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{{ArticleIcons|brawl=y|ssb4=y|ultimate=y}}
{{ArticleIcons|brawl=y|ssb4=y|ultimate=y}}
:''For fighter info, see [[Little Mac (SSB4)]] and [[Little Mac (SSBU)]]''.
{{forfighter|SSB4=y|SSBU=y}}
{{Infobox Character General
{{Infobox Character General
|name=Little Mac
|name=Little Mac
|image=[[File:Little Mac - Punch Out Wii.png|165px]]
|image=[[File:Little Mac - Punch Out Wii.png|165px]]
|caption=[[File:PunchOutSymbol.svg|50px]]
|caption=[[File:PunchOutSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]
Official artwork of Little Mac from ''{{s|wikipedia|Punch-Out!!|Wii}}'' for the [[Wii]].
Official artwork of Little Mac from ''{{iw|wikipedia|Punch-Out!!|Wii}}'' for the [[Wii]].
|universe={{uv|Punch-Out!!}}
|universe={{uv|Punch-Out!!}}
|firstgame=[[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|''Punch-Out!!'' (arcade)]] (1983, technical debut)<br>[[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (NES)|''Punch-Out!!'' (NES)]] (1987, proper debut)
|firstgame=[[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|''Punch-Out!!'' (arcade)]]<ref name=SakuraiMac/> (1984, technical debut)<br>[[Punch-Out!! (NES)|''Punch-Out!!'' (NES)]] (1987, proper debut)
|games=''[[Brawl]]''<br>''[[SSB4]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''
|games=''[[Brawl]]''<br>''[[SSB4]]''<br>''[[Ultimate]]''
|lastappearance= ''{{s|mariowiki|Luigi's Mansion 3}}'' (2019, cameo)
|lastappearance= ''{{iw|mariowiki|WarioWare: Move It!}}'' (2023, cameo)
|console=Arcade (technical debut)<br>Nintendo Entertainment System (proper debut)
|console=Arcade<ref name=SakuraiMac/> (technical debut)<br>Nintendo Entertainment System (proper debut)
|species=Human
|species=Human
|gender= Male
|gender= Male
|placeoforigin= {{s|wikipedia|The Bronx}}, [[wikipedia:New York (state)|New York]], {{s|wikipedia|United States}}
|placeoforigin= {{iw|wikipedia|The Bronx}}, {{iw|wikipedia|New York|state}}, {{iw|wikipedia|United States}}
|creator = Makoto Wada
|artist = Makoto Wada
|artist = Makoto Wada
|voiceactor  = {{s|wikipedia|Hisao Egawa}} (''[[Brawl]]'')<br>{{s|wikipedia|Kōsuke Toriumi}} (''[[SSB4]]''/''[[Ultimate]]'')
|voiceactor  = {{iw|wikipedia|Hisao Egawa}} (''[[Brawl]]'')<br>{{iw|wikipedia|Kōsuke Toriumi}} (''[[SSB4]]''/''[[Ultimate]]'')
|interwiki    = wikipedia
|interwiki    = wikipedia
|interwikiname = Wikipedia
|interwikiname = Wikipedia
|interwikipage = Little Mac (Punch-Out!!)
|interwikipage = Little Mac
}}
}}
'''Little Mac''' ({{ja|リトル・マック|Ritoru Makku}}, ''Little Mac'') is the main character of the {{uv|Punch-Out!!}} series. Originally debuting as a nameless boxer in the [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|arcade version of ''Punch-Out!!'']], Little Mac gained his name and backstory beginning with the [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (NES)|NES installment of ''Punch-Out!!'']]<ref name=SakuraiMac/>


'''Little Mac''' ({{ja|リトル・マック|Ritoru Makku}}, ''Little Mac'') is the main character of [[Nintendo]]'s ''{{uv|Punch-Out!!}}'' series of video games. Initially debuting as a nameless boxer in the arcade release of ''[[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (arcade game)|Punch-Out!!]]'', Little Mac gained his name and backstory beginning with ''{{S|wikipedia|Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!}}'' on the NES. As his name implies, Little Mac has a small frame, which grants him his trademark maneuverability and speed. Trained by [[Doc Louis]], Little Mac entered a boxing tournament and managed to become a champion, defeating several opponents much larger and experienced than him, and some of them have twice his age.
As his name implies, Little Mac has a small frame, which grants him his trademark maneuverability and speed. Trained by former heavyweight boxing champion [[Doc Louis]], Little Mac entered a boxing tournament and managed to become a champion by defeating several opponents much larger and more experienced than him.


After making cameos as a regular [[trophy]] and [[Assist Trophy]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', Little Mac transitioned into a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', and has remained as such since then.
After making cameos as a regular [[trophy]] and [[Assist Trophy]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', Little Mac transitioned into a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', and has remained as such since then.


==Origin==
==Origin==
[[File:Littlemacnes.gif|thumb|left|60px|Little Mac in ''{{b|Punch-Out!!|NES}}'' for the NES.]]
[[File:Littlemacnes.png|thumb|left|60px|Little Mac, as he appears in ''{{b|Punch-Out!!|NES}}'' for the NES.]]


Hailing from The Bronx, New York, 17-year-old Mac aspired to become a professional boxer. However, he stood at only 4'8"/142 cm in the NES installment (changed to a more reasonable 5'7"/172 cm in the Wii installment), so his below-average stature turned most trainers away from taking him on. Upon meeting former heavyweight champion [[Doc Louis]], however, Mac became strong enough to enter a boxing tournament hosted by the World Video Boxing Association (WVBA) under the ring name Little Mac. He defeated opponents who were increasingly larger than him and ultimately became the WVBA champion by knocking out the top-ranked boxer: real-life boxer {{s|wikipedia|Mike Tyson}} in the original NES installment, Mr. Dream in all re-releases of said installment, or Mr. Sandman in the Wii installment.
Mac is a 17-year-old New Yorker from The Bronx who aspires to become a professional boxer. Due to being only 4'8"/142 cm, his below-average stature turned most trainers away from teaching him. However, upon meeting former heavyweight boxing champion [[Doc Louis]] by chance, Mac convinced him to become his trainer. Some time thereafter, the now rechristened Little Mac officially turned pro by joining the World Video Boxing Association (WVBA), with Doc joining him as his {{iw|wikipedia|cornerman}}.


After conquering a circuit, Mac would continue to train with Doc, often jogging through New York City in a pink sweatsuit while Doc biked ahead. The Wii version also details the other exercises Mac would go through in Doc's gym. The greatest asset Mac gained from this training was Doc's patented Star Punch technique; after stunning an opponent, Mac could deliver a powerful uppercut instead of his usual jabs and hooks. During matches, he uses a defensive playstyle that focuses on dodging the opponent's attacks before counterattacking, which makes up the gameplay of the entire ''Punch Out!!'' series.
Little Mac's fighting style most closely resembles the real life style of the Out-Boxer, more specifically the Counterpunch sub-style. Due to his small stature, Little Mac uses a defensive strategy that focuses on dodging the opponent's attacks before capitalizing on their mistakes and counterattacking before backing off and repeating the process, which makes up the gameplay of the entire ''Punch Out!!'' series. However, the greatest asset Little Mac gained from this training was Doc's signature Star Punch. After stunning an opponent, Mac can throw a powerful uppercut instead of his usual jabs and hooks.


