Every Smash player has a main: a character they’ve been using since day one, know like the back of their hand and will stay loyal to for all eternity. With a roster of over 80 to pick from, choosing your first Smash Ultimate character is not a decision to be taken lightly. Certain fighters have very intricate movesets, while others are more simple and forgiving. So which characters are the best for a beginner to learn?
10. Yoshi
Image
Kicking off this list is a rather oddball pick in the form of Mario’s best buddy, Yoshi!
Yoshi is quite an unconventional character in the cast of Smash, who is known for his distinctive movement options. He may seem strange at first with his Flutter Jump mechanic, but he’s a deceptively good choice for beginners thanks to the combination of his aerial attributes listed below.
What makes Yoshi great:
Air speed: Yoshi is the fastest character in the game as far as air speed goes, so he’s a very mobile character above ground
Aerial attacks: His neutral air comes out on frame 3, his forward air spikes and his up and back airs are powerful kill moves
Recovery: Yoshi’s Flutter Jump ability allows him to recover from off-stage with relative ease
9. Ike
Image
The fact that Ike holds a two-handed blade with one hand should tell you something.
The Radiant Hero and son of Greil is a heavy-hitting swordfighter who boasts immense strength and KO potential. He may initially feel a tad unwieldy and his recovery is somewhat linear, but his abusable aerials (looking at you, neutralair) and lethal Smash Attacks make him a force to be reckoned with. As the crowds would say: “We like Ike!”
What makes Ike great:
Kill options: Almost any move in Ike’s kit can be used to kill the opponent early, to the point where he can take a stock in 2-3 hits
Eruption: Ike’s neutral special has a large and long-lasting hitbox, making it a useful tool for catching recovering opponents off-guard
Neutral air: When mixed with fast falls, Ike’s Neutral-Air can be used to make it difficult for the opposition to approach
8. Wolf
Image
After taking a brief hiatus from the Wii U entry, Wolf came back with a vengeance in Smash Bros. Ultimate.
His moveset may be simple, but it has just about everything you need: a great projectile, amazing aerials to chain together and some disjointed claw attacks to boot. While his recovery can be exploited by characters with superior aerial mobility, he still remains one of the most balanced characters on the roster.
What makes Wolf great:
Blaster: Wolf’s neutral special is one of the best projectiles in the game and forces the opponent to approach you
Disjoints: Attacks such as Wolf’s forward tilt are safe kill options due to the added range provided by his claws
Combo potential: Wolf’s neutral air has a lingering hitbox, making it an ideal move for combos and catching jumps
7. King K. Rool
Image
Making his grand debut in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Donkey Kong’s sworn enemy is a deadly opponent and one of the best characters available for beginners.
In many ways, he embodies the “boss character” archetype perfectly – his belly armor mechanic and Blunderbuss may seem strong at first, but are relatively simple for an experienced smasher to play around. Despite this, King K. Rool is undeniably easy to pick up, and is arguably one of the most fun characters in the game to use.
What makes King K. Rool great:
Projectiles: K. Rool has access to two incredible projectiles in the form of his Blunderbuss and Crown Throw, allowing him to play very defensively
Reliable recovery: With his Propeller Pack, K. Rool has a brilliant recovery that is hard for the foe to edge-guard against
Belly armor: On top of his weight, K. Rool is made even harder to take out by the super armor that his belly attacks (and taunts!) grant him
6. Samus
Image
Samus the very definition of a zoner: A character that excels at keeping opponents at bay with long-range attacks and projectiles.
Despite being a complex character to master, Samus is an excellent pick for beginners who want to learn how to adopt a more defensive playstyle and control the stage. Just don’t let the opposition get too close, as close-range tussling is not this fighter’s forte!
What makes Samus great:
Long-range attacks: Between her Charge Shots and Missiles, Samus can make it very difficult for certain characters to get up-close and personal
Grabs: Samus has a huge grab range thanks to her tether, which in turn can be used to set up for kills
Mixup options: Samus can recover using either her Screw Attack or tether, and can throw the opponent off by using her Morph Ball to become a smaller target
5. Pit
Image
Since his introduction in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Pit has always been one of the most forgiving characters to play in the series.
