Red Shell

Red Shell
Artwork of a Red Shell in Mario Kart 8
Franchise	Mario
First appearance	Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Latest appearance	Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. (2020)
Effect	Moves after the nearest fighter
Super Smash Bros. appearances Super Smash Bros. (item) Super Smash Bros. Melee (item) Super Smash Bros. Brawl (object) Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (object)

The Red Shell is an item featured in the first two Super Smash Bros. games, Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee. It is the red counterpart of the Green Shell. Both shells are from the Mario franchise, in which they first appear in Super Mario Bros.. Koopa Troopas and Koopa Paratroopas, both recurring enemies from the Mario franchise, frequently wear either a Red Shell or a Green Shell, and Koopa Paratroopas have two wings attached to their shell.

When used, a Red Shell actively moves after the nearest fighter, even the one who threw it. This is based on its behavior in the Mario Kart series in which a Red Shell targets the nearest racer. Instead of sliding in the same direction it was thrown in after touching the ground, a Red Shell starts sliding from left to right, targeting the closest player. If a Red Shell is moving on a platform, it does not slide off, much like how red Koopa Troopas in the Super Mario series do not walk off the platform that they are on. If a Red Shell is stationary, it can be activated by being jumped on or upon coming in contact with a hitbox. Like the Green Shell, a sliding Red Shell stops moving upon being jumped on. If a Red Shell is reflected, its damage output is increased but its knockback is not. A Red Shell is the only item in Super Smash Bros. Melee that does not deal more knockback upon being reflected. A reflected Red Shell has a lot more hitlag upon hitting a player.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl's Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS's Smash Run, Koopa Troopas and Koopa Paratroopas wear either a Red Shell or a Green Shell, which are instead featured as objects in both games' respective mode. By jumping on or otherwise hitting either type of enemy, it retreats back into its shell. By doing either action again, the shell moves back and forth. In both modes, Red Shells function almost the same, but it does a bit more damage and knockback. Unlike Koopa Troopas wearing a Green Shell, those wearing a Red Shell come back out if left alone for a while.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, there is a Triple Red Shells sticker depicting its Mario Kart: Double Dash!! artwork.

Profiles

Super Smash Bros. Melee trophy

Name	Image	Game	Description
Red Shell		Super Mario Bros. 10/85	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 Smash Bros. Brawl sticker

Name	Image	Game	Effect
Triple Red Shells		Mario Kart Double Dash!!	Launch Resistance +21

Gallery

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  Super Smash Bros. artwork

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	アカのこうら Aka no Kōra	Red Shell
Chinese (Simplified)	红龟壳 Hónɡ Guīké	Red Shell
Chinese (Traditional)	紅龜殼 Hónɡ Guīké	Red Shell
Dutch	Rood Schild	Red Shell
French	Carapace rouge	Red Shell
German	Roter Panzer	Red Shell
Italian	Guscio rosso	Red shell
Korean	빨강등껍질 Ppalgangdeungkkeopjil	Red Shell
Portuguese (Brazil)	Casco vermelho	Red Shell
Portuguese (Europe)	Carapaça Vermelha	Red Shell
Russian	Красный панцирь Krasnyy pantsir'	Red Shell
Spanish	Caparazón rojo	Red Shell

Trivia

• The behavior of a thrown Red Shell in the games is similar to that in the Mario Kart series, in which Red Shells' home into the nearest opposite driver running in front of the player who uses it.
• In the first stage of Super Smash Bros. Melee's Adventure mode, there is a special bonus titled "Dead-Weight KO" that is earned for each Yoshi that is KO'd using a Red Shell.
• In the original Super Smash Bros.'s Training mode, if four Red Shells are spawned in the same spot, and if Ness uses PK Fire on them, they inflict about 460% damage upon contact.
• The Red Shell is one of six items in Super Smash Bros. Melee to not return in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the other five being the Barrel Cannon, Cloaking Device, Egg, Flipper, and Parasol.