Editing Boss

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[[File:GigaBowserMelee.jpg|thumb|250px|Mario fighting Giga Bowser in ''Melee'']]

A '''boss''' is a [[non-playable character]] that appears as a strong opponent in specific circumstances in one-player modes or on certain stages in multiplayer modes. Bosses in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series are usually significantly larger than [[fighter|playable character]]s, and are usually immune to [[knockback]] and [[flinch]]ing, meaning that instead of defeating them with an offstage [[KO]], they must instead be defeated by reducing their [[HP]] to zero. When a boss is defeated, the game usually freezes and sometimes zooms in with a special background visual, an effect Masahiro Sakurai officially refers to as "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdVkEOzdCPw&t=62s Boss Stop]," followed by an animation of the boss being defeated.

Fighting bosses are an entirely different matter than normal fights. Compared to the playable cast, bosses usually have fewer attacks available. These attacks tend to be telegraphed with long startups and end lag, making them more avoidable; on the other hand, they generally deal higher damage and knockback should they connect. Bosses' immunity to knockback also means that the player's moveset will have to be used differently - for example, [[grab]]s and [[throws]] will nearly always be useless, and moves of high knockback but low damage are ineffective. On the other hand, bosses' large size and predictable movements and behavior often mean that they have difficulty dodging attacks, and so powerful moves with long startups such as [[Falcon Punch]] can be highly effective.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', boss characters were usable in normal games through hacks or the [[debug menu]]. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' onwards the character IDs for the bosses have been removed, meaning they are unplayable even with hacks, although in ''Brawl'' they are controllable in [[Boss Battles]] mode via hacks. While the character IDs for bosses are still absent in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', Giga Bowser still has a character ID and can be made playable with hacks. Additionally in ''Ultimate'', {{SSBU|Master Hand}} can be controlled for one battle in [[World of Light]], which is the first intended instance of a boss being playable.

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|style="text-align:left"|{{symbol|ssb|24px}}''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''

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|style="text-align:left"|{{symbol|ssb|24px}}''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''

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|style="text-align:left"|{{symbol|dk|24px}}''[[Donkey Kong]]''

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|style="text-align:left"|[[Metal Mario]]

|style="text-align:left"|{{symbol|mario|24px}}''[[Mario]]''

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|style="text-align:left"|[[Porky]]

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==From ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''==

Master Hand reappears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', reprising his role as the final boss in the [[1-Player mode]], now known as [[Classic Mode]]. Master Hand is fought on [[Final Destination]], which is very similar to the {{SSB|Final Destination}} stage of ''SSB''. He fights essentially the same way as he did in the original game, but with a few new attacks. Upon being defeated, he leaves the stage in the same way that he did in the original game. In ''Melee'', he can also be fought in [[Event 50: Final Destination Match]], where the player faces off against him and [[Crazy Hand]] at the same time. Due to a [[Master Hand glitch|glitch]] in this game only, Master Hand can be used as a playable character in certain settings. In ''Brawl'', he also has an important plot role in [[The Subspace Emissary]] and appears in [[Boss Battles Mode]] as one of the game's ten bosses.

Master Hand reprises his role as a boss at the end of Classic Mode in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. In Adventure mode: World of Light, an army of Master Hands fights for Galeem, but are destroyed when Galeem uses their power to destroy all the fighters, except for Kirby, who escapes. He also appears as a boss in [[Adventure Mode: World of Light]].

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==From ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''==

Where Master Hand represents the constructive side of creativity, '''Crazy Hand''' is his destructive left-handed counterpart. He was introduced in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' as a secret boss who fights alongside Master Hand under specific conditions (when Classic Mode is cleared on Normal difficulty or higher in under 15 minutes, Crazy Hand will join Master Hand when Master Hand has half of his health left.) As noted above, Crazy Hand also appears in Event 50, where he and Master Hand are fought together on Final Destination with 300 HP each.

Crazy Hand reprises his role as a boss at the end of Classic Mode in ''Ultimate''. An army of Crazy Hand's fight for Dharkon in World of Light. He also appears as a boss in [[Adventure Mode: World of Light]].