Being an angel with powers bestowed upon him by Palueta, Pit is a character who thrives deep offstage thanks to his sheer number of jumps and “Power of Flight” recovery. With these attributes, he can get back from almost any scenario, making him an ideal pick for practicing edgeguards and recovery.
What makes Pit great:
Edge-guarding: Pit’s Arrows can be controlled after being fired, making them perfect for sniping recovering opponents
Juggling: By using his up air effectively, Pit can be one of the best jugglers in the game
Forgiving recovery: As well as having four jumps, Pit’s Power of Flight recovery covers a massive distance and he can come back from virtually anywhere on the map
4. Kirby
Image
Everyone’s been a Kirby main at some point, right? He’s a simple, safe, straight-forward character to learn and is a wonderful option for familiarizing yourself with the fundamental mechanics of Smash.
As with the aforementioned Pit, Kirby is another character with multiple jumps at his disposal, offering a fantastic recovery. This, in combination with his chainable Forward-Air and his classic “Stone” Down Special makes him a character you don’t want to cross off the ground! Plus, he’s canonically the most powerful character in Smash. That’s gotta count for something, right?
What makes Kirby great:
Multiple jumps: This is the main reason Kirby is so popular among new players, as having five jumps makes recovering under pressure significantly simpler
Tilt attacks: All three of Kirby’s tilts come out within 5 frames, making them easy for beginners to exploit
Stone: At a low level of play, this is an amazing move for securing kills, although you’ll find yourself using it less and less as time goes on
3. Bowser
Image
The King of the Koopas weighs in, joining fellow monarch K. Rool as one of our top heavyweight recommendations for new players.
Bowser’s game plan is pretty straightforward, with attacks that can casually KO at 50% from the middle of the stage. As you can tell from this, killpower is his middle name, with his Flying Slam and Bowser Bomb both being substantial attacks that are very easy to understand. Despite what his weight may suggest, Bowser is also surprisingly mobile and has good aerial abilities, with his forward air in particular being a solid spacing tool.
What makes Bowser great:
Heavy weight: Bowser is the heaviest character in the entire game, making him very difficult to KO
Killpower: From his Side Special to his Smash Attacks, Bowser has plenty of choice when it comes to finishing off the opponent
Tough Guy mechanic: This unique attribute means that Bowser doesn’t suffer any knockback from weaker (and generally more annoying!) attacks
2. Mario
Image
The main man himself and the poster child of Nintendo is undoubtedly one of the best fighters for beginners –after all, he was designed exactly for that purpose.
Mario is an all-rounder through and through, with a style of gameplay that flows incredibly well. His balanced attributes mean that he has consistent combos thanks to the laddering capabilities of his Up Air, reliable kill options courtesy of his smash attacks and even his iconic Forward Air spike. As vanilla of a pick as he may seem, you can’t go wrong with good old Mario.
What makes Mario great:
Instant results: Due to his simplistic nature and lack of gimmicks, Mario is an exemplar character for learning the ropes
Excellent frame data: Mario’s neutral attacks come out very fast, with some standout examples being his frame 2 jab and frame 3 neutral air
Ladder Combos: Mario’s up airs can string into each other, making for one of the cleanest and most consistent combos that almost any player can pull off
1. Lucina
Image
While the previous characters are undoubtedly good picks for a newcomer, arguably the best of the bunch is none other than Lucina.
As Marth’s Echo Fighter, she has a similar moveset that is simple to grasp, but with the added advantage of having consistent damage output due to the lack of Marth's tipper mechanic; her sword instead has a balanced range that makes her effective in both close and mid-range combat. Furthermore, Lucina's straightforward playstyle means that she doesn't have any particularly complex frills or techniques to master, making her a perfect choice for players who are still learning the basics.
What makes Lucina great:
Balanced sword: Unlike characters such as Marth, Lucina’s sword does not have a tipper, placing less emphasis on spacing and making her easier to pick up
Very little end-lag: The vast majority of Lucina’s moves, specifically her neutrals and aerials, are relatively safe to use and hard to punish
Counter: Lucina’s Counter is a useful tool for new players in particular, who can use the move when they feel overwhelmed by the opponent
Hailing from the land of tea, crumpets and horrible weather, this British gamer has mastered the art of stomping Koopas, saving princesses, and defeating evil with nothing but a sword and shield.
