You’ve been there. It’s 2 AM, your thumbs are cramping, and you’re staring at the character select screen wondering if today is the day you finally learn how to play Steve properly. Or maybe you're a purist who sticks to the "Original 8" because anything added after the GameCube era feels like cheating. Honestly, looking at the massive list of Super Smash Bros characters in Ultimate is basically like looking at a museum of gaming history that also happens to be a digital mosh pit.
The Massive Scale of the Final Roster
When Masahiro Sakurai and his team at Sora Ltd. finally put down the tools on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, they left us with a staggering 89 playable fighters. That’s not a typo. If you include the Echo Fighters—those characters like Daisy or Ken who share a "base" moveset but have different flair—it’s the largest crossover in the history of the medium.
It started with 12 people on the Nintendo 64.
Now?
We have a roster that spans from Mario and Link to third-party legends like Sora from Kingdom Hearts and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII.
The Evolution of the "Everyone is Here" Promise
The base game launched with 74 fighters, but the DLC (Downloadable Content) cycles are what really broke the internet. Remember when Steve from Minecraft was announced? Twitter actually stopped working for a few minutes. That wasn't just hype; it was the realization that the list of Super Smash Bros characters had transcended being just a "Nintendo game."
It became a hall of fame.
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Who Actually Makes Up the List?
If you're trying to keep track, the roster is generally split into a few distinct "generations" based on when they joined the fray.
- The Original 8: Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu. These are the veterans you get the second you boot up the game.
- The Unlockable 4 (N64): Luigi, Ness, Captain Falcon, and Jigglypuff.
- The Melee Era: This brought in icons like Peach, Bowser, and the infamous Zelda/Sheik duo. It also introduced Marth and Roy, which sparked the West’s obsession with Fire Emblem.
- Brawl and Beyond: This is where things got weird and wonderful. Sonic the Hedgehog joined. Snake from Metal Gear snuck in. We got the Wii Fit Trainer, for some reason.
The 2026 Meta: Who Is Actually Winning?
In the current competitive landscape of 2026, the tier lists have stabilized, but they’re still spicy. Steve remains the king of the hill for most pro players, but he’s controversial. His ability to literally change the geometry of the stage with blocks is something no other fighter can handle easily.
But honestly, the "Best" character is often just the one that fits your hands.
S-Tier Dominance
According to the latest tournament data from 2025 and early 2026, characters like Steve, Sonic, and Snake are dominating the S+ tier. They’re "oppressive," which is a fancy gaming word for "really annoying to play against." Sonic moves too fast to catch, and Snake turns the stage into a literal minefield.
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Then you have the "Swordies." Characters like Pyra/Mythra and Cloud are consistently high because of their range. If you can hit someone from halfway across the screen with a giant glowing blade, you're probably going to have a good time.
The Rise of the Underdogs
Interestingly, we've seen a massive jump in the viability of characters like Luigi and Olimar. Pro players like Sonix and Riddles have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with these "mid-tier" fighters. Luigi, specifically, has a "zero-to-death" combo that can end a stock in seconds if he lands a single grab. It’s terrifying to watch.
Why Some Characters Still Feel "Broken"
Balance is a lie. Okay, maybe not a lie, but it’s an elusive goal. In a game with 89 characters, someone is always going to be the "worst." For years, that’s been Ganondorf. Poor Ganon. He hits like a freight train, but he moves like he’s wading through knee-deep molasses. If he gets knocked off the stage, he’s basically finished.
On the flip side, you have the DLC characters. There’s a persistent theory in the community that DLC fighters like Joker or Kazuya were made "pay-to-win" because their mechanics (like Joker's Arsene or Kazuya's auto-turnaround and insane combos) feel much more complex than the base cast.
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The "Echo" Controversy
Some people hate Echo Fighters. They see them as wasted slots. But characters like Lucina prove why they exist. She is Marth without the "tipper" mechanic. Marth is only strong if you hit with the very tip of his sword. Lucina does consistent damage across the whole blade. For most players, that makes her objectively better, even if she’s technically a "clone."
How to Choose Your Main
If you’re looking at this list of Super Smash Bros characters and feeling overwhelmed, don't overthink it. Most players fall into one of three categories:
- Rushdown: You want to be in their face. Pick Fox, Roy, or Pikachu.
- Zoners: You want to stay away and throw stuff. Pick Samus, Belmont (Simon/Richter), or Mega Man.
- Grapplers/Heavies: You want to survive forever and kill in three hits. Pick Donkey Kong, Bowser, or King K. Rool.
The secret is that the game is remarkably well-balanced for 99% of people who aren't playing for a $50,000 prize pool. Even "bad" characters like Little Mac are absolute monsters on the ground; he only becomes a liability once you're in the air.
Actionable Steps for Mastering the Roster
If you want to move beyond just mashing buttons and actually learn the list of Super Smash Bros characters, start here.
- Focus on the "Original 8" first: Their movesets are the foundation for almost every other character in the game. If you understand Mario’s projectiles and recovery, you’ll understand 40% of the roster.
- Watch the pros: Look up sets from players like MkLeo or Sparg0. You’ll see that they don’t just use "strong" moves; they use "safe" moves—attacks that don't leave them open to being punished if they miss.
- Use the Training Mode's Frame Data: Ultimate actually shows you when you're vulnerable. If your character is glowing blue, you're in "hitstun." If you want to get good, learn which of your moves have the least "end lag."
- Ignore the Tier Lists (Mostly): Unless you are in the top 0.1% of players, a Tier List is just an opinion. If you love King Dedede, play King Dedede. His "Gordo" projectile is hilarious, and his crouch animation is the best taunt in the game.
The beauty of the Smash roster isn't just the numbers. It's the fact that every single character represents a different era of gaming, a different playstyle, and a different way to annoy your friends on a Friday night. Whether you're playing as a literal 2D sprite like Mr. Game & Watch or a high-fidelity warrior like Sephiroth, the game holds up because of that variety.