In the multiplayer "Head-to-Head" mode in ''Punch-Out!!'' for Wii, Mac has the ability to transform into a giant called [[Giga Mac]]. While in his Giga Mac state, Mac is much slower, but can hit as hard as some of the opponents he faces. This ability later became his [[Final Smash]] in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.
Thanks to adhering to Doc's expertise and training regimen, which most notably featured him wearing a pink sweatsuit while jogging after a bicycling Doc, Little Mac proceeds to defeat opponents who are increasingly larger and more experienced than him. Ultimately, Mac manages to win the WVBA Minor Circuit, Major Circuit, and even World Circuit Championships en route to knocking out the promotion's top-ranked fighter: real-life boxer and then-[[wikipedia:List of heavyweight boxing champions|world heavyweight champion]] {{iw|wikipedia|Mike Tyson}} in the original NES version, or the fictional and undefeated Mr. Dream in the re-released NES version.


Several re-releases of ''{{s|wikipedia|Super Punch-Out!!}}'' refer to the protagonist of the game as "Little Mac", despite him having a different appearance; the protagonist of ''Super Punch-Out!!'' features messy, light brown hair, wears blue shorts, and does not wear a shirt in the ring, though he still retains the green boxing gloves. Owing to this, there exists dispute as to whether or not the two are the same character; while a developer for the Wii version of ''Punch-Out!!'', Bryce Holliday, claimed that the two are different characters, Nintendo officially states that the two are the same character, with Little Mac having changed his appearance after splitting ways with Doc Louis.
What happens after Little Mac defeats Tyson/Dream is unknown, but what is known is that he returns in ''Super Punch-Out!!'' with a radically different look, a lack of titles and, perhaps most notably, without Doc Louis as his coach and cornerman.<ref name=SuperMac/> As he did before, Little Mac must defeat other boxers, almost all of whom are new opponents, in order to reclaim each of his titles. If he manages to go undefeated throughout his title hunt, Mac will also be able to challenge for a WVBA championship he never held in his original run: the Special Circuit Championship.
 
Due to having sandy blond hair, a pair of blue shorts, and lacking a tank top, originally there was confusion over whether or not the main protagonist of ''Super Punch-Out!!'' was actually Little Mac (with said character being referred to as Little Mac when he was included in the Gamecube version of EA Sports' ''Fight Night Round 2''). Although Bryce Holliday, a member of the development team for the Wii installment of ''Punch-Out!!'', claimed that this protagonist was not Little Mac, Nintendo later clarified that the two are indeed the same character,<ref name=SuperMac>[https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-punch-out-wii-u/ Super Punch-Out!! for Wii U - Nintendo Game Details]</ref> with Little Mac having changed his appearance after splitting ways with Doc Louis.
 
===Reboot===
After a 15-year hiatus, the ''Punch-Out!!'' series was rebooted with [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (Wii)|a titular installment on the Wii]],<ref>[https://www.nextlevelgames.com/games/punch-out/ Punch-Out!! – Next Level Games]</ref> and followed by a prequel, [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (Wii)#Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!|''Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!'']], shortly thereafter.<ref name=Doc>[https://www.nextlevelgames.com/games/doc-louiss-punch-out/ Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! – Next Level Games]</ref> In addition to borrowing a few elements from the home console versions of ''Punch-Out!!'' and ''Super Punch-Out!!'', the Wii installment features multiplayer and a redesigned cast (such as Little Mac's height being updated to 5'7"/170 cm), while it and its prequel collectively expand Little Mac's backstory, his friendship with Doc Louis, and the personalities of his opponents.
 
In ''Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!'', Little Mac undergoes three final training sessions as an amateur boxer by personally sparring with Doc.<ref name=Doc/> Although Mac is initially worried over the damage he inflicts on his trainer, the end of each session sees Doc reassure Mac of how proud he is of his progression. At some point during these sessions, Doc pulls a chocolate bar out of his pocket and Mac instinctively punches it out of his hand. This enrages Doc, who aggressively takes off his red track jacket to reveal a leopard print t-shirt, which causes Mac to recoil in horror. Upon successfully clearing the final session, Doc jokingly asks if he is ready for a chocolate cake in order to celebrate, to which Mac responds by laughing alongside him.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kl-1AQxdVo Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! - Boss Rush (All Doc Louis Fights, No Damage)]</ref>
 
Following this, Little Mac's journey as a professional boxer unfolds similarly to how it did in the NES version, albeit with a few changes added for the sake of expanding the plot. In addition to retaining his classic jogging method, brief cutscenes show Little Mac learning other training methods from Doc (weightlifting, jumping rope, performing one-armed push-ups and inclined sit-ups, and punching [[wikipedia:Punching bag#Types of bag|a heavy bag, a speed bag]], and Doc's {{iw|wikipedia|focus mitt}}s). As Little Mac progresses through Contender Mode, the personalities and/or lifestyles of his opponents are also gleaned over via brief montages of pictures, sometimes for humorous effect.
 
Unlike in previous installments, Little Mac's title hunt does not end upon winning the World Circuit Championship. Instead, completing Contender Mode will unlock Title Defense Mode, which sees each of his previous opponents become contenders that adopt new tactics and, in some cases, much more antagonistic attitudes. Upon retaining his title against each opponent, Mac's Last Stand will be unlocked. Some time after the events of Title Defense Mode, Doc Louis is exasperated to learn that Little Mac intends to repeatedly fight each of his past opponents in a random order until he loses three times, at which point he will retire.
 
Despite his initial shock, Doc relents to Little Mac's decision upon seeing his determination, and continues to support him as his coach and cornerman. In addition to previous opponents, Mac can potentially face the iconic and fittingly powerful [[Donkey Kong]] as a challenger,<ref name=DK>[https://kotaku.com/every-punch-out-opponent-ranked-1750664537 Every ''Punch-Out!!'' Opponent, Ranked]</ref> while winning ten fights will unlock the optional Champion's Mode. Ultimately, Mac loses three fights and subsequently retires, but not before receiving praise from a somber, yet proud Doc. Some time after Little Mac's retirement, ''Punch-Out!!''{{'}}s epilogue shows Doc walking alone in a museum exhibit showcasing various highlights of his and Mac's journey and success. After gently ringing his bicycle's bell one final time, Doc congratulates Mac on a job well done.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DFOwKPA__Q Punch Out Wii - Title Defense - Mac's Last Stand + Ending]</ref>
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==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==
==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==
===As an [[Assist Trophy]]===
===As an [[Assist Trophy]]===
[[File:LittleMacBrawlAssist.jpg|thumb|left|Little Mac as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.]]
[[File:LittleMacBrawlAssist.jpg|thumb|left|Little Mac, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.]]
Little Mac makes an appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' as an [[Assist Trophy]]. When summoned, he dashes about the stage to opponents, attacking by throwing two alternating jabs and an uppercut. The jabs deal a good amount of damage, while the uppercut is devastatingly powerful; it deals 25%, [[KO]]s under 50%, and is an instant [[shield break]]er. With his speed and immense power, Little Mac is one of the most dangerous Assist Trophies in ''Brawl'', and is very capable of KOing each of the summoner's opponents. However, Little Mac is extremely prone to falling off-stage, even more so than other Assist Trophies, which leaves him very unreliable, especially if the opponents can lure him off-stage. The punching sound effects from ''Punch-Out!!'' can be heard as Little Mac attacks. Little Mac receives his own [[trophy]] in the game, like all other Assist Trophies.
Little Mac makes an appearance in ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' as an [[Assist Trophy]].<ref name=Brawl/> Instead of using a 3D version of his ''Super Punch-Out!!'' design as he did in the [[Nintendo GameCube]] version of ''{{iw|wikipedia|Fight Night Round 2}}'', Little Mac uses a 3D version of his design from the NES version of ''Punch-Out!!'' Fittingly, his punches retain their sound effects from said game.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfyqOZgR8w Evolution of Little Mac (1983 - 2018)]</ref>
 
When summoned, Little Mac [[dash]]es quickly toward his summoner's opponents, and will attack by throwing a {{iw|wikipedia|one-two combo}} and an uppercut.<ref name=Brawl>[https://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_uk/items/assist/assist10.html Smash Bros. DOJO!! - Assist Trophies - Little Mac]</ref> The one-two combo deals respectable damage, whereas the uppercut is devastatingly powerful: it deals 25%, [[KO]]s under 50%, and is an instant [[shield break]]er.
 
