King Dedede dash throwing a Home-Run Bat at Kirby in Brawl.

An item throw or item toss is an action where a character throws the item they are holding, usually dealing damage in the process. This is performed by pressing a grab button (or alternatively, pressing both a shield and attack button), or simply an attack button if holding a standard throwable item. Depending on the control stick's tilt angle and timing, items can be tossed in multiple directions with varying strengths.

Directions and strength

Items can be tossed in up to four directions — forward, back, up, or down — by tilting the control stick in the appropriate direction and pressing the grab or attack button (depending on the item type). Akin to dash attacks and smash attacks, characters can also throw items while dashing, ending the dash in the process, or tap the control stick in one of the four directions when pressing the button to throw the item with more strength. The latter is usually known as a 'smash throw, and is denoted by a short flash alongside the character vocalising.

If the grab button is simply pressed without a directional input, the fighter lightly tosses the item behind them on the ground, or simply drops it and makes it fall straight down if in the air. This is known as an item drop, or Z-drop for the aerial version, due to the Z button being the default grab button on the GameCube controller. Z-drops are notorious for not possessing any ending lag, making them extremely useful for combos with items, and the basis of bat dropping. While Z-drops can be performed with any throwable item, grounded item drops can only be done with certain items; others are simply thrown forward.

Heavy items, such as Barrels and Crates, can also be thrown in up to four directions and with a "smash" strength, but cannot be dash thrown, since characters are incapable of dashing while carrying them. They also cannot be Z-dropped, even by Donkey Kong, who is capable of carrying heavy items in midair.

List of droppable items on the ground

Item throw damage

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The editor who added this tag elaborates: Details for Melee and Brawl
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Unlike characters' attacks, in all Super Smash Bros. games, the damage dealt by thrown items takes into account not only by the base damage coded in their hitboxes, but the speed at which they impact the target. This speed is initially determined by the item's toss strength, which is different for each kind of item throw and each character; heavier characters have greater toss strengths, and smash throws further increase it.

After the item is thrown, its speed is modified by physics, usually causing it to deal slightly more damage as it first accelerates in the thrown direction, then gradually decay in damage until it stops moving. As a result, damage from thrown items is highly volatile and difficult for players to determine precisely. The damage determined by this mechanism is also fully considered for the item's knockback calculation, giving smash throws a remarkable increase in KO power.

In Smash 64, the damage formula for thrown items is d + speed * 0.1, with d being the item's base damage. If the item is dropped instead of thrown, the base damage is halved.[1] Later games use a similar formula, though with altered factors due to the difference in speed units.

In Smash 4 and Ultimate, the formula is d - 0.4 + speed * 3, where speed is initially equal to a value depending on the kind of item throw used, multiplied by the character's item toss strength. For a grounded item drop, the base damage is halved.

Item throw type Light item Heavy item
Normal strength Smash strength Normal strength Smash strength
Forward/back 2.6 3.64 3.4 4.4
Up 3.1 4.1 4.8 6
Down 3.3  
2.5  
4.62  
2.5  
4.8  
4.2  
6  
4.2  
Dash 3.4 N/A
Drop 2.1 N/A

For example, a Capsule's base damage is 8%, so if it hits as early as possible and is thrown forward by a character with standard toss strength (such as Cloud), it deals 15.4% with a normal throw, and 18.52% with a smash throw (assuming it doesn't explode). Worth noting is this formula is only used for the item's throw portion; for example, a Motion-Sensor Bomb or POW Block uses it when thrown at an opponent, but not for its subsequent detonation.

Since an aerial item drop (Z-drop) simply releases it with no initial speed, hitting with one as early as possible will consistently cause damage equal to the item's base damage minus the 0.4 modifier.

Items with unique damage factors

Certain items use different factors for their throw damage formula, as well as additional multipliers for throw speed, giving them less of an increase relative to their base damage. This is prominently used for items produced by characters, such as Peach's Vegetables or the different Links' Bombs, preventing them from being too powerful compared to other projectiles.

