Item

A Party Ball breaks open releasing various items in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

For the CPU Mode, see ITEM.

An item is an object, that either randomly appears on-stage during a match or is summoned by a character's special move, that can be picked up for use by characters. Many items can be wielded once picked up, while others apply an effect, and almost all can be thrown at opponents. Items are a large part of the gameplay of the Super Smash Bros. series, but problems with randomness and inconsistent risk/reward balance results in tournament rulesets universally requiring that random spawning of items be disabled using the Item Switch before starting the match.

If all recovery items are turned off in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the chance of naturally occurring items like the apples dropped by Whispy Woods on Green Greens and Chansey's eggs recovering health is eliminated; the apples will all be projectiles and the eggs will either be explosives or drop other items. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl the same is true regarding the apples (since Chansey does not appear). Additionally, the vegetables on Summit will not appear if food is turned off.

Overview

Items appear from stage-dependent designated locations at various times throughout a match based on the frequency set in the Item Switch. Characters can pick up items by standing near one and pressing the attack button; items can also be grabbed in midair starting in Melee with the grab button, or grabbed during dashes and aerial attacks in Brawl. Characters can only hold one item at a time. If an item is left alone, it will eventually disappear, flashing briefly beforehand. Items that are picked up by characters can be dropped or thrown with the grab button, and they may be dropped if the character takes a hard hit. The damage done by a thrown item depends on how fast it's moving. Most items can also be swallowed in Brawl.

Types of items

Items can be grouped into several categories based on their effects.

• Container items release other items once broken open, which can be done either by attacking them or by picking up and throwing them. In general, container items have a 12.5% (1 in 8) chance of exploding instead of releasing items.
• Battering items are wielded by characters once picked up, turning their neutral attack, forward tilt, dash attack, and forward smash into an item swipe.
• Shooting items fire projectiles when used, typically replacing the neutral attack and neutral aerial of the user. They all have limited ammunition and will merely shoot blanks once it runs out. In SSB4, trying to shoot an empty item will instead simply throw it.
• Throwing items can only be thrown at opponents. Holding a throwing item means that a character cannot use most of their attacks, as pressing the attack button will simply throw the item.
• Status items apply some sort of effect to the user, often beneficial but not necessarily. Some status items only need contact to be used (instead of needing to be grabbed). The ones that do need to be grabbed can be picked up even if the character is already holding an item; no such items exist in the original Super Smash Bros.
• Recovery items decrease the damage of the user (or increase their HP in Stamina mode). Starting in Melee, recovery items can be picked up even when the character is already holding an item.
• Summoning items release an ally that fights along side you or your team when picked up.
• Collectible items do not affect the match but instead are added to the player's collection once picked up. Computer players will not attempt to pick up collectible items, but if they do so accidentally they will not count.
• Special items do not fit into the above categories.

In addition to the above, certain items can be heavy, which limits those that pick them up into walking slowly (or not at all in SSB) and throwing. Only Donkey Kong can move quickly or jump while carrying a heavy item.

