Super Smash Bros. Ultimate guide: fighters, unlocks & modes

Check your edition

Editions & platforms

Edition	Platform	Differences & notes
Nintendo-Switch-Original	Nintendo Switch	7 December 2018. There are 74 base fighter entries including Echo Fighters and Mii types; twelve additional DLC entries bring the total to 86.
Softwarestand 13.0.5	Nintendo Switch / Nintendo Switch 2	Nintendo lists 13.0.5, released 1 September 2026, as the current version. It fixes online behaviour involving invalid data and adds no fighter.
Wiedergabe auf Switch 2	Nintendo Switch 2	The existing Switch game is played through backward compatibility. This is not a new main-series game or a separately released Ultimate Deluxe campaign.

Controls, damage and safe recovery

Damage is not a health bar
Attacks increase damage percentage. The objective is to launch opponents beyond the blast zone. Build damage, then look for a strong hit near an edge. A high percentage does not end a stock by itself.
Separate normal, smash and special attacks
A with a gentle direction produces a directional normal attack; a fast direction with A performs a smash attack. B plus a direction selects special moves. Practise forward, up and down separately. Physical buttons depend on your controller.
Shield, grab and evade
Shield an expected attack, then act after it ends. Grabs defeat a normal shield. Repeated rolls and uncovered smash attacks make your next action predictable.
Save your jump
After a hit, drift toward the stage first. Spend your midair jump when it is needed, then aim your up special toward the ledge. Test each fighter separately: jump count and recovery moves differ.
Turn practice into a match plan
Practise ten recoveries without an opponent, then play short games with one learning goal. Track stocks lost to your own mistakes separately from enemy KOs. Winning one game does not establish reliable recovery.

Every fighter and a practice focus

All 86 fighter entries including Echo Fighters and DLC. Pokémon Trainer contains three Pokémon and Pyra/Mythra contains two forms, giving 89 when counted individually. Alex, Enderman and Zombie belong to Steve; Alph to Olimar; the Koopalings to Bowser Jr. Costumes do not add fighters. Short plans are training suggestions, not a tier list.