Due to his speed and immense power, Little Mac is one of the most dangerous Assist Trophies in the game. However, he is also very inconsistent, as he is easily prone to falling off-stage, especially if the opponents can lure him off-stage. Like his fellow Assist Trophies, Little Mac has his own [[trophy]].
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===Trophy===
===Trophy===
[[File:Little_Mac_-_Brawl_Trophy.png|100px|thumb|left|Little Mac's trophy in ''Brawl''.]]
{{main|List of SSBB trophies (Others)}}
{{Flag|North America}} ''A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach, and together the pair try for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks of the WVBA, taking out foes several times his size. By landing multiple blows, Little Mac gains a "☆" uppercut.''<br>
{{Trophy
{{Flag|Europe}} ''A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach, and tries for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks, taking out foes several times his size. If he saves up the ☆'s he gets from hitting his opponent, he can throw a powerful uppercut.''
|name=Little Mac
{{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!}}
|image=Little Mac - Brawl Trophy.png
|desc-ntsc=A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach, and together the pair try for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks of the WVBA, taking out foes several times his size. By landing multiple blows, Little Mac gains a "☆" uppercut.
|desc-pal=A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach and tries for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks, taking out foes several times his size. If he saves up the ☆'s he gets from hitting his opponent, he can throw a powerful uppercut.
|gamelist={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!}}
|game=Brawl
}}
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===As a playable character===
===As a playable character===
{{Main|Little Mac (SSB4)}}
{{Main|Little Mac (SSB4)}}
[[File:Little Mac SSB4.png|thumb|Little Mac as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.]]
[[File:Little Mac SSB4.png|thumb|Little Mac, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.]]
Little Mac is a [[newcomer]] in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. He was revealed on February 13th, 2014 during a Nintendo Direct, which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the ''Punch-Out!!'' series. Little Mac's grounded movement is extremely quick, with his rolls, sidestep and dashing speed being among the fastest in the game. On a related note, the majority of his grounded attacks boast quick frame data alongside high damage outputs and knockback. Little Mac also has a unique mechanic called the [[Power Meter]], which originates from his home series. When fully charged via damage dealt or taken, the Power Meter allows him to use the [[Straight Lunge#KO Uppercut|KO Uppercut]], an immensely fast and powerful uppercut that is capable of KOing the entire cast at extremely low percentages. While Little Mac is a nigh-unparalleled ground fighter, he has very poor aerial attacks and recovery to compensate.
Little Mac appears as a [[newcomer]] in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''. He was formally revealed during a [[Nintendo Direct]] on February 13th, 2014,<ref name=SSB4>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdQg43n2OaM Nintendo Direct 2.13.14]</ref> which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the ''Punch-Out!!'' series.<ref name=SakuraiMac>[https://sourcegaming.info/2015/07/22/the-little-pepper-is-very-hot-sakurai-famitsu-column-vol-448/ "The Little Pepper is Very Hot!" Sakurai Famitsu Column vol. 448]</ref> Instead of reusing his design from ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', Little Mac now uses a slight redesign of his appearance in [[wikipedia:Punch-Out!! (Wii)|the Wii installment of ''Punch-Out!!'']] Fittingly, he is also accompanied by [[Doc Louis]] during his victory poses, while Doc can also be heard sporadically when Mac taunts.
 
As in ''Brawl'', Little Mac's [[dash]] is both extremely fast (surpassed only by {{SSB4|Sonic}} and {{SSB4|Captain Falcon}}) and lowers his hurtbox to the point that he can pseudo-[[crouch]] under a number of attacks and certain projectiles.<ref name=SakuraiMac/> By extension, the rest of his grounded mobility is also excellent, courtesy of his [[walk]]ing speed, [[traction]], [[roll]]s, and [[sidestep]] each being in the top 10 of their respective categories.


Little Mac is currently ranked 44th on the [[tier list]]. While possessing a fearsome ground game due to his high power, quick movement speed and frame data, Little Mac has a notoriously weak aerial game, and what is often considered the worst recovery in the series due to his options being very short-ranged. This is compounded by the combination of his light weight and the fact that even the slightest hit on him can completely foil any of his recovery attempts. With his exploitable weaknesses, Little Mac has difficulty performing in high-level play, but has nevertheless managed to attain average representation and achieve success at varying levels: {{Sm|Cagt}} has achieved several top 10 placings and a few top 25 placings at local and regional tournaments respectively, {{Sm|Destany}} has won several local tournaments in both singles and [[doubles]] play, and {{Sm|Sol}}, {{Sm|Vash}}, and {{Sm|Alphicans}} have each achieved a few respectable placings in singles play and a few high placings in doubles play at regional and national tournaments.
The majority of Little Mac's grounded attacks boast quick frame data alongside impressive power. His forward tilt, the one-two combo he used in ''Brawl'', is a prime example of this potent combination: it hits on frame 4, yet is capable of KOing middleweights below 120% while near the edge of {{SSB4|Final Destination}}. Little Mac's smash attacks, in particular, boast outstanding power and even grant him [[super armor]] during certain frames, the latter of which allows him to effectively [[Wikipedia:Tank (gaming)|tank]] an opponent's attack despite his status as a lightweight.<ref name=SakuraiMac/> [[Slip Counter]] further supplements his defense, as it is a [[counterattack]] that is tied with [[Double Team]] and [[Witch Time]] as the fastest of its kind in the game.<ref name=SakuraiMac/>
 
Little Mac's [[Final Smash]] is [[Giga Mac]], his gargantuan transformation that can be used during multiplayer of the Wii installment of ''Punch-Out!!'' As Giga Mac, his entire moveset drastically strengthens to the point of boasting a few [[one-hit KO]] options.<ref name=SSB4/> Lastly, Little Mac has a unique mechanic called the [[Power Meter]], which originates from his home series. When fully charged via damage dealt or received, the Power Meter allows him to use the [[Straight Lunge#KO Uppercut|KO Uppercut]], an immensely fast and powerful uppercut that is capable of KOing the entire cast at extremely low percentages.<ref name=SakuraiMac/>
 
However, Little Mac's aerial presence is indisputably the worst of any character in the series. This is because of his aerial attacks being almost totally useless and, more infamously, his recovery being very easily foiled because of his very low [[jump]]/[[double jump]] and both [[Jolt Haymaker]] and [[Rising Uppercut]] having very short travel distances and small [[edge sweetspot]]s.<ref name=SakuraiMac/> Although Little Mac's ground game is nigh-unparalleled, it is not flawless: his overall range is short because of his average size, while his grab game is very unimpressive because of his aforementioned range issue and his throws having very minimal utility.<ref name=SakuraiMac/>
 
Due to his exploitable weaknesses counterbalancing his potent strengths, Little Mac has difficulty performing in high-level play. However, he has nevertheless managed to achieve both average representation and varying levels of success: {{Sm|Cagt}} has achieved several top 10 placings and a few top 25 placings at local and regional tournaments respectively, {{Sm|Destany}} has won several local tournaments in both singles and [[doubles]] play, and {{Sm|Sol}}, {{Sm|Vash}}, and {{Sm|Alphicans}} have each achieved a few respectable placings in singles play and a few high placings in doubles play at regional and national tournaments. As a result, Little Mac is currently ranked 43rd out of 54 on the [[tier list]]. This places him in the E tier, and posits him as the second lowest ranked mid tier character.