List of items

Item					Type	Heavy	Notes	Universe
Apple					Throwing/Recovery		Produced by Whispy Woods on Green Greens. Each apple can be either a throwing item or a recovery item, and in rare cases may explode when thrown.	Kirby
Assist Trophy					Summoning		When picked up, once the character lands on the ground, they will perform a short animation and summon a random character to aid them in the fight.	Super Smash Bros.
Auroros					Throwing		Only appear in the Subspace Emissary. When Auroros dive and miss, they can be picked up and thrown at other enemies.	Super Smash Bros.
Back Shield					Status		Defends the wearer from attacks towards their back.	Kid Icarus
Banana Peel					Throwing		Once thrown, trips opponents that touch it. Diddy Kong can summon these by using his down special, the banana peel, leading into deadly mindgames and combo/KO setups.	Mario
Barrel					Container		When thrown, struck, or lands on a hill, may roll across the stage and damage what it hits before breaking.	Donkey Kong
Barrel Cannon	***		*	*	Throwing		When thrown or it lands on a hill, grabs and launches the first character it hits. Disappears very quickly.	Donkey Kong
Beam Sword					Battering		Starting in Melee, gets longer when swung depending on character.	Super Smash Bros.
Beehive					Throwing		Can be thrown at opponents. If attacked or thrown at a player, it summons bees that attack the player that attacked it or was hit by it.	Animal Crossing
Beetle					Throwing		Can be thrown towards an opponent, and the item will grab the opponent and fly off into the air with them.	The Legend of Zelda
Blast Box					Throwing		Very poor throwing distance. Explodes upon taking 30 damage or a flame attack.	Super Smash Bros.
Bob-omb					Throwing		If not grabbed within a few seconds of its appearance, it lights its own fuse and begins walking around, exploding on any character it meets. If it doesn't meet a character it will blow itself up after a while.	Mario
Bonsly					Throwing		Only appears from Poké Balls. Can be thrown to deal heavy damage and knockback.	Pokémon
Bomb (Link)					Throwing		A Bomb that can be thrown at opponents and explodes when hitting one or after a set time. Summoned by Link, Young Link, or Toon Link.	The Legend of Zelda
Bombchu					Throwing		Can move up walls and across floors and ceilings. Explodes on contact with opponent.	The Legend of Zelda
Bonus Fruit					Throwing		Produced by Pac-Man's neutral special move.	Pac-Man
Boomerang					Throwing		Can be thrown at and grabbed by opponents. Gains power when caught.	Mario
Boss Galaga					Special		Carries foes upward to the top of the screen.	Namco
Bullet Bill		*	*		Transformation		Turns players into bullet bills and fire them in certain directions.	Mario
Bumper					Throwing		Can be placed on the stage or (in Brawl) set in midair, where it will knock away characters that touch it.	Super Smash Bros.
Bunny Hood					Status		Increases the user's movement speed, jump height, and falling speed.	The Legend of Zelda
Capsule					Container		Contains a single item. Has a chance of exploding.	Super Smash Bros.
Cardboard Box					Throwing		Produced by Snake's taunts. Automatically thrown once picked up, unless the user is DK, who can move around and jump with the box.	Metal Gear
CD					Collectible		Unlocks a random piece of stage music when picked up. Disappears extremely quickly. Will stop appearing in game after all music is unlocked.	Super Smash Bros.
Cloaking Device					Status		Renders the user mostly invisible and makes them immune to damage (but not knockback).	Perfect Dark
Cracker Launcher					Shooting		Limits the user to walking and a single jump, and automatically dropped from any flinch.	Super Smash Bros.
Crate					Container		Contains many items. Has a chance of exploding when thrown, or hit.	Super Smash Bros.
Cucco					Throwing		Can be thrown at opponents. If attacked or thrown at a player, it summons various Cuccos that attack the player that attacked it or was hit by it.	The Legend of Zelda
Custom Part					Collectible		Adds customize-able parts for characters.	Super Smash Bros.
Daybreak					Special/Shooting		Appears in three pieces that must be collected all at once; characters can lose pieces from their possession when hit or KO'd. Once one character has all the pieces it can be shot to inflict massive damage.	Kid Icarus
Deku Nut					Throwing		When thrown, damaged, or after a short time (even if held), nearby characters are stunned (if grounded) or launched (if aerial).	The Legend of Zelda
Dragoon					Special		Appears in three pieces that must be collected all at once; characters can lose pieces from their possession when hit or KO'd. Once one character has all the pieces the Dragoon is assembled and flown into the stage for a one-hit KO ram attack.	Kirby
Drill Arm					Shooting		Allows the wearer to fire a large drill.	Super Smash Bros.
Egg					Container		Produced by Chansey, Birdo and Yoshi series stages. Essentially identical to Capsules.	Super Smash Bros.
Electrode	***				Throwing		Only appears from Poké Balls and can only be grabbed before it's about to detonate. Explosion deals extremely high knockback. Has a chance to be a dud.	Pokémon
Fairy Bottle					Throwing/Recovery		Recovers an excess of 100% damage, but only if your damage is 100% or more	The Legend of Zelda
Fan					Battering		Fastest-swinging battering item. High shield damage.	Super Smash Bros.
Fire Bar					Battering		Causes fire damage. Grows shorter with each successful attack.	Mario
