With the final patch for Super Smash Brothers Ultimate releasing two weeks ago, it’s about time to revisit the rankings for each and every character in this expansive game so that you can know that your favorite character is actually the living embodiment of a dumpster fire.
S Tier -
This tier is reserved for the best of the best, the characters who, in the right hands, will outperform all others. These characters see consistent top placements in tournaments around the globe due to their excellent recoveries, lightning quick moves and incredible combos.
Pyra/Mythra: 99/100
One of the latest and by far the greatest of them all
Pyra/Mythra, or Pythra/aegis as they’re referred to in the pro scene, is by far the most powerful and oppressive character in Smash Bros. Despite the fact that both Pyra and Mythra are incredibly powerful characters in their own right, when the two are combined into a single entity their power exponentially increases. The fusion of the speed and agility and pure combo potential of Mythra that cannot be rivaled, plus the foresight ability which allows for an extremely punishing dodge, coupled with the sheer power and destructive capability that Pyra holds, the two have no equal in this game.
Pyra/Mythra Pros:
- Agile
- Fast frame data
- Quick and easy combos
- Excess Kill power
- Incredible recovery
- Switch mechanic
- Mythra’s Foresight
Pyra/Mythra Cons:
- Slightly exploitable recovery on both Pyra and Mythra
Joker: 97/100
A character who's good even without their broken comeback mechanic
Being the first DLC character added to the game, Joker had high expectations to fulfill, and he did not disappoint. For an incredibly long time, Joker vied for the top spot against Pikachu, Palutena and Shulk, and here he remains. Due to his incredible combo game, quick frame data, ludicrous kill power and the special mechanic of Arsene, Joker becomes an unpunishable combo character that lacks any glaring weakness or flaw.
Joker Pros:
- Fast Frame data
- Quick Movement Speed
- Easy combos, both short and long
- Arsene/Comeback Mechanic
- Insane Kill power
- One of the best recoveries in the game
Joker Cons:
- Has less kill power without Arsene
- Recovery without Arsene is slightly easier to exploit
- A relatively light character
Pikachu: 96/100
Ah yes the little mouse that everyone loves that will strike you with 1000000 volt of electricity on contact
Pikachu, a tiny yellow rat that basically wants to murder your whole family with a pancake sized aerial, is considered by most pros to be at least in the top three, and for good reason. With access to multiple combo loops, or combos that can be repeated over and over again, the least exploitable recovery in the game, good zoning options and always present kill potential, the electric mouse is a force to be reckoned with in every possible area of expertise.
Pikachu Pros:
- Fast Frame data
- Pancake capability (shrinking hurtbox)
- Amazing Kill power
- Combos and Combo Loops
- Incredible Edge-guarding
- Perfect Recovery
Pikachu Cons:
- Kills require some amount of setup
- Heavy amount of skill required
- Very light character, and so is Killed much easier
Wolf: 95/100
Wolf is equally terrifying and perfeclty mediocre
While most top tiers are here because they excel beyond all other character’s in one or more categories, Wolf has remained a top tier for most of Smash Ultimate’s lifetime due to his incredible versatility. This fighter is able to perform great in any given situation, and this has turned him into a Jack of all trades, master of none type of character.
Wolf Pros:
- Good at just about everything
- Good zoning options
- Powerful combo game
- Amazing punish options
- Impactful combo breakers
Wolf Cons:
- Exploitable recovery
Palutena: 94/100
Sometimes the Goddess' aren't so nice
Never before has one character become so notorious for a single move so quickly in the history of Smash. Palutena has become infamous for her neutral air, however her toolkit goes far beyond that, with her main focus being incredible combos that carry an opponent far and away and usually KO them in the process. Palutena also benefits heavily from being a zoner type character with a reflect/counter and disjointed hitboxes.
