Throughout Smash’s history, certain characters have dominated its metagame: Fox in Melee, Meta Knight in Brawl, Bayonetta in Smash 4 and so on. Smash Bros. Ultimate, however, is a different beast. Thanks to its regular patches, it’s undoubtedly the most balanced game in the series, so no characters are outright broken. Nevertheless, some inevitably wind up stronger than others, so let’s separate the men from the boys!
S Tier:
The cream of the crop. These characters are commonly seen in professional play thanks to their unrivaled combo potential and deadly killpower. Whether it’s an all-round faultless kit or a brand new gimmick, fighters in this tier are a cut above the rest.
1. Steve: 99/100
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The mere fact that Minecraft Steve of all characters is in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is still hard to believe – and not only that, but he may just be the best character in the game! Steve’s strength in the Smash scene was only realized recently, after players discovered just how game-breaking he truly is. His unique ability to place blocks combined with the versatility of his iron-based attacks makes him a far scarier foe than meets the eye!
Steve’s strengths:
Blocks: Steve’s blocks have a wide range of utility, from walling off the opponents, to mixing up his landings, to even preventing the foe from recovering
Kill moves: Between his minecarts, diamond weapons and lava blocks, Steve has no shortage of options to take out the opposition when they least expect it
Frame data: Steve’s moves come out very quickly, with his gold tools boosting his frame data to an absurd level
2. Joker: 98/100
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Since his grand reveal at The Game Awards, Joker has taken the Smash Metagame by storm. As the first character to be added in the “Fighters Pass” DLC, he kicked things off with a bang thanks to his game-changing Arsene mechanic. Despite a few nerfs along the way, he still remains one of the strongest characters in the game and is a force to be reckoned with.
Joker’s strengths:
Arsene comeback mechanic: As Joker takes damage, he charges his Rebellion Gauge until Arsene is summoned to vastly enhance his abilities
Kill-confirms: With or without Arsene, professional Joker players can take their opponent’s stocks with lethal efficiency using his vast array of KO setups
Speed: Both in the air and on land, Joker moves ridiculously fast, which makes him incredibly hard to hit
3. Pyra/Mythra: 96/100
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Yet another DLC character takes a podium position on this tier list, and this time it’s two for the price of one! The way this dynamic duo works is simple: Mythra brings the speed and combos, then Pyra closes the deal with her insane knockback. Both of these characters are dangerous in their individual forms, but when you use them together, it’s a recipe for destruction.
Pyra/Mythra’s strengths:
Mythra’s speed: Mythra being fast isn’t enough to make her overpowered alone, but the fact that she also has the range of a sword character sets her apart from the pack
Mythra’s Foresight: This is basically just a broken version of Bayonetta’s “Bat Within” mechanic and can be used to escape from a disadvantaged state
Pyra’s killpower: Pyra is considerably more one-dimensional than Mythra, but her Prominence Revolt is undoubtedly effective
4. Pikachu: 92/100
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While Pikachu has lost some steam among the Japanese crowds, its popularity in the Western playerbase is undeniable. Don’t let its cute appearances fool you, though – the mascot of Pokémon is a formidable battler, thanks to its small frame and strong punish game (and don’t forget the party hat!)
Pikachu’s strengths:
Small size: Thanks to its small frame, Pikachu is very slippery and is difficult to land a clean hit on
Punish options: With an oppressive punish game, Pikachu can handily take advantage of the opponent’s mistakes
High skill-ceiling: Pikachu is a very technical character, with difficult combos and a tricky recovery, but the reward for learning them is immense
5. Palutena - 90/100
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Ah, Palutena: the bane of every non-projectile user’s existence. As the Goddess of Light, she’s one of the most powerful Smash characters from a canonical perspective (although not quite on the same level as Kirby), and that sentiment is shared with her competitive viability.
Palutena’s strengths:
Projectiles: Palutena has two great projectiles in the form of her Autoreticle and Explosive Flame, which can keep the foe at arm’s length
Aerial attacks: Arguably the most infamous move Palutena has access to is her neutral-air, which combos into itself – the bane of every heavyweight’s existence!
Counter: This move doubles as a reflector, giving it the edge over most other characters’ counters
A Tier:
Despite being just shy of the top, these characters still hold a fighting chance against the best of the best. They have some of the best aerials in the game, they can edgeguard like it’s nobody’s business and are a blast to use!
1. Peach/Daisy - 89/100
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This iconic pair of princesses from the Mushroom Kingdom were often considered to be the best characters in the game prior to the addition of DLC into the equation. Despite this setback, Peach and Daisy still remain relevant in the competitive scene thanks to their unique ability to float and the versatility of their turnip projectiles.