Fighter / form	Practical starting point
Mario	Use a fireball to approach; regain spacing after a safe landing.
Donkey Kong	Learn grab range; avoid lingering at the ledge after a miss.
Link	Combine projectiles with sword spacing; practise recovery before zoning.
Samus	Hold Charge Shot as a threat; avoid firing every projectile immediately.
Yoshi	Manage your midair jump carefully; use eggs from a safe distance.
Kirby	Use multiple jumps deliberately; avoid landing with Stone every time.
Fox	Control your speed; practise sideways and upward recovery separately.
Pikachu	Approach behind Thunder Jolt; practise Quick Attack directions deliberately.
Luigi	Set up close hits; use big specials after a confirmed opening.
Ness	Practise using PK Thunder for recovery without an opponent first.
Captain Falcon	Vary your movement; seek powerful hits after an opponent whiffs.
Pummeluff / Jigglypuff	Use aerial movement; attempt Rest only with a clear opening.
Peach	Use float for spacing and landings; avoid pulling turnips in close combat.
Bowser	Start with short punishes; cover slow powerful attacks.
Ice Climbers	Keep the partner close; reassess recovery and attacks when separated.
Zelda	Separate long and close range; test teleport distance without an opponent.
Sheik	Combine movement with quick hits; avoid overextending after every hit.
Dr. Mario	Approach with pills; plan your recovery conservatively.
Pichu	Account for self-damage and low survivability; choose attacks carefully.
Falco	Use lasers to control space; check recovery distance before chasing.
Marth	Space for sword-tip hits; avoid forcing point-blank combat.
Junger Link / Young Link	Layer projectiles, then catch a landing; avoid waiting only at the ledge.
Ganondorf	Punish mistakes hard; prioritise your vulnerable recovery.
Mewtu / Mewtwo	Vary Shadow Ball timing; mix aerial routes and avoid exposing your body.
Roy	Deliberately enter close range; do not equate your sword tip with Marth’s.
Mr. Game & Watch	Start with safe short actions; avoid building plans around risky random attacks.
Meta Knight	Control multiple jumps and sword strikes; avoid chaining specials blindly.
Pit	Aim arrows and save jumps; defend from a safe ledge position.
Zero Suit Samus	Use mobility for spacing; avoid throwing out up special without a plan.
Wario	Practise aerial movement; treat Waft as preparation rather than a panic escape.
Snake	Track grenade positions; account for your own explosions while landing.
Ike	Use large reach patiently; regain spacing after a miss.
Diddy Kong	Watch banana position; avoid overextending before a risky recovery.
Lucas	Practise PK Thunder and tether range separately; cover projectiles deliberately.
Sonic	Use speed to reposition; avoid running over the edge uncontrolled.
König Dedede / King Dedede	Prepare slow powerful actions; preserve multiple jumps for recovery.
Olimar	Watch your Pikmin lineup; choose attacks for the available team.
Lucario	Watch Aura; high personal damage also means a high risk of being KO’d.
R.O.B.	Combine gyro and laser; preserve flight resources for recovery.
Toon-Link / Toon Link	Set up projectiles and seek safe sword hits; vary aerial routes.
Wolf	Alternate blaster and close range; test special-move reach near the ledge.
Bewohner / Villager	Pocket projectiles and block routes; practise recovery separately.
Mega Man	Learn projectile spacing; avoid answering every close encounter the same way.
Wii Fit-Trainer / Wii Fit Trainer	Find breathing room for Deep Breathing; vary ball and Sun Salutation timing.
Rosalina & Luma	Watch Luma’s position; control space rather than attacking blindly.
Little Mac	Work on the ground; avoid aerial chases with limited recovery.
Quajutsu / Greninja	Mix short approaches with retreats; practise Hydro Pump recovery.
Mii-Boxer / Mii Brawler	Check chosen specials; recovery depends on your configuration.
Mii-Schwertkämpfer / Mii Swordfighter	Practise sword spacing with chosen specials; tell opponents your configuration.
Mii-Schütze / Mii Gunner	Combine projectiles with a recovery plan; check specials before matches.
Palutena	Space aerial attacks; deliberately choose teleport angles.
PAC-MAN	Track fruit and hydrant positions; keep an escape route.
Daraen / Robin	Watch tome and sword resources; cover depleted periods with spacing.
Shulk	Choose a Monado Art before attacking; test altered movement first.
Bowser Jr.	Vary kart routes; practise recovery after ejecting.
Duck Hunt	Track can, clay target and fighter together; leave yourself room.
Lucina	Use consistent sword reach; do not wait for Marth’s tipper hit.
Finsterer Pit / Dark Pit	Test your arrow trajectory; check differences from Pit before chasing.
Ryu	Practise command inputs slowly; confirm hits before risky finishers.
Cloud	Manage Limit and up special; aim for the ledge early.
Corrin	Measure lance reach; avoid committing without an opening.
Bayonetta	Test aerial strings in training; recover promptly if a sequence breaks.
Inkling	Refill ink when space permits; avoid approaching with Roller every time.
Ridley	Use grounded reach; account for your large body while landing.
Simon	Layer whip spacing and projectiles; respect vulnerable recovery.
Richter	Practise whip angles; avoid chasing every hit offstage.
King K. Rool	Plan crown and cannon use; do not treat belly armour as limitless.
Melinda / Isabelle	Place rod and trap deliberately; cover recovery independently.
Fuegro / Incineroar	Work into close range; practise side special and recovery separately.
Finsterer Samus / Dark Samus	Cover Charge Shot with movement; do not equate every animation with Samus.
Daisy	Practise float and turnips; learn safe landings before long aerial strings.
Chrom	Use sword reach; plan recovery early and avoid deep chases.
Ken	Test differences from Ryu; develop command inputs and follow-ups slowly.
Pokémon-Trainer / Pokémon Trainer	Switch Squirtle, Ivysaur and Charizard deliberately; practise each recovery.
Piranha-Pflanze / Piranha Plant · DLC	Control space with poison and spiked ball; charge long moves from safety.
Joker · DLC	Use Arsène deliberately; retain a safe plan without the boost.
Held / Hero · DLC	Watch MP and the command menu; create space before selecting.
Banjo & Kazooie · DLC	Budget limited Wonderwing uses; set up with grenades and eggs.
Terry · DLC	Practise commands and GO moves; confirm a hit before finishing.
Byleth · DLC	Test different weapon ranges; prepare slow commitments.
Min Min · DLC	Exploit arm reach; plan defensively around jumps and recovery.
Steve / Alex · DLC	Mine when space permits; account for blocks and crafting table.
Sephiroth · DLC	Space with the long blade; avoid turning early swings into close combat.
Pyra / Mythra · DLC	Use Mythra to gain space and Pyra to seek KOs; avoid forced switches.
Kazuya · DLC	Develop commands individually; establish close range before planning a string.
Sora · DLC	Control aerial movement and side special; avoid overshooting recovery.

