underdog Boost is universally banned in all tournaments, as it gives losing players an unfair advantage by progressively making them stronger the further behind they are. This compounded with the universal Rage mechanic makes even a one stock difference an uphill battle for the winning player. Fighters like Lucario, Terry, Sephiroth, and Kazuya particularly benefit from this boost, as they already have special comeback mechanics built into their movesets that only get more powerful with the boost on.
Trivia
- Underdog Boost was somehow turned on during Smash World Tour 2021, and several important matches were played with the boost on. As too many matches were already played before anyone noticed to course correct, staff were forced to let the rulings stand and continue the tournament with the boost off.
