Editing Final Smash

{{cquote|The basic gist of it? I suppose you could say it's kind of like a powerful and personalized {{b|hammer|item}}. (Or maybe not...)|cite=[[Masahiro Sakurai]], [http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/howto/basic/basic02.html Smash Bros. DOJO!!]}}

To perform a Final Smash, a player must first either destroy a [[Smash Ball]], fill the [[Final Smash Meter]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' (although then the Final Smash will be weaker), be given the ability by [[Victini]] or fall sufficiently far behind in a match that they are given a "Pity Final Smash" upon respawning. Once any of these happen, the screen will darken, the player's [[character]] will be engulfed in a multi-colored aura and their eyes will glow a bright yellow; officially referred to as '''Standby Mode''', the character's [[neutral special move]] is effectively replaced with a single use of their Final Smash.

In ''Brawl'', the majority of Final Smashes are powerful enough that they have the potential to KO incredibly early or even [[one-hit KO]] if used properly. In ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', Final Smashes were universally made much weaker, many of them no longer being able to KO opponents at low percentages. [[#Changes in Ultimate|In]] ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', they have been slightly nerfed overall once again. If a player doesn't use a Final Smash granted by the Final Smash Meter in about 20 seconds, the effect will expire. Final Smashes have also been tweaked to be less disruptive to the gameplay.

While multiple players can be in standby mode simultaneously, only one Smash Ball or Final Smash can be present onscreen at any given time. When a Final Smash is active, all other players on standby temporarily exit standby mode and regain it upon conclusion, although they will keep the yellow eyes. When most Final Smashes are performed in the air, upon ending the move, the character gains a slight boost in height and regains their spent midair jumps, usually preventing a self-destruct.

Final Smashes are affected by [[Rage]] and [[stale-move negation]] (and therefore will usually gain a freshness bonus) along with [[spirit]]s, but are not affected by stat changes from equipment or Mii Fighter sizes in ''Smash 4''.

[[Masahiro Sakurai]] revealed in an interview with former Nintendo president [[Satoru Iwata]] that he intended to include Final Smashes in the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'', even going as far as to record [[Beta elements (SSB)#Beta gameplay elements|voice clips]] for each of them.<ref>https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wii/ssbb/4/0</ref> However, the [[Nintendo 64]]'s console limitations could've been the reason why they were scrapped and the idea wouldn't be implemented until ''Brawl''. Some of these voice clips, which were contained in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' {{SSB|debug menu}}, were eventually and correspondingly used in ''Brawl''.

[[File:Pity.jpg|thumb|Link with a Pity Final Smash.]]

A '''Pity Final Smash''' ('''Easy Final Smash''' in ''SSB4'' and ''Ultimate'') randomly occurs when any player is KO'd and is 5 points behind the current leader. Also, in ''SSB4'', at least 6 KOs between all players must be landed for any player to acquire one. This player respawns with the ability to perform a Final Smash. This Final Smash cannot be dropped by the player.

In a 2-player [[time]]d match in ''Brawl'', since the points differ by two for each kill, it is possible to go from a lead of 4 points to 6 without triggering the Pity Final Smash condition (which is to be exactly 5 points behind). If a player SD's, and consequently loses only one point, then a Pity Final Smash is possible.

Pity/Easy Final Smashes cannot occur while a [[Smash Ball]] is present on the battlefield, even when the requirements are met. In ''Brawl'', Pity Final Smashes can be disabled only by turning the Smash Ball off; simply setting the overall [[item]] frequency to "None" does not prevent players from getting them. In ''SSB4'', either method will prevent Easy Final Smashes. Additionally, they cannot occur in 2 player matches, for AI players, or by a player SD'ing.

