Master the tools of the trade!
Items will regularly appear during one player and multiplayer battles. Items can simply appear on the playing area, in a capsule, barrel, crate or party ball, or by way of a Chansey Pokemon. Once an item has appeared it will stay in the same spot for 25 seconds. At that time it will start to flash for an additional five seconds before it disappears. Below you will find descriptions for all of the items in Super Smash Brothers Melee.
| Barrel Cannon - This is the same barrel cannon that can be found at the bottom of DK’s stage, and in all of the Donkey Kong Country games on SNES. When you throw this item at someone, they’ll be engulfed by the barrel. Then it’s up to them to shoot themselves out at the right time. The direction the arrow points is the direction they’ll fly out. If they don’t get out before the barrel rolls over the edge, they’ll be KO’d. |  |
| Beam Sword - This is one of the best close range weapons. It has a long reach allowing you to hit opponents while still avoiding their attacks. Plus, by performing a Smash Attack with the beam sword it greatly increases the chances of getting a KO on an opponent. They'll often times show up in groups, so grab one ASAP. |  |
| Bob-omb - Once the bob-omb has appeared it will be motionless for five seconds. During this time it's safe to pick it up. It will explode upon impact once it's been thrown. After five seconds it will start to walk around. At this point you can no longer pick it up. If you touch it, it will blow up. At ten seconds the bob-omb will automatically explode. If your opponent is around the damage percentage limit, the bomb trooper will KO them. Be careful though, because if you're close enough to the opponent, you'll also get the full impact of the explosion. |  |
| Bunny Hood - Don the bunny hood and you’ll be able to jump higher and move considerably faster than before. You’ll be able to juggle opponents higher into the air and, avoid attacks with ease. Just be careful not to run off the edge. |  |
| Cloaking Device - Pick up this baby and no one will be able to see you, including yourself. You’ll be vaguely visible when you move and clearly visible when you attack. This is great for sneaking up on people, but you can also easily KO yourself as well. Just follow your character instead of the action around them. When you’re playing using your custom name for data, your name will still be visible over your cloaked character. |  |
| Fan - This is a great weapon for trapping people in corners and racking up damage. It doesn't do power hits, but even if you’re not in a corner, you can usually get off several hits before the opponent is out of range. Just continually tap the A button and your opponent will not be able to escape until you've done a substantial amount of damage to them. A very good weapon to use against players who have little to no damage. |  |
| Fire Flower - The fire flower is basically a flame thrower. You can either hold down the A button to get a continuous stream of fire, or you can tap the A button to regulate the flow. Each time you press the A button it will do five hits. Once you've reached 59 hits the fire flower will no longer work. |  |
| Flipper - This is one of the few items than you can get hurt by. Once you’ve throw this item, it will hover in midair. Anyone who touches it, or hits it with a projectile will make the flipper start to spin and knock people away. This item is great for edge guarding. Toss it near the edge and anyone trying to come back will hit it and get knocked away. |  |
| Food - Another health item, food will usually appear after a party ball has been broken. Each food item will lower your damage by 5%. While this may not seem like a lot, it will add up over time and when multiple food items appear at once. You can pick up food while you’re holding other items in your hand. |  |
| Freezie - A new item from the Ice Climbers, freezie will freeze your opponent on impact. While they’re frozen, take this opportunity to rack up as much damage as possible. If you freeze them near an edge, try to knock them off the edge. Your opponent will not be able to move until they break out of the glacier. |  |
| Green Shell - Use the green shell as a midrange projectile attack. Each time you hit an opponent with a green shell it will act like a power hit. You can also use the item without picking it up. By hitting it with a projectile or any other attack, it will be active for a short while. Try hitting it with your projectile, while a group of opponents are duking it out close by. |  |
| Hammer - This is the same hammer found in the original Donkey Kong for the arcades. In fact, when you pick up the hammer you'll even get the original music. Once you've picked up the hammer, each time you hit another player it will act like a super power hit. It should take no more than two hits with the hammer before an opponent is KO’d. While you have the hammer it's still possible to get hit by other players. It does not give you invincibility. You'll also lose the ability to air jump while you've got the hammer in hand. Also, new to Melee, there’s a 30% chance the hammer will break. If this happens, you will be completely open to attack the entire time you have it. The hammer will last for 15 seconds once you've picked it up. |  |
| Heart Container - The heart will bring your damage back down to zero percent. Once you've picked up a heart, your damage percentage will rapidly count down until it reaches zero. Draw your opponents to the heart, then use it. While your damage is getting smaller, any hits you take won't do any damage to you. Once your damage hits zero, put your shield up and begin your counter attack. You can pick up the heart container while you’re holding other items in your hand. |  |
| Home-Run Bat - This is one of the best items in the game. A power hit with the home-run bat will permanently launch opponents out of the playing area with only one or two hits depending on how high their damage is and if they bounce after the hit. Either dodge an opponents attack then power hit with the home-run bat, or stun your opponent with a projectile or upward hitting move. You're almost guaranteed a KO. Try to sneak up on groups of opponents to really cash in. |  |
