Home-Run Contest

File:Sand in homerun contest melee.jpg

The Home-Run Platform in Melee.

Mario hitting Sandbag with a Home-Run Bat in Brawl.

Palutena in Home-Run Contest in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

The Home-Run Contest (ホームランコンテスト, Home-Run Contest) is a minigame in Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Super Smash Bros. 4 in which the player(s) must knock a Sandbag as far as possible, usually with the Home-Run Bat given. The player has 10 seconds to rack up damage to lengthen the home-run. The most effective technique for dealing high damage very quickly is known as bat dropping.

The minigame takes place in the Home-Run Stadium, a unique stage otherwise inaccessible in other game modes without hacking.

Overview

The player starts on a platform with a Sandbag in the center, and the character about 1/3 of the way from the left of the platform facing right. On the left edge is a Home-Run Bat, which can be used to hit the bag extremely far. Hitting with the end of the bat, known as a tipper, makes Sandbag go farther than hit with the middle of the bat, which goes farther than a close hit.

In Melee, it is also possible for some characters to hit the Sandbag with the handle of the bat, causing what is known as a no-ping hit, which sends the Sandbag at a much sharper angle. A no-ping hit only does 8% damage but the change in angle causes the Sandbag to fly much farther when its damage is lower than about 120%. For example, using a no-ping hit when Sandbag is only at 35% damage sends Sandbag over 1000 feet (304.8 meters). Pichu, Pikachu, and Mr. Game & Watch can take advantage of their unique swing animations to perform a no-ping hit simply by walking next to the bag, facing away, and swinging. Most other characters require the bag to be in the air to perform a no-ping hit. The characters that cannot do a no-ping hit or it does not go farther than their normal Home-Run swing at any percent are Dr.Mario, Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Captain Falcon, and Ganondorf. It is currently undocumented whether or not no-ping hits are possible in Brawl or whether they have similar uses as in Melee; the fact that all characters' Home-Run swings have been standardized to a single unique animation may be relevant.

Prizes

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

• 300 meters/984.3 feet: Sandbag trophy
• 400 meters/1,312.4 feet: Yoshi's Island N64 stage
• 450 meters/1,476.4 feet: Paper Mario trophy
• 5,000 meters/16,404.2 feet total: Unown trophy

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

• 300 meters/990 feet: Boo (Mario Tennis) sticker
• 400 meters/1,200 feet: Clu Clu Land music track
• 500 meters/1,500 feet: Home-Run Bat trophy
• 5,000 meters/15,000 feet total: Bumper trophy
• 8,000 meters/24,000 feet total: Xananab trophy
• 10,000 meters/30,000 feet total: Shy Guy trophy
• 12,500 meters/37,500 feet total: Ai no Uta (French Version) music track - if not obtained, nothing appears.
• 15,000 meters/45,000 feet total: Golden Hammer trophy
• Use every character in Home-Run Contest: Sandbag trophy

In Super Smash Bros. Wii U

• 100 meters/328 feet as solo Charizard with no bat: Rock Hurl (custom move)
• 320 meters/1,049 feet as solo Peach: Title/Ending (Super Mario World) music
• Between 500 and 505 meters/1,640 and 1,656 feet: Wonder Green trophy
• Between 500 and 505 meters/1,640 and 1,656 feet as solo R.O.B.: Dr. Light trophy
• 600 meters/1,968 feet: Earthbound masterpiece
• 1,000 meters/3,280 feet: Daisy (Baseball) trophy
• 1,000 meters/3,280 feet as solo Ganondorf: King K.Rool trophy

Changes in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

• 2-player Co-Op is now supported, both in simultaneous and alternating modes and can also be played online with a friend.
• There is a shield around the platform which prevents Sandbag from being knocked out without sufficient force. The shield is breakable after being struck enough times or with sufficient force, but it greatly lowers the difficulty of bringing Sandbag's damage up. The shield automatically disappears after the time is up.
• Bat drops are generally more difficult to do because A and C-Stick grab items.
• Knocking Sandbag to the platform's left will automatically result in zero distance.
• Sandbag cannot be grabbed.
• The home run contest stage is endless; the measuring counter, however, cannot exceed 999999.9 m.
• At 10000 m, the number on the sign will wrap around to 0.

Additionally, the Home-Run Bat sports its own unique Smash attack animations, allowing Captain Falcon and Sheik to properly use it for the contest.

Changes in Super Smash Bros. 4

• The barrier appears to be stronger.
• In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U only, the Home-Run Contest is now playable with up to four players by taking turns. The order is random.

Moves that can hit farther than a Home-Run swing

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Super Smash Bros. Melee

• Bowser's fully-charged forward smash

Hits farther than the bat at 120% or more damage.

Does 32 or 33%

• Peach's Bob-omb (down special move)

Peach can harvest a bob-omb approximately every 1/300 times she uses Vegetable.

Hits farther than the bat at about 90% or more

Does 38%

• Captain Falcon's Falcon Punch (neutral special move)

Hits farther than the bat at any % for Captain Falcon (due to his Home-Run swing sending Sandbag up.)