Sakurai stated in a Nintendo Direct that every Final Smash would be standardized to be simple and straight to the point. As a result, Final Smashes were made universally faster in ''Ultimate'', removing most player-controlled ones; the KO potential of Final Smashes has also been reduced. Because of the universal speed increase and control removal applied to Final Smashes, many Final Smashes such as Bowser's Giga Bowser, Wario's Wario-Man, and Little Mac's Giga Mac had their functionality changed significantly (they no longer use their full moveset transformation Final Smash; it is instead a single hit that quickly returns to regular gameplay). Others such as Fox and Falco's Landmaster and Donkey Kong's Konga Beat, have been completely replaced. The [[Final Smash Meter]] (FS Meter) is also introduced, which is a toggle feature in the [[rules]] that allows players to gain a weaker form of their Final Smash by filling up their gauge during battle. However, while multiple meters can be full at once, only one Final Smash can be performed at a time. All other FS Meters are disabled while a Final Smash is active, then re-enabled once it concludes. As of update version 4.0.0, players can hold onto a full FS Meter for up to 20 seconds before losing it and starting over. In addition, when Victini appears, it will give the fighter who summoned it access to their Final Smash without filling up their meter.

|colspan=2|[[Infernal Climax]]<ref name="instant ko" group="fs">These Final Smashes [[Instant KO|instantly KO]] opponents above a certain percentage.</ref>

|[[Giga Bowser Punch]]<ref name="instant ko" group="fs" />

|[[Mega Evolution (Charizard)|Mega Evolution]]

|[[All-Out Attack]]<ref name="instant ko" group="fs" />

|[[Mega Evolution (Lucario)|Mega Evolution]]

|colspan=3|[[Octopus]]<ref name="ultimate overhaul" group="fs" />

|[[Sacred Arrow]]<ref name="aegis" group="fs" />

|[[Burning Sword]]<ref name="aegis" group="fs">These Final Smashes have opposing traits against their trapped opponents, depending on the current Aegis active:

|[[Plasma Scream]]<ref name="instant ko" group="fs" />

|[[Sealing the Keyhole]]<ref name="instant ko" group="fs" />

|[[Triforce of Wisdom]]<ref name="instant ko" group="fs" />

In [[tournament]]s, all items, including Smash Balls, are turned off, meaning that Final Smashes do not appear in tournaments. While there has been some debate in the past whether Smash Balls should be the only item allowed, due to Final Smashes resembling the "super move" concept of more traditional fighting games, the general consensus is that they are detrimental to competitive play for several reasons:

* Smash Balls spawn randomly and can move around the stage in an unpredictable pattern, potentially giving a random player a large advantage from just being in the right place at the right time. Characters on Final Smash standby can also randomly drop it from any hit that deals hitstun.

** Characters with high mobility and range have their strengths exaggerated even more by Smash Balls, as they are better at pursuing and obtaining them; for example, it is unlikely that a {{SSB4|Little Mac}} player fighting a {{SSB4|Jigglypuff}} player on an [[Ω form]] stage can break the Smash Ball before their opponent gets to it unless it happens to spawn or float close to the ground.

** ''Brawl'' also has the issue where a Final Smash may take an invisible and unpredictable amount of time to load from disc, causing a player to potentially use a neutral special move for no apparent reason and giving the opponent a free opportunity to counter.

** The meter charges passively over time, giving an incentive for players to stall.

** The meter also charges more from taking damage than dealing damage, making it difficult to prevent the opponent from obtaining one as a form of counterplay.

** Prior to the v4.0.0 update, a player on Final Smash standby who is even slightly ahead would be incentivized to stall and evade their opponent, as the Final Smash could not be dropped and any attempt by the opponent to approach would be instantly punished with the Final Smash. As of the 4.0.0 update, a charged FS Meter now has a time limit of 20 seconds.

* Several Final Smashes are disproportionately powerful; were Final Smashes to be allowed, certain characters would become overcentralizing picks due to their Final Smash alone.

** In ''Brawl'', {{SSBB|Sonic}}'s Final Smash deals very high damage and knockback, and his immense movement speed makes it virtually impossible to avoid for long, while its long duration also makes it possible for Sonic to KO the same opponent twice in a single Final Smash usage.

*** Conversely, in ''Brawl'', {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}}'s Final Smash is very weak due to its small area-of-effect and low power, and it forces her to turn into the less viable {{SSBB|Samus}} when the Final Smash finishes, which the player will also not be able to reverse unless they acquire another Smash Ball or perform a difficult [[Smash Taunt]] that will leave them vulnerable.

** In ''Ultimate'', [[Peach Blossom]] and [[Triforce of Wisdom]] affect essentially the entire area of any [[tournament legal]] stage, allowing them to be activated instantly from anywhere with no setup, and have effects that nearly guarantee a KO regardless of counterplay.

