Franklin Badge

Franklin Badge
Artwork of the Franklin Badge from Brawl
Universe	EarthBound
Appears in	SSBB SSB4
Item class	Gear
Article on WikiBound	Franklin Badge

The Franklin Badge (フランクリンバッジ, Furankurin Bajji) is an item in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4. It was revealed on Smash Bros. DOJO!! on August 10, 2007.

Overview

Toon Link wears the Franklin Badge in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

The Franklin Badge is an item originating from the Mother/EarthBound series. Named after Benjamin Franklin, it is capable of reflecting electricity-based attacks back at its caster.

The player can put a Franklin Badge anywhere on their body, which will protect them from projectiles. When the Franklin Badge is equipped, the player can notice the badge emits light in a sparkling fashion, and it can be noticed by other players. However, the item will not stay on the player the entire match, so players must be sure to notice when it disappears from their character's body or if the sparkling light has vanished.

The Franklin Badge can't be broken like other reflectors, if a projectile overloads the Franklin Badge, it will simply either be absorbed or pass through the character.

The Franklin Badge can also be selected on the Special Brawl mode. When selected in this mode, the Badge remains for the entire duration of the match.

Description from the Super Smash Bros. Brawl instruction booklet

Reflects projectiles.

Trophy description

The Franklin Badge trophy in Brawl.

A badge you can put on to gain the ability to reflect all projectiles. It has exactly the same effect as other reflectors in the game, like the one Fox uses. In Mother, it was used to deflect PK Beam when fighting Starman Jr. In Earthbound, it was used to counter Thunder attacks. The lightning bolt on the badge is proof of its capacity. Its importance and usefulness made a deep impression on players.

Origin

File:MotherFranklinBadge.png

A Franklin Badge pin that was packaged with the Deluxe Box for Mother 3.

The Franklin Badge first appeared as an item in Mother. It was given to the main protagonist, Ninten, after saving his friend Pippi from PseudoZombis in the South Cemetery. Another one can be found from a box in Duncan's Factory. It was used to reflect PK Beam γ, normally a one hit knock-out attack, making certain fights easier. It also was an item in EarthBound and Mother 3, but was used to reflect all thunder attacks, most commonly PK Thunder, which made it an important item in both games. Franklin Badges in Brawl reflect any projectiles directed towards the one wearing it.

When Mother was first released, an official strategy guide also was released and it contained a list of items that are in the game along with a picture of each item. This included the Franklin Badge; however, the Franklin Badge simply had a smiley (refer to the gallery below for the image). The strategy guide also contained a contest that involved the reader cutting out a seal and sending it to the publisher. Out of everybody who sent in a seal, two-hundred randomly selected people won a Franklin Badge pin. When Mother 3 was released, a limited edition "Deluxe Box" was also released and contained the Mother 3 cartridge, a special edition of a Game Boy Micro, and a Franklin Badge pin. The Franklin Badge's design in Brawl and SSB4 is based on the Franklin Badge pins that were handed out for the official Mother strategy guide contest and the Franklin Badge pins included in the Mother 3 Deluxe Box.

Gallery

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  Donkey Kong grabbing a Franklin Badge.

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  Donkey Kong wearing the badge.

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  Zero Suit Samus' Paralyzer does not affect DK due to the properties of the Badge.

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  Status effects, such as Paralysis, carry over when reflected.

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  Different characters wear the Franklin Badge in different locations.

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  The first Franklin Badge from Mother's strategy guide.

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  The Franklin Badge reflecting an electric attack in Mother 3.