| Lip's Stick - This item may look similar to the fire flower, but it performs very differently. When you hit an opponent with Lip’s stick, a flower will sprout from their head. As long as the flower remains on top of their head, they will take a small amount of damage. The only way to remove the flower is to joggle the analog stick from left to right. |  |
| Maxim Tomato - The maxim tomato has almost the same effect as the heart container. However, instead of resetting your damage back down to zero percent, it will only relieve up to 150% of your damage. Draw your opponents to the maxim tomato, then use it. While your damage is getting smaller, any hits you take won't do any damage. Once your damage hits zero, put your shield up and begin your counter attack. You can pick up the maxim tomato while you’re holding other items in your hand. |  |
| Metal Box - Everyone wants to believe that metal versions of their favorite character are playable. Well, now they are. With the metal box, your character will be covered in metal for a short period of time. During this time, they will take on all the attributes of the item. You will not be able to jump as high, or move as fast. However, you’ll also be able to take more damage, and you won’t move as far when hit. This is a great item to get when you’re high in damage. Smash Attacks will rarely be able to KO you if you grab the metal box and stay near the center of the stage. |  |
| Motion Sensor Bomb - The motion sensor bomb is great for catching opponents off guard. Lay it close to a group of players, then be careful not to step on it. Anyone who touches it will be launched off the playing area. They are also great when placed close to the edge of a playing are. It will usually KO anyone over 70% damage. |  |
| Mr. Saturn - Hailing from Earthbound, Mr. Saturn doesn’t serve a great purpose. He’ll just walk around moving items and getting in the way. You can pick him up and toss him at your opponents, but he won’t inflict that much damage. It may be better to grab these guys and toss them off the edge. |  |
| Parasol - More commonly known as the umbrella, this item is great for helping you come back after getting knocked off the stage. When you’re airborne, the parasol will open and you’ll slowly float back down to the stage. It also works great as a weapon. Any opponent attempting to attack you from above will be hit by the parasol, and you can swing it just like a beam sword or bat. Grab this item and hold on to it. The parasol could easily save you from getting KO’d. |  |
| Party Ball - Similar to the barrel and crate, once thrown the party ball will float into the air, flash red a few times, then open. When it opens, a number of items will fall to the ground below. Generally, these items are all the same, or have some relation. Be careful though, there are times when the party ball will drop a number of bob-ombs and you’ll need to either grab them all, or clear the area. |  |
| Poison Mushroom - This is not the most ideal item. If you touch the poison mushroom, your character will shrink. At this point, you’ll fly farther and take more damage when hit. You’ll also be easier to KO, since it won’t take as much damage. However, you’re also out of the normal attack range. Most opponents will have to use low attacks in order to hit you once you’ve touched a poison mushroom. You can tell the poison mushroom apart from the super mushroom by it’s darker, slightly purple tint. |  |
| Poké Ball - The poké ball will unleash one of many different Pokémon. Pick these up and break them open ASAP. Even if you have to throw it straight down. Any attack that a Pokémon does from a poke ball you threw won't do any damage to you (there are some exceptions). Try to throw them into groups of players for the best results. If your damage is fairly high, stand right on top of the opening poké ball. Most attacking Pokémon will keep other players away from you. |  |
| Ray Gun - The ray gun is your basic laser gun. When hit, you will be temporarily shocked and unable to move. The best use for the lay gun is to juggle your opponents off the playing area or to use it in combination with the edge guard strategy. You can shoot the lay gun 16 times. After that you will no longer be able to use it. |  |
| Red Shell - The red shell is from Mario Kart and acts the same as it always did. Once the shell has been thrown it will home in on whoever is on the same platform as the shell. If no one is on the platform it will move back and forth trying to find a target. After ten seconds the shell will disappear. |  |
| Screw Attack - Donated to Melee by Samus, once you’ve picked up the screw attack you will mimic Samus every time you jump. Instead of a normal jump, you’ll perform the screw attack. While not quite as powerful as Samus’ version, it still works well as an aerial attack. If you throw the screw attack at an opponent, they will take damage and perform the screw attack themselves. Use this to hit opponents above them, then move in for an attack while they’re stunned. |  |
| Star Rod - If you hold forward, then press A you will do a regular swing and a star will shoot from the tip of the rod. If you press forward and A together, you will do a power hit and the star will shoot further. |  |
| Starman - Just like in Super Mario Bros, the star will give you temporary invincibility. You won't be effected by any attacks. Start doing power hits and don't look back. Couple this with the homerun bat and you're in business. |  |
| Super Mushroom - Similar to the poison mushroom, the super version will make your character giant. Your attacks will do more damage, and you’ll be much harder to KO. However, you’ll also be a much larger and easier target to hit. You may also have a hard time hitting smaller characters as most of your attacks will go over their heads. You can tell the super mushroom apart from the poison mushroom by it’s lighter tint. |  |
| Super Scope - Remember this one from the Super Nintendo days? This is probably one of the best new items. If you tap the A button rapidly, the super scope will shoot a continuous barrage of shots that will go through other opponents. This means you can line up your opponents and unleash this bad boy to inflict damage on all of them. Then, you can charge up the super scope by holding down A. Once up to a full charge, it can KO an opponent with one hit if they’re high enough in damage. Just be careful, it doesn’t have the range of the ray gun, and you’ll be stunned for a moment after you shoot it. |  |
