Editing Boss

{{ArticleIcons|allgames=y}}

:''Not to be confused with the smasher {{sm|Boss}}''.

A '''boss''' is a non-playable [[character]] that appears as a strong opponent in specific circumstances in one-player modes. Bosses in the ''{{b|Super Smash Bros.|series}}'' series are always significantly larger than playable characters, and are usually immune to [[knockback]] and [[flinch]]ing, meaning that instead of defeating them through a [[KO]] off the stage, they must instead be defeated by reducing their [[HP]] to zero.

Fighting bosses is usually an entirely different matter than normal fights. Compared to regular playable characters, bosses usually have fewer attacks available. These attacks tend to be telegraphed with a long startup and endlag, making them more avoidable; on the other hand, they usually deal high 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 almost always be useless, and moves of high knockback but low damage are no longer effective. On the other hand, bosses' large size often means that they have difficulty dodging attacks, and so powerful moves with a long startup such as [[Falcon Punch]] can be more effective than normal.

In the first two installments of the series, boss characters were usable in normal play through hacks or the [[debug menu]]. Starting from ''[[Brawl]]'', the character IDs for the bosses have been removed, meaning they are unplayable even with hacks, although certain other hacks allow the moves they perform to be controlled.

==Master Hand==

[[File:MasterHandBrawl.jpg|right|thumb|Master Hand’s official art in ''Brawl'']]

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 his original stage, {{b|Master Hand's Residence|N64}}. 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 also appears in the Game Boy Advance game, ''Kirby and the Amazing Mirror'', in which he appears as a miniboss in multiple areas. Upon being defeated, Kirby can inhale him, like other minibosses, and gains the Smash ability, which is based on Kirby’s moveset in ''Melee''. Master Hand, alongside Crazy Hand, also appears as the boss of the Candy Constellation. This is Crazy Hand’s only appearance in the game. The two, like in ''Melee'', have attacks that they use in conjunction with each other. In this battle, neither can be inhaled; they both explode upon defeat.

{{clear}}

==Crazy Hand==

[[File:CrazyHand.jpg|right|thumb|Crazy Hand’s official art in ''Brawl'']]

The strange, twisted brother of Master Hand, '''Crazy Hand''' is meant to represent the feeling of destroying one’s own creations, as opposed to Master Hand, who is meant to represent the opposite. 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.

[[File:Giga Bowser Melee Trophy.png|right|thumb|Giga Bowser|Giga Bowser's Trophy in ''Melee''.]]

'''Giga Bowser''' (Japanese name '''Giga Koopa''') is the secret final boss of [[Adventure Mode]] in ''Melee''. As his name suggests, he is a large, powered-up version of {{SSBM|Bowser}}. Giga Bowser is treated as a character, making him a rare exception to many boss properties - unlike other bosses, he has a damage percentage, takes knockback, has a full moveset, and can use items. (However, like other bosses, he cannot [[shield]] or be grabbed.) With a manic expression, a darker, more malevolent color scheme, and a hulking size, Giga Bowser is surely a boss to be remembered.

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 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.

Giga Bowser no longer appears as a boss after ''Melee''; however, he makes a semi-playable appearance from ''Brawl'' onward as {{SSBB|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''.

==Petey Piranha==

[[File:Petey.jpg|thumb|Petey Piranha's official art.]]

'''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}}. Petey Piranha has previously appeared as a playable character in ''Mario Kart: Double Dash'' and a boss in ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]''.

[[File:Rayquaza.jpg|thumb|Rayquaza's official art.]]

'''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 off of the ''Pokémon'' games, and it has an exceedingly large amount of resistances.

{{clear}}

==Porky Minch==

As one of the bosses of The Subspace Emissary and a high-ranked member of the Subspace Army, Porky Minch 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 Minch 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, it 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.  

{{clear}}

==Ridley/Meta Ridley==

[[File:MetaRidleyFalconFlyerSwoop.jpg|thumb|left|Meta Ridley attacking the Falcon Flyer.]]