===Trophies===
===Trophies===
:'''Little Mac'''
{{main|List of SSB4 trophies (Punch-Out!! series)}}
::{{Flag|North America}} ''This little boxer from the Punch-Out!! series makes up in heart what he lacks in height. He wasn't afraid to take on the boxing champs, and he's not afraid of the Nintendo stars. In Smash Bros., he packs a serious punch. When his KO Meter fills up, wade in and trigger a devastating uppercut.''
{{Trophy
::{{Flag|Europe}} ''The little guy from Punch-Out!! has come a long way since his humble beginnings fighting the almost literal boxing giants. Above his damage display, you'll notice he has a little meter that fills up as he fights. When it's full, you'll see a flashing "KO" there. That means you can unleash a devastating uppercut!''
|name=Little Mac
|image-3ds=LittleMacTrophy3DS.png
|image-wiiu=LittleMacTrophyWiiU.png
|desc-ntsc=This little boxer from the Punch-Out!! series makes up in heart what he lacks in height. He wasn't afraid to take on the boxing champs, and he's not afraid of the Nintendo stars. In Smash Bros., he packs a serious punch. When his KO Meter fills up, wade in and trigger a devastating uppercut.
|desc-pal=The little guy from Punch-Out!! has come a long way since his humble beginnings fighting the almost literal boxing giants. Above his damage display, you'll notice he has a little meter that fills up as he fights. When it's full, you'll see a flashing "KO" there. That means you can unleash a devastating uppercut!
|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=10/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}
|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=12/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}
}}
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:'''Little Mac (Alt.)'''
{{Trophy
::{{Flag|North America}} ''No matter his opponent, Little Mac always puts his best fist forward. He enters a charge state before unleashing his Straight Lunge special and can unleash it while charging by pressing the button again. He won't flinch while charging. At max charge, the launching power of this move is scary!''
|name=Little Mac (Alt.)
::{{Flag|Europe}} ''Little Mac always puts his best fist forward, especially when you use Straight Lunge! You start by charging, then unleash the punch whenever you press the button again. Charge it to the max and its launching power is formidable! Also, attacks won't make you flinch while you're charging or once you've fully charged the move.''
|image-3ds=LittleMacAltTrophy3DS.png
|image-wiiu=LittleMacAltTrophyWiiU.png
|desc-3ds-ntsc=No matter his opponent, Little Mac always puts his best fist forward. He enters a charge state before unleashing his Straight Lunge special and can unleash it while charging by pressing the button again. He won't flinch while charging. At max charge, the launching power of this move is scary!
|desc-wiiu-ntsc=No matter his opponent, Little Mac always puts his best fist forward. He enters a charge state before unleashing his Straight Lunge special—you can unleash it while charging by pressing the button again. He won't flinch while charging. At max charge, the launching power of this move is scary!
|desc-pal=Little Mac always puts his best fist forward, especially when you use Straight Lunge! You start by charging, then unleash the punch whenever you press the button again. Charge it to the max and its launching power is formidable! Also, attacks won't make you flinch while you're charging or once you've fully charged the move.
|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=10/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}
|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=NES|game1=Punch-Out!!|release1=12/1987|console2=Wii|game2=Punch-Out!!|release2=05/2009}}
}}
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:'''Little Mac (Captain Rainbow)'''
{{Trophy
::{{Flag|North America}} ''Wait. Is...is that Little Mac from Punch-Out!!? We'd heard he went to Mimin Island to train to become a world champion again, but it looks like he went a few too many rounds in the ring with those island mangoes. If you don't help him get back in shape, we might need to come up with a new name for him...''
|name=Little Mac (Captain Rainbow)
::{{Flag|Europe}} ''Wait a second. This is Little Mac? What happened to the "Little" part?! The star of Punch-Out!! clearly hasn't been keeping up with his training if he's ended up like this! Now that he's moved to Mimin Island, though, all hope is not lost. It's said wishes come true there - hopefully, that includes Mac's wish to get back to his former glory.''
|image=FatMacTrophyWiiU.png
{{Trophy games|console1=Wii|game1=Captain Rainbow (Japan)}}
|desc-ntsc=Wait. Is...is that Little Mac from Punch-Out!!? We'd heard he went to Mimin Island to train to become a world champion again, but it looks like he went a few too many rounds in the ring with those island mangoes. If you don't help him get back in shape, we might need to come up with a new name for him...
 
|desc-pal=Wait a second. This is Little Mac? What happened to the "Little" part?! The star of Punch-Out!! clearly hasn't been keeping up with his training if he's ended up like this! Now that he's moved to Mimin Island, though, all hope is not lost. It's said wishes come true there – hopefully that includes Mac's wish to get back to his former glory.
<center>
|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=Wii|game1=Captain Rainbow|release1=Japan}}
<gallery>
|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=Wii|game1=Captain Rainbow|release1=2008 (JP)}}
LittleMacTrophy3DS.png|Classic (3DS)
|game=ssb4-wiiu
LittleMacTrophyWiiU.png|Classic (Wii U)
}}
LittleMacAltTrophy3DS.png|Alt. (3DS)
{{clrl}}
LittleMacAltTrophyWiiU.png|Alt. (Wii U)
FatMacTrophyWiiU.png|Little Mac (Captain Rainbow)
</gallery>
</center>


==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==
==In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''==
===As a playable character===
===As a playable character===
{{main|Little Mac (SSBU)}}
{{main|Little Mac (SSBU)}}
[[File:Little Mac SSBU.png|thumb|Little Mac in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.]]
[[File:Little Mac SSBU.png|thumb|Little Mac, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.]]
Little Mac returns as a playable fighter in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. He is now an [[unlockable character]], as opposed to being a [[starter character]].
Little Mac returns as a playable character in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''. He was formally announced alongside the rest of the cast via ''Ultimate''{{'}}s E3 2018 trailer on June 12th, 2018.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L93H7YC-83o Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - E3 2018 - Nintendo Switch]</ref> Unlike in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'', Little Mac is now an [[unlockable character]], and Giga Mac now [[Giga Mac Rush|performs a rapid barrage of punches]] instead of being a controllable transformation. Little Mac has also lost eight of his sixteen alternate costumes from ''SSB4'', to have eight costumes like the entirety of the playable cast.


