Super Smash Bros. Melee/Items

Items appear regularly in both the single-player and multiplayer modes of SSBM. Items, which fall from the sky and bounce onto the stage, either take the form of character powerups or offensive/defensive weapons. The items that will appear and the frequency in which they do can be adjusted in melee battles once the Item Switch section of the preferences is unlocked.

Basic Information
An item's basic function is preformed by pressing ; depending on the item, this will cause the character to use, throw, or attack with the item held. Items that are not thrown with can be thrown by pressing  and smashing  in the desired direction. Press just and your character will drop the item. Thrown items can be caught with a precise tap of, negating the item's damage and allowing the catcher to use the item.

Containers
The crate is large, square, and constructed of wood, featuring the SSBM logo on one side. It is very heavy, and prevents the carrier from moving at any speed faster than a shuffle, and from jumping. It will burst open when thrown or sufficiently damaged, releasing usually between one and five items. Occasionally the crate will explode, damaging everything nearby. This item can not be turned off in the item switch.
 * Crate

A large wooden barrel with the SSBM logo on both ends, inspired from the Donkey Kong series and taken from the original Super Smash Bros. It's as heavy as the crate, and behaves basicly the same way. You can pick it up and throw it, and if it hits an opponent, weapon blast or wall it'll pop open. If it hits ground however, it'll start to roll along the path until either it rolls off a cliff, hits an opponent and attacking item or reaches a long enough hill. The latter of the three will cause the rolling barrel to slow and then reverse direction. Do not physically touch a rolling barrel as you will cause the barrel to open and you'll take damage, even if it is rolling slowly. Attacking the barrel will cause it to fall over onto its side, where contact with a player or attack will cause it to open. Barrels sometimes contain adventure mode enemies like Goombas and ReDeads
 * Barrel

A small pill capsule that is half purple, half white and has a pink cone-shaped apendage on top. The word "Capsule" in written on it in tiny text, and it is from the Nintendo 64 Super Smash Bros. It can be picked up and is light enough to not handicap the holder in any way. When thrown or attacked, it'll open up and release its contact. A thrown capsule hurts whoever it hits, but not as much as the two heavier containers above do. Be careful not to throw capsules too near you, as they have a good chance of being explosive.
 * Capsule

Party balls are floating balloons resembling pinatas. When thrown, they will rise a short distance above the ground and remain still for several seconds; eventually they will begin to flash and a kazoo fanfare plays announcing the opening of the ball. Attacking the party ball will cause it to open sooner. Upon opening, it will deposit between one and five random items, or five of the same item (often Bomb-ombs), on the onto the stage floor. There is also a chance that the party ball will release a large amount of food.
 * Party Ball

A normal white egg. This is the only container to not be from the original game. It is rarer than the other three containers but behaves identically as the Capsule. The only thing other than appearance that makes it unique is that sometimes it will just lightly heal the one who grabs it instantly. The Chancey produces a few of these whenever she appears, throwing them around the stage. They also replace capsules in the Yoshi's Story and Yoshi's Island stages.
 * Egg

Shooting Items
All projectile weapons are fired with. Most have a limited supply of ammunition; when it runs out, the weapon can be used as a crude projectile.

The Ray Gun shoots fairly fast projectiles that have knock characters backwards on impact. It has 16 rounds of ammo.
 * Ray Gun

A small bazooka-like item that is a rendering of the SNES peripheral of the same name. Pressing the A button repeatedly will cause it to fire small rapid balls of energy that can keep opponents trapped, stunned in a steady stream of bullets. Normal shots pass through obstacles and players, so he can trap multiple opponents at once. You can also hold A to charge the gun and fire a ball of greater size and tremendous power. You cannot move while charging and the gun will automatically fire once fully charged. However, you can partially charge the gun for a partially charged shot. Charged shots of any stregth cannot pass throw obstacles and opponents. The gun has the energy to fire about 20 small balls or 3 large ones, after which it's only use is to be thrown at an opponent.
 * Super Scope

A flower with light orange petals and a pair of eyes in the center of the bloom. It's from the Mario series, with an appearance closer to the first game, although instead of giving you fireball powers, this flower will shoot out flames. Pressing and holding A while carrying this item causes the flower to spew fire for about 10 (not necessarily consecutive) seconds, after which it spews harmless smoke and is largely useless. When thrown, the Fire Flower burns whoever it hits for minor damage.
 * Fire Flower

Battering Items
These are melee weapons, wielded with. These items replace or modify characters' standard attacks.

