Time out

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A time out is when a player wins a stock match due to the clock expiring, as opposed to winning via KOing the opponent. Once time runs out in a stock match, the player with more stock remaining is the winner, with the tiebreaker being whoever has less damage.

Players with the lead may attempt to play for a time out victory by playing very defensively via camping or stalling, and will often choose to simply avoid the opponent rather than try to get inside for more damage. As a result, characters with spammable projectiles and high movement speed are better at forcing time outs than others.

Time outs are contentious among the community. Many feel that playing with intent to time out is cheap or unsportsmanlike, while others see it as a legitimate strategy that gives certain characters a chance to win. Indeed, characters such as Samus and Sonic are often accused of being unable to win outside time outs due to lacking KO moves. The amount of time allotted by tournament rules affects the feasibility of time outs and as a result is widely debated as to what the "correct" value should be.