Despite being a lower mid-tier character in ''SSB4'', Little Mac received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate'' that resulted in him generally being viewed as being nerfed overall. While he has received good improvements both directly and from game engine changes, he received heavy nerfs to his damage output and combo potential. He also is mostly harmed by the universal engine changes in ''Ultimate'' compared to most of the cast who benefit from said changes.
Despite being a lower mid-tier character in ''SSB4'', Little Mac received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to ''Ultimate'' that resulted in him generally being viewed as being nerfed overall. While he has received useful direct buffs, he received heavy nerfs to his damage output and combo potential. In addition, the universal engine changes in ''Ultimate'' hinder him more so than help him, which is noticeable by how most of the cast benefits from said changes in comparison to him. While balance changes have improved his perception and he has dedicated mains who have achieved impressive results in both regional and national tournaments, Little Mac's struggles in competitive play have resulted in him having extremely low representation overall, with most players considering him a bottom 5 character, and resulting in him being ranked 81st out of 82 in the current ''Ultimate'' tier list in the E+ tier.
 
{{clr}}
However, since update 3.1.0 granted useful buffs to Little Mac's ground game, his almost nonexistent representation improved to the point of gaining dedicated mains who are recently getting impressive results in both regional and national tournaments.  
{{clear}}


===Spirits===
===Spirits===
====Fighter spirit====
<center>
<center>
<gallery>
<gallery>
Little Mac Spirit.png|932. '''''Little Mac'''''
SSBU spirit Little Mac.png|932. '''''Little Mac'''''
Giga Mac Spirit.png|933. Giga Mac
</gallery>
</gallery>
</center>
</center>
====Primary spirit====
{|class="wikitable sortable"
! No. !! Image !! Name !! Type !! Class !! Slots
! Base [[File:Equipment Icon Power Badge.png|20px|Power]]
! Max [[File:Equipment Icon Power Badge.png|20px|Power]]
! Base [[File:Equipment Icon Brawn Badge.png|20px|Attack]]
! Max [[File:Equipment Icon Brawn Badge.png|20px|Attack]]
! Base [[File:Equipment Icon Protection Badge.png|20px|Defense]]
! Max [[File:Equipment Icon Protection Badge.png|20px|Defense]]
! Ability !! Series
|-
| 933 || {{SpiritTableName|Giga Mac}} || {{SpiritType|Attack}} || ★★★★ || 3 || 3958 || 9898 || 2322 || 5806 || 1484 || 3712 || Fist Attack ↑ || ''Punch-Out!!'' Series
|}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Mac.jpg|Little Mac's official art from ''Brawl''.
Mac.jpg|Official artwork of Little Mac from ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''.
Little Mac Wireframe.png|Wireframe Mac as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.
Little Mac Wireframe.png|Wireframe Mac, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. 4''.
Little Mac-Alt5 SSBU.png|Little Mac wearing a hoodie, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.
Wireframe Mac SSBU.png|Wireframe Mac, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.
Little Mac-Alt7 SSBU.png|Wireframe Mac wearing a hoodie, as he appears in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.
</gallery>
</gallery>
==Names in other languages==
{{langtable
|ja={{ja|リトル・マック|Ritoru Makku}}, ''Little Mac''
|jaM=Little Mac
|en=Little Mac
|fr=Little Mac
|de=Little Mac
|it=Little Mac
|es=Little Mac
|nl=Little Mac
|pt=Little Mac
|zh_cn={{rollover|小麦克|Xiǎo màikè|?}}, ''Little Mac''
|zh_cnM=Little Mac
|zh_tw={{rollover|小麥克|Xiǎo màikè|?}}, ''Little Mac''
|zh_twM=Little Mac
|ko={{rollover|리틀맥|Riteul Maek|?}}, ''Little Mac''
|koM=Little Mac
|ru={{rollover|Малыш Мэк|Malysh Mek|?}}
|ruM=Little Mac
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Little Mac was the first playable character in the series to have been an [[Assist Trophy]] in a previous game. He would later be followed by [[Dark Samus]] and [[Isabelle]].
*Little Mac is the first playable character in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series to have been an [[Assist Trophy]] in a previous installment. He would later be followed by [[Dark Samus]] and [[Isabelle]].
**In addition, he is the second summonable character in the series who is playable in a later installment, the first being [[Charizard]], who was a [[Poké Ball]] Pokémon in ''SSB'' and ''Melee''.
**In addition, he is the second summonable character in the series who is playable in a later installment, the first being [[Charizard]], who was a [[Poké Ball]] Pokémon in ''SSB'' and ''Melee''.
***Of the four, he is the only former Assist Trophy to represent a new universe, rather than being an addition to an already represented universe; he is also the only one to have made this transition from ''Brawl'' to ''SSB4''.
***Of the four, he is the only former summonable character to represent a new universe instead of being an addition to an already represented universe.
***He is also the only male character who was originally a summonable character to become fully playable, as both Dark Samus and Isabelle are female, and Charizard's gender is undetermined.
*Despite being voiced by English-speaking voice actors in the ''Punch-Out!!'' series, Little Mac is voiced by a Japanese voice actor in all of his appearances in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.
**He is also the only singular representative to become playable after making his debut as a major non-playable character.
*Little Mac and [[Wario]] are the only characters whose number of [[alternate costume]]s reduced in the transition from one installment to the next. In the case of Mac, he has 16 in ''SSB4'' and has 8 in ''Ultimate''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/allsourcegaming/status/704350440939360256 Source Gaming on Twitter: "#SmashTrivia Little Mac is the only character in Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U to have 16 costume choices, instead of 8."]</ref>
*Despite being voiced by English-speaking voice actors in the ''Punch-Out!!'' series, Little Mac is voiced by a Japanese voice actor in both of his appearances in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.
*Little Mac is the first character to feature a unique UI element beside their damage meter (namely the [[Power Meter]]), and is the only such character in {{for3ds}}.
*Little Mac is one of two characters who had their number of alternate costumes reduced from one game to the next, as he has 16 in ''SSB4'' and has 8 in ''Ultimate''. The other character is [[Wario]], whose alternate costume count was reduced from 12 in ''Brawl'' to 8 in ''SSB4''.
*Fitting with his professional boxing fighting style and his appearances in the ''Punch Out!!'' games, Little Mac only uses punches throughout every appearance in the ''Smash Bros.'' series, since boxing does not involve leg attacks.
*Little Mac is the second character to originate from a real life location, being The Bronx in New York. He was preceded by [[Snake]], and succeeded by [[Ryu]], [[Simon Belmont]], [[Richter Belmont]], [[Ken Masters]], [[Joker]] and [[Terry Bogard]], respectively.
 
**Unlike the others, he is the only first-party character to hold this trait.
==References==
*Little Mac is the only playable character:
{{reflist}}
**Whose home series is based on a sport.
**Whose entire moveset is based solely on unarmed {{s|wikipedia|hand-to-hand combat}}.<!--Incineroar emits flames during Revenge while Jigglypuff emits sound waves during Sing and an "intense energy force" (Melee)/a "hidden power" (Brawl/SSB4) during Rest-->


{{Characters}}
{{Characters}}

Latest revision as of 16:17, August 21, 2024

For fighter info, see Little Mac (SSB4) and Little Mac (SSBU).
Little Mac
Little Mac - Punch Out Wii.png
PunchOutSymbol.svg

Official artwork of Little Mac from Punch-Out!! for the Wii.

