Master Core

Master Core is the final boss of the Classic mode in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, along with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U; it can only be fought on intensity levels 5.1 and higher. During the final battle between the player and both Master Hand and Crazy Hand, once Master Hand loses a portion of his stamina, Crazy Hand leaves, and Master Hand's glove rips open and reveals Master Core.

Master Core is hidden under a mass of black particles called Swarm, that take on a variety of different transformations and forms during the battle, each form doing a different attack. The forms that Master Core uses include a humanoid known as Master Giant, a monster known as Master Beast, a group of swords known as Master Edges (Master Sabres in the PAL version), a clone of the fighter known as Master Shadow, and the true Master Core itself.

The initial form of Master Core depends on the intensity level. By setting the intensity to 7.5 or higher (7.0 or higher in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U), Master Core will start out in its Master Giant form. Setting the intensity to 6.0-7.4 (6.0-6.9 in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U) will have Master Core start as Master Beast. Finally, setting the intensity to 5.1-5.9 will have Master Core start as Master Edges.

Master Shadow is always fought after Master Edges, and it is a clone of the fighter, down to the fighter's customizations, which include any active equipment and custom specials. The clone begins as being larger than the fighter, but it shrinks as it takes damage. The player either has to KO Master Shadow or fully deplete its stamina to defeat it.

In the Wii U version, an exclusive form known as Master Fortress appears after beating the first four forms, but only when the intensity level is set to 8.0 or higher. The player is given 3 extra minutes, along with a Heart Container, and must travel though a maze made from the Swarm to destroy various weak points. Master Fortress only appears in Solo mode, however, so it is never encountered at all in Group mode.

Once the Swarm is defeated, the black mass disappears, and reveals Master Core's true form, a colorful ball resembling a Smash Ball. In this state, Master Core is completely vulnerable, though if it is not destroyed within 45 seconds, it rises and starts to attack the player by emitting waves that instantly KO the player if hit before it automatically self-destructs.

Master Giant
If the intensity of Classic mode is 7.0 (7.5 for the 3DS version) or above, Master Giant is the first form of Master Core. It has a wide variety of attacks, including the ability to physically lift up the stage in an attempt to hurt the player.

Master Beast
Unlike the Master Giant, the Master Beast stays on-stage for most of its attack duration. It will appear first from intensities 6.0 to 6.9 (6.0 to 7.4 on the 3DS version), otherwise it will follow Master Giant at higher intensities, and not appear at all on lower intensities.

Master Edges
If the intensity is set from 5.1 to 5.9 in either of the two versions of Super Smash Bros. 4, Master Edges is the first form of the Master Core that appears. All of the attacks from this form involve swinging the swords at the player.

Master Shadow
This form always follows Master Edges, no matter what the intensity is. The Master Shadow takes the form of the player, but bigger. It will copy everything right down to the custom moves and abilities. This form starts bigger than the character and gradually shrinks as it is attacked. When it is hit off the blast line or runs out of stamina, it always transforms into the true Master Core unless the intensity is 8.0 or higher on the Wii U version.

Master Fortress
This form appears at intensities 8.0 or higher on the Wii U version. When this appears, the player must trek through the fortress to destroy 4 cores. After destroying 2, the player is automatically ejected and must reenter. Inside the fortress are shadowy foes hoping to impede the player's progress, and danger zones much like the ones in The Great Cave Offensive. The danger zones will automatically KO above 125%.

Master Core
If the Master Shadow (on the 3DS version and below intensity 8.0 on the Wii U version) or Master Fortress (intensity 8.0 and above on the Wii U version) is defeated, the true Master Core will appear. It will not attack for most of the time, however, if it stays idle long enough, the player is attacked by an attack similar to Tabuu's Off Waves before it automatically self-destructs.