A sword with a neon pink glow for a blade that lengthens and shortens during attacks. It is similar to the beam sword of the Nintendo 64 Super Smash Bros. It makes an electric humming sound when swung. The length of the blade changes based on the wielder and the strength of attack. While being held, it simply aids the player's A, Dash+A and Foward-Smash attacks. As with all weapons of this type, it can be thrown to make a nifty projectile.
 * Beam Sword

The bat performs similarly to the beam sword, but with one important feature: horizontal smash attacks with the homerun bat result in instant KOs. During the smash swing, the bat flashes blue and white and a loud sound is heard on impact. When thrown, the bat inflicts a heavy damage to other characters and other destructible elements.
 * Homerun Bat

The fan can be used in very fast repetition, and traps the opponent at the same time. It does 1% damage per strike, but hits quickly enough to deal a decent amount of damage before the opponent can retaliate. This weapon is very effective against shields, and causes opponents to fly up when hit by a thrown fan.
 * Fan

A large sledgehammer with a heavy black head, from the Donkey Kong arcade game. While holding one, the player is slowed and loses his or her second and third jumps. They also cannot throw it away and have to wait until it is used up. Anyone who comes in contact with the head of the hammer during its use is knocked high into the air; this is a very powerful weapon that easily KOs opponents. There is a 10% chance that the head of the hammer will fall off, unlike in the original Super Smash Bros.; the player with the handle is still stuck in the motion of swinging the now-useless hammer stick. The head can be thrown like a normal weapon, and retains some of the incredible power it had while unbroken. If the character swinging the hammer is hit, it can be dropped prematurely; this gives a bonus at the end of the round.
 * Hammer

A pink and white striped rod with a yellow star at the end, from the Kirby series. The rod can be swung as a normal weapon; more powerful swings, expecially the Forward-Smash attack, will launch a large projectile star from the tip which will fly forward and can hurt opponents. When Captain Falcon uses the Star Rod, a Smash Attack will unleash three smaller sized stars; when Sheik does, it launches two stars. When hit by a thrown Star Rod, the player flies diagonally downward, making it difficult to return to the stage. The star wand conatains approximately 20 stars.
 * Star Rod

A long stick with a reddish flower at the end, from Panel de Pon (predecessor to Tetris Attack), and named after the Pon main character Lip, whom Yoshi stepped in for in Tetris Attack. It is welded exactly like a beam sword, although slightly weaker. The catch is how when a player is hit with this weapon a flower sprouts from his or her head, causing slow but steady damage while it remains there. Further hits with the stick while the flower is still planted on the opponet's head makes the flower grow and cause more damage. Quick movement of the Control Stick shakes the flower off, although it will fall off by itself if you wait long enough. The stick actualy has a certain amount of dust it throws when used in a Forward+A or Smash+A attack, and when that dust runs out, the stick can only create very small flowers, and only through physical contact with the stick.
 * Lip's Stick

The parasol is an effective melee weapon as well as an excellent recovery tool. It opens when the character holding it begins to fall, dramatically reducing their speed and increasing their horizontal control in the air. When thrown, it can be used to keep characters from touching the ground.
 * Parasol

Projectile items
These items are mostly one-time use projectiles, thrown with.

Mr Saturn
A short alien being from EarthBound with large whiskers, nose and bow. After a short delay, it walks around on the playform it's on, much like a slow Bob-omb. It can slowly push other items around. It can be picked up like a Bob-omb, and if thrown, any damage done to it during its presence on the battlefield will be dealt to whoever it hits. A muted trumpet plays on contact, and after hitting three players, it'll disappear. Also useful for breaking shields.

Freezie
A piece of jagged ice with a face that slides around the ground, seen in the Mario Bros. arcade game. When thrown at a player, that player is frozen on contact, launched into the air, and immobilized inside a large piece of ice for a sizable amount of time. The more damaged the frozen player is, the longer he'll stay frozen, although players can struggle by pressing buttons to break free faster. When a player is encased in ice, a fire-based attack will immediately thaw the ice, while other attacks will harm the player while keeping him frozen. Freezies are fragile and can be broken by the slightest attack before they are picked up.

Green Shell
A green Koopa Troopa shell from the Mario series. When thrown or hit, it'll continue in the direction sent until it hits a wall or falls off the stage. It can be stopped by jumping on it, like in the original Super Mario Bros. game. You can also hit it to stop it or to reverse its direction, but don't get hit by it or you'll be sent flying back, even if it's moving slowly. It is different from the Red Shell.

Red Shell
The red shells are the same as their green counterparts except for their ability to chase players. A red shell will go after the character closest to it regardless of who was the thrower. On average it lasts for about ten seconds but this can vary widely, and it will not fall off the stage.