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===Giga Bowser===

Upon clearing Adventure Mode in fewer than 18 minutes on Normal difficulty (or higher), Bowser’s trophy, previously thrown into a mysterious abyss below Final Destination, rises back up onto the stage and is struck by a bolt of strange lightning, transforming it into Giga Bowser. During the battle with Giga Bowser, a distorted version of the Final Destination theme that cannot be found in the Sound Test plays. Many of Giga Bowser’s attacks are powered up versions of Bowser’s: his [[down smash]] attack has a [[freezing]] effect, his [[forward smash]] has [[explosive]] properties and his [[forward tilt]] has [[darkness]] effects. Unlike Bowser, Giga Bowser's [[Fire Breath]] attack never diminishes.

Along with {{SSBM|Mewtwo}} and {{SSBM|Ganondorf}}, Giga Bowser appears in [[Event 51: The Showdown]]. The three-team up against the player, who must defeat them to complete the event.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', Giga Bowser no longer appears as a boss. Instead, he makes a semi-playable appearance from [[Bowser]]'s [[Final Smash]], {{b|Giga Bowser|Final Smash}}. When used, Bowser temporarily transforms into Giga Bowser, who is largely unchanged from ''Melee'', keeping the elemental abilities of his attacks as well as his massive size. Some changes include that Giga Bowser no longer flinches (making him more similar to other bosses in this regard) and that his [[down special]], Giga [[Bowser Bomb]], no longer has a wind effect as it does in ''Melee''.

In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', Bowser's Final Smash is no longer a controllable transformation, with the player instead aiming a targeting reticle that unleashes a single powerful punch from Giga Bowser on their opponents. However, Giga Bowser returns as a boss in {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} and [[Adventure Mode: World of Light]]. Like his Final Smash incarnations in ''Brawl'' and ''Smash 4'', the player must deplete his [[HP]] in order to defeat him, and he does not [[flinch]] from almost all attacks.

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===Fighting Wire Frames===

[[File:Fighting Wire Frames Trophy.png|thumb|The Fighting Wire Frames trophy in ''Melee''.]]

The spiritual successors to the Polygon Team, the '''Fighting Wire Frames''' come in male and female varieties. They appear in Adventure Mode, as well as the various forms of [[Multi-Man Melee]].

 

 

'''Petey Piranha''' (Japanese name '''Boss Pakkun''') was the first revealed boss character in ''Brawl'', and is the first major boss to come from another series of games, as opposed to being unique to ''Smash''. He appears as a boss in [[The Subspace Emissary]] storyline, holding cages that contain {{SSBB|Zelda}} and {{SSBB|Peach}}. He uses both these cages, as well as his own abilities, to attack {{SSBB|Kirby}}. After Kirby attacks a cage enough to break it, Petey will be defeated and explode. While whichever princess contained within the broken cage will be freed, the other princess is turned into a [[trophy]] and subsequently taken by {{SSBB|Wario}}. If Petey himself is attacked, both cages will take damage. If he is the only entity attacked and defeated, a random princess will be selected to be taken by Wario. Petey Piranha has previously appeared as a playable character in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash'' and a boss in ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''.

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===Rayquaza===

'''Rayquaza''' is the first ''Pokémon'' to be a boss. It first appears in The Subspace Emissary in the jungle after {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}} goes to investigate a crashed [[Arwing]], where it comes out of the water, destroys the Arwing with an energy ball, and then kidnaps Diddy. As it goes back into the water, {{SSBB|Fox}} exits the destroyed Arwing and attacks the aggressive beast, causing it to lose its grip on Diddy Kong. Rayquaza then fires an energy ball at Fox, but Fox [[Reflector|reflects]] the attack back at the monstrous dragon, sending it tumbling back into the water. After this, Diddy Kong and Fox fight it. Its attacks are loosely based on the ''Pokémon'' games, and it has an exceedingly large amount of resistance.