Ridley returns in {{forwiiu}} as the [[Boss#Stage Boss|stage boss]] of [[Pyrosphere]]. He can transform into Meta Ridley at certain points during the battle.

{{clear}}

==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 its head. It can also fire explosive mines from its shoulders. The pink side can fire several energy blasts from its arm cannons in quick succession. It also fires three blue energy blasts from its head cannon and launches missiles from its shoulders. The beast can also leap into the air to try to crush the heroes and can spin around to cause damage. Upon its defeat, Duon dissolves into a puddle of Shadow Bugs and reveals the trophy of Mr. Game and Watch. As with the other bosses, Duon will attempt to stop the heroes again in The Great Maze.

{{clear}}

==Tabuu==

'''Tabuu''' is the final boss of The Subspace Emissary in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. He has many devastating attacks, most dangerously his [[Off Waves]] which can [[OHKO|instantly KO]] and are hard to dodge, but most of his attacks have a large amount of start-up [[lag]]. While playing in The Subspace Emissary, six characters are chosen to fight Tabuu.

{{clear}}

==Master Core==

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

Introduced in {{for3ds}}, '''Master Core''' is a transformation of Master and Crazy 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 depend 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 several waves, each powerful enough to cause a [[one-hit KO]].

{{clear}}

==Minor bosses==

Since the first [[Super Smash Bros.]], games in the series have also included "minor bosses", or opponents that are generally unplayable (at least directly) and that are tougher to defeat than usual playable characters, but do not meet the criteria for "true" boss status. Often these are simply otherwise playable characters who have permanently gained the effect of a temporary [[item]].

Characters that can qualify as minor bosses include:

* [[Giant Donkey Kong]]

* [[Metal Mario]]

* [[Giant Kirby]]

* [[False character]]s in [[The Subspace Emissary]]

==Stage bosses==

'''Stage bosses''' are a type of boss introduced in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. There are a total of four, each appearing on one specific stage at certain times, hindering the battle until they are defeated.

The '''[[Dark Emperor]]''' is the only ''3DS'' version exclusive stage boss, appearing on [[Find Mii]]. He first appears in the background, and can send out shockwaves that give bonuses to fighters. Eventually he flies into the foreground where he can be attacked; once attacked a certain amount, he will fly back into the background. The player who lands the final hit gets a bonus.

'''[[Ridley]]''' was teased at the end of the [[Nintendo_Direct#Super_Smash_Bros._Direct_4.8.2014|April 2014 Smash Direct]], and was later confirmed as the stage boss of [[Pyrosphere]] in the [[Nintendo_Direct#Super_Smash_Bros._for_Wii_U:_50-Fact_Extravaganza|October 2014 50-Fact Extravaganza]]. Unlike the other stage bosses, if he is damaged a certain amount by one player, he will fight on their side. If he is KO'd, the player who KO'd him gets an extra point; even the player Ridley is assisting can get a point from this. Once damaged enough, Ridley will fly to one of the two edges of the stage and absorb purple energy, turning into '''[[Meta Ridley]]''', who is more powerful and has slightly different attacks.

'''[[Metal Face]]''' was also teased at the end of {{SSB4|Shulk}}'s reveal trailer as the stage boss of [[Gaur Plain]], but was absent in the ''3DS'' version - however, the October 2014 50-Fact Extravaganza confirmed that he would be exclusive to the ''Wii U'' version. He attacks from the background and will eventually fly into the foreground, where he can damage parts of the stage and be KO'd.

The game's internal data shows that there may have been a Dr. Mario stage that went unused and would have had a '''{{s|mariowiki|Virus}}''' as a boss.

**Duon will perform its dash attack twice.

*The only bosses who can take knockback and be KO'd by being knocked off the stage are Giga Bowser and Master Core in his Master Shadow and final forms.