Universe Punch-Out!!
Debut Punch-Out!! (arcade)[1] (1984, technical debut)
Punch-Out!! (NES) (1987, proper debut)
Smash Bros. appearances Brawl
SSB4
Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance WarioWare: Move It! (2023, cameo)
Console/platform of origin Arcade[1] (technical debut)
Nintendo Entertainment System (proper debut)
Species Human
Gender Male
Place of origin The Bronx, New York, United States
Created by Makoto Wada
Designed by Makoto Wada
Voice actor Hisao Egawa (Brawl)
Kōsuke Toriumi (SSB4/Ultimate)
Article on Wikipedia Little Mac

Little Mac (リトル・マック, Little Mac) is the main character of the Punch-Out!! series. Originally debuting as a nameless boxer in the arcade version of Punch-Out!!, Little Mac gained his name and backstory beginning with the NES installment of Punch-Out!![1]

As his name implies, Little Mac has a small frame, which grants him his trademark maneuverability and speed. Trained by former heavyweight boxing champion Doc Louis, Little Mac entered a boxing tournament and managed to become a champion by defeating several opponents much larger and more experienced than him.

After making cameos as a regular trophy and Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Little Mac transitioned into a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4, and has remained as such since then.

Origin[edit]

Little Mac, as he appears in Punch-Out!! for the NES.

Mac is a 17-year-old New Yorker from The Bronx who aspires to become a professional boxer. Due to being only 4'8"/142 cm, his below-average stature turned most trainers away from teaching him. However, upon meeting former heavyweight boxing champion Doc Louis by chance, Mac convinced him to become his trainer. Some time thereafter, the now rechristened Little Mac officially turned pro by joining the World Video Boxing Association (WVBA), with Doc joining him as his cornerman.

Little Mac's fighting style most closely resembles the real life style of the Out-Boxer, more specifically the Counterpunch sub-style. Due to his small stature, Little Mac uses a defensive strategy that focuses on dodging the opponent's attacks before capitalizing on their mistakes and counterattacking before backing off and repeating the process, which makes up the gameplay of the entire Punch Out!! series. However, the greatest asset Little Mac gained from this training was Doc's signature Star Punch. After stunning an opponent, Mac can throw a powerful uppercut instead of his usual jabs and hooks.

Thanks to adhering to Doc's expertise and training regimen, which most notably featured him wearing a pink sweatsuit while jogging after a bicycling Doc, Little Mac proceeds to defeat opponents who are increasingly larger and more experienced than him. Ultimately, Mac manages to win the WVBA Minor Circuit, Major Circuit, and even World Circuit Championships en route to knocking out the promotion's top-ranked fighter: real-life boxer and then-world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in the original NES version, or the fictional and undefeated Mr. Dream in the re-released NES version.

What happens after Little Mac defeats Tyson/Dream is unknown, but what is known is that he returns in Super Punch-Out!! with a radically different look, a lack of titles and, perhaps most notably, without Doc Louis as his coach and cornerman.[2] As he did before, Little Mac must defeat other boxers, almost all of whom are new opponents, in order to reclaim each of his titles. If he manages to go undefeated throughout his title hunt, Mac will also be able to challenge for a WVBA championship he never held in his original run: the Special Circuit Championship.

Due to having sandy blond hair, a pair of blue shorts, and lacking a tank top, originally there was confusion over whether or not the main protagonist of Super Punch-Out!! was actually Little Mac (with said character being referred to as Little Mac when he was included in the Gamecube version of EA Sports' Fight Night Round 2). Although Bryce Holliday, a member of the development team for the Wii installment of Punch-Out!!, claimed that this protagonist was not Little Mac, Nintendo later clarified that the two are indeed the same character,[2] with Little Mac having changed his appearance after splitting ways with Doc Louis.

Reboot[edit]

After a 15-year hiatus, the Punch-Out!! series was rebooted with a titular installment on the Wii,[3] and followed by a prequel, Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!, shortly thereafter.[4] In addition to borrowing a few elements from the home console versions of Punch-Out!! and Super Punch-Out!!, the Wii installment features multiplayer and a redesigned cast (such as Little Mac's height being updated to 5'7"/170 cm), while it and its prequel collectively expand Little Mac's backstory, his friendship with Doc Louis, and the personalities of his opponents.

In Doc Louis's Punch-Out!!, Little Mac undergoes three final training sessions as an amateur boxer by personally sparring with Doc.[4] Although Mac is initially worried over the damage he inflicts on his trainer, the end of each session sees Doc reassure Mac of how proud he is of his progression. At some point during these sessions, Doc pulls a chocolate bar out of his pocket and Mac instinctively punches it out of his hand. This enrages Doc, who aggressively takes off his red track jacket to reveal a leopard print t-shirt, which causes Mac to recoil in horror. Upon successfully clearing the final session, Doc jokingly asks if he is ready for a chocolate cake in order to celebrate, to which Mac responds by laughing alongside him.[5]

Following this, Little Mac's journey as a professional boxer unfolds similarly to how it did in the NES version, albeit with a few changes added for the sake of expanding the plot. In addition to retaining his classic jogging method, brief cutscenes show Little Mac learning other training methods from Doc (weightlifting, jumping rope, performing one-armed push-ups and inclined sit-ups, and punching a heavy bag, a speed bag, and Doc's focus mitts). As Little Mac progresses through Contender Mode, the personalities and/or lifestyles of his opponents are also gleaned over via brief montages of pictures, sometimes for humorous effect.

Unlike in previous installments, Little Mac's title hunt does not end upon winning the World Circuit Championship. Instead, completing Contender Mode will unlock Title Defense Mode, which sees each of his previous opponents become contenders that adopt new tactics and, in some cases, much more antagonistic attitudes. Upon retaining his title against each opponent, Mac's Last Stand will be unlocked. Some time after the events of Title Defense Mode, Doc Louis is exasperated to learn that Little Mac intends to repeatedly fight each of his past opponents in a random order until he loses three times, at which point he will retire.

Despite his initial shock, Doc relents to Little Mac's decision upon seeing his determination, and continues to support him as his coach and cornerman. In addition to previous opponents, Mac can potentially face the iconic and fittingly powerful Donkey Kong as a challenger,[6] while winning ten fights will unlock the optional Champion's Mode. Ultimately, Mac loses three fights and subsequently retires, but not before receiving praise from a somber, yet proud Doc. Some time after Little Mac's retirement, Punch-Out!!'s epilogue shows Doc walking alone in a museum exhibit showcasing various highlights of his and Mac's journey and success. After gently ringing his bicycle's bell one final time, Doc congratulates Mac on a job well done.[7]

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]

As an Assist Trophy[edit]

Little Mac, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Little Mac makes an appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an Assist Trophy.[8] Instead of using a 3D version of his Super Punch-Out!! design as he did in the Nintendo GameCube version of Fight Night Round 2, Little Mac uses a 3D version of his design from the NES version of Punch-Out!! Fittingly, his punches retain their sound effects from said game.[9]

When summoned, Little Mac dashes quickly toward his summoner's opponents, and will attack by throwing a one-two combo and an uppercut.[8] The one-two combo deals respectable damage, whereas the uppercut is devastatingly powerful: it deals 25%, KOs under 50%, and is an instant shield breaker.

Due to his speed and immense power, Little Mac is one of the most dangerous Assist Trophies in the game. However, he is also very inconsistent, as he is easily prone to falling off-stage, especially if the opponents can lure him off-stage. Like his fellow Assist Trophies, Little Mac has his own trophy.

