- For the CPU Mode, see ITEM.
An item is an object that appears on-stage during a match that can be picked up for use by characters. Many items can be wielded once picked up, while others apply an effect, and almost all can be thrown at opponents. Items are a large part of the gameplay of the Smash Bros. series, but their inherent randomness and inconsistent risk/reward balance results in them being banned from tournament play.
If all recovery items are turned off in Super Smash Bros. Melee, the chance of naturally occurring items like the apples dropped by Whispy Woods on Green Greens and Chansey's eggs recovering health is eliminated; the apples will all be projectiles and the eggs will either be explosives or drop other items. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl the same is true regarding the apples (since Chansey does not appear). Additionally, the vegetables on Summit will not appear if food is turned off.
Overview
Items appear from stage-dependent designated locations at various times throughout a match based on the frequency set in the Item Switch. Characters can pick up items by standing near one and pressing the attack button; items can also be grabbed in midair starting in Melee with the grab button, or grabbed during dashes and aerial attacks in Brawl. Characters can only hold one item at a time. If an item is left alone, it will eventually disappear, flashing briefly beforehand. Items that are picked up by characters can be dropped or thrown with the grab button, and they may be dropped if the character takes a hard hit. The damage done by a thrown item depends on how fast it's moving. Most items can also be swallowed in Brawl.
Types of items
Items can be grouped into several categories based on their effects.
- Container items release other items once broken open, which can be done either by attacking them or by picking up and throwing them. In general, container items have a 12.5% (1 in 8) chance of exploding instead of releasing items.
- Battering items are wielded by characters once picked up, turning their neutral attack, forward tilt, dash attack, and forward smash into an item swipe.
- Shooting items fire projectiles when used, typically replacing the neutral attack and neutral aerial of the user. They all have limited ammunition and will merely shoot blanks once it runs out.
- Throwing items can only be thrown at opponents. Holding a throwing item means that a character cannot use most of their attacks as pressing the attack button will simply throw the item.
- Status items apply some sort of effect to the user, often beneficial but not necessarily. Some status items only need contact to be used (instead of needing to be grabbed).
- Recovery items decrease the damage of the user (or increase their HP in Stamina mode). Starting in Melee, recovery items can be picked up even when the character is already holding an item.
- Collectible items do not affect the match but instead are added to the player's collection once picked up. Computer players will not attempt to pick up collectible items, but if they do so accidentally they will not count.
- Special items do not fit into the above categories.
In addition to the above, certain items can be heavy, which limits those that pick them up into walking slowly (or not at all in SSB) and throwing. Only Donkey Kong can move quickly or jump while carrying a heavy item.
List of items
| Item | Smash 64 | Melee | Brawl | Smash 4 | Type | Heavy | Notes | Universe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple |  |
 |
|
 |
Throwing/Recovery | |
Produced by Whispy Woods on Green Greens. Each apple can be either a throwing item or a recovery item, and in rare cases may explode when thrown. | Kirby |
| Assist Trophy | |
|
|
|
Special | |
When picked up, once the character lands on the ground, they will perform a short animation and summon a random character to aid them in the fight. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Auroros | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Only appear in the Subspace Emissary. When Auroros dive and miss, they can be picked up and thrown at other enemies. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Banana Peel | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Once thrown, trips opponents that touch it. Diddy Kong can summon these by using his down special, the banana peel, leading into deadly mindgames and combo/KO setups. | Mario |
| Barrel | |
|
|
|
Container | |
When thrown, struck, or lands on a hill, may roll across the stage and damage what it hits before breaking. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Barrel Cannon | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
When thrown or it lands on a hill, grabs and launches the first character it hits. Disappears very quickly. | Donkey Kong |
| Beam Sword | |
|
|
|
Battering | |
Starting in Melee, gets longer when swung depending on character. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Beetle | |
|
|
|
Unknown | |
