View source for Home-Run Contest

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[[File:Sand in homerun contest melee.jpg|thumb|The Home-Run Platform in ''Melee''.]]
[[File:HRC.jpg|thumb|{{SSBB|Mario}} hitting [[Sandbag]] with a [[Home-Run Bat]] in ''Brawl''.]]
[[File:SSB3DS Home Run Contest.jpg|thumb|{{SSB4|Palutena}} in Home-Run Contest in {{for3ds}}.]]
The '''Home-Run Contest''' ({{ja|ホームランコンテスト}} ''Hōmurankontesuto'') is a minigame in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'' in which the player(s) must knock a [[Sandbag]] as far as possible, usually with the [[Home-Run Bat]] given. The player has 10 seconds to rack up [[damage]] to lengthen the home-run. The most effective technique for dealing much damage very quickly is known as [[bat dropping]]. 

The minigame takes place in the [[Home-Run Stadium]], a unique [[stage]] otherwise inaccessible in other game modes without [[hacking]].

==Overview==
The player starts on a platform with a Sandbag in the center, and the character about 1/3 of the way from the left of the platform facing right. Slightly to the left is a bat, which can be used to hit the bag extremely far. Hitting with the end of the bat, known as a tipper, makes Sandbag go farther than a mid hit, which goes farther than a close hit. 

Hitting with the handle of the bat can cause what is known as a no-ping hit. A no-ping hit is used to hit Sandbag much farther than a regular bat hit at damage percentages lower than about 120%. Using a no-ping hit when Sandbag is only at 35% damage sends Sandbag over 1000 feet (304.8 meters). It will always do 8% damage. {{SSBM|Pichu}}, {{SSBM|Pikachu}}, and {{SSBM|Mr. Game & Watch}} can do a no-ping hit by walking next to the bag, turning away from the bag, and swinging. The rest of the characters need the bag to be in the air to perform a no-ping hit. The [[character]]s that cannot do a no-ping hit or it does not go farther than their normal Home Run swing at any percent are {{SSBM|Dr.Mario}}, {{SSBM|Mario}}, {{SSBM|Luigi}}, {{SSBM|Donkey Kong}}, {{SSBM|Captain Falcon}}, and {{SSBM|Ganondorf}}.

===Prizes===
====In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''====
*300 meters/984.3 feet: [[Sandbag]] [[trophy]]
*400 meters/1,312.4 feet: [[Yoshi's Island N64]] stage
*450 meters/1,476.4 feet: Paper Mario trophy
*5,000 meters/16,404.2 feet total: [[Unown]] trophy

====In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''====
*300 meters/990 feet: [[Boo|Boo (Mario Tennis)]] [[sticker]]
*400 meters/1,200 feet: [[List of SSBB Music (Nintendo_series)#Clu Clu Land|Clu Clu Land]] music track
*500 meters/1,500 feet: [[Home-Run Bat]] trophy
*5,000 meters/15,000 feet total: [[Bumper]] trophy
*8,000 meters/24,000 feet total: [[Xananab]] trophy
*10,000 meters/30,000 feet total: [[Shy Guy]] trophy
*12,500 meters/37,500 feet total: [[List of SSBB Music (Pikmin series)#Ai no Uta (French Version)|Ai no Uta (French Version)]] music track - if not obtained, nothing appears.
*15,000 meters/45,000 feet total: [[Golden Hammer]] trophy
*Use every character in Home-Run Contest: [[Sandbag]] trophy

===Changes in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
*2-player Co-Op is now supported, both in simultaneous and alternating modes and can also be played online with a friend.
*There is a shield around the platform which prevents Sandbag from being knocked out without sufficient force.  The shield is breakable, but it greatly lowers the difficulty of bringing Sandbag's damage up. This disappears after the time. To counter this, if an attack is started before time ends, it finishes anyway.
*Bat drops are generally more difficult to do because [[A button|A]] and [[C-Stick]] grab items.
*Knocking Sandbag to the platform's left will automatically result in zero distance.
*Sandbag cannot be grabbed.
*The home run contest stage is endless; the measuring counter, however, cannot exceed 999999.9 m.
*At 10000 m, the number on the sign will reset to 0.
Additionally, the Home-Run Bat sports its own unique Smash attack animations, allowing Captain Falcon and Sheik to properly use it for the contest.