Item Base damage modifier Speed damage multiplier Throw speed multiplier
Banana Gun -0.4 2.5 0.85
Banana Peel 1 1.7 0.85
Barrel -0.4 0.8 0.5  
0.6  
Beastball -0.8 0.8 1
Blast Box -0.4 3 0.6
Bombchu -0.4 1 0.8
Crate -0.4 1.6 0.7
Cucco -0.4 3  
2  
1
Deku Nut -0.8 3 1
Drill -0.4 3 1.1  
1  
Fairy Bottle -0.4 3 0.8
Fire Flower -0.4 3 0.7
Freezie -0.4 2 1
Gust Bellows -0.4 3 0.7
Hocotate Bomb -0.4 1 0.7
Home-Run Contest Bat -0.4 2 1
Hothead -0.4 3 0.9
Lip's Stick -0.4 1.5 1
Mr. Saturn -0.4 1.5 0.82
Party Ball -0.4 3 0.8
POW Block -0.4 1 1
Rage Blaster -0.4 2.5 1
Rolling Crate -0.4 2.4 0.7  
0.76  
Smoke Ball -0.4 3 0.9
Steel Diver -0.4 3 0.7  
1.1  
X Bomb -0.4 1 0.9
Diddy Kong's Peanut -0.4 3  
1.5  
0.7  
1  
King K. Rool's Crownerang -0.4 1.5 1
Link's Arrow   -0.4 0.8 1
Link's Bomb   -0.4 2 1
Link's Remote Bomb   0 0 0.72
Peach and Daisy's Vegetables -0.4 1  
3  
1  
0.7  
R.O.B.'s Gyro -0.4 2  
1.18  
0.7  
1  
Robin's tomes and Levin Sword -0.4 3  
2.2  
1
Sheik's Burst Grenade -0.4 1 1
Simon and Richter's Holy Water 0 0.5 0.81
Snake's Cardboard Box -0.4 1 0.6
Snake's Hand Grenade -0.4 1 1
Toon Link's Bomb -0.4  
0  
1 1  
0.7  
Wario's Bike -0.4 3 0.6
Young Link's Bomb 0 0.2 0.72
Mario Bros. enemies -0.4 1.5 1.1

Additionally, there are a few items that ignore the damage formula altogether, and always use their base damage regardless of their throw speed:

Oddly enough, items thrown by Jigglypuff have their base damage reduced by 0.95×. Every other character uses the standard amount.

Character item toss strengths

Each character has a specific item toss strength coded, which is another factor for thrown items' speed in the damage formula. However, they are by convention correlated to weight, matching the result of the formula 1 + (weight - 100) / 300. For example, Bowser in Smash 4 has a weight of 130 with an item toss strength of 1.1×, so he initially deals 16.18% damage when normally throwing a Capsule forward; in Ultimate, his weight and item toss strength are increased to 133 and 1.11667×, respectively, so he deals 16.31% damage in this same situation. Conversely, Zelda in both games has a weight of 85 with an item toss strength of 0.95×, so she deals 15.01% damage in this situation.

Frame data

Each character has slightly different startup and ending lag frames when throwing items. These differ for each kind of throw, but not between normal and smash throws of the same kind.

In Smash 4 and Ultimate

Total frames and aerial throw data only apply to Smash 4. Ultimate only carries over grounded throw data, and gives every character 24 total frames for their forward and back throws, 23 for their up throw and grounded item drop, 19 for their down throw, and 29 for their dash throw.