** Compared to other chargeable attacks such as [[Wario Waft]], [[KO Uppercut]], or [[Finishing Touch]], as well as similar super move mechanics in other fighting games, Final Smashes are [[unblockable]], make the user fully [[intangible]], and have no associated high-risk downside.

Pity Final Smashes also do not appear in competitive play, due to requiring a match with a minimum of 6 stocks, which is considered far too high for timely tournament progression. As such, Final Smashes of any form remain universally banned in competitive play.

[[File:Jigglypuff glitch.png|thumb|Jigglypuff retaining its [[Puff Up]]-induced size, the most well-known version of the glitch.]]

The Regenerating terrain glitch is a [[glitch]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' that causes certain [[Final Smashes]] to stay in their activated state, if the character begins their Final Smash inside a piece of terrain that regenerates and interrupts the activation.

*There are five Final Smashes that can affect a team player when [[Team Attack|Friendly Fire]] is turned off: [[End of Day]], [[Landmaster]], [[Puff Up]], [[Iceberg]], and [[Galaxia Darkness]] (in ''Brawl'' only).

*[[Ryu]] and [[Ken]] are the only fighters with two distinct Final Smashes in a single installment. [[Cloud]] also received a new Final Smash for his ''Advent Children'' costumes in version 10.1.0 in ''Ultimate'', but it is mostly an aesthetic change to his default one.

*The input [[Hadoken]], Shakunetsu Hadoken, and Oosoto Mawashi Geri can still be performed while in Final Smash standby mode.

**[[Magic|Firaga]] can also be repeatedly used while in Final Smash standby mode if it was the move used to break the Smash Ball, and [[Monado Arts]] can also be used in Final Smash standby mode, albeit only through the Art Dial by holding the special button while ending another special move. This makes Ryu, Ken, Shulk, and Sora (and Kirby with their Copy Abilities) the only fighters who can use a neutral special move in standby after breaking the [[Smash Ball]], barring [[Golden Glitch|glitches]] and disc load delay.

*Mario, Captain Falcon, and Jigglypuff are the only three characters in the Original 12 to have kept their Final Smashes the same from ''Brawl'' in both ''Smash 4'' and ''Ultimate'' without any functionality changes.

**This therefore makes Mario the only character part of the original 8 to not have his Final Smash change in function.

*[[Pit]], [[Zero Suit Samus]], [[R.O.B.]], and [[King Dedede]] are the only characters to have a different Final Smash in every installment since their introduction, with a total of three each.

**Of these, All-Out Attack, Gigaslash, House of Boom, and Supernova are the only Final Smashes to remove it for the entire duration of the move.

*In ''Ultimate'', when a character uses their Final Smash and another character is in the frame during the initial shot, the other character will have a shocked expression on their face.

*In [[Spirits (mode)|Spirit Battles]], after a puppet fighter with a permanent gold [[condition]] uses a Final Smash, they will return to normal before having the golden effect reapplied to them, playing the power-up sound and creating glowing particles just like when a fighter turns to gold when they collect 100 coins in [[Golden Plains]] or summon [[Xerneas]] from a [[Poké Ball]].

*In ''Ultimate'', there are noticeably many characters whose Final Smash (or new Final Smash, in the case of veterans) wasn't officially announced until the game's initial release. This includes, {{SSBU|Young Link}}, {{SSBU|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBU|Diddy Kong}}, {{SSBU|Lucario}}, {{SSBU|R.O.B.}}, {{SSBU|Robin}}, {{SSBU|Daisy}}, and {{SSBU|Richter}}. While {{SSBU|Rosalina & Luma}}'s Final Smash was shown in their gameplay showcase video, it used the {{iw|mariowiki|Power Star}} like in ''Smash 4'', instead of the {{iw|mariowiki|Grand Star}} from the final build.

**If the game is played via local wireless or online and the Switch home menu is booted up, the Final Smash will still continue to play out until the end.

*Wario, Joker, {{SSBU|Steve}}, and {{SSBU|Sora}} are the only characters with a cinematic Final Smash who break the fourth wall by facing the screen during the cinematic in ''Ultimate''.