Does 27% if right next to Sandbag

• Donkey Kong's fully charged Giant Punch (neutral special)

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 175% or more.

Does 30%

• Ganondorf's 30% Warlock Punch (neutral special)

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 154% or more.

Does 30%

• Ganondorf's 34% Warlock Punch

The very top of Warlock Punch's hitbox (near Ganondorf's head) does more damage and significantly more knockback.

Usually performed by jumping and throwing the bat upwards above Sandbag, then pressing B while landing on the opposite side of Sandbag. When timed properly, the falling bat should hit Sandbag into the top of the punch's hitbox. Generally known as the "Reverse Warlock Punch" since Ganondorf faces away from the Sandbag as the move is performed (not to be confused with the maneuver introduced in Brawl where Ganondorf actually turns around in the middle of the windup).

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 76% or more (56% before the usual falling bat hits).

Does 34%

• Pichu's fully-charged Skull Bash (side special move)

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 95% or more.

Does 39%

• Jigglypuff's Rest (down special)

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 69% or more.

Does 28%

• Luigi's Green Missile misfire (side special)

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at about 300% or more (exact value unconfirmed).

Does 25%

• Mr. Game & Watch's #9 Judgment (side special)

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 138% or more.

Does 32%

• Roy's fully charged Flare Blade (neutral special)

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 18% or more.

Does 50%

• Roy's 41% Flare Blade

Done by releasing the Flare Blade one frame before becoming fully charged.

Hits farther than the bat when Sandbag is at 28% or more. Hits farther than the fully charged Flare Blade at 120% or more.

Does 41%

• Smash-throwing the bat down

Hits farther than the usual forward smash at about 350% or more (exact value unconfirmed).

Does 12%

Super Smash Bros Brawl

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• Mr. Game and Watch's #9 Judgement Hammer

Hits further than the bat at (?) %

Does 32%

This is somewhat ironic, as #9 Judgement was intended to emulate a swing from the bat

• Mr. Game and Watch's fully-charged forward smash

Hits further than the bat at ~170%

Hits further than the #9 Judgement Hammer at ~200%

Does 25%

• Ike's fully-charged forward smash

Hits further than the bat at around 150%

Does 32%

Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards then charging the smash facing AWAY from Sandbag

• Ike's almost fully charged eruption (released in the exact frame)

Hits farther than the bat at (?) %

Does 39.5 %

• Donkey Kong's fully charged forward smash (with optimal hitbox connection)

Hits further than the bat at (?) %

Does 29%

Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards, waiting a little, then charging the smash

• Donkey Kong's fully charged down smash (from hands, not arms)

Hits further than the bat at (?) %

Hits farther than his forward smash at ~267%

Does 25 %

Generally performed on the ground since it has almost the same knockback in the air and on the ground.

• Donkey Kong's fully charged Giant Punch.

Hits further around 200+%

Does 29 %

Goes farther when hit with the body of the punch, facing left

• Luigi's fully charged forward smash, aimed upward

Hits further than the bat at ~180%

Does 23%

Generally performed after lightly throwing the bat upwards then charging the smash, but has same knockback in the air and on the ground

• King Dedede's fully-charged forward smash

Hits further than the bat at ~144 %

Does 35%

Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards then charging the smash facing AWAY from Sandbag

• King Dedede's 29% Jet Hammer (down special)

Hits further at 195 %

Does 29%

Aerial hit [1]

• Ganondorf's Reverse Warlock Punch

Hits further than the bat at about 110%

Does 36%

Generally performed after smash-throwing the bat upwards then performing the Reverse Warlock Punch

• Captain Falcon's Reverse Falcon Punch

Hits further than the bat at (?) %

Does 28%

Generally performed after lightly throwing the bat upwards then performing the Reverse Falcon Punch

• Bowser's fully charged forward smash

Hits farther than the bat at (?) %

Generally smashing the bat up, then charging the smash

Does 48%

• Marth's Fully charged Shield Breaker

Stronger at 270%

Does 25%

• Peach's Bob-omb

Hits further than the bat at (?) %

Does 38%

• Mario's Cape multiplies the distance by about 1.5x

Only used in Co-op and BMO

Equal to +30% w/ regular hit

Subcategories

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In competitive Home-Run Contest, there are several subcategories, which use unique playing styles. The most popular two (which have been around the longest, since the start of competitive HRC) are:

• NBA: No Bat Allowed. The bat cannot be used to attack in any way. The bat can be picked up, as long as it is not used. NBA strategies are usually unique, as it requires a completely different playing style. Bat swing cannot be used.
• NBD: No Bat Drops. Players can do everything except aerial bat drops. Grounded bat drops are allowed, as it is considered a bat discard. Bat swing may be used.