Trophy[edit]

Main article: List of SSBB trophies (Others)
Little Mac's trophy in Brawl
Little Mac
NTSC A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach, and together the pair try for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks of the WVBA, taking out foes several times his size. By landing multiple blows, Little Mac gains a "☆" uppercut.
PAL A lightweight scrapper from the Bronx. After meeting with a former boxing great named Doc Louis who fell from glory, Mac takes Doc on as his coach and tries for the championship belt in the WVBA. Little Mac works his way up the ranks, taking out foes several times his size. If he saves up the ☆'s he gets from hitting his opponent, he can throw a powerful uppercut.
NES: Punch-Out!!

In Super Smash Bros. 4[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Main article: Little Mac (SSB4)
Little Mac, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. 4.

Little Mac appears as a newcomer in Super Smash Bros. 4. He was formally revealed during a Nintendo Direct on February 13th, 2014,[10] which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Punch-Out!! series.[1] Instead of reusing his design from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Little Mac now uses a slight redesign of his appearance in the Wii installment of Punch-Out!! Fittingly, he is also accompanied by Doc Louis during his victory poses, while Doc can also be heard sporadically when Mac taunts.

As in Brawl, Little Mac's dash is both extremely fast (surpassed only by Sonic and Captain Falcon) and lowers his hurtbox to the point that he can pseudo-crouch under a number of attacks and certain projectiles.[1] By extension, the rest of his grounded mobility is also excellent, courtesy of his walking speed, traction, rolls, and sidestep each being in the top 10 of their respective categories.

The majority of Little Mac's grounded attacks boast quick frame data alongside impressive power. His forward tilt, the one-two combo he used in Brawl, is a prime example of this potent combination: it hits on frame 4, yet is capable of KOing middleweights below 120% while near the edge of Final Destination. Little Mac's smash attacks, in particular, boast outstanding power and even grant him super armor during certain frames, the latter of which allows him to effectively tank an opponent's attack despite his status as a lightweight.[1] Slip Counter further supplements his defense, as it is a counterattack that is tied with Double Team and Witch Time as the fastest of its kind in the game.[1]

Little Mac's Final Smash is Giga Mac, his gargantuan transformation that can be used during multiplayer of the Wii installment of Punch-Out!! As Giga Mac, his entire moveset drastically strengthens to the point of boasting a few one-hit KO options.[10] Lastly, Little Mac has a unique mechanic called the Power Meter, which originates from his home series. When fully charged via damage dealt or received, the Power Meter allows him to use the KO Uppercut, an immensely fast and powerful uppercut that is capable of KOing the entire cast at extremely low percentages.[1]

However, Little Mac's aerial presence is indisputably the worst of any character in the series. This is because of his aerial attacks being almost totally useless and, more infamously, his recovery being very easily foiled because of his very low jump/double jump and both Jolt Haymaker and Rising Uppercut having very short travel distances and small edge sweetspots.[1] Although Little Mac's ground game is nigh-unparalleled, it is not flawless: his overall range is short because of his average size, while his grab game is very unimpressive because of his aforementioned range issue and his throws having very minimal utility.[1]

Due to his exploitable weaknesses counterbalancing his potent strengths, Little Mac has difficulty performing in high-level play. However, he has nevertheless managed to achieve both average representation and varying levels of success: Cagt has achieved several top 10 placings and a few top 25 placings at local and regional tournaments respectively, Destany has won several local tournaments in both singles and doubles play, and Sol, Vash, and Alphicans have each achieved a few respectable placings in singles play and a few high placings in doubles play at regional and national tournaments. As a result, Little Mac is currently ranked 43rd out of 54 on the tier list. This places him in the E tier, and posits him as the second lowest ranked mid tier character.

Trophies[edit]

Main article: List of SSB4 trophies (Punch-Out!! series)
Little Mac's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Little Mac's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Little Mac
NTSC This little boxer from the Punch-Out!! series makes up in heart what he lacks in height. He wasn't afraid to take on the boxing champs, and he's not afraid of the Nintendo stars. In Smash Bros., he packs a serious punch. When his KO Meter fills up, wade in and trigger a devastating uppercut.
NES: Punch-Out!! (10/1987)
Wii: Punch-Out!! (05/2009)
PAL The little guy from Punch-Out!! has come a long way since his humble beginnings fighting the almost literal boxing giants. Above his damage display, you'll notice he has a little meter that fills up as he fights. When it's full, you'll see a flashing "KO" there. That means you can unleash a devastating uppercut!
NES: Punch-Out!! (12/1987)
Wii: Punch-Out!! (05/2009)
Little Mac (Alt.)'s trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Little Mac (Alt.)'s trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Little Mac (Alt.)
NTSCSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS No matter his opponent, Little Mac always puts his best fist forward. He enters a charge state before unleashing his Straight Lunge special and can unleash it while charging by pressing the button again. He won't flinch while charging. At max charge, the launching power of this move is scary!
NTSCSuper Smash Bros. for Wii U No matter his opponent, Little Mac always puts his best fist forward. He enters a charge state before unleashing his Straight Lunge special—you can unleash it while charging by pressing the button again. He won't flinch while charging. At max charge, the launching power of this move is scary!
NES: Punch-Out!! (10/1987)
Wii: Punch-Out!! (05/2009)
PAL Little Mac always puts his best fist forward, especially when you use Straight Lunge! You start by charging, then unleash the punch whenever you press the button again. Charge it to the max and its launching power is formidable! Also, attacks won't make you flinch while you're charging or once you've fully charged the move.
NES: Punch-Out!! (12/1987)
Wii: Punch-Out!! (05/2009)
Little Mac (Captain Rainbow)'s trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Little Mac (Captain Rainbow)
NTSC Wait. Is...is that Little Mac from Punch-Out!!? We'd heard he went to Mimin Island to train to become a world champion again, but it looks like he went a few too many rounds in the ring with those island mangoes. If you don't help him get back in shape, we might need to come up with a new name for him...
Wii: Captain Rainbow (Japan)
PAL Wait a second. This is Little Mac? What happened to the "Little" part?! The star of Punch-Out!! clearly hasn't been keeping up with his training if he's ended up like this! Now that he's moved to Mimin Island, though, all hope is not lost. It's said wishes come true there – hopefully that includes Mac's wish to get back to his former glory.
Wii: Captain Rainbow (2008 (JP))

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

As a playable character[edit]

Main article: Little Mac (SSBU)
Little Mac, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Little Mac returns as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He was formally announced alongside the rest of the cast via Ultimate's E3 2018 trailer on June 12th, 2018.[11] Unlike in Super Smash Bros. 4, Little Mac is now an unlockable character, and Giga Mac now performs a rapid barrage of punches instead of being a controllable transformation. Little Mac has also lost eight of his sixteen alternate costumes from SSB4, to have eight costumes like the entirety of the playable cast.

Despite being a lower mid-tier character in SSB4, Little Mac received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition to Ultimate that resulted in him generally being viewed as being nerfed overall. While he has received useful direct buffs, he received heavy nerfs to his damage output and combo potential. In addition, the universal engine changes in Ultimate hinder him more so than help him, which is noticeable by how most of the cast benefits from said changes in comparison to him. While balance changes have improved his perception and he has dedicated mains who have achieved impressive results in both regional and national tournaments, Little Mac's struggles in competitive play have resulted in him having extremely low representation overall, with most players considering him a bottom 5 character, and resulting in him being ranked 81st out of 82 in the current Ultimate tier list in the E+ tier.