Once picked up, users can "shoot" beetles towards opponents, which will grab enemies and fly off with them. | The Legend of Zelda |
| Blast Box | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Very poor throwing distance. Explodes upon taking 30 damage or a flame attack. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Bob-omb | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
If not grabbed within a few seconds of its appearance, it lights its own fuse and begins walking around, exploding on any character it meets. If it doesn't meet a character it will blow itself up after a while. | Mario |
| Bonsly | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Only appears from Poké Balls. Can be thrown to deal heavy damage and knockback. | Pokémon |
| Bombchu | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Can move up walls and across floors and ceilings. Explodes on contact with opponent. | The Legend of Zelda |
| Bumper | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Can be placed on the stage or (in Brawl) set in midair, where it will knock away characters that touch it. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Bunny Hood | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Increases the user's movement speed, jump height, and falling speed. | The Legend of Zelda |
| Bottled Fairy | |
|
|
|
Recovery | |
Recovers an excess of 100% damage. | The Legend of Zelda |
| Capsule | |
|
|
|
Container | |
Contains a single item. Has a chance of exploding. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Cardboard Box | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by Snake's taunts. Automatically thrown once picked up, unless the user is DK, who can move around and jump with the box. | Metal Gear |
| CD | |
|
|
|
Collectible | |
Unlocks a random piece of stage music when picked up. Disappears extremely quickly. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Cloaking Device | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Renders the user mostly invisible and makes them immune to damage (but not knockback). | Perfect Dark |
| Cracker Launcher | |
|
|
|
Shooting | |
Limits the user to walking and a single jump, and automatically dropped from any flinch. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Crate | |
|
|
|
Container | |
Contains many items. Has a chance of exploding when thrown, or hit. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Deku Nut | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
When thrown, damaged, or after a short time (even if held), nearby characters are stunned (if grounded) or launched (if aerial). | The Legend of Zelda |
| Dragoon | |
|
|
|
Special | |
Appears in three pieces that must be collected all at once; characters can lose pieces from their possession when hit or KO'd. Once one character has all the pieces the Dragoon is assembled and flown into the stage for a one-hit KO ram attack. | Kirby |
| Egg | |
|
|
|
Container | |
Produced by Chansey and Yoshi series stages. Essentially identical to Capsules. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Electrode | * |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Only appears from Poké Balls and can only be grabbed before it's about to detonate. Explosion deals extremely high knockback. Has a chance to be dud. | Pokémon |
| Fan | |
|
|
|
Battering | |
Fastest-swinging battering item. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Fire Flower | |
|
|
|
Shooting | |
Produces a continuous stream of fire. | Mario |
| Fire Bar | |
|
|
|
Battering | |
Causes fire damage. Grows shorter with each successful attack. | Mario |
| Flipper | |
|
|
* |
Throwing | |
Once thrown, halts in the air and bops characters that run into it. | Balloon Fight |
| Food | |
|
|
|
Recovery | |
Each type of food recovers a different amount of damage. Can be produced in large numbers by Peach Blossom. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Franklin Badge | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Temporarily makes the wearer immune to projectiles by automatically reflecting them. Can be knocked off. | EarthBound |
| Freezie | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Slides across the stage, freezing characters when struck by it. Can be destroyed before being picked up. | Mario |
| Golden Hammer | |
|
|
|
Special | |
Acts the same as the regular Hammer, though faster and with the ability to float. May be a Golden Squeaky Hammer as opposed to losing its head. | Mario |
| Gooey Bomb | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
When thrown, attaches to characters and can transfer to other characters that pass by. Explodes after a certain time or if attacked when not on a character. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Green Shell | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
When thrown, attacked, or landed on, slides across the stage and damages everything it hits. | Mario |
| Gust Bellows | |
|
|
|
Shooting | |
Blows gusts of wind at other players to push them away. | The Legend of Zelda |
| Gyro | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by R.O.B.'s down special move. | R.O.B. |
