Which item type debuted in Brawl to summon helper characters during battle?

The Assist Trophy debuted in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an item that summons helper characters during battle. When a fighter collects one, a non-playable character appears and usually attacks opponents or creates another battlefield effect.

Assist Trophies expanded Smash’s crossover appeal beyond the playable roster. They could bring in characters from Nintendo series and outside franchises, including Waluigi, Andross, Samurai Goroh, Little Mac, and others. The summoned character normally acts automatically rather than being directly controlled by the player who used the item.

The Assist Trophy is easy to confuse with the Poké Ball, which also summons a temporary ally. The difference is thematic: Poké Balls call Pokémon, while Assist Trophies call characters from a much wider selection of game series. The Smash Ball is different again, since it enables a fighter’s character-specific Final Smash.

Assist Trophies remained part of later games, although their lineups and behavior changed. Some former Assist Trophy characters, such as Little Mac and Isabelle, eventually became playable fighters.