===Changes in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''===
*The barrier is stronger. Hitting the sandbag with the bat's smash attack at 0% will not break the barrier.
*In {{forwiiu}} only, the Home-Run Contest is now playable with up to four players by taking turns. It is unknown whether the order is random or chosen.

==Moves that can hit farther than the Home-Run Bat==
===''Super Smash Bros. Melee''===
*{{SSBM|Bowser}}'s fully-charged [[forward smash]]
:Hits farther than the bat at 120% or more damage.
:Does 32 or 33%
*{{SSBM|Peach}}'s [[bob-omb]] ([[down special move]])
:Peach can harvest a bob-omb approximately every 1/300 times she uses [[Vegetable]].
:Hits farther than the bat at about 90% or more
:Does 38%
*Captain Falcon's [[Falcon Punch]] ([[neutral special move]])
:Hits farther than the bat at any % for Captain Falcon (due to his Home-Run swing sending Sandbag up.)
:Does 27% if right next to Sandbag
*Donkey Kong's fully charged [[Giant Punch]] (neutral special)
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 175% or more.
:Does 30%
*Ganondorf's 30% [[Warlock Punch]] (neutral special)
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 154% or more.
:Does 30%
*Ganondorf's 34% Warlock Punch
:The very top of Warlock Punch's hitbox (near Ganondorf's head) does more damage and significantly more knockback.
:Usually performed by jumping and throwing the bat upwards above Sandbag, then pressing B while landing on the opposite side of Sandbag. When timed properly, the falling bat should hit Sandbag into the top of the punch's hitbox. Generally known as the "Reverse Warlock Punch" since Ganondorf faces away from the Sandbag as the move is performed (not to be confused with the maneuver introduced in ''Brawl'' where Ganondorf actually turns around in the middle of the windup).
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 76% or more (56% before the usual falling bat hits).
:Does 34%
*Pichu's fully-charged [[Skull Bash]] ([[side special move]])
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 95% or more.
:Does 39%
*{{SSBM|Jigglypuff}}'s [[Rest]] (down special)
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 69% or more.
:Does 28%
*{{SSBM|Luigi}}'s [[Green Missile]] misfire (side special)
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at about 300% or more (exact value unconfirmed).
:Does 25%
*Mr. Game & Watch's #9 [[Judgment]] (side special)
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 138% or more.
:Does 32%
*{{SSBM|Roy}}'s fully charged [[Flare Blade]] (neutral special)
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 18% or more.
:Does 50%
*Roy's 41% Flare Blade
:Done by releasing the Flare Blade one frame before becoming fully charged.
:Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 28% or more. Hits farther than the fully charged Flare Blade at 120% or more.
:Does 41%
*Smash-throwing the bat down
:Hits farther than the usual forward smash at about 350% or more (exact value unconfirmed).
:Does 12%

