Editing False character

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[[File:The dark side.jpeg|thumb|250px|A [[spirit]] being forced to animate a false {{SSBU|Mario}}.]]

'''False characters''', also referred to as "puppet fighters", are enemies featured in [[Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' and [[Adventure Mode: World of Light]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. They are, for all intents and purposes, evil doppelgängers of [[character|fighters]] that serve the modes' respective main antagonists. In ''The Subspace Emissary'', a false character is created when [[Shadow Bug|Shadow Bugs]] duplicate a fallen fighter by swarming over their [[trophy|trophy form]]; in ''World of Light'', the fighters are captured and replicated by either [[Galeem]] or [[Dharkon]], to which the replicas are then possessed by spirits bound by the duo's influences.

Most false characters in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' retain the look and abilities of the original with the addition of a smoky purple aura, solid and glowing yellow irises and a matching darker tinge (outliers that do not entirely conform to these schematics include Samus and Mr. Game & Watch); in battle, they are simply rendered with a purple tint and constantly glowing eyes, lacking the auras. Like their original counterparts, they revert into trophies upon defeat, but these quickly dissolve into Shadow Bugs afterward. Similar to [[Metal Box|metal]] fighters, they are voiceless. All false characters are slightly larger than their normal counterparts (or much larger in the case of the false {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}) and deal slightly more damage while having slightly more [[knockback resistance]].

False characters in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' initially appear as inanimate and colorless replicas, but once spirits are forced to animate them, the puppets gain color; said color represents one of the original characters' many costumes (typically their alternate costumes outside of a handful of exceptions)—sometimes colored similarly to the spirit possessing them or something else related to said spirit (e.g. the Yoshi puppet fighters containing Eevee's spirit are blue, yellow and red in reference to Vaporeon, Jolteon and Flareon—Eevee's original evolutions), and their eyes gain a distinct red glowing color (the color is instead purple for when Dharkon is controlling the fighters), though the color's pattern varies — the Mario puppet fighter containing a Smoky Progg's spirit displayed lighter red for his irises and darker red for his pupils during the opening cutscene, while outside of this the puppet fighters inverted this while also having pink sclera (in the case of the puppet fighters cloned from Samus or Dark Samus, their entire visor lights up, rather than their eyes simply shining through it); the Marth controlled by Dharkon in the {{SSBU|Hero}}'s reveal trailer displayed a dark purple pupil, even darker purple sclera, and almost white lavender irises while the other characters displayed darker irises and brighter pupils much like they do in gameplay. In gameplay itself, all fighters under Galeem's control (and later [[Dharkon]]'s) display glowing eyes while only the original fighters possess an aura during gameplay (they do display such a characteristic in the Hero's trailer).

 

Puppet fighters additionally display abilities and sometimes attack behaviors that the original fighters do not possess or normally resort to, in conjunction with the originals' own, such as the Mario puppet fighter containing Smoky Progg's spirit occasionally turning metal. Much like the colors, these extra abilities often relate to the spirit possessing the fighter, such as the Wario puppet fighters containing the Chargin' Chuck spirit utilizing Wario's new [[dash attack]], or the Zelda puppet fighter containing Yuri Kozukata's spirit frequently summoning said Assist Trophy.

 

Arguably, the spirits encountered on the [[Spirit Board]] are also utilizing puppet fighters as many battles are shared between it and Adventure Mode. While the battles have similar schematics, rather than using the playable spirits attributes conferred upon a character as in normal gameplay, albeit the process of claiming the spirits are different: World of Light simply requires defeating the puppet fighter to free the spirit while the Spirit Board additionally requires shooting at the stunned fighter post-battle with a specialized gun. These "puppet fighters" do not appear to be under the control of Galeem or Dharkon. Regardless of mode, puppet fighters have a slightly darker coloration when compared to playable fighters (this is more noticeable in the Hero's trailer where they appear much darker than in gameplay and almost colorless).

====False Bowser====

[[File:Lakeshore Subspace Emissary.png|thumb|A false Bowser with [[Bowser (SSBB)|the original]].]]

The false Bowser makes its first appearance in [[The Lake]], attacking {{SSBB|Fox}} and Diddy Kong at the very end of the stage. Once being defeated by Fox and Diddy, its trophy form dissolves and then the real Bowser makes his entrance in an attempt to capture the duo. It is believed that Bowser ordered a swarm of Shadow Bugs to create his false counterpart, so he could use it as somewhat of a decoy.

Another False Bowser appears later during the opening cutscene of [[The Lake Shore]] after Bowser uses a [[Dark Cannon]] on the princess that was rescued by {{SSBB|Kirby}} in the [[Midair Stadium]]. The clone is ordered to dissolve into Shadow Bugs to swarm on and duplicate the trophified princess.

[[File:FalseDiddy.png|left|thumb|A false Diddy Kong facing the {{uv|Star Fox}} fighters and the original.]]

