Competitive Rulesets

The following rules are widely accepted in the competitive community of Super Smash Bros. In general, they prevent degenerate, unfair gameplay, and promote a diversity of characters and playstyles.

SSB - SSBM (Melee) - SSBB (Brawl) - SSB4 (Sm4sh) - Match Procedure - Additional Notes

Super Smash Bros. (N64)

Game Settings

  • Stocks: 5
  • Time Limit: 8 minutes
  • Items: Off
  • Team Attack: On

Stage List

  • Dream Land

Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC)

Game Settings

  • Stocks: 4
  • Time Limit: 8 minutes
  • Handicap: Off
  • Damage Ratio: 1.0
  • Items: Off
  • Pause: Off*
  • Team Attack: On

Stage List

  • Starter Stages
    • Yoshi's Story
    • Fountain of Dreams (singles only)
    • Battlefield
    • Final Destination
    • Dream Land
    • Pokémon Stadium (doubles only)
  • Counterpick Stages
    • Pokémon Stadium (singles only)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

Game Settings

  • Stocks: 3
  • Time Limit: 8 minutes
  • Handicap: Off
  • Friendly Fire: On
  • Damage Ratio: 100%
  • Items: Off and None
  • Pause: Off*

Stage List

  • Starter Stages
    • Battlefield
    • Final Destination
    • Lylat Cruise
    • Smashville
    • Yoshi's Island (Brawl)
  • Counterpick Stages
    • Pokémon Stadium (Melee)

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (Wii U)

Game Settings

  • Stocks: 2 for Singles, 3 for Doubles
  • Time Limit: 6 minutes for Singles, 8 minutes for Doubles
  • Handicap: Off
  • Friendly Fire: On
  • Damage Ratio: 100%
  • Items: Off and None
  • Pause: Off*
  • Custom Fighters and Custom Moves: Off
  • DLC characters are legal
  • Mii Fighters (1111) are legal
    • Mii Brawlers/Swordsmen/Gunners are available for use (using Default A Mii)
    • Players are not allowed to transfer existing Miis to a setup

Stage List

  • Starter Stages
    • Battlefield
    • Final Destination
    • Smashville
    • Town & City
    • Lylat Cruise
  • Counterpick Stages
    • Duck Hunt
    • Dream Land 64
    • Omega Stages**

Match Procedure

  1. Players select their characters. Either player may choose to Blind Pick. In this case, each player secretly tells a third player their character before picking with the third player verifying their selections.
  2. Players play Rock-Paper-Scissors. Winner chooses between selecting controller port or first Stage Strike.
  3. Players take turns removing stages from the Starter Stages list based upon the results of the previous rule. The first player to strike removes one(1) stage from the list, the second player removes two(2), and the first player then chooses from the remaining two(2) stages.
  4. The players play the first match of the set.
  5. Winning player of the preceding match bans a stage from the full list of stages, both Starter and Counterpick. Does not apply to Best of 5 sets.
  6. The Losing player of the preceding match picks a stage for the next match. Cannot choose the stage banned in the previous step, nor a stage they've already won on during this set, unless agreed.
  7. The winning player of the preceding match may choose to change characters.
  8. The losing player of the preceding match may choose to change characters.
  9. The losing player of the preceding match may change their controller port.
  10. The next match is played.
  11. Repeat Steps 5 through 10 for all subsequent matches until the set is complete.

Additional Notes

*Pausing is legal when you are on your angel platform and you are calling a TO or your controller is malfunctioning.
**Omega stages are treated as Final Destination during the banning phase. If Final Destination is banned, Omega Stages are banned and vice versa.
Continuing infinite combos (such as wobbling) past 300% and using stalling techniques (unless for recovering) are banned.