Look at that character select screen. It’s basically a digital museum of everything that has ever mattered in gaming. You’ve got the heavy hitters like Mario and Link, obviously, but then you glance over and see a 2D silhouette of Mr. Game & Watch or a blocky Steve from Minecraft. It’s wild. Honestly, we’ve reached a point where the Super Smash Bros Ultimate roster isn't just a list of characters; it’s a logistical miracle that Masahiro Sakurai actually pulled off.
Eighty-nine fighters. That's the number.
If you count every individual echo fighter and the separate entities like Pyra and Mythra or the three-in-one Pokémon Trainer, the count feels even more massive. It's a lot to wrap your head around, especially if you haven't touched the game in a year or two and are just now realizing that Sora from Kingdom Hearts is actually, legally, in the game.
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The DLC Power Creep is Real
We should talk about the "Pay-to-Win" elephant in the room. Kinda. If you look at the current 2026 competitive meta, the top of the food chain is heavily populated by characters you had to buy. Steve is still a nightmare for tournament organizers. His block-placing mechanics basically rewrite how the game is played, and despite years of people trying to "solve" the matchup, he remains a dominant force.
Then there’s Kazuya. If you’ve ever been hit by a "Electric Wind God Fist" and lost a stock at 30%, you know the pain. He brings Tekken logic into a platform fighter, and it’s terrifying.
Who are the "Big Three" right now?
- Steve: The block man. He’s arguably the best character in the game because he forces you to play his game, not Smash.
- Sonic: People hate fighting him, but his speed is unparalleled. In the right hands, he’s untouchable.
- Pyra/Mythra: Basically two top-tier characters for the price of one. Mythra wins the neutral, and Pyra deletes your stock.
It’s not all about the DLC, though. R.O.B. and Mr. Game & Watch are still hanging out in the S-tier because their kits are just fundamentally broken in the best way possible. They’ve got tools for every situation.
What Most People Get Wrong About Echo Fighters
A common gripe you’ll hear is that the Super Smash Bros Ultimate roster is "bloated" with clones. That’s a bit of a misunderstanding of how game development works.
Echo fighters like Daisy, Richter, or Chrom didn't "take a slot" from someone like Waluigi or Geno. They were basically bonus additions that used existing animations to pad out the fan service. Think of them as high-effort skins. Lucina and Marth might look the same to a casual observer, but for a pro, the difference between Marth’s "tipper" mechanic and Lucina’s consistent blade damage is the difference