Damage

Instead of having a health bar that’s depleted when attacks are received, like most fighting games, Super Smash Bros. fighters have a damage percentage, which increases with hits taken. (There’s also an HP bar mode, which plays more like a conventional fighter with life bars and FS Gauges building up Final Smash energy, though that’s not how you’ll see the game played competitively.) The more damage accumulates, the more knockback will be received on future hits. Harder knockback hurls victims closer and closer to the deadly blast zones on the far edges of the stage.

Although exceptionally powerful moves can start causing knockouts at medium percentages, the real danger zone opens up at 80%+ damage accumulated. Many hard-hitting attacks become KO risks here. Once damage builds to about 120-130%+, dangerously high, any potential exchange could lead to a knockout.

General Damage Guidelines

Fighters with high damage built up begin exhibiting rage, a subtle increase in their own knockback power, which can help them pull back from the brink with their own knockout hits.