As Fox and Diddy are walking through [[The Swamp]], they become ambushed by Bowser, who uses his Dark Cannon against Diddy to reduce him to his trophy form. Bowser then orders some Shadow Bugs to swarm the trophified Diddy, creating the false Diddy. As it was starting to worsen, Falco then flies down in an Arwing and destroys the Dark Cannon, forcing Bowser to retreat by means of his [[Koopa Clown Car]]. Afterwards, the false Diddy then enhances its size, effectively making it [[Boss|a minor boss]]. Fox revives Diddy, who freaks out at the sight of his clone and the trio defeat it. Once defeated, the clone's trophy form disintegrates into Shadow Bugs.

[[File:FalseSamus.png|thumb|200px|A false Samus]]

After {{SSBB|Pikachu}} and {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}} fought their way through the [[Isle of the Ancients]]' [[The Research Facility (Part II)|research facility]], Samus locates her Power Suit. Before she can retrieve it, however, a pair of False Samuses confront the duo. After defeating them, Samus donned her Power Suit and continued, destroying the R.O.B.s sent to attack her. The Samus suits are similar to the color scheme of the Samus' Gravity Suit.

It is implied that these false Samuses are duplicates of the Power Suit rather than Samus herself, as the in-game name of the cutscene in which they appear is titled "The Copied Power Suit", no purple aura surrounds these false Samuses and it is unclear how the Shadow Bugs created them.

[[File:FalseGameWatch.png|thumb|left|200px|A quintet of false Mr. Game & Watches in control of the [[Halberd]].]]

When {{SSBB|Snake}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}} and {{SSBB|Lucario}} storm the bridge of the hijacked Halberd, they discover a quintet of false {{SSBB|Mr. Game & Watch}}es. Snake proceeds to knock them out of the window, onto the deck, and into the midst of the tea party held by {{SSBB|Peach}}, Fox and {{SSBB|Zelda}} (disguised as {{SSBB|Sheik}} during that time). The clones then dissolve into Shadow Bugs and form into [[Duon]], a last resort to defend the Halberd which begins a boss fight. After the monster's defeat, it dissolves into Shadow Bugs and flies away, leaving behind the real Mr. Game & Watch.

[[File:False Peach Brawl.png|thumb|A false Peach.]]

[[File:False Zelda Brawl.png|thumb|left|A false Zelda facing Mario and Pit.]]

The story segment here changes depending on if the player (as {{SSBB|Kirby}}) saved Peach or Zelda in the beginning when fighting [[Petey Piranha]]. After the Shadow Bugs cover Peach/Zelda's trophy, they morph into a false Peach/Zelda. While {{SSBB|Mario}} and {{SSBB|Pit}}/{{SSBB|Link}} and {{SSBB|Yoshi}} are running, the false princess attempts to shoot them with a [[Dark Cannon]]. However, right before it is able to, the other duo arrives and Link/Pit destroys the Dark Cannon. The false princess glares at the arriving duo and they fight. The duo wins the battle, reducing the false princess to its trophy form as it dissolves. At the same time, Mario/Link mistakes the other character as having defeated the real deal and attacks. The previous duo then defeats the arriving duo, reducing the latter to their trophy forms which are taken by King Dedede. Kirby saves the two and the princess's trophy is later taken away by Bowser when he and his Koopa Troop storm Dedede's castle.

Later on in the story, both Peach and Zelda's trophies are taken aboard the [[Halberd]], locked up in spare cages that would have been used for [[Petey Piranha]]. When Snake, Meta Knight and Lucario enter the room where their trophies are, Shadow Bugs come in and form into new false versions of the princesses. The three newcomers battle the doppelgängers and defeat them before reviving the original princesses.

Unlike most false characters, the color of the false Zeldas' skin takes on a greyish tone. This may take some inspiration from when Zelda was briefly possessed by [[Ganondorf]] during the endgame of ''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess''.

[[File:FalseDKfight.jpg|thumb|Kirby fighting a false {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}} in The Great Maze]]

Different versions of false characters created from every fighter seen so far in the plotline (excluding {{SSBB|Sheik}}, {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}}, {{SSBB|Jigglypuff}}, {{SSBB|Toon Link}}, {{SSBB|Wolf}} and {{SSBB|Sonic}}) appear in [[The Great Maze]]. These versions of false characters are slightly larger than ordinary ones and sport a shining yellow-green look with white eyes, as well as emitting lower-pitched sounds. No reason has been given for the change in appearance compared to those found outside of Subspace, though it is speculated that this is their "natural form" while inside the dimension.

Each false character is fought on [[The Great Maze/Vs Stages|a different stage]], though all of them share a similar background and platform design. Along with all of the [[boss]]es (except {{SSBB|Master Hand}} and {{SSBB|Crazy Hand}}), they must be defeated in order to confront [[Tabuu]] in the final battle.

