Ink (status)
There are a few attacks in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that cover foes in ink, mostly used by Inkling.
When inked, characters take extra damage from any source proportional to the ink's coverage amount, measured in its own units, which can be specified for each attack with the ink effect. This is visually manifested by the ink progressively covering a larger proportion of the affected character's model. The multiplier for damage taken by inked characters is determined by the formula 1 + ink * 0.5 / 180, with a maximum multiplier of 1.5×; as a result, the highest damage possible is achieved with at least 180 units of ink, which will also visually show a character fully inked. However, the actual coverage amount can continue increasing up to 300 units, so fully inking a character technically means covering them by at least 60%.
After a character is inked, the ink begins to deteriorate at a rate of 0.25 units per frame if the character is not hit by an inking attack for at least 120 frames (2 seconds). Therefore, ink takes 14 seconds to wear off with 60% coverage, and 22 seconds with full coverage. Similarly to the 1v1 multiplier, the additional damage applied to inked fighters will not affect the knockback any individual hit deals, or damage dealt to shields, but multi-hit attacks may KO earlier due to the fighter being at a higher percent when the final hit connects. Contrary to what is often believed, this is the only way for ink to deteriorate; button mashing, dealing or taking damage (even from attacks with a water effect), and swimming have no effect on the ink's duration. Alternatively, getting KO'd fully removes the ink.
Inkling's tank holds 150 units of ammunition, although these units are not to be confused with units of coverage. These units of ammunition are instead used for Ink Cost. For example, Inkling's neutral infinite will take 2 units of ink from the tank per hit, which will cover the opponent in 10 units of ink per hit. As a result of this, 18 hits of Inkling's neutral infinite will cover the opponent in 180 units of ink, thereby reaching the 1.5x damage multiplier cap.
The color of ink is entirely cosmetic, aside from potentially making the coverage amount harder to estimate. Only one color of ink will be shown at a time, with the color changing once the new color's amount of ink surpasses the old one's. The effects of different colored inks do not stack. An Inkling is also equally affected by having their own ink reflected at them, which can technically make it worse for the player should this occur. When Kirby copies an Inkling, he will use the first color of ink (in order of orange, blue, yellow, green, pink, cyan, light purple or dark purple) that isn't being used by an Inkling or another Kirby. Master Hand uses a light blue ink. Some Assist Trophies can also be covered in ink.
The stage can also be covered in ink, which reduces the moving speed and jump height of opponents while they are touching it. This is an additional property of a specific move, Splat Roller, rather than a side bonus of ink attacks themselves. The effect on jump height has unintended interactions with certain momentum-based moves, such as increasing their height.
Mr. Game & Watch's Oil Panic in Ultimate uses an effect similar to ink when hitting opponents, covering them in oil that deteriorates after a few seconds. However, this effect is completely aesthetic, and wears off much faster.
In addition to the above, attacks may have the ink effect, which produces specific graphics on hit. This is entirely independent of the ink mechanic.
List of ink attacks
By characters
| Character | Move | Ink cost | Ink coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inkling | Neutral infinite | 2 (per hit) | 10 (per hit) |
| Forward smash | 10 | 120 (brush), 100 (handle) | |
| Up smash | 30 | 120 | |
| Down smash | 20 | 120-150 (hit 1), 100-130 (hit 2) | |
| Forward throw | 10 | 80 | |
| Splattershot | 1.5 (per hit) | 12 (per hit) | |
| Splat Roller | 45 (per second) | 60 (walk), 120 (dash), 100 (run) | |
| Super Jump | 0 | 50 (jump), 40 (landing) | |
| Splat Bomb | 30 | 110 (slowest), 170 (fastest) | |
| Killer Wail | 0 | 30 (looping hits), 200 (last hit) | |
| Kirby (Copy Ability) | Splattershot | (same as Inkling) | |
In addition, all of Inkling's floor attacks have the ink effect, without applying the ink mechanic.
By items
| Item | Move | Ink cost | Ink coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poké Ball Pokémon | Ditto: Transform (if the summoner is Inkling or if the summoner is Kirby and Ditto then copies the ability from an Inkling) | (same as Inkling) | |
By enemies and bosses
| Enemy/Boss | Move | Ink cost | Ink coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Hand | Ink blobs | 0 |
Trivia
- When a character is screen KO'd while covered in ink, the ink remains during the screen KO animation.
- If Mr. Game & Watch is covered in ink, the 3D definition becomes visible on his model. His model is flattened along one axis to make him 2D, and the ink effect breaks this illusion by revealing his shape, similarly to effects such as being metal or being a false character.
- A Mii Fighter's face will only be covered in ink when they are completely covered in ink (300 units).
- Inversely, Wario's face will be instantly covered in ink no matter how much is put on. This oddity only occurs with Wario's classic costumes and not with his biker costumes.
- Oddly, ink attacks can be absorbed by moves such as PSI Magnet, despite being matter instead of energy.
- The metal status shares the same effect on character models as ink, so gaining the metal status will immediately remove ink for its duration.