| Hammer | |
|
|
|
Special | |
Limits the user to walking and a single jump; the user cannot even choose to drop the item. May randomly lose its head and become useless; the head can be picked up and thrown for massive damage. | Donkey Kong |
| Hand Grenade | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by Snake's neutral special move. Does not explode on contact. If Snake shields, anyone who is holding one of his grenades instantly drops it. | Metal Gear |
| Heart Container | |
|
|
|
Recovery | |
Strongest recovery item, recovering up to 100% damage. | The Legend of Zelda |
| Hocotate Ship | |
|
|
|
Unknown | |
A bomb "shaped like" the Hocotate Ship, that will fly off, and then crash down when "least expected". | Pikmin |
| Home-Run Bat | |
|
|
|
Battering | |
An extremely powerful item. Its forward smash is among the most powerful attacks in all three games, being a one-hit KO in every one. As a throwing item, it maintains its high knockback and is a semi-spike. In Brawl, forward smash uses a unique animation. It becomes stronger when hit on the tip. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Hothead | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Follows the contours of the stage once thrown. Grows in size and damage but lasts for a shorter time when hit by flame or electric attacks. | Mario |
| Key | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Only appears in specific Subspace Emissary stages. Unlocks doors when thrown at them or the holding character touches them. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Lightning Bolt | |
|
|
|
Status | |
When touched, shrinks all opponents. Can backfire and shrink the user or enlarge all opponents. | Mario |
| Link's Bombs | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by the down special move of Link and his clones. Explodes in the user's hands if not thrown in time. | The Legend of Zelda |
| Lip's Stick | |
|
|
|
Battering | |
Flowers opponents. Has a limited supply of short-range spore projectiles produced on f-tilt or f-smash. | Panel de Pon |
| Master Ball | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Just like the Poké Ball but it is guaranteed to unleash a Legendary Pokémon. | Pokémon |
| Maxim Tomato | |
|
|
|
Recovery | |
the second most powerful recovery item, healing up to 50% damage. | Kirby |
| Metal Box | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Increases the weight and falling speed of the user. Can be activated by pickup or by direct attack; indirect attacks will either destroy it (in Melee) or do nothing (in Brawl). | Mario |
| Motion-Sensor Bomb | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Attaches to the stage once thrown; characters that approach it after a short time cause it to explode. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Mr. Saturn | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Walks around the stage and can be knocked about by attacks. | EarthBound |
| Ore Club | |
|
|
|
Battering | |
Can be swung or used to unleash tornadoes. | Kid Icarus |
| Parasol | |
|
|
|
Battering | |
Reduces the holder's falling speed. | Kirby |
| Party Ball | |
|
|
|
Container | |
Once activated by being thrown or damaged, float into the air and opens, dropping its items. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Peanut | |
|
|
|
Throwing/Recovery | |
Produced by Diddy's Peanut Popgun and Rocketbarrel Barrage. Can be caught and re-thrown, or left to hit the stage and possibly drop a food-like item. | Donkey Kong |
| Pellet | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by the Pellet Posies on Distant Planet. Can be thrown into stationary Onions to produce other items. | Pikmin |
| Pitfall | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Embeds itself into the ground once thrown; characters that approach it after a short time will be buried or plunged. | Animal Crossing |
| Poison Mushroom | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Slides across the stage. When touched, shrinks the character. | Mario |
| Poké Ball | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Once thrown and lands on the ground, unleashes a Pokémon to aid the user. | Pokémon |
| POW Block | * |
|
* |
|
Throwing | |
When thrown it causes an earthquake, launching characters straight up. Shrinks with each throw. | Mario |
| Power Suit Piece | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by the Zero Laser or by starting a match as Zero Suit Samus. | Metroid |
| Ray Gun | |
|
|
|
Shooting | |
Fires blasts of energy that have infinite horizontal range. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Red Shell | |
|
** |
|
Throwing | |
When thrown, attacked, or landed on, slides across the stage and damages everything it hits. Aims for nearby characters and avoids sliding off edges. | Mario |
| Rolling Crate | |
|
|
|
Container | |
When thrown, struck, or lands on a hill, will roll across the stage and damage what it hits without breaking. Can be stood on. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Sandbag | |
* |
|
|
