KO Stars
KO Stars (also called Knockout Stars) are an "award" for defeating an opponent(s) in the VS. Mode of Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
The amount of KO Stars received is dependent on the amount of opponents defeated, For example, if players KO two opponents, they receive two KO Stars each. KO stars are displayed at the bottom of the player's character portrait on the character selection screen. Super Smash Bros. Melee allows players to only have 255 KO Stars at a time. Any knockouts achieved after they have 255 will not reward them a KO Star. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, this is extended to 999 KO stars. KO Stars cannot be kept permanently, and are "removed" once the players exits VS. Mode or changes their username. CPU's do not earn KO Stars.