Bob-omb
The black, walking bombs from the Mario series with lit fuses. When they are first released, they sit still, during which they can be picked up by opponents. Attacking them in this stage, or any time for that matter, will cause them to explode. Their explosions are large and rather potent. If you leave them alone for about five seconds, the Bob-omb will get up and walk back and forth along the platform it's on and explode on contact with any player, rendering it unable to be picked up anymore. After about 10 seconds of walking, the Bob-omb will pulsate for several seconds before exploding all by itself. A bonus is available if a player can grab the Bob-omb while pulsating and throw it away before it explodes. When in a player's hands, the Bob-omb can be carried indefinitely until thrown away, after which it'll explode on contact. The following explosion can hurt the one who threw it if he is close enough. Also, it is possible to catch a thrown Bob-omb by pressing A as right before it makes contact.

Pokéball
Each Pokéball contains a random Pokémon, which is released when the ball lands on the stage. A Pokémon will almost never damage the character who threw it. See the Pokéballs section below for detailed information on the Pokémon available. All Pokémon remain on the stage for between five and thirty seconds before disappearing. Computer players swarm to Pokéballs as soon as they appear on a stage, largely because of the high-power attacks many Pokémon possess.

Mew
Mew does not affect the game at all, but awards the player who cast him 10,000 bonus points for the round. The first sighting of Mew unlocks the Mew trophy.

Articuno
Articuno is a great bird that hovers over the battlefield for a few moments. It then releases a small wave of energy that freezes all nearby smashers, and flies off.

Bellosom
Bellosom does not move, but creates a mist around itself that causes any nearby character (except the caster) to fall asleep for about 5 seconds. After that time, it is difficult to get out of the flower's range before it puts the character to sleep once again.

Blastoise
Blastoise is a large turtle-like creature with a pair of water cannons on its back, which fire continually forwards. These shots will damage and knock opposing characters backwards, and touching Blastoise's shell damages and throws enemy characters.

Celebi
Celebi, like Mew, has no effect on the game, but awards the player 8,000 bonus points and the Celebi trophy upon first sighting.

Chansey
Chansey is a small pinkish creature who sits on the ground and scatters eggs around the stage. The eggs can sometimes be thrown at opponents, or otherwise eaten to heal the character. It is possible to knock it off the stage.

Charizard
Charizard is a huge fire breathing lizard which stands on its hind legs and spouts flame left and right at opponents. As with Blastoise, its hide is also harmful to enemies.

Chikorita
Chikorita is a tiny plant-like creature that fires sharp leaves in one direction, decided by the location of the nearest enemy upon its creation.

Clefairy
Clefairy is a pink dancing creature, that upon creation will cause one of several events to occur, including:
 * A freezing tornado with Clefairy in its eye.

Cyndaquil
Cyndaquil operates just like Chikorita, but shoots flame instead of leaves, with a shorter range. You can knock off a Cyndaquil like a Chansey.

Electrode
Electrode is a large metal ball that sits on the stage for about five seconds, before turning dark and exploding with great force. It is possible to pick up and throw Electrode right before it explodes. This must be done with perfect timing, or else the character holding Electrode will suffer the brunt of the explosion. The person who sends this out is not protected by the explosion.

Entei
Entei is a giant dog that sends a pillar of flame around and above it. Contact with the fire causes a large amount of damage and an inability to exit out until it goes away.

Goldeen
Goldeen resembles a large goldfish, and flops around the stage, doing nothing.

Ho-oh
Ho-oh moves in the same pattern as Articuno and the other great birds, and creates a pillar of fire in the middle of the stage, throwing opponents into the air and dealing them significant amounts of damage.

Lugia
Lugia flies into the background like the other great birds, then creates a focused whirlwind than sucks enemies up, damaging them, then throws them to the side.

Marill
Marill is a little blue mouse-like creature that runs in one direction until it falls off the stage, pushing any opponent it hits along with it, while dealing them a small amount of damage.

Moltres
Moltres is a large red bird that acts just like Articuno, but burns all nearby characters instead of freezing them.

Porygon2
Porygon2 is a colorful object in the shape of a bird that charges for a short distance, dealing damage to anything in its way (and knocking them pretty far), then disappearing.

Raikou
Raikou creates a ring of electricity that damages everyone within it.

Scizor
Scizor is a huge, red, flying insect that chases after opponents, dealing heavy damage.

Snorlax
Snorlax is a huge bear-like creature than crushes anyone under it, then jumps up, gets bigger, and falls past the stage, damaging opponents again.

Staryu
Staryu follows chases after an opponent, then stops moving and beings firing little bolts of energy that trap the opponent.

Suicine
Suicine is big bluish-white creature resembling a wolf, which creates an icy whirlwind.

