Sacrificial KO

A Sacrificial KO, or Kamikaze, as the name implies, is a knockout in the Super Smash Bros. series wherein an attack or maneuver executed by an aggressor leads to both the knockout of an opponent and the attacker as well. Sacrificial KO's are useful generally when their executor has a stock or score advantage or when a match can be won outright by a sacrificial attack, or to weaken a powerful player by removing their stocks.

It is interesting to note that while some Sacrificial KO's are performed even when stock or score are even, they do present an opportunity to "even the score". Some players regard the sacrifice as worth performing even when the stock or score are even in order to reset the damage percentage if the character who performs the technique is at a percentage disadvantage. Other reasons may include vengeance or spite.

Notable examples from Super Smash Bros. Melee include Donkey Kong's ability to leap from a platform while grab-carrying, Fox's Firefox (aimed with no hope of recovery), and various Meteor Smashes executed too far from the edge of a stage. The down special move executed by Captain Falcon, the Falcon Kick, can also be used in this manner.

If a player uses "Bowsercide" (using Flying Slam) on an opponent, Bowser will die first, even though both players died at the same time. It is not recommended to use when both players have one stock, as the victim will win at the end of the match. If a player uses "Ganoncide" (using Flame Choke) on an opponent, the victim will die first, resulting in the Ganondorf player winning if both had one stock left. Oddly enough, if the victim did not take any damage but was caught in a "Ganoncide", the match results will say that they self-destructed, even though they were caught by an attack. The most known Suicide kill is done by Kirby's Standard Special Move: Swallow (Swallowcide). To do this trick, the player must fall off next to a cliff and swallow the enemy whos near it. But, the opponent can escape quickly to avoid this trick.

Ike can also cause a sacrificial KO when he uses his Great Aether Final Smash an a custom stage whose centre does not have any platforms to land on. If this happens, he and the target go into Sudden Death mode in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Ike loses in Super Smash Bros. 4, and he can win if the downward slash deals enough knockback in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, new characters have access to unsafe Sacrificial KO's, such as Robin's "Robincide". In this KO, Robin catches an opponent in his Nosferatu offstage, and then Robin and his foe will slowly float to the blast-line. This move is unsafe because after it finishes, Robin becomes helpless, while the other fighter still has their jump/recovery. Because of this, some characters may be able to save themselves with good timing, while Robin will definitely lose stock.

Sacrificial KO

As competitive play generally has a "no holds barred" attitude against any manner of combos or techniques, a Sacrificial KO could be considered as a legitimate part of the arsenal of a player who holds to this consensus to win at all costs, no matter what others may think.

New characters with sacrificial KO's in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate include the following:

• Ridleycide: Ridley and the target will both plummet to the bottom if he uses his Side Special Move, Space Pirate Rush, while his location is off the blast zone. Note that Ridley's target always beats him in this case.
• Chromicide: When Chrom uses his Up Special Move, Soaring Slash, Chrom and his target will plummet to the bottom until they hit something. Chrom wins if his downward slash deals enough knockback, but this can be harder to perform after version 2.0.0.
• Dragon Quest Herocide: The Dragon Quest Hero, Luminary, is quite unique since his moveset includes the spell Kamikazee, which can launch a powerful explosion to damage his foes and send them flying when it is used, but as a tradeoff for its massive power, it can cost him one of his lives. For last stocks behaviour if this happens, Luminary loses.