Editing Time out

A '''time out''' refers to the event of when the [[match timer]] reaches zero. When this happens, the screen will display "TIME" ("TIME UP" in the Japanese, Korean and Chinese versions as well as the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' in all regions) and the [[announcer]] will call it.  

In order for a time out to occur, the timer must be turned on in the [[rules]] before a game starts. The amount of time on the timer can typically be adjusted. [[Time]], [[Coin]], and [[Bonus]] matches all require a game to end by time out because the game modes require the player to perform specific tasks within the time limit in order to win; though it is possible to play "unwinnable" matches via the '''∞''' setting for time battles. [[Stock]] battles (and [[Stamina Mode]] battles as of ''Ultimate'') do not require a timer as a win condition already exists, again leading to matches that can theoretically last indefinitely if the timer is not active. That being said, a timer is still available as an option, but the game can end early if a player loses all of their stocks before a time out occurs.

In the final five seconds of a game, the announcer will audibly count down with large numbers appearing in the middle of the screen as a general announcement and a way to build tension. If there is a tie of percentages and sometimes points or stocks in all game modes when a time out takes place, [[Sudden Death]] occurs. However, [[Tourney (SSB4-Wii U)|Tourney]]s in {{forwiiu}} instead grant the player who dealt the largest amount of damage overall the win instantly.

 

==In competitive play==

Under most circumstances, a time out in tournament play causes the player with more stocks winning the match. If both players or teams have equivalent stocks, then the player or team with less damage is declared the winner. Under the rare circumstance that the players or teams have identical damage or otherwise tie a match outside of timing out, a tie breaker of some kind occurs. This tie breaker is typically a one stock game, and the winner of that game officially wins. However, some tournaments do not have such a ruling due to a lack of foresight, often leading to panic situations where [[tournament organizer]]s scramble to figure out what to do.

Some players utilize a strategy of timing out their opponent, though doing this is controversial within the [[community]]. Intentionally attempting to waste time and go to a time out is known as [[stalling]], which has a complicated and messy competitive history. While such a strategy is not necessarily against the rules and is practical and sometimes necessary with certain characters, doing so under certain conditions can be seen as breaking the rules. An example is using techniques that make characters impossible to reach or attack, which is often seen as poor sportsmanship at best and directly breaking the rules at worst. Some strategies such as [[camping]] or abusing [[intangibility]] are expressly banned or limited due to being degenerate to gameplay. Beyond these specific techniques, some players have claimed that stalling in general is a [[cheap]] tactic, utilizing methods that are considered annoying to deal with and boring to watch. Others claim that winning via time outs requires its own strategy to consistently pull off, and that characters with relatively poor KOing ability yet great defensive ability, such as {{SSBB|Samus}} and {{SSBB|Sonic}} in ''Brawl'', require the use of timing out in order to remain competitive.

The effectiveness of timing out depends mostly on the length of time specified by the ruleset; the more time is allowed, the less viable timing out is. At the same time however, time limits longer than a certain point do nothing but make matches run longer than necessary; if a player is successfully camping out the opponent, an extra few minutes does nothing but lessen the opponent's drive to counter and delay the camper's win. Also, not all time out strategies are created equal, with some considered more egregious than others. While some are so antithetical to competitively play that they are banned outright, some are more tolerable to an extent and thus players are allowed to do a maximum amount of intervals before being penalized. The game developers have even addressed these timeout strategies, like repeatedly grabbing the [[edge]] in ''Ultimate'' without getting onto a platform will gradually decrease intangibility frames until none remain, with the character eventually no longer being able to grab the edge and [[self-destruct]]ing. This has led to less defined rules about stalling in later games, as doing such is inherently more risky and generally not worth the effort.