Special | |
When attacked, produces items. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Screw Attack | |
|
|
|
Throwing/Status | |
Turns the holder's jumps into Screw Attacks. In Melee, applies for as long as the holder keeps the item, and a forced Screw Attack will be applied to those the item is thrown at. In Brawl, applies until the item wears off and does not need to be held in-hand once picked up. | Metroid |
| Shellcreeper | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Turtle like creatures that appear on the Mario Bros. stage. Can only be picked up when it's on its back. Shell color determines knockback strength. | Mario |
| Sidestepper | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Crab like creatures that appear on the Mario Bros. stage. Can only be picked up when it's on its back. Color determines knockback strength. | Mario |
| Smart Bomb | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produces a large explosion when thrown or attacked. Has a chance to be a dud. | Star Fox |
| Smash Ball | |
|
|
|
Special | |
Flies around the stage. Characters must break in order to obtain. Once broken, player presses their neutral special button to use Final Smash. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Smoke Ball | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Once thrown, spews smoke around its immediate area. May stick to opponents. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Soccer Ball | |
|
|
|
Special | |
Cannot be picked up. When attacked, careens in the knockback direction with high damage and knockback. | Mario |
| Spring | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
When idle, repels characters when touched depending on whether it is upright or sideways. | Donkey Kong |
| Star Rod | |
|
|
|
Battering/Shooting | |
Has a limited supply of long-range star shots produced on f-tilt or f-smash. | Kirby |
| Starman | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Renders the character it touches invincible for a limited time. | Mario |
| Steel Diver | |
|
|
|
Shooting | |
A smaller gun-like version of the Steel Diver from the self-titled game for the Nintendo 3DS. Fires a torpedo which travels slowly at first. | Steel Diver |
| Sticker | |
|
|
|
Collectible | |
Adds to the player's sticker collection. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Stock Ball | |
|
|
|
Special | |
Only appears in specific Subspace Emissary stages at lower difficulties. Adds one stock to the player's total. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Super Leaf | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Gives the user raccoon ears and tail. | Mario |
| Super Mushroom | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Slides across the stage. When touched, enlarges the character. | Mario |
| Super Scope | |
|
|
|
Shooting | |
Can shoot small rapid-fire pulses of energy or charge large blobs of energy. | Nintendo |
| Superspicy Curry | |
|
|
|
Status/Shooting | |
Causes the user to constantly shoot short-range fireballs and be incapable of walking slowly. | Kirby |
| Team Healer | |
|
|
|
Throwing/Recovery | |
Heals teammates when thrown at them. When thrown at opponents, can heal or damage them at random. Only appears during team battles. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Timer | |
|
|
|
Status | |
Slows down all opponents. Can backfire and slow down the user, or slow down the entire game. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Trophy | |
|
|
|
Collectible | |
Adds to the player's trophy collection. Confirmed to return for both versions of Smash 4, but it's unknown if they can be picked up as items. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Trophy Stand | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Only appears in the Subspace Emissary. Causes weak or low-health enemies to turn into trophies; merely damages strong and healthy enemies. | Super Smash Bros. |
| Unira | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Attaches to the stage once thrown or attacked and pokes opponents that come near. Can be set or reset with a direct attack; indirect ones do nothing. | Clu Clu Land |
| Vegetable | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by Peach's down special move. Deals varying damage depending on its facial expression. | Mario |
| Wario Bike | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by Wario's side special move. Must be destroyed before Wario can use the move without being nearby. | Wario |
| Wario Bike wheels | |
|
|
|
Throwing | |
Produced by destroying the Wario Bike. | Wario |
| Warp Star | |
|
|
|
Special | |
Once picked up, the user flies into the sky and then crashes down with an explosion. | Kirby |
| X Bomb | |
|
|
|
Unknown | |
Creates a cross-shaped explosion. | Kid Icarus |
| Yoshi Egg | * |
|
* |
|
Throwing | |
Only appears in Event 13: Yoshi's Egg. The event ends in failure if it breaks. | Yoshi |
* Appears in smash games but not as an item.
** Appears in the Subspace Emissary by stomping on a red koopa but only functions like a green shell.