Soccer Ball

Soccer Ball
Lucario kicks a Soccer Ball.
Universe	Soccer, Mario, sports
Appears in	SSBB SSB4
Article on Super Mario Wiki	Soccer Ball

The Soccer Ball (サッカーボール, Soccer Ball) is an item that appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. 4. It is called Football in the PAL version of Smash 4, but keeps the name Soccer Ball in Brawl. The Soccer Ball cannot be picked up, but attacking it with a decently strong attack will cause the ball to catch fire and be launched diagonally upwards in the direction of the attack. The more powerful the attack, the further and faster the Soccer Ball will be launched, and the harder the hit from it will be. Powerful attacks can launch the ball through huge distances and deal huge damage and knockback, enough to KO most characters at low damage percentages. As soccer balls take more damage, they will travel farther distances and deal more damage and knockback. The ball cannot be stopped while it's flaming, but it can be reflected. It will also bounce off of set Bumpers. Once the ball would be expected to start slowing down, its fire goes out and it stops dead, falling to the ground harmlessly.

In SSB4, Soccer Balls demonstrate more realistic physics and do not have to be on fire or on a straight trejectory for it to be damaging; any ball that is moving as a result of a player attacking it will have an active hitbox until it slows down enough. In addition, any Soccer Ball that falls off the stage will immediately teleport back onstage in a random area. Although its timer for its duration in play will not reset and it will eventually expire on its own, leaving the Soccer Ball the only item that cannot be disposed of by moving it past a blast line.

Origin

These particular type of soccer balls appear in Super Mario Strikers. When a team captain is in control of the ball, the player can hold the "B" button to perform a "Super Strike". A super strike is a powerful move that launches the ball violently towards the net. If the player manages to pull off the super strike perfectly, the ball is unstoppable and the ball is launched toward the goalie which knocks him into the net. When this move is performed by Mario, there is red fire around the ball as it moves towards the net. In Brawl, the soccer ball is a powerful item when used correctly. It has a chance to catch on fire and hit an opponent which is similar to when a perfect super strike is performed by Mario.

Trophy descriptions

Brawl trophy description

An attack item that flies when struck and explodes as it bounces, causing damage to whomever it hits. As it's a soccer ball, you'd think hitting it with your hands would be against the rules, but that's not the case. Unleash your fiercest attacks on it. Really, it's OK. The ball's design seems old fashioned, but it sure does bring back lots of soccer memories, doesn't it?

: Soccer

: Super Mario Strikers (Mario Smash Football in PAL)

Smash 4 trophy description

Soccer Ball

A strong attack on a soccer ball will set it on fire, and any enemies hit will go flying from the impact. Depending on how you hit it, the ball will fly in different directions. Luckily, no one has to retrieve it if you send it off the stage-this ball will return to the battlefield for some time.

Gallery

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  A soccer ball launched at a player with a Falcon Punch

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  Official artwork.

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  The Soccer Ball trophy from Brawl

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  The soccer ball being launched into the net after Mario performed a super strike as seen in Super Mario Strikers

Trivia

• Reflecting attacks and Franklin Badges can protect someone from a Soccer Ball. However, if a strong enough attack is used on it, certain reflectors will not stop it.
• When 5 soccer balls are attacked by a Home-Run Bat, the direct hit from the balls will deal around 150% damage and always OHKO.
• The item was referred to as "Soccer Ball" in the English PAL version of Brawl, whereas one might expect it to be called "Football". This was amended in Smash 4.