Character Forward throw Back throw Up throw Down throw Dash throw Ground drop
Throw Total Throw Total Throw Total Throw Total Throw Total Throw Total
  Mario 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Donkey Kong 10 38 (ground)
37 (air)
14 38 (ground)
34 (air)
15 38 (ground)
36 (air)
8 30 (ground)
28 (air)
6 39 7 27
  Link 7 20 9 20 11 20 6 18 4 18 5 23
  Samus
  Dark Samus
8 25 11 25 12 24 7 20 5 38 6 24
  Yoshi 8 20 7 20 8 20 7 (ground)
8 (air)
18 7 35 6 23
  Kirby 8 24 (ground)
25 (air)
11 24 (ground)
29 (air)
12 23 (ground)
29 (air)
7 23 5 39 7 23
  Fox 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Pikachu 12 (ground)
10 (air)
28 (ground)
29 (air)
14 28 (ground)
29 (air)
15 (ground)
14 (air)
28 (ground)
29 (air)
8 21 5 38 7 23
  Luigi 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 7 37 6 23
  Ness 7 (ground)
8 (air)
24 11 24 12 (ground)
13 (air)
23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Captain Falcon 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Jigglypuff 12 (ground)
9 (air)
29 12 (ground)
7 (air)
29 13 (ground)
7 (air)
29 7 24 (ground)
29 (air)
4 39 6 24
  Peach
  Daisy
8 26 (ground)
24 (air)
11 26 (ground)
24 (air)
11 25 (ground)
23 (air)
7 21 (ground)
19 (air)
5 37 7 23
  Bowser 10 29 13 29 17 (ground)
15 (air)
29 8 21 7 39 7 23
  Ice Climbers 8 24 9 24 11 24 6 24 4 24 5 24
  Sheik 8 24 11 24 11 (ground)
12 (air)
23 8 (ground)
7 (air)
19 6 37 6 23
  Zelda 10 (ground)
7 (air)
27 (ground)
25 (air)
10 (ground)
9 (air)
27 (ground)
25 (air)
11 23 (ground)
27 (air)
9 25 5 41 5 24
  Dr. Mario 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Pichu 13 24 10 24 12 23 14 19 5 29 7 23
  Falco 9 24 12 24 13 23 8 19 6 37 7 23
  Marth
  Lucina
10 29 14 29 15 29 8 21 6 39 7 23
  Young Link 8 24 10 24 12 23 6 19 5 29 6 23
  Ganondorf 9 (ground)
6 (air)
25 (ground)
21 (air)
8 (ground)
7 (air)
23 8 (ground)
6 (air)
26 (ground)
23 (air)
8 (ground)
6 (air)
23 5 39 8 23
  Mewtwo 8 (ground)
9 (air)
24 11 24 12 23 9 19 7 37 7 23
  Roy
  Chrom
10 24 14 24 15 23 8 19 6 37 7 23
  Mr. Game & Watch 11 24 11 24 11 23 11 19 12 37 10 23
  Meta Knight 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 6 37 6 23
  Pit
  Dark Pit
8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 39 6 23
  Zero Suit Samus 7 20 9 20 11 20 6 18 4 34 5 23
  Wario 10 29 14 29 15 29 8 21 6 39 7 23
  Snake 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Ike 11 29 14 29 15 29 8 21 6 39 7 23
  Squirtle 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Ivysaur 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Charizard 10 29 14 29 15 21 (ground)
29 (air)
8 29 (ground)
21 (air)
6 38 8 23
  Diddy Kong 7 20 9 20 11 20 6 18 4 35 5 23
  Lucas 7 (ground)
8 (air)
24 11 24 12 (ground)
13 (air)
23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Sonic 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  King Dedede 10 29 14 29 15 29 8 21 (ground)
23 (air)
6 39 7 23
  Olimar 8 24 11 25 12 23 7 20 5 37 6 23
  Lucario 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 36 6 23
  R.O.B. 7 20 9 20 11 20 6 18 4 35 5 23
  Toon Link 7 20 9 20 11 20 6 18 4 35 5 23
  Wolf 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Villager 11 (ground)
10 (air)
23 (ground)
24 (air)
11 (ground)
10 (air)
24 10 23 10 (ground)
9 (air)
19 5 37 6 23
  Mega Man 11 24 11 24 11 23 11 19 11 37 11 29
  Wii Fit Trainer 10 26 10 24 (ground)
26 (air)
11 25 (ground)
28 (air)
9 24 (ground)
26 (air)
5 41 5 24
  Rosalina 8 (ground)
10 (air)
26 (ground)
24 (air)
11 26 (ground)
24 (air)
11 25 (ground)
23 (air)
10 (ground)
11 (air)
21 (ground)
19 (air)
10 37 7 23
  Little Mac 10 24 11 24 10 23 10 (ground)
9 (air)
19 5 37 6 23
  Greninja 10 29 14 29 15 29 8 21 6 39 7 23
  Mii Brawler 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Mii Swordfighter 10 20 14 20 15 20 8 18 6 45 5 23
  Mii Gunner 8 25 11 25 12 24 7 20 5 38 5 24
  Palutena 7 27 (ground)
23 (air)
9 27 (ground)
23 (air)
11 27 (ground)
23 (air)
6 21 4 39 5 23
  Pac-Man 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Robin 10 29 14 29 15 29 8 21 6 39 7 23
  Shulk 10 24 13 (ground)
14 (air)
24 15 (ground)
14 (air)
23 8 19 6 37 6 27
  Bowser Jr. 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Duck Hunt 7 23 11 23 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Ryu
  Ken
8 24 11 24 12 23 8 (ground)
7 (air)
19 5 37 6 23
  Cloud 8 24 11 24 12 (ground)
11 (air)
23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Corrin 7 24 10 (ground)
11 (air)
24 12 23 7 19 5 37 6 23
  Bayonetta 10 (ground)
8 (air)
24 10 (ground)
8 (air)
24 12 23 7 19 5 37 7 23
  Inkling 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Ridley 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Simon
  Richter
8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  King K. Rool 10 24 13 24 17 23 8 19 7 29 6 23
  Isabelle 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Incineroar 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Piranha Plant 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Joker 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Hero 7 24 9 24 11 23 6 19 4 29 5 23
  Banjo & Kazooie 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Terry 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Byleth 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Min Min 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Steve 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Sephiroth 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Pyra 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Mythra 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23
  Kazuya 8 24 11 24 12 23 7 19 5 29 6 23

References