Togepi
Togepi is a small creature that wears its colorful shell. Like Clefairy, it also does random things, but Togepi deals status effects rather than direct damage.
 * A ground tremor which traps everyone in the ground and causes damage to all.
 * Turns the whole screen turn black for five seconds.

Unown
Unown begins as one small black flying creature, which flies off the screen and brings a mass of them flying past the screen, damaging all opponents in its path, while trapping them.

Venosaur
Venosaur is a giant green lizard with a flower on its back, that stomps on the ground, sending nearby enemies flying into the air and taking damage.

Weezing
Weezing is a solid cloud of gas that floats above the stage and sprays out poison gas, trapping and dealing heavy damage to anyone in its immediate vicinity. According to Prima's Strategy guide, Weezing is the most powerful of the non-playable Pokémon, sometimes causing over 100% of damage.

Wobbuffet
Wobbuffet is a blue creature reminiscent of a walrus standing on its tail. When struck, Wobbuffet begins to wobble back and forth, attacking and trapping any nearby characters.

Zapdos
Zapdos is a huge yellow bird which has the same attack as Articuno and Moltres, but with electricity.

Performance Items
These items don't do damage directly but change your character's properties like weight or visibility.

This makes you invisible. Of course, it makes you invisible to yourself to so sometimes its a disadvantage. Also, whenever you get hit, you become momentarily visible. Computers usually go for this when it appears. ''a greatly overlooked feature about the cloaking device is that no dammage can be taken when using it. although it is still possible to be KO'd''
 * Cloaking Device

A flashing star with eyes from the Mario series. This thing will hop around until it is grabbed. This item renders the player who grabs it impervious to damage of any kind for ten seconds; the only thing a player under its power has to look out for are cliffs. Merely touching the Starman will cause the player to grab it. Computer players immediately run away from a player who is under the sparkly effects of a Starman.
 * Invincibility(StarMan)

This makes you super heavy and shiny. As a result, you are harder to knock off the stage, but you don't jump as high either.
 * Metal Box

A ball with a stylized S-like design from the Metroid series. It is technically both an Attack and Status item. Any player holding the Screw Attack will perform Samus Aran's Screw Attack with every jump. Throwing the item at an enemy will damage him cause him to spontaneously perform the attack, disabling him until he touches the ground. Be careful to not throw a Screw Attack at a very nearby opponent, as you will get caught in their spontaneous attack. A point bonus can be received by KOing the opponent with a throw of this item, usually done by hitting the opponent as they attempt to jump back to the main platform.
 * Screw Attack

Makes you super fast and you jump really high. Lasts for 10 seconds(?).
 * Bunny Hood

A red and white-capped mushroom with eyes on its stem, from the Mario series. This mushroom causes the player to grow to 4 times the original size, with increased attack power and defense to suit. When you go for one of these, you have to make sure it isn't a Poison Mushroom, which is a similar looking mushroom with opposite effects. Grabbing one of each kind of mushroom cancels out the effect of the first mushroom grabbed. Merely walking over this item will cause the player to grab it. A player can be large and hold other items.
 * Super Mushroom

A red and white-capped mushroom with eyes on its stem; the Poison Mushroom is the only Status item that weakens the player who touches it. It originates from the Japanese version of Super Mario Bros. 2. The Poison Mushroom causes the player to shrink to about one quarter his/her original size, making it easier to be knocked out of the arena and have signifigantly weaker attacks. The reason anyone would try to get this item is because it is very similar to the benevolent Super Mushroom, although a close look will reveal that the Poison Mushroom is more purple than the good type and has an angry face. Like the Super Mushroom, merely walking over this item will cause the player to grab it. A player can be small and hold other items.
 * Poison Mushroom

Recovery Items
These items recover health.

Small pictures of various food items of many types from the kirby games. Each piece of food restores about 3 to 8 points of the player's health. Although this may not seem like much, if you get a buffet from a Party Ball you can really recover damage. A player can grab any health item, such as food, while holding another item. Food is also carried by Shyguys in the Yoshi's Story stage. On a side note, the regular "mushroom" Food went on to be the Dried Shroom item in Paper Mario 2: The Thousand-Year Door.
 * Food

A large tomato with an "M" printed on it from the Kirby series. It is similar to the Heart Container, although weaker, restoring 50 points of damage to the player who eats it, which is still a lot. It was stronger in the original N64 Super Smash Bros, where it healed the eater up to 100 points of damage.
 * Maxim Tomato

A translucent heart shape in a silver frame, from the Legend of Zelda series. Grabbing a Heart Container will remove up to 100 points of damage from a player, which can turn the tides of a fight. This is actually less than how much it helped in the Nintendo 64 Super Smash Bros., where Heart Containers fully revealed your health. In All-Star mode, where health items are only find between stages, Heart Containers are back at their prime, refueling all your health.
 * Heart Container

Other Items
These don't really fit into the other categories.