===''Super Smash Bros Brawl''===
{{incomplete|Missing data}}
*{{SSBB|Mr. Game and Watch}}'s #9 Judgement Hammer
:Hits further than the bat at (?) %
:Does 32%
:This is somewhat ironic, as #9 Judgement was intended to emulate a swing from the bat
*Mr. Game and Watch's fully-charged forward smash
:Hits further than the bat at ~170%
:Hits further than the #9 Judgement Hammer at ~200%
:Does 25%
*{{SSBB|Ike}}'s fully-charged forward smash
:Hits further than the bat at around 150%
:Does 32%
:Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards then charging the smash facing AWAY from Sandbag
*Ike's almost fully charged eruption (released in the exact frame)
:Hits farther than the bat at (?) %
:Does 39.5 %
*{{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}'s fully charged forward smash (with optimal [[hitbox]] connection)
:Hits further than the bat at (?) %
:Does 29%
:Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards, waiting a little, then charging the smash
*Donkey Kong's fully charged down smash (from hands, not arms)
:Hits further than the bat at (?) %
:Hits farther than his forward smash at ~267%
:Does 25 %
:Generally performed on the ground since it has almost the same knockback in the air and on the ground.
*Donkey Kong's fully charged [[Giant Punch]].
:Hits further around 200+%
:Does 29 %
:Goes farther when hit with the body of the punch, facing left
*{{SSBB|Luigi}}'s fully charged forward smash, aimed upward
:Hits further than the bat at ~180%
:Does 23%
:Generally performed after lightly throwing the bat upwards then charging the smash, but has same knockback in the air and on the ground
*{{SSBB|King Dedede}}'s fully-charged forward smash
:Hits further than the bat at ~144 %
:Does 35%
:Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards then charging the smash facing AWAY from Sandbag
*King Dedede's 29% [[Jet Hammer]] (down special)
:Hits further at 195 %
:Does 29%
:Aerial hit [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVwa0C-ClZo&feature=channel_page]
*{{SSBB|Ganondorf}}'s Reverse Warlock Punch
:Hits further than the bat at about 110%
:Does 36%
:Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards then performing the Reverse Warlock Punch
*{{SSBB|Captain Falcon}}'s Reverse Falcon Punch
:Hits further than the bat at (?) %
:Does 28%
:Generally performed after lightly throwing the bat upwards then performing the Reverse Falcon Punch
*{{SSBB|Bowser}}'s fully charged forward smash
:Hits farther than the bat at (?) %
:Generally smashing the bat up, then charging the smash
:Does 48%
*{{SSBB|Marth}}'s Fully charged [[Shield Breaker]]
:Stronger at 270%
:Does 25%
*{{SSBB|Peach}}'s Bob-omb
:Hits further than the bat at (?) %
:Does 38%
*{{SSBB|Mario}}'s Cape multiplies the distance by about 1.5x
:Only used in Co-op and BMO
:Equal to +30% w/ regular hit

==Subcategories==
In competitive Home-Run Contest, there are several subcategories, which use unique playing styles. The most popular two (which have been around the longest, since the start of competitive HRC) are:
*'''NBA: No Bat Allowed.''' The bat cannot be used to attack in any way. The bat can be picked up, as long as it is not used. NBA strategies are usually unique, as it requires a completely different playing style. Bat swing cannot be used.
*'''NBD: No Bat Drops.''' Players can do everything except aerial bat drops. Grounded bat drops are allowed, as it is considered a bat discard. Bat swing may be used.
Two other modes that were created in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'''s lifetime were BMO and NJA:
*'''BMO: B Moves Only.''' Only B Moves are allowed, and the last attack to hit Sandbag must be a B move. The bat can be used, so somewhat unique bat drops are utilized. Bat swing can not be used, as it counts as a forward smash. In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' this mode has turned into mostly multiple bat drops with one B move used to finish, which some argue is against the original purpose of the category.
*'''NJA: No Jump Allowed.''' Players may not jump at any time.

In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'''s lifetime three modes have since been created and become quite popular, in chronological order:
*'''NSA: No Shield Allowed.''' Originally called "No Barrier Allowed". (Players cannot use the barrier) and only applies to ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.
*'''3SS: Three Smash Strategy.''' Players must use all three of the character's smashes (Forward, Up and Down) in the run.
*'''AAA: All Aerial Moves.''' A mode created in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''. Players must use all five aerial A attacks of the character, other than that anything goes. Only regularly done in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' due to the barrier and aerial moves knocking the bag off the stage in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', but could be possible with the back wall.

==Competitive Home-Run Contest==

Since almost the beginning of ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', Home-Run Contest has been played competitively. Originally, before the game's release in Europe, North America and Japan had a competition between each other for the highest Home-Run Contest scores. This then moved out to include Europe when the game was released in its PAL version. This competitive nature has continued and grown onto ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', especially due to the replay function (thus making video production easier) and video streaming sites such as YouTube. However, due to the large technique changes from ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' to ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' and the introduction of the barrier and multiple bat drops in one jump, many ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' Professional (90,000&nbsp;ft+ / 27,432m+ THS) Home-Run Contest players have played little ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' Home-Run Contest competitively, leading to a rise in a "new generation" of Home-Run Contest players.