Fire Flower					Shooting		Produces a continuous stream of fire.	Mario
Flipper				***	Throwing		Once thrown, halts in the air and bops characters that run into it.	Balloon Fight
Food					Recovery		Each type of food recovers a different amount of damage. Can be produced in large numbers by Peach Blossom.	Super Smash Bros.
Franklin Badge					Status		Temporarily makes the wearer immune to projectiles by automatically reflecting them. Can be knocked off.	EarthBound
Freezie					Throwing		Slides across the stage, freezing characters when struck by it. Can be destroyed before being picked up.	Mario
Grass					Special		When picked up, another item appears in its place.	Mario
Golden Hammer					Special		Acts the same as the regular Hammer, though faster and with the ability to float. May be a Golden Squeaky Hammer as opposed to losing its head.	Mario
Gooey Bomb					Throwing		When thrown, attaches to characters and can transfer to other characters that pass by. Explodes after a certain time or if attacked when not on a character.	Super Smash Bros.
Green Shell					Throwing		When thrown, attacked, or landed on, slides across the stage and damages everything it hits.	Mario
Gust Bellows					Shooting		Blows gusts of wind at other players to push them away.	The Legend of Zelda
Gyro					Throwing		Produced by R.O.B.'s down special move.	R.O.B.
Hammer					Special		One of the most feared items in the game due to its range, damage, and knockback. However, it limits the user to walking and a single jump; the user cannot even choose to drop the item. May randomly lose its head and become useless; the head can be picked up and thrown for massive damage.	Donkey Kong
Hand Grenade					Throwing		Produced by Snake's neutral special move. Does not explode on contact. If Snake shields, anyone who is holding one of his grenades instantly drops it.	Metal Gear
Heart Container					Recovery		Strongest recovery item, recovering up to 100% damage.	The Legend of Zelda
Hocotate Bomb					Throwing		A bomb shaped like the Hocotate Ship that will fly off, and then crash down when "least expected".	Pikmin
Home-Run Bat					Battering		An extremely powerful item. Its forward smash is among the most powerful attacks in all four games, being a one-hit KO in every one. As a throwing item, it maintains its high knockback and is a semi-spike. In Brawl, forward smash uses a unique animation. It becomes stronger when hit on the tip.	Super Smash Bros.
Hothead					Throwing		Follows the contours of the stage once thrown. Grows in size and damage but lasts for a shorter time when hit by flame or electric attacks.	Mario
Key					Throwing		Only appears in specific Subspace Emissary stages. Unlocks doors when thrown at them or the holding character touches them. Returns to original spot if it remains idle on the ground.	Super Smash Bros.
Killer Eye					Throwing		When placed, can fire energy beams in the direction it faces.	Kid Icarus
Lightning Bolt					Status		When touched, shrinks all opponents. Can backfire and shrink the user or enlarge all opponents.	Mario
Lip's Stick					Battering		Flowers opponents. Has a limited supply of short-range spore projectiles produced on f-tilt or f-smash.	Panel de Pon
Master Ball					Throwing/Summoning		Just like the Poké Ball, but it is guaranteed to release a rare or Legendary Pokémon.	Pokémon
Maxim Tomato					Recovery		The third most powerful recovery item, healing up to 50% damage.	Kirby
Mechakoopa					Throwing		Produced by Bowser Jr.'s down special move. Walks around briefly before exploding.	Mario
Metal Box					Status		Increases the weight and falling speed of the user, while also reducing the chances of flinching. Can be activated by pickup or by direct attack; indirect attacks will either destroy it (in Melee) or do nothing (in Brawl).	Mario
Motion-Sensor Bomb					Throwing		Attaches to the stage once thrown; characters that approach it after a short time cause it to explode.	Super Smash Bros.
Mr. Saturn					Throwing		Walks around the stage and can be knocked about by attacks.	EarthBound
Ore Club					Battering		Can be swung or used to unleash tornadoes.	Kid Icarus
Parasol				*	Battering		Reduces the holder's falling speed.	Kirby
Party Ball					Container		Once activated by being thrown or damaged, it floats into the air and opens, dropping its items.	Super Smash Bros.
Peanut					Throwing/Recovery		Produced by Diddy's Peanut Popgun and Rocketbarrel Barrage. Can be caught and re-thrown, or left to hit the stage and possibly drop a food-like item.	Donkey Kong
Pellet					Throwing		Produced by the Pellet Posies on Distant Planet. Can be thrown into stationary Onions to produce other items.	Pikmin
Pitfall					Throwing		Embeds itself into the ground once thrown; characters that approach it after a short time will be buried or plunged.	Animal Crossing
Poison Mushroom					Status		Slides across the stage. When touched, shrinks the character.	Mario
Poké Ball					Throwing/Summoning		Once thrown and lands on the ground, unleashes a Pokémon to aid the user.	Pokémon
POW Block	***		***		Throwing		When thrown, it causes an earthquake, launching all characters (including the player) straight up if on the ground. Shrinks with each throw.	Mario
Power Suit Piece					Throwing		Produced by the Zero Laser or by starting a match as Zero Suit Samus.	Metroid
Ray Gun					Shooting		Fires blasts of energy that have infinite horizontal range.	Super Smash Bros.
Red Shell			**	**	Throwing		When thrown, attacked, or landed on, slides across the stage and damages everything it hits. Aims for nearby characters and avoids sliding off edges.	Mario