Two other modes that were created in Super Smash Bros. Melee's lifetime were BMO and NJA:

• BMO: B Moves Only. Only B Moves are allowed, and the last attack to hit Sandbag must be a B move. The bat can be used, so somewhat unique bat drops are utilized. Bat swing can not be used, as it counts as a forward smash. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl this mode has turned into mostly multiple bat drops with one B move used to finish, which some argue is against the original purpose of the category.
• NJA: No Jump Allowed. Players may not jump at any time.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl's lifetime three modes have since been created and become quite popular, in chronological order:

• NSA: No Shield Allowed. Originally called "No Barrier Allowed". (Players cannot use the barrier) and only applies to Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
• 3SS: Three Smash Strategy. Players must use all three of the character's smashes (Forward, Up and Down) in the run.
• AAA: All Aerial Moves. A mode created in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Players must use all five aerial A attacks of the character, other than that anything goes. Only regularly done in Super Smash Bros. Brawl due to the barrier and aerial moves knocking the bag off the stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but could be possible with the back wall.

Competitive Home-Run Contest

Since almost the beginning of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Home-Run Contest has been played competitively. Originally, before the game's release in Europe, North America and Japan had a competition between each other for the highest Home-Run Contest scores. This then moved out to include Europe when the game was released in its PAL version. This competitive nature has continued and grown onto Super Smash Bros. Brawl, especially due to the replay function (thus making video production easier) and video streaming sites such as YouTube. However, due to the large technique changes from Super Smash Bros. Melee to Super Smash Bros. Brawl and the introduction of the barrier and multiple bat drops in one jump, many Super Smash Bros. Melee Professional (90,000 ft+ / 27,432m+ THS) Home-Run Contest players have played little Super Smash Bros. Brawl Home-Run Contest competitively, leading to a rise in a "new generation" of Home-Run Contest players.

The Home-Run Contest world record's list is maintained on the smash site AllIsBrawl currently but with members of the stadium community questioning the site's support for stadium, the location might change to a more stadium based site. A history of Home-Run Contest and its milestones up until about 2005 can be found on the site Folderol, but note that the Home-Run Contest record's list is out of date.

World records

Melee

• Ganondorf and the Ice Climbers are tied for the world record of 11,347.2 feet (3458.5 meters).
  • It is impossible to exceed a score of 11,347.2 feet because beyond this point, the ground stops being solid and the Sandbag will simply fall through it. Since the Sandbag never lands, no score is recorded (the game eventually crashes once the Sandbag goes too far beyond the screen). [2]
  • Through superhuman precision, Peach is also able to hit the Sandbag over the limit, but cannot exactly hit 11,347.2 feet, with the best record known so far being 11,329.1 feet.

• Ganondorf's record was set by YouTube user Sin2324, as seen here: [3]

• The Ice Climbers' record was set by Joe Bushman using the freeze glitch, as seen here: [4]

Brawl

• The solo world record is held by Ganondorf, at 12,059.7 feet (3,675.8 meters), by YouTube user Pokitaru2681 [5]. Ganondorf is also the only known solo character to exceed 10,000 feet in real time without exploiting off stage mechanics.

• The co-operative world record is held by Ike and the Ice Climbers at 114,594.8 feet (34,928.5 meters), by YouTube user Teitoku06142 [6]

• The theoretical maximum known score, requiring superhuman precision, is 114,723.7 feet, performed by Ike and Peach. [7]

Notes

• In Super Smash Bros. Melee, there is a wall approximately 50 feet/15 metres to the left of the platform (off screen) that Sandbag can bounce off of.

A common rumour claims that the platform changes size depending on the Language of the game.

• Contrary to popular belief, the main platform in Super Smash Bros. Melee's Home-Run Contest does not change size depending on what language the game is set to in the North American release; when set to Japanese, the platform only looks larger due to a slight change of angle that the camera looks at the stage with.
• In the NTSC version of Melee, the distance counter will stop at 9999.9 feet as it has run out of digits. However, values beyond this are still properly recorded under each characters' high score.
  • Four characters, Ganondorf, the Ice Climbers, Captain Falcon, and Peach, can exceed 10,000 feet in Melee. Of these, Ganondorf is the only one that can do so in real time without using a glitch.
    • The Ice Climbers require using the freeze glitch, while Captain Falcon and Peach require superhuman precision (such as through tool-assistance or AR codes that enable frame advance) to pull off their strategies, and so they cannot reasonably be performed in real time.
• In Brawl, the stage is composed of a unique terrain type designed so that Olimar can only get Purple Pikmin. This is likely so that Olimar players would not constantly restart to get a Purple at an opportune moment, as the mechanics of the mode cause Purples to be the most useful Pikmin almost without question. Even in SSB4, where terrain no longer affects Pikmin plucking and they are normally plucked in a fixed order, Olimar still begins with three Purple Pikmin.
  • Similarly, Villager's up and down aerial attacks will always produce three turnips in the Home-Run Contest, as well as Mr. Game & Watch's Judge only being at level 6.
• The highest number the meter count will go in Brawl is 999999.9, only seeable by using ocarina codes. In a video showcasing what to do, it can also be seen that the signs on the ground start getting pushed along with the camera, if a player hits the Sandbag at impossible to reach distances.

External links

• GameFAQs: Home-Run Contest guide by SSKeeto
• Updated high scores
• Examples of Subcategories by SSBMstuff:
  • BMO ROB [8]
  • NBA Samus [9]