Palutena Pros:
- Perfect Zoning tools
- Amazing Combos/Combo Potential
- Great Kill Power
- Unexploitable recovery
- Powerful Counter/Reflector
- Massive disjointed hitboxes with wind attached
Palutena Cons:
- Missing a combo will result in a heavy punish
- Has trouble killing at high percents when combos don’t work
Pac-man: 93/100
Sometimes having safe options can be very annoying for your opponent, especially when they're all launched from a mile away
While Palutena may be amazing at zoning, Pac-man is the only character outside of Mega Man whose entire gameplay is based on zoning out the opponent in the game and zoning out your brain in real life as you put in little to no effort ever. Jokes aside, Pac-man holds all the perfect tools to hold your opponents at bay, forcing them to watch in terror as you throw eighteen assorted fruits and a fire hydrant at them. Outside of zoning, Pac-man also has incredible traps that can be created using his trampoline, fruit and hydrant.
Pac-man Pros:
- Amazing Zoning capabilities
- Perfect Trap setups
- Great recovery
- Good Edge-guarding
Pac-man Cons:
- Somewhat exploitable recovery
- Not the best at close-quarters fighting
Mr. Game & Watch: 92/100
The flatest of the flat, both in appearance and gameplay
Mr. Game & Watch was originally considered to be an awful character when Smash Ultimate was first released, however thanks in large part to the efforts of pro player Maister, Mr. Game & Watch was brought to the forefront of the professional smash scene. With his annoying but well-rounded combos, unexploitable recovery and smashing kill potential, this fighter will often have you clumping what little hair you have left in knots as he forecloses your house after he bought an acre of space in your head.
Mr. Game & Watch Pros:
- Unexploitable recovery
- Perfect landing options
- Easy and powerful combos
- Smashing Kill potential
- reflector/bucket that can be used as an X factor
Mr. Game & Watch Cons:
- One of the lightest characters in the game
- Missing a combo can lead to extreme punishes
Mario: 90/100
Boy I sure do hope Mario has an original and balanced moveset
Mario, the mascot of Nintendo, is in S tier. Who would’ve seen this coming? Mario, much like wolf, was originally thought to be more of an all-arounder type character. However, Mario has developed into a surgical tool of ladder and spike combos that will drag your foes across and above the stage to the point of no return while they hear the voice of Mario screaming “wa-hoo” in their ear the whole way home. All of this is due to Mario’s amazing combo kit, zoning potential and overall well-rounded kit.
Mario Pros:
- Great recovery
- Stall capabilities with F.L.U.D.D. and cape
- Good zoning with fireball
- Amazing kill power
- Combos that are almost always guaranteed to kill or get heavy percent
Mario Cons:
- Doesn’t do well when being comboed
- Has trouble against heavier zoning characters
Peach/Daisy: 89/100
Peach will always be an absolute menace to Mario and the local gardeners
Right below Mr. Nintendo himself is his princess, Peach, who arguably is a more interesting and complex character than the star of the show ever has been. Princess Peach is here in the S tier mainly due to her float ability, which allows her to perform insane, full-damage combos that can be carried out across and beyond the limits of the stage. She also has access to turnips and sometimes nuclear weapons with which she can pester or destroy the opponent. All of this combined makes Peach a very powerful foe when you’ve been ensnared in a combo and can’t find your way out of a minefield of vegetation.
Princess Peach Pros:
- One of the best combo kits in the game
- Float ability allows for an amazing recovery and versatile gameplay
- Good frame data
- Turnips give amazing zoning and combo tools
Princess Peach Cons:
- Exploitable recovery without float
- Missing a combo causes a multitude of problems
Min-Min: 88/100
Min-Min, the single-handedly most aggravating and effortless character in the game
To round off the S tier, the final character showcased will be Min-Min, the most despised character in the entire game. Because Min-Min is able to edge-guard, do close-quarters fighting, zone, and reflect all from across the stage, most players tend to develop sudden anger issues while facing this fighter. Of course, Min-Min’s strong suit is powerful range, with the capability to overwhelm any opponent from a mile away and providing no entrance to land a hit, her play style lends itself to slow, methodical gameplay that will make me rip out my hair until I become a balding middle aged man.
