Red Shell

Red Shell
Artwork of the Red Shell from Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Universe	Mario
Appears in	SSB Melee Brawl SSB4
Item class	Throwing
Article on Super Mario Wiki	Red Shell

“	Basically the same as the Green Shell, this shell bounces back and forth in the same area of the stage.	”
—Super Smash Bros. instruction booklet description

The Red Shell (アカのこうら, Red Shell) is an item from the Mario series.

Origin

The red shells have a homing ability in the Mario Kart series.

The Red Shells made their made their debut in Super Mario Bros. as the shells of the red Koopa Troopas, and has become a recurring item in later Mario games.

If a Koopa Troopa is jumped on, they retreat into their shells rather than be defeated altogether, which can be kicked as projectiles. If the shells are left out for too long, however, the Koopa Troopa can emerge out of its shell. The kicked shells can also pose a danger if they bounce off of a wall.

In Super Mario Bros. 3 and in later games onward, if a Koopa Troopa is jumped on and retreats into its shell, it can be picked up, carried around. This, however, can be dangerous, as the Koopa Troopa can emerge out of the shell while carried and can damage the player holding the shell. In Super Mario World, however, Koopa Troopas can be ejected from their shells if they are stepped upon by Mario.

The Red Shell has become a recurring item in the Mario Kart series. When used, it allows the players to throw the Red Shells and home in on the nearest opponent in a further place.

Although the Red Shell's behavior are based on the item in the Mario Kart series, the Red Shells also act similarly to the Kamikaze Koopa from Super Mario World where a yellow Beach Koopa will enter any Koopa Shell and pursue the player while still sliding on the ground. Also, it will not fall off the platform it is moving on, referencing how the red-shelled Koopa Troopas move back and forth on platforms and turn around at ledges.

Overview

The Red Shell avoiding falling in Smash 64.

The Red Shell debuted as a throwing item in Super Smash Bros.

When used, instead of sliding in the same direction it was thrown in after coming into contact with the floor like the Green Shell, the Red Shell will start sliding from left to right and targeting the closest fighter, even the fighter who threw it. Unlike the Green Shell, the Red Shell will not slide off any platform it is thrown upon, instead bouncing back as soon as it reaches an edge.

When stationary, the Red Shell will activate when jumped on or after coming in contact with a hitbox. Like the Green Shell, a sliding Red Shell will halt all movement upon being jumped on. It does moderate set knockback and therefore cannot KO opponents at any percentage except lower handicapped opponents. When reflected, its damage output is increased, but its knockback is not. A reflected Red Shell will also have much more hitlag when it hits a player.

The Red Shell does not appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but Red Koopa Shells appear in the Subspace Emissary; however, when used, they function similarly to the Green Shell. This is also applied to the Smash Run in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS when the player's fighter defeats a red Koopa Troopa.

In single-player modes

In Melee's Adventure Mode, Brawl's Subspace Emissary, and Smash 4's Smash Run, Koopa Troopas and Koopa Paratroopas can appear as regular enemies. Dealing enough damage by attacking them or jumping on them forces them to retreat into their shells. If the shell is left alone or carried for too long, then the Koopa Troopas will emerge out of their shells.

In Melee Red Koopa Troopa shells can be grabbed, carried around, and thrown like the Green Shell item to KO other enemies or damage opponents; however, it can deal fire damage and stronger damage and knockback upon contact.

Damage

Action	SSB	Melee
After attacked/Bounced	10%	9%
Throw	15%	14%
U-Tilt Throw	14%-16%	15%
D-Tilt Throw	10%	16%
Dash Throw	19%	15%
F-Smash Throw	19%	17%
U-Smash Throw	19%	18%
D-Smash Throw	10%	19%
Air Throw	17%	14%
Air U-Tilt Throw	17%	13%
Air D-Tilt Throw	19%	16%
Air F-Smash Throw	19%	15%
Air U-Smash Throw	19%	13%
Air D-Smash Throw	19%	16%

• Deals 15% if dropped in Melee.

Trophy

Red Shell's trophy in Melee

Red Shell

Throw a Red Shell, and it will home in on random characters and send them flying straight up. Red Shells moving around the surface are dangerous to all players, but they may also present attack chances for players with good timing and strategy. Red Shells won't leave the platform they're on once they start moving.

Super Mario Bros. (10/85)

Sticker

Name	Game	Effect	Fighter(s)
Triple Red Shells	Mario Kart: DD!!	SpecialResistance+021 +21

Triple Red Shells (Mario Kart: DD!!)

As a Mii Costume

Red Shell Hat in for Wii U

The Red Shell serves as the basis for the Red Shell Hat headgear for the Mii Fighters in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Trivia

• The Red Shell is the only projectile in Melee that does not inflict more knockback when it is reflected. It does, however, still deal more damage.
• In the first stage of Melee's Adventure Mode, the player will earn the Dead-Weight KO bonus for each Yoshi they KO with the Red Koopa Shell.
• In the original Super Smash Bros. Training Mode, if four red shells are spawned in the same spot, and if Ness uses PK Fire on them, they will do about 460% damage upon contact.
• The Red Shell, the Fan, the Team Healer, and the Spring are the only items to have been removed after appearing in multiple Super Smash Bros. titles.
• As Super Smash Bros. for Wii U lacks a campaign mode such as Adventure Mode and Ultimate's Adventure Mode is made up of a series of battles, with no enemies aside from the fighters and bosses, they are the only games where the Red Shell never appears in a standard game mode.
• The Red Shell didn't return in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate without reasons why, although Green Shell and Spiny Shell returned in Ultimate as well.

See also

• Green Shell
• Koopa Troopa

Gallery

• 

  The Red Shell artwork from Smash 64.

• 

  A Red Shell in Melee.