Item Swallowing is a new technique in Super Smash Bros Brawl. It can be performed by Kirby, King Dedede, and Wario. These characters can use their neutral B moves to eat an item. King Dedede uses Inhale, Wario uses Chomp, and Kirby uses Swallow. When an item is swallowed, it takes some time for the character to swallow it. Small items like food are immediately swallowed, but large items like barrels have the characters briefly remain bloated with the item in their stomach, before they eventually swallow it. Some items such as Warp Stars take immediate effect upon being eaten, but most simply disappear. Explosive items that are eaten will cause about 6% damage and cause damage to nearby opponents for about 15% of damage.
Trivia
- When using Inhale and Swallow, the player must usually stand directly next to an item. However, certain items will be actually pulled in from a greater distance.
- Interestingly, eating the Peanut Popgun shots does not heal any damage unless the shell has been broken. While it will stop the projectile, it leaves Kirby vulnerable while swallowing and thus is generally not recommended.
- It is also possible to swallow an Auroros while it's stuck in the ground.
- Characters with the ability to item swallow can eliminate Hotheads while they are revolving around the stage, although they may take a bit of damage.
- Munchlax's function as a Poké Ball Pokémon is to eat all the items (except other Poké Balls) on the stage.
- Yoshi cannot swallow items, making him the only character that can eat opponents but not items.
- Characters can eat Waddle Dees and Waddle Doos from Dedede's Waddle Dee Toss attack.
- Characters who can item swallow can eat Sandbag in the Wi-fi room, but another will just reappear.