Peach/Daisy’s strengths:
Floating ability: The main gimmick that makes Peach and Daisy so deadly, this can be used in tandem with their aerial attacks for a powerful combination
Turnip projectiles: Turnips can be used to provide decent approach options, while simultaneously maintaining distance from the opponent
Neutral game: When neither player is on the offensive, Peach and Daisy are able to capitalize with their massive damage outputs
2. Shulk - 88/100
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Now it’s Shulk Time! Xenoblade Chronicles’ protagonist brings a distinct playstyle to the table with his Monado Arts. Depending on the scenario, Shulk can freely switch between five different Arts: Jump, Speed, Shield, Buster and Smash. These provide him with temporary buffs to certain abilities, whilst slightly sacrificing others.
Shulk’s strengths:
Monado Arts: There’s a Monado Art for every situation and switching between them can completely turn the tide of a battle
Ranged attacks: Despite a lack of projectiles, Shulk’s spacing is still on-point thanks to the sheer size of his hitboxes
KO power: Even without the use of his Monados, Shulk is still able to take stocks very early; factor in the Smash Art and it’s game over!
3. Sonic - 86/100
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Sonic’s moveset has received criticism for its repetitive nature, but you can’t deny that it’s effective. His lightning speed and various spin-based attacks grant him the ability to control the flow of a match like no other character can. Regardless of who you’re using, one thing’s for certain: Sonic is gonna be a handful to play against.
Sonic’s strengths:
Speed: I mean, he’s the fastest character in the game – no surprises there, right?
Spin-dash: Sonic’s side-special provides him with invincibility and combos smoothly into his aerials
Camping: Sonic can take full advantage of his speed by utilizing a defensive playstyle, which is complemented by many of his attacks being safe on shield
4. Roy - 85/100
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The Young Lion is the best he’s ever been in his Smash Bros. Ultimate iteration (although it’s not much of a competition when you look at his past appearances). Unlike most other sword-wielders, Roy’s blade is strongest at its hilt, giving him a more rushdown-oriented style. He’s fast, his aerials are great, he has a fire sword for crying out loud, and with all this in mind it’s no wonder that Roy’s our boy.
Roy’s strengths:
Sweetspots: Landing almost any move with Roy’s sweetspot is immensely satisfying and the boosted damage is nothing to shake a stick at
Pressure: Roy has the mobility of a speedster and the range of a sword-fighter, so he can apply pressure like there’s no tomorrow
Double-Edge Dance: For a move that kills as early as it does, Roy’s Double-Edge Dance comes out super-fast, making it a solid option for a quick KO
5. Pokémon Trainer - 84/100
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You can’t go wrong with Pokémon Trainer – after all, you get not two, three characters in one. Take that Pyra and Mythra! Squirtle, Ivysaur and Charizard are all perfectly capable alone, but it’s their combined strength that places them so high on this list. Be prepared, however, as learning to play this character is a real commitment with three unique movesets to remember.
Pokémon Trainer’s strengths:
Squirtle’s speed: While Squirtle has trouble sealing the deal, his speed allows him to rack up damage at an alarming rate
Ivysaur’s aerials: Ivysaur’s up air is a reliable kill option and its down air is a spike with a gargantuan hitbox
Charizard’s power: Compared to his buddies, Charizard’s game plan is relatively simple, with him mainly being used to secure kills when the opponent is at a high percentage; bonus points for his solid recovery too!
B Tier:
These characters are well-rounded, tournament-viable, generally solid picks. They don’t have many obvious weaknesses and, in the right hands, can be just as dangerous as any top-tier!
1. Wolf - 82/100 2. Zero Suit Samus - 81/100 3. Lucina - 80/100 4. Mr. Game and Watch - 79/100 5. Snake - 78/100 6. Fox - 77/100 7. Wario - 76/100 8. Kazuya - 75/100 9. Min Min - 74/100 10. R.O.B. - 73/100 11. Pac-Man - 72/100 12. Cloud - 71/100 13. Byleth - 70/100 14. Mario - 69/100 15. Chrom - 68/100 16. Yoshi - 66/100 17. Diddy Kong - 65/100 18. Sephiroth - 64/100 19. Young Link - 63/00 20. Inkling - 62/100 21. Sheik - 61/100 22. Samus/Dark Samus - 60/100 23. Terry - 59/100 24. Mii Brawler - 58/100 25. Ken - 57/100 26. Sora - 56/100 27. Mega Man - 55/100 28. Pichu - 53/100 29. Greninja - 52/100 30. Olimar - 51/100 31. Ryu - 50/100
C Tier:
Characters within this tier are perfectly serviceable and have their niche in the competitive field. While they have more obvious flaws than those in the tiers above, they often still find usage as counter-picks in specific matchups.
If your main happens to be in this tier, I salute you. As a Dr. Mario player, I feel your pain. Using a low-tier character is never easy, but that makes it all the more satisfying when you eventually secure that sweet, sweet victory right?
1. Isabelle - 19/100 2. King K. Rool - 18/100 3. Donkey Kong - 17/100 4. Mii Gunner - 16/100 5. Incineroar - 15/100 6. Bowser Jr. - 14/100 7. Mii Swordfighter - 13/100 8. King Dedede - 12/100 9. Dr. Mario - 10/100 10. Ganondorf - 8/100 11. Little Mac - 5/100
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.