Throw it somewhere on the stage and it sticks. After half a second it will become a proximity motion bomb, blowing up if somthing walks over it or it is attacked. It will explode if it's left around for a long time. A good way to get someone there is to grapple and toss someone at the spot.
 * Motion Sensor Bomb

From the kirby games. Its a big yellow star. If you pick it up, you'll get on it an you will fly way up. Then you come crashing down and you do area damage where you come down. If you land directly on someone, its always a KO. You can adjust where you come down by holding left or right while youre in the air.
 * Warp Star

From the baloon fight games. A little flipper that stays put in the air. If you hit it, it knocks you around in a random direction. Good to throw in the path of a recovering opponent, because it destroys their third jump. It can also block an opponent's path if he's chasing you.
 * Flipper

A barrel with a white arrow painted onto it from the Donkey Kong Country series. When thrown, it will move forward, spinning along the ground. If someone touches it, they will become trapped inside. The player who throws it cannot get trapped inside, however. Once inside the player can voluntarity shoot himself out in the direction the spinning arrow is facing. He has to be careful not to shoot himself off the edge of the stage or stay in the barrel too long, as it will often roll right off the edge of the stage. If the barrel doesn't reach the stage's edge in time, it will shoot out the player inside automatically. Players won't hurt opponents as they shoot out, but anyone who touches the occupied barrel will take a little damage. Barrel Cannons are rare and have the habit of disappearing quickly if left alone. A permament, hovering Barrel Cannon can be found on both the old and new Kongo Jungle stages, although that of the old stage looks very different from the modern item.
 * Barrel Cannon

Special Items
There are some items in the game that don't appear randomly with all the other items and can only be obtained special ways. For something to count as an item, it has to be usable/grabbable with the A button. Here are a list of all special items and how to obtain them.

Regular red apples from the Kirby series. They randomly do one of three things: Be normal weak projectiles, be explosive projectiles, or act like Food. Similar to Egg, except they do not hold items. To get apples, simply play Green Greens. After a while, Whispy Woods will shake his head, releasing a few Apples onto the playing field.
 * Apple

These are flat, pixelated Birdo Eggs that are from the game Super Mario Bros. 2. Birdo shoots a few of them out occassionally in the Mushroom Kingdom 2 stage. They fly forward and will cause damage upon contact. Taking a blow, reflecting, or attacking a Birdo Egg will cause it to deflect backwards and fall down. A well placed player can grab the deflected Birdo Egg by pressing A as it passes by. A grabbed Birdo Egg has the same powers of a Capsule, including releasing items upon breaking.
 * Birdo Egg

These are the weak Bombs with lit fuses that Link and Young Link produce when pressing Down+B. They will explode upon being thrown at an opponent, platform or item blast. Also, holding them too long will result in them bulging and blinking, followed by exploding. Their explosions are relatively weak. With a well-timed A button press, an opponent can grab a Bomb thrown at him and use it himself.
 * Bomb

These red and green Koopa shells are different from the two regular Koopa shell items. They can only be found in Part 1 of the Mushroom Kingdom stage of Adventure Mode, or in regular melee should a Koopa Troopa appear from a crate/barrel. To get it, simply jump on a Koopa Troopa of either color. They look slightly different from the normal item versions, and they aren't as determined to move forward. Also, they both behave similar to the Green Shell item. An unmoving shell of this type, left alone long enough, will reawaken into a Koopa Troopa. These are the turnips with facial expressions that Peach produces whenever she uses her Down+B move on the ground. They can have several different expressions, each representing the strength of the Turnip. They can be thrown at opponents, causing a small amount of damage, and they vanish upon hitting the ground. A player can grab a thrown or deflected turnip to use it. Indeed, Peach can throw the turnip at an opponent, hit, and then grab the deflected turnip before it hits the ground to use it again, although this is sort of worthless as Peach can always produce another one at will. The strongest Turnip Peach can throw has a Zombie face (o_o with a stitched mouth) Because it is so easy to catch, the Turnip will actually dissapear in mid air after a while. In Event Match #13: Yoshi's Egg, there is a special Yoshi Egg item. It can be grabbed and carried around by all players, and can be used as a weak projectile. It can withstand damage from being attacked or thrown, but if it takes too much it'll break, causing you to lose the round.
 * Red/Green Koopa Troopa Shells
 * Turnip
 * Yoshi Egg