Item-swallowing

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.

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.

Munchlax's function as a Pokeball Pokemon is to eat all the items on the stage.

It's not clear why Yoshi is not allowed to eat items, making him the only character that can eat opponents but not items.