This runner-up tattoo belongs to Reddit user u/PYGOPHILE.
There’s no better way to show off your dedication for something—be it a book, a movie, a significant other, or an artist—than to get its symbol tattooed on your body. After all, tattoos are forever—they might fade or stretch, but if you get a tattoo, some remnant of it will remain on your body until the day you’re lowered into the ground. Laser removal notwithstanding, the relative abundance of Super Smash Bros.-themed tattoos on the internet is a testament to the beloved franchise’s lasting impact on its players. Here are a few of the coolest Super Smash tattoos I’ve ever seen.
5. The Mango Shine
Photo by imguy user aurumxix
All right, so the “Mang0 shine” isn’t really a thing—not as much as the infamous “Armada shine” or “Leffen shine,” anyway. However, as Joseph Marquez has shown us, pretty much anything can be “the Mango.” In that spirit, this relatively simple tattoo gets points for its originality and clever visual pun. It was posted on imgur by user aurumxix, though I’m not sure if it’s his or her tattoo. If this is yours, please let me know and I’ll give you credit!
4. The Game and Watch 9
This tattoo belongs to Reddit user u/ElPanandero
Sometimes, simplicity is best. That’s why this tattoo of Mr. Game & Watch’s infamous 9-hammer is some of my favorite Smash-related ink. The monochromatic design is fun and (presumably) cheap, but also immediately recognizable to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the Smash series. Even casual players could appreciate this tattoo.
3. The Falco Sleeve
This tattoo belongs to Reddit user u/Hahn_on_Reddit
While simplicity is great, that doesn’t mean that complex tattoos are a waste of time or money. As made evident by this dope Falco-themed sleeve, attention to detail and color can go a long way. The beautiful (and accurate) drawing and dreamlike color gradient in this sleeve make it the third-best Smash tattoo. Less is more, but more is… more more.
2. The Tri-Main
This tattoo belongs to Reddit user u/Robenstein.
While most Smash tattoos are based on only one character, this one features gorgeous images of three. Its unique shape is evocative of the iconic aesthetic of famous German expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, but the fact that the characters stick their heads out of the tattoo’s borders convey a sense of humor and whimsy. Most importantly, there’s a touching story behind this tattoo: the three characters shown are the mains of the tattoo’s three brothers. As a man who grew up playing Smash with his brothers, this tattoo is close to home.
1. Mang0’s Tattoos
While he’s directly inspired others' tattoos, Cloud 9 Mang0 is by far the highest-profile Smash player to have tattoos. And while many of his tattoos are not Smash-related—common themes are America and family—he’s honored his two Melee mains with tattoos of Fox and Falco on either side of his chest. And they’re the coolest, because Mang0 is the coolest. Check out Mang0’s ink in this video:
Getting a tattoo is a big decision, especially if that tattoo is inspired by a video game franchise. Hopefully this article will give some inspiration to those of you out there who are considering their own Smash-themed ink!
Which tattoos were your favorites?