Spirits[edit]

Fighter spirit[edit]

  • 932. Little Mac

    932. Little Mac

Primary spirit[edit]

No. Image Name Type Class Slots Base Power Max Power Base Attack Max Attack Base Defense Max Defense Ability Series
933
SSBU spirit Giga Mac.png
 Giga Mac
Attack
 ★★★★ 3 3958 9898 2322 5806 1484 3712 Fist Attack ↑ Punch-Out!! Series

Gallery[edit]

  • Official artwork of Little Mac from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

    Official artwork of Little Mac from Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

  • Wireframe Mac, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. 4.

    Wireframe Mac, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. 4.

  • Little Mac wearing a hoodie, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

    Little Mac wearing a hoodie, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

  • Wireframe Mac, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

    Wireframe Mac, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

  • Wireframe Mac wearing a hoodie, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

    Wireframe Mac wearing a hoodie, as he appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese リトル・マック, Little Mac Little Mac
UK English Little Mac —
France French Little Mac —
Germany German Little Mac —
Spain Spanish Little Mac —
Italy Italian Little Mac —
China Chinese (Simplified) 小麦克, Little Mac Little Mac
Taiwan Chinese (Traditional) 小麥克, Little Mac Little Mac
South Korea Korean 리틀맥, Little Mac Little Mac
Netherlands Dutch Little Mac —
Russia Russian Малыш Мэк Little Mac
Portugal Portuguese Little Mac —

Trivia[edit]

  • Little Mac is the first playable character in the Super Smash Bros. series to have been an Assist Trophy in a previous installment. He would later be followed by Dark Samus and Isabelle.
    • In addition, he is the second summonable character in the series who is playable in a later installment, the first being Charizard, who was a Poké Ball Pokémon in SSB and Melee.
      • Of the four, he is the only former summonable character to represent a new universe instead of being an addition to an already represented universe.
  • Despite being voiced by English-speaking voice actors in the Punch-Out!! series, Little Mac is voiced by a Japanese voice actor in all of his appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series.
  • Little Mac and Wario are the only characters whose number of alternate costumes reduced in the transition from one installment to the next. In the case of Mac, he has 16 in SSB4 and has 8 in Ultimate.[12]
  • Little Mac is the first character to feature a unique UI element beside their damage meter (namely the Power Meter), and is the only such character in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
  • Fitting with his professional boxing fighting style and his appearances in the Punch Out!! games, Little Mac only uses punches throughout every appearance in the Smash Bros. series, since boxing does not involve leg attacks.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Little Pepper is Very Hot!" Sakurai Famitsu Column vol. 448
  2. ^ a b Super Punch-Out!! for Wii U - Nintendo Game Details
  3. ^ Punch-Out!! – Next Level Games
  4. ^ a b Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! – Next Level Games
  5. ^ Doc Louis's Punch-Out!! - Boss Rush (All Doc Louis Fights, No Damage)
  6. ^ Every Punch-Out!! Opponent, Ranked
  7. ^ Punch Out Wii - Title Defense - Mac's Last Stand + Ending
  8. ^ a b Smash Bros. DOJO!! - Assist Trophies - Little Mac
  9. ^ Evolution of Little Mac (1983 - 2018)
  10. ^ a b Nintendo Direct 2.13.14
  11. ^ Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - E3 2018 - Nintendo Switch
  12. ^ Source Gaming on Twitter: "#SmashTrivia Little Mac is the only character in Smash Bros. 3DS/Wii U to have 16 costume choices, instead of 8."


v • d • e
Playable characters
Super Smash Bros. Captain Falcon · Donkey Kong · Fox · Jigglypuff · Kirby · Link · Luigi · Mario · Ness · Pikachu · Samus · Yoshi
New in Melee Bowser · Dr. Mario · Falco · Ganondorf · Ice Climbers · Marth · Mewtwo · Mr. Game & Watch · Peach · Pichu · Roy · Sheik · Young Link · Zelda
New in Brawl Diddy Kong · Ike · King Dedede · Lucario · Lucas · Meta Knight · Olimar (Pikmin) · Pit · Pokémon Trainer (Squirtle · Ivysaur · Charizard) · R.O.B. · Snake · Sonic · Toon Link · Wario · Wolf · Zero Suit Samus
New in Smash 4 (Alph) · Bayonetta · Bowser Jr. (Koopalings) · Cloud · Corrin · Dark Pit · Duck Hunt · Greninja · Little Mac · Lucina · Mega Man · Mii Brawler · Mii Gunner · Mii Swordfighter · Pac-Man · Palutena · Robin · Rosalina & Luma · Ryu · Shulk · Villager · Wii Fit Trainer
New in Ultimate Banjo & Kazooie · Byleth · Chrom · Daisy · Dark Samus · Hero · Incineroar · Inkling · Isabelle · Joker · Kazuya · Ken · King K. Rool · Min Min · Mythra · Piranha Plant · Pyra · Richter · Ridley · Sephiroth · Simon · Sora · Steve (Alex, Zombie, Enderman) · Terry
v • d • e
Assist Trophy characters
Brawl Andross · Barbara · Devil · Dr. Wright · Excitebikes · Gray Fox · Hammer Bro · Helirin · Infantry & Tanks · Isaac · Jeff · Jill · Kat & Ana · Knuckle Joe · Lakitu & Spinies · Little Mac · Lyn · Metroid · Mr. Resetti · Nintendog · Ray Mk III · Saki · Samurai Goroh · Shadow · Starfy · Tingle · Waluigi
Smash 4 Andross · Ashley · Chain Chomp · Color TV-Game 15 · Dark Samus · Devil · Dillon · Dr. Kawashima · Dr. Wright · Elec Man · Ghirahim · Ghosts · Hammer Bro · Infantry & Tanks · Isabelle · Jeff · Kat & Ana · Knuckle Joe · Lakitu & Spinies · Lyn · Magnus · Metroid · Midna · Mother Brain · Nightmare · Nintendog · Phosphora · Prince of Sablé · Riki · Saki · Samurai Goroh · Shadow · Sheriff · Skull Kid · Starfy · Starman · Takamaru · Tingle · Waluigi
Ultimate Akira · Alucard · Andross · Arcade Bunny · Ashley · Black Knight · Bomberman · Burrowing Snagret · Chain Chomp · Chef Kawasaki · Color TV-Game 15 · Devil · Dillon · Dr. Kawashima · Dr. Wright · Flies & Hand · Ghirahim · Ghosts · Gray Fox · Guile · Hammer Bro · Isaac · Jeff · Kapp'n · Klaptrap · Knuckle Joe · Knuckles · Krystal · Lyn · Metroid · Midna · Moon · Mother Brain · Nightmare · Nikki · Nintendog · Phosphora · Prince of Sablé · Rathalos · Riki · Rodin · Samurai Goroh · Shadow · Sheriff · Shovel Knight · Skull Kid · Spring Man · Squid Sisters · Starfy · Starman · Sukapon · Takamaru · Thwomp · Tiki · Vince · Waluigi · Wily Capsule · Yuri · Zero
v • d • e
Punch-Out!! (universe) Punch-Out!! universe
Fighter Little Mac (SSB4 · SSBU)
Assist Trophy Little Mac
Stage Boxing Ring
Other Doc Louis
Trophies and Spirits Trophies · Spirits
Music SSB4 · Ultimate
Masterpiece Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
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