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===Porky===

As one of the bosses of The Subspace Emissary and a high-ranked member of the Subspace Army, '''Porky''' sends [[Primid]]s to divert {{SSBB|Lucas}} and sends in his giant statue, the [[Pig King Statue]], which soon hunts Lucas down. The statue is indestructible, so Lucas has no choice but to run; the giant statue destroys giant containers, barrels, enemies, and even metallic buildings as it chases him. Lucas finally comes to a giant marsh which seems to save him as the statue sinks, but it soon respawns.

Lucas then stumbles, and just as the giant statue is about to crush him, {{SSBB|Ness}} appears and uses a [[PK Thunder]], which causes the statue to tip over. The statue once again recovers and flies into the air, this time to crush Ness. However, Ness uses a [[PK Flash]] and the statue explodes, revealing Porky himself inside (in his bed-mecha from ''Mother 3''). A boss battle then ensues. He attacks by running around and by using a variety of lasers. Lucas and Ness eventually take him down. Like all Subspace Emissary bosses, Porky is brought back by Tabuu to distract the heroes in [[The Great Maze]]. In his origin series, he appears as an antagonist in ''[[EarthBound]]'' and ''[[Mother 3]]''.

===Galleom===

'''Galleom''' is a large transforming robot found during The Subspace Emissary in the desert by {{SSBB|Marth}}, {{SSBB|Ike}}, and {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}. Galleom's initial form is a large armored tank equipped with ramming spikes and missiles, but when confronted by the three swordsmen, the tank transforms into an immense purple robot. In this form, he attacks with his large fists and missiles and tries to crush the protagonists with his sheer bulk. The mechanoid is finally defeated, but not destroyed. He then leaps off a cliff and falls through the ground into a tunnel system. There, he confronts Lucas and the {{SSBB|Pokémon Trainer}}. After he is defeated a second time, he grabs the two companions and blasts into the sky, revealing a [[Subspace Bomb]] concealed in his head. Lucas uses PK Thunder to separate Galleom's arm from his body, releasing the two boys, who are then rescued by Meta Knight. Galleom is finally destroyed by the detonation of the Subspace Bomb. He is later brought back by Tabuu to confront the heroes yet again in The Great Maze.

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===Ridley/Meta Ridley===

Ridley returns in {{forwiiu}} as a [[stage hazard]] on [[Pyrosphere]]. Damaging him will make him team up with his attacker, similarly to the [[Flying Man]]. He can transform into Meta Ridley at certain points during the battle.

Ridley also returns in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', becoming a [[fighter|playable character]] with Meta Ridley being an [[alternate costume]]. This also makes Ridley the first boss in the series to become a playable character (excluding [[Giga Bowser]] and [[Master Hand]], the former being a [[Final Smash]] and the latter being playable via [[Master Hand glitch|a glitch]] in ''Melee'' and a portion of ''World of Light'').

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===Duon===

'''Duon''' is an immense, double-sided robot fought in The Subspace Emissary on the [[Halberd]]. Duon is created when {{SSBB|Snake}}, {{SSBB|Lucario}}, and Meta Knight destroy the {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}} clones that are maintaining the bridge. As mentioned, Duon has two different sides: one is a bright blue and specializes at melee attacks, while the other is pink and possesses long-range attacks. The blue side has two drill-like appendages and a large blade on his head. He can also fire explosive mines from his shoulders. The pink side can fire several energy blasts from his arm cannons in quick succession. He also fires three blue energy blasts from his head cannon and launches missiles from his shoulders. The beast can also leap into the air to try to crush the heroes and can spin around to cause damage. Upon his defeat, Duon dissolves and noticeably shrinks into a puddle of Shadow Bugs and reveals the trophy of Mr. Game & Watch. As with the other bosses, Duon will attempt to stop the heroes again in The Great Maze.

