What item must be broken in Brawl to perform a Final Smash?

In Brawl, the item that must be broken to perform a Final Smash is the Smash Ball.

The Smash Ball is a colorful, floating orb marked with the Super Smash Bros. logo. It drifts across the stage during a match, and fighters must attack it repeatedly until it breaks. The fighter who destroys it gains the opportunity to unleash a character-specific Final Smash.

Final Smashes are unusually powerful attacks introduced in Brawl. They can take forms such as wide-area blasts, temporary transformations, cinematic strikes, or attacks that capture opponents. The exact effect depends on the character using it, so the Smash Ball is a shared trigger rather than the attack itself.

A common mix-up is confusing the Smash Ball with other recognizable items. A Poké Ball summons Pokémon, a Heart Container restores damage in some modes, and the Dragoon is a separate item assembled from three parts. Breaking the Smash Ball also does not guarantee a successful Final Smash: the fighter can be interrupted or lose the ability before activating it.