Rocket Belt					Status		Can be equipped and used to increase upward momentum at will.	Pilotwings
Rolling Crate					Container		When thrown, struck, or lands on a hill, will roll across the stage and damage what it hits without breaking. Can be stood on.	Super Smash Bros.
Sandbag		*			Special		When attacked, produces items.	Super Smash Bros.
Screw Attack					Throwing/Status		Turns the holder's jumps into Screw Attacks. In Melee, applies for as long as the holder keeps the item, and a forced Screw Attack will be applied to those the item is thrown at. In Brawl, applies until the item wears off and does not need to be held in-hand once picked up.	Metroid
Shellcreeper					Throwing		Turtle like creatures that appear on the Mario Bros. stage. Can only be picked up when it's on its back. Shell color determines knockback strength.	Mario
Sidestepper					Throwing		Crab like creatures that appear on the Mario Bros. stage. Can only be picked up when it's on its back. Color determines knockback strength.	Mario
Smart Bomb					Throwing		Produces a large explosion when thrown or attacked. Has a chance to be a dud.	Star Fox
Smash Ball					Special		Flies around the stage. Characters must break in order to obtain. Once broken, player presses their neutral special button to use. Will fly off-stage after a short period if not obtained and used. Final Smash.	Super Smash Bros.
Smash Coins and Bills					Collectible		Only appear in coin battles. Adds to player's coin count. Bills debut in Brawl.	Super Smash Bros.
Smoke Ball					Throwing		Once thrown, spews smoke around its immediate area. May stick to opponents.	Super Smash Bros.
Soccer Ball					Special		Cannot be picked up. When attacked, it careens in the knockback direction with high damage and knockback.	Mario
Special Flag					Special		Can be held above the user's head for a long period to gain either a KO point in a timed match or a stock in a stock match.	Namco
Spiny Shell					Throwing		Hovers above a player before dropping onto them.	Mario
Spring					Throwing		When idle, repels characters when touched depending on whether it is upright or sideways.	Donkey Kong
Star Rod					Battering/Shooting		Has a limited supply of long-range star shots produced on f-tilt or f-smash.	Kirby
Stat Boost					Status		Boosts the status of the character.	Super Smash Bros.
Steel Diver					Shooting		A smaller gun-like version of the Steel Diver from the self-titled game for the Nintendo 3DS. Fires a torpedo which travels slowly at first.	Steel Diver
Sticker					Collectible		Adds to the player's sticker collection.	Super Smash Bros.
Stock Ball					Special		Only appears in specific Subspace Emissary stages at lower difficulties. Adds one stock to the player's total.	Super Smash Bros.
Super Leaf					Status		Gives the user raccoon ears and tail. Allows the user to float in mid-air using the jump button.	Mario
Super Mushroom					Status		Slides across the stage. When touched, enlarges the character.	Mario
Super Scope					Shooting		Can shoot a total of 48 small rapid-fire pulses of energy or charge 3 large blobs of energy.	Nintendo
Super Star					Status		Renders the character it touches invincible for a limited time.	Mario
Superspicy Curry					Status/Shooting		Causes the user to constantly shoot short-range fireballs and be incapable of walking slowly.	Kirby
Team Healer					Throwing/Recovery		Heals teammates when thrown at them. When thrown at opponents, can heal or damage them at random. Only appears during team battles.	Super Smash Bros.
Timer					Status		Slows down all opponents. Can backfire and slow down the user, or slow down the entire game.	Super Smash Bros.
Tortimer Fruits					Throwing/Recovery		Produced fruits on Tortimer Island, each fruit can be either a throwing item or a recovery item, and in rare cases may explode when thrown, similar to apples from Green Greens.	Animal Crossing
Trophy					Collectible		Adds to the player's trophy collection.	Super Smash Bros.
Trophy Stand					Throwing		Only appears in the Subspace Emissary. Causes weak or low-health enemies to turn into trophies; merely damages strong and healthy enemies.	Super Smash Bros.
Unira					Throwing		Attaches to the stage once thrown or attacked and pokes opponents that come near. Can be set or reset with a direct attack; indirect ones do nothing.	Clu Clu Land
Vegetable					Throwing		Produced by Peach's down special move. Deals varying damage depending on its facial expression.	Mario
Wario Bike					Throwing		Produced by Wario's side special move. Must be destroyed before Wario can use the move without being nearby.	Wario
Wario Bike wheels					Throwing		Produced by destroying the Wario Bike.	Wario
Warp Star					Special		Once picked up, the user flies into the sky and then crashes down with an explosion.	Kirby
Wood chip					Throwing		Occasionally produced by Villager's down special move, Timber. Disappears as soon as it hits a solid surface, after it's first picked up.	Animal Crossing
X Bomb					Throwing		Creates a cross-shaped explosion that spans most of the screen.	Kid Icarus
Yoshi's Egg	*		*	*	Throwing		Only appears in Event 13: Yoshi's Egg. The event ends in failure if it breaks.	Yoshi

* Appears in Smash games but not as an item.

** Appears in the Subspace Emissary and Smash Run respectively; by stomping on a red Koopa, but only functions like a green shell.

*** Appears in Smash games but as a stage hazard.

Only appears in Super Smash Bros for Wii U.

Only appears in Super Smash Bros for 3DS.