During a battle with a false character, a music track, usually dark-themed and derived from the character's game series, plays in the background. However, some characters, such as Fox and Pit, have their battle themes taken from another fighter's series.

|{{CharHead|Mario|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Mario Bros.|Airship Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)}}''

|{{CharHead|Luigi|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Mario Bros.|Luigi's Mansion Theme}}''

|{{CharHead|Peach|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Mario Bros.|Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)}}''

|{{CharHead|Bowser|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Mario Bros.|Airship Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)}}''

|{{CharHead|Donkey Kong|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=2|''{{SSBBMusicLink|Donkey Kong|Battle For Storm Hill}}''

|{{CharHead|Diddy Kong|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Yoshi|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=2|''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Mario Bros.|Airship Theme (Super Mario Bros. 3)}}''

|{{CharHead|Wario|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Link|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=3|''{{SSBBMusicLink|The Legend of Zelda|Gerudo Valley}}''

|{{CharHead|Zelda|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Ganondorf|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Samus|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Metroid|Sector 1}}''

|{{CharHead|Pit|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Mario Bros.|Castle / Boss Fortress (Super Mario World / SMB 3)}}''

|{{CharHead|Ice Climbers|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Nintendo|Ice Climber}}''

|{{CharHead|R.O.B.|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Flat Zone (Melee)}}''

|{{CharHead|Kirby|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=4|''{{SSBBMusicLink|Kirby|Gourmet Race}}''

|{{CharHead|Meta Knight|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|King Dedede|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Olimar|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Fox|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=3|''{{SSBBMusicLink|Metroid|Sector 1}}''

|{{CharHead|Falco|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Captain Falcon|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Pikachu|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=3|''{{SSBBMusicLink|Pokémon|Victory Road}}''

|{{CharHead|Pokémon Trainer|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Lucario|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Marth|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=2|''{{SSBBMusicLink|Fire Emblem|Against the Dark Knight}}''

|{{CharHead|Ike|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Ness|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||rowspan=2|''{{SSBBMusicLink|EarthBound|Unfounded Revenge / Smashing Song of Praise}}''

|{{CharHead|Lucas|SSBB|hsize=20px}}

|{{CharHead|Mr. Game & Watch|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Flat Zone (Melee)}}''

|{{CharHead|Snake|SSBB|hsize=20px}}||''{{SSBBMusicLink|Metroid|Sector 1}}''

==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==

[[File:False characters SSBU.png|thumb|An army of false characters in the opening cinematic of World of Light.]]

False characters reappear in [[Adventure Mode: World of Light|World of Light]]. This time, instead of Shadow Bugs, they are formed by a strange glowing substance being poured over the trapped fighters, which forms into an inanimate replica. These "puppet fighters" are then animated by spirits bound by Galeem or Dharkon, which can be claimed by defeating the puppet fighters. They are also usually represented by the fighters' [[Alternate costume (SSBU)|alternate costumes]]. More information on these fights can be found [[Unlockable character#World of Light|here]].

During {{b|The Final Battle|World of Light}}, false characters appear as either light-blue silhouettes with red eyes or red silhouettes with purple eyes. The former are created by Galeem and based on fighters found in [[The Light Realm]] or surrounded by Galeem's spirits in the final world. The latter are created by Dharkon and based on fighters found in [[The Dark Realm]] or surrounded by Dharkon's spirits in the final world. A gallery for those false characters can be found [[False character/Character gallery#World of Light|here]].

Unlike in ''Brawl'', Kirby can get Copy Abilities from them in this game. However, after he defeats them, his Copy Ability is removed.

*If one attempts to use {{b|Inhale|Kirby}} on a Subspace clone, the clone can be pulled in, but they are unable to be swallowed unless the clone is shrunk by a Poison Mushroom.

*Sheik and Zero Suit Samus don't have a false counterpart in Subspace, as False Zelda and False Samus can't transform.

**This does not count Yoshi and Wario, who, despite using ''Mario'' songs instead of ''Yoshi'' and ''Wario'' songs, respectively, are still considered ''Mario'' characters.

***Prior to the Great Maze, the exact ''Mario'' song was played during the fight with a giant false Diddy Kong, thus leaving Donkey Kong the only ''Mario'' character (counting sub-universes) to never have played a ''Mario'' song when facing him.  

* Kirby puppet fighters are featured in the World of Light despite Kirby never having been captured himself; it was discussed by series director Masahiro Sakurai that — due to Kirby surviving Galeem's attack — there were initially no puppet fighters made in his image earlier on into the game, but because of Galeem's ability to analyze Kirby at some point in the story, he was able to create puppet fighters without needing an essence left behind or having the original fighter in his possession.<ref>https://twitter.com/PushDustIn/status/1098252915532165120?s=20</ref>

**Ironically, despite the fact that Kirby was never captured by Galeem, he is featured in the most [[Spirit Battle]]s, as a main fighter or otherwise.

* False Pokémon Trainers are never encountered in World of Light despite the Army of Puppets cutscene implying otherwise, and only the real one is fought.

** Cloud similarly does not have any Spirit Battles fought in World of Light (although he does appear in Spirit Battles outside of the mode), only having Dharkon's false character clone of him present during fights where Dharkon is being fought himself.