Min-Min Pros:
- Insane Range
- Good frame data for range
- Swapping mechanic for her right arm, giving a great deal of variability
- Combo potential both at range and close-quarters
Min-Min Cons:
- Relatively exploitable recovery
- Can’t get out of combos very easily
- Missing a hit can cause extreme consequences
A Tier -
Though they may not be the most superior of all characters, the fighters found in this tier pose a powerful threat to any player who dares challenge them. Fighters in this category generally have more drawbacks, slower moves and overall clunkier utility, but can still hold their own and even win against the top tiers.
Wario: 87/100
Zero Suit Samus: 86/100
Fox: 85/100
Roy: 84/100
Shulk: 83/100
Pokemon Trainer: 82/100
Rob: 81/100
Snake: 80/100
Captain Falcon: 79/100
Lucina: 78/100
Young Link: 77/100
Samus/Dark Samus: 76/100
Sora: 75/100
Yoshi: 74/100
Olimar/Alph: 73/100
Sonic: 72/100
Steve: 71/100
Ness: 70/100
Sephiroth: 69/100
Bowser: 68/100
Terry: 67/100
Diddy Kong: 66/100
B Tier -
By far the most balanced tier of them all, B Tier contains the fighters who can perform amazing feats, with incredible tools and strong mechanics. However, these characters also have glaring flaws that can be used against them to the advantage of the enemy, such as poor recoveries, less than ideal frame data, or little to no combo potential.
Cloud: 65/100
Ryu: 64/100
Inkling: 63/100
Kazuya: 62/100
Luigi: 61/100
Chrom: 60/100
Ike: 59/100
Byleth: 58/100
Link: 57/100
Greninja: 56/100
Sheik: 55/100
Hero: 54/100
Mii Brawler: 53/100
Wii Fit Trainer: 52/100
Mewtwo: 51/100
Ken: 50/100
Mega Man: 49/100
Falco: 48/100
Bayonetta: 47/100
Corrin: 46/100
Lucas: 45/100
Toon Link: 44/100
Donkey Kong: 43/100
Duck Hunt Duo: 42/100
Mii Gunner: 41/100
Pichu: 40/100
Jigglypuff: 39/100
Bowser Jr.: 38/100
C Tier -
These fighters, while balanced and fun to play, lack the proper tools and capabilities to hold their own against higher characters, and can’t even hold a candle to the highest of highs. Despite this, they can be used as a sort of counter character, used when the few tools they do have work in perfect tandem with the play-style of the user and work against the enemy fighter.
Rosalina & Luma: 37/100
Villager: 36/100
Simon/Richter: 35/100
Robin: 34/100
Kirby: 33/100
Zelda: 32/100
Mii Swordfighter: 31/100
Pit/Dark Pit: 30/100
Ridley: 29/100
Banjo & Kazooie: 28/100
King K. Rool: 27/100
Incineroar: 26/100
Meta Knight: 25/100
Marth: 24/100
D Tier -
Though Smash Ultimate is by far the most well-balanced, competitive Super Smash Brothers game created to this day, there are still those characters that will still underperform no matter who’s hands they are in. D Tier is reserved for fighters with little to no potential in the game, with such poor tools and mechanics that it would be better to play a character you don’t understand than become a master in these. If you happen to win with any of these characters, I applaud you and feel bad for your friends when you inevitably complain about losing because “my character is a bottom tier”.
Lucario: 23/100
Piranha Plant: 21/100
Little Mac: 20/100
King Dedede: 18/100
Isabelle: 17/100
Ice Climbers: 16/100
Dr. Mario: 13/100
Ganondorf: 10/100
While this tier list has been based on a multitude of tier lists provided by pros, spectators and content creators, there’s always shifts in the meta that could occur or perhaps a new final patch that will never happen. No matter what, if you’re just playing to have fun, don’t judge how good your character is on a tier list from people on the internet. This tier list is for pro level play, and I doubt you reading this article are going to be playing at a pro level, including me.
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