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===Tabuu===

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===Master Core===

[[File:MasterCore_render.png|thumb|Master Core's official artwork for ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'']]

Introduced in {{for3ds}}, '''Master Core''' is a transformation of Master Hand and appears as a secret final boss in Classic Mode only when the [[Intensity]] is set to 5.1 or higher, after Master Hand and Crazy Hand are damaged enough. It possesses several forms that are fought in order: the humanoid-like Master Giant, the scorpion-like Master Beast, the swords-like Master Edges, a shadow duplicate of the player character named Master Shadow, a massive sub-stage of its own called the Master Fortress (exclusive to the ''Wii U'' version), and finally the Master Core itself. What forms are fought depends on the Intensity; numbers vary between versions but in general the higher the Intensity setting the more forms that are fought, causing Master Core to have more HP overall and take longer to defeat. After all previous forms are defeated, the true Master Core will appear; it is normally completely defenseless, but if not defeated quickly enough, it will unleash five waves, each powerful enough to cause a [[one-hit KO]].

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===Galeem===

[[File:Galeem SSBU.png|thumb|Galeem's official art from ''Ultimate''.]]

'''Galeem''' appears as the main antagonist of [[World of Light]]. He is first confronting the fighters with an army of {{SSBU|Master Hand}}s. He then proceeds to absorbs his army of Master Hands before unleashing his ultimate attack to destroy and imprison all the fighters (except {{SSBU|Kirby}} who escapes with his Warp Star) while transforming non-playable characters into [[spirit]]s. He then rewrites the universe in his own image, leaving it inhabited by hostile spirits and [[False character|puppet fighters]] cloned from the fighters he has captured.

He is surrounded by a shield which can only be broken by defeating [[Giga Bowser]], [[Rathalos]], and [[Galleom]] in any order, and then facing off against {{SSBU|Master Hand}}. After being defeated, [[Dharkon]] and his army of {{SSBU|Crazy Hand}}s appear, which prompts the weakened Galeem to flee and leave much of his remaining puppet fighters to be stolen by Dharkon. Galeem returns after Dharkon is defeated for the first time, and the two armies clash in the Final Battle. Galeem may be confronted either by himself or with Dharkon, but either fight gives Galeem additional moves. Defeating only Galeem has Dharkon plunge the world into darkness while defeating both triggers the true ending.

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===Dharkon===

[[File:Dharkon SSBU.png|thumb|Dharkon's official art from ''Ultimate''.]]

As the secondary antagonist and counterpart to Galeem, '''Dharkon''' appears in [[World of Light]]. He represents corruption, chaos, and destruction. He warps the world into a twisted  chaotic mess, which is in strong contrast to the organized near-perfectly fit world Galeem creates. In the final stage the player can either face him or Dharkon and Galeem combined, but either fight gives Dharkon additional moves. Defeating only Dharkon has Galeem unleash his power a second time akin to the beginning of the game, but this time no one escapes.

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===Rathalos===

[[File:Rathalos SSBU.png|thumb|Rathalos's official art from ''Ultimate''.]]

'''Rathalos''' appears as a boss in [[World of Light]] and {{SSBU|Classic Mode}}. He is also the first boss in the series to appear as an [[Assist Trophy]]. He can be found flying around [[Forest Hill]].

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===Ganon===

[[File:Ganon SSBU.png|thumb|Ganon's official art from ''Ultimate''.]]

'''Ganon''' appears as a boss in [[World of Light]] and {{SSBU|Classic Mode}}. He can be fought in the [[Sacred Land]]. His fight is reminiscent of the final battle of ''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time''.

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===Marx===

[[File:Marx SSBU.png|thumb|Marx's official art from ''Ultimate''.]]

In the center of a vortex in a [[Mysterious Dimension]], '''Marx''' appears as a boss in [[World of Light]] and {{SSBU|Classic Mode}}. Many of his attacks are taken from his battle at the end of Milky Way Wishes in ''Kirby Super Star'', although he does have several original moves in his ''Smash Bros.'' appearance.

**Duon will perform his dash attack twice.

*Ridley is the only boss to become a fully playable character, with Meta Ridley as one of his palette swaps.

*Porky is the only boss in the series to have no appearance in ''Ultimate''.  It is unknown whether or not he was supposed to be referenced with the Absolutely Safe Capsule spirit, which he uses at the end of his boss fight in ''Mother 3''.

*Master Hand, Crazy Hand, Giga Bowser, and Galleom are the only original characters in the series to appear as bosses in more than one game.

**However, Giga Bowser appears separately in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' and ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' as Bowser's [[Final Smash]].