Sources for this section

Nintendo: vollständige Ultimate-Kämpferübersicht ↗

All eight Classic unlock trees

Start with the fighter on the left and repeatedly clear Classic. Fighters in the same tree can trigger the next challenger in that tree. Previously rescued or offered fighters affect the next encounter; a lost encounter waits at Challenger’s Approach.

Win each triggered duel. This table is the challenger order, not the opponents inside one Classic run. Create Mii fighters separately.

Starter	Challengers in order
Mario	Sonic → Bayonetta → Little Mac → Ike → Luigi → Roy → Dr. Mario → Olimar
Donkey Kong	Bowser → Pokémon Trainer → Rosalina & Luma → King Dedede → Sheik → Greninja → Diddy Kong → Duck Hunt
Link	King K. Rool → Ice Climbers → Simon → Meta Knight → Snake → Young Link → Richter → Toon Link
Samus	Inkling → Wii Fit Trainer → Pit → Incineroar → Dark Samus → Cloud → Wario → Dark Pit
Yoshi	Lucario → Marth → Ryu → Ganondorf → Lucina → Ridley → Chrom → Ken
Kirby	Ness → Jigglypuff → PAC-MAN → Zelda → Robin → Corrin → Lucas → Palutena
Fox	Captain Falcon → Zero Suit Samus → Peach → Falco → Daisy → Bowser Jr. → Wolf → Mewtwo
Pikachu	Villager → Shulk → R.O.B. → Mega Man → Isabelle → Mr. Game & Watch → Pichu

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Challenger’s Approach, VS and Adventure

A lost battle can be retried
Play more offline rounds and check Games & More for Challenger’s Approach. Choose a familiar fighter for the rematch. Losing does not permanently remove a fighter.
Understand VS challenger appearances
Ordinary offline play can trigger challengers. Activity and time conditions apply; each instantly abandoned tiny match does not produce a fighter. A Classic tree is clearer for targeting a specific unlock.
Track Adventure separately
A fighter rescued in Adventure becomes available in normal matches. Conversely, a VS unlock is not automatically available inside Adventure; rescue them on the map.
DLC is not a hidden free fighter
Piranha Plant and the eleven Challenger Packs require licences. Full Adventure completion or clearing Classic with everyone does not replace a DLC purchase. Costumes and amiibo do not automatically unlock the whole DLC roster.

Sources for this section

SmashWiki: Ultimate-Freischaltungen und DLC-Zuordnung ↗

Every DLC fighter and associated stage

Fighters Pass 1 contains five Challenger Packs, Vol. 2 contains six. Piranha Plant is separate. Stage names are shown as unambiguous English references; Mii costumes are not automatically included in every pass.