The Home-Run Contest world record's list is maintained on the smash site [http://www.allisbrawl.com AllIsBrawl] currently but with members of the stadium community questioning the site's support for stadium, the location might change to a more stadium based site. A history of Home-Run Contest and its milestones up until about 2005 can be found on the site [http://www.folderol.net/hrc.php Folderol], but note that the Home-Run Contest record's list is out of date.

==World records==
===''Melee''===
*Ganondorf and the Ice Climbers are tied for the world record of 11,347.2 feet (3458.5 meters).
**It is impossible to exceed a score of 11,347.2 feet because beyond this point, the ground stops being solid and the Sandbag will simply fall through it. Since the Sandbag never lands, no score is recorded (the game eventually crashes once the Sandbag goes too far beyond the screen). [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLc8eagt9dk]
**Through superhuman precision, Peach is also able to hit the Sandbag over the limit, but cannot exactly hit 11,347.2 feet, with the best record known so far being 11,329.1 feet.

*Ganondorf's record was set by YouTube user Sin2324, as seen here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBm9-at9UGs]

*The Ice Climbers' record was set by Joe Bushman using the [[freeze glitch]], as seen here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRazZUl4Mzc]

===''Brawl''===
*The solo world record is held by Ganondorf, at 12,059.7 feet (3,675.8 meters), by YouTube user Pokitaru2681 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwbejKK6Nwc]. Ganondorf is also the only known solo character to exceed 10,000 feet in real time without exploiting off stage mechanics.

*The co-operative world record is held by Ike and the Ice Climbers at 114,594.8 feet (34,928.5 meters), by YouTube user Teitoku06142 [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfZ6uTKMwLI]

*The theoretical maximum known score, requiring [[TAS|superhuman precision]], is 114,723.7 feet, performed by Ike and Peach. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLbQuLxokP0]

== Notes ==
*In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', there is a wall approximately 50 feet/15 metres to the left of the platform (off screen) that Sandbag can bounce off of.
[[File:Homeruncontestcomparison.gif|thumb|right|A common rumour claims that the platform changes size depending on the [[Language]] of the game.]]
*Contrary to popular belief, the main platform in ''Super Smash Bros. Melee's'' Home-Run Contest does not change size depending on what language the game is set to in the North American release; when set to Japanese, the platform only looks larger due to a slight change of angle that the camera looks at the stage with.
*In the NTSC version of ''Melee'', the distance counter will stop at 9999.9 feet as it has run out of digits. However, values beyond this are still properly recorded under each characters' high score.
**Four characters, Ganondorf, the Ice Climbers, Captain Falcon, and Peach, can exceed 10,000 feet in ''Melee''. Of these, Ganondorf is the only one that can do so in real time without using a glitch.
***The Ice Climbers require using the [[freeze glitch]], while Captain Falcon and Peach require superhuman precision (such as through tool-assistance or AR codes that enable frame advance) to pull off their strategies, and so they cannot reasonably be performed in real time.
*In ''Brawl'', the stage is composed of a unique [[terrain]] type designed so that {{SSBB|Olimar}} can only get Purple Pikmin. This is likely so that Olimar players would not constantly restart to get a Purple at an opportune moment, as the mechanics of the mode cause Purples to be the most useful Pikmin almost without question. Even in ''SSB4'', where terrain no longer affects Pikmin plucking and they are normally plucked in a fixed order, {{SSB4|Olimar}} still begins with three Purple Pikmin.
**Similarly, {{SSB4|Villager}}'s up and down aerial attacks will always produce three turnips in the Home-Run Contest, as well as {{SSB4|Mr. Game & Watch}}'s [[Judge]] only being at level 6.

==External links==
*[http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/gamecube/file/516492/17242 GameFAQs: Home-Run Contest guide by SSKeeto]
*[http://allisbrawl.com/stadium/highscores.aspx?g=3&m=2&s=0 Updated high scores]
*Examples of Subcategories by SSBMstuff:
**BMO ROB [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1U4bE6viac]
**NBA Samus [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-dlNL_44mA]

{{SSBBMenus}}

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