Fighter	Pack	Stage	Note
Piranha-Pflanze / Piranha Plant	Separater DLC / Separate DLC	—	Not included in Fighters Pass 1 or 2.
Joker	Fighters Pass 1	Mementos
Held / Hero	Fighters Pass 1	Yggdrasil’s Altar
Banjo & Kazooie	Fighters Pass 1	Spiral Mountain
Terry	Fighters Pass 1	King of Fighters Stadium
Byleth	Fighters Pass 1	Garreg Mach Monastery
Min Min	Fighters Pass 2	Spring Stadium
Steve / Alex	Fighters Pass 2	Minecraft World
Sephiroth	Fighters Pass 2	Northern Cave	The former Sephiroth Challenge was time-limited.
Pyra / Mythra	Fighters Pass 2	Cloud Sea of Alrest	One pack containing both switchable forms.
Kazuya	Fighters Pass 2	Mishima Dojo
Sora	Fighters Pass 2	Hollow Bastion	Final released DLC fighter.

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Understand spirits and solve obstacles

System	Practical use
Primary spirit	Check stats, type and support slots. One high number does not replace suitable resistance.
Type triangle	Attack beats Grab; Grab beats Shield; Shield beats Attack. Neutral spirits have no advantage in that triangle.
Support spirits	Counter dangerous floors, poison, sleep or wind deliberately. Read displayed battle rules first.
Levels and enhancement	Train suitable primary spirits with snacks. Only spirits explicitly marked as enhanceable gain a new form at the required level.
Map abilities	Specific spirits solve map obstacles independently of your fighter. Bomberman opening rocks does not mean you must win the match with bombs.
Spirit Board	A normal Spirit Board battle is followed by a capture attempt. Adventure awards defeated spirits directly. Distinguish the two flows.

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Light Realm: from the first fighter to Galeem

Kirby and Mario
Start as Kirby, defeat the opening spirits and rescue Mario. A VS unlock is not automatically a rescue inside Adventure.
The first crossroads
Choose Marth, Sheik or Villager. The other two paths are temporarily blocked; this does not permanently exclude those fighters.
Bridges and boulders
Obtain spirits matching obstacles, such as Cyrus & Reese for repairs or Bomberman for boulders. Return when you have the needed ability.
Water, buses and technology
Lapras enables the relevant water route, Kapp’n (Wild World) the bus, and Hal Emmerich or suitable technical spirits the Base entrance. Distinguish different spirit variants.
Power Plant
Solve generator routes and obtain Great Zapfish. The map obstacle needs this spirit, not any electric fighter.
Molten Fortress: Giga Bowser
Traverse Molten Fortress and defeat Giga Bowser. Let side strikes and breath attacks pass before landing short hits.
Base: Galleom
Reach the Base with a suitable technical spirit. Give Galleom’s large landings and transformations space, then attack.
Forest Hill: Rathalos
Defeat Rathalos. Leave the line of fire and diving attacks; use a safe opening after landing.
Master Hand and Galeem
After Giga Bowser, Galleom and Rathalos, open the remaining approach through Master Hand and defeat Galeem. This finishes only the Light Realm.

Sources for this section

SmashWiki: Stern der irrenden Lichter / World of Light ↗

Dark Realm: sub-worlds, puzzles and Dharkon

Open the Dark Realm
After the reversal, visit the three major sub-worlds: Sacred Land, Dracula’s Castle and Mysterious Dimension. Their bosses advance the route to Dharkon.
Sacred Land: three sections
Use owl hints in the woods and the torch clock. Activate the central Master Sword to open the Power section. Attack Ganon’s vulnerable tail from behind.
Torch clock: Mii Brawler
In the Wisdom section, set the torch clock to 4:40. Defeat the newly appeared Mii Brawler.
Dracula’s Castle
Aim cannons to remove ghost barriers; use the reset mechanism if the order fails. Dracula has two forms: strike the vulnerable head first, then overcome the large demon form.
Mysterious Dimension: Marx
Choose quiz routes according to each question and reach Marx. Look for safe gaps in large attacks; do not assume a stationary boss makes your position safe.
Dharkon
After the sub-worlds and hand encounters, defeat Dharkon. The following final map has its own true-ending requirements.

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The Final Battle and true ending

Story details & possible consequences

Defeating only Galeem or only Dharkon in an individual final-map boss battle yields one of the bad endings. The true finale is on the central route after the Master Hand event. You can return to other ending goals on the save file.

Final map: balance
Keep light and dark in balance. Defeating one side strengthens the other; avoid clearing only one side and immediately choosing its individual boss.
Rescue the final four fighters
Rescue Roy, Dark Samus, Palutena and Bayonetta on the final map. Palutena/Bayonetta appear after the respective first hand fights. Further hand fights open the next phase.
Playable Master Hand
Free both hands fully and play the central event with the map balanced. Defeat the enemy wave as Master Hand, then use the newly opened central route.
True finale: ascent
Choose three familiar fighters. In the vertical section, keep up with the camera and clear enclosed enemy waves. A side hit matters less than a safe landing.
True finale: six bosses
Work through the boss selections and use healing deliberately between fights. The joint Galeem/Dharkon fight follows the boss section.
Galeem and Dharkon together
Watch both attack patterns at once. Spread damage through safe openings and use the bosses’ attacks against each other. Defeat both for the true ending.

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Stages, items and useful match rules

Area	Setting and consequence
Stage forms	Normal, Battlefield and Omega forms change the layout. Hazards Off is a separate option; a different backdrop does not imply different hitbox rules.
Base stages	Regular base stages are available from the start. Small Battlefield arrived in a free update; eleven DLC stages belong to their respective Challenger Packs.
Practice setup	Suggested drill: two players, three stocks, seven minutes, items off and a familiar stage. This is not a universal tournament ruleset.
Smash Ball and FS Meter	Set item access and FS Meter separately. Disabling the Smash Ball does not automatically disable every other Final Smash option.
Poké Balls and assists	Avoid attacking through a newly summoned assist. Track safe ground and the opposing fighter.

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Classic, Smashdown, Squad Strike and online

Mode	Practical plan
Classic	Each fighter has a themed route; the three Mii types have no Classic run. An unlock tree and a battle route are different things.
Squad Strike	Teams of three or five fighters. Practise your second and third picks; reliable recovery matters more than one spectacular combo.
Smashdown	Used fighters become unavailable in following rounds. Broad fundamentals beat a plan relying only on your main.
Training and replays	Control movement, damage and starting position; a CPU string is not automatically guaranteed against human defence. Convert important replays to video before updating.
Online and Elite Smash	Ordinary online play requires internet, a Nintendo Account, Nintendo Switch Online and the current version. The Elite threshold is not a permanently fixed score.

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Practice plan: five short blocks

Recovery first
Recover ten times on each side from the same height, then vary the height. Add an opposing action only when this is reliable.
Space a grounded attack
Choose a short grounded attack and test its reach. Move in, hit or cover the miss, then retreat. Every approach need not be a smash.
Aerial and landing
Practise a short-hop attack and land outside the opponent’s reach. Learn the difference between simultaneous jump+A and a late falling aerial.
Hold the ledge position
Stand on safe ground and watch neutral get-up, roll, jump and ledge attack. Respond to one chosen option rather than diving blindly.
Review one loss
Select one pattern from a replay: early jumps, repeated rolls or an uncovered special. Change that pattern next session. Damage-dependent combos and matchups need separate testing.

Unlocks & rewards

Sonic

Classic unlock tree for Mario: position 1. Clear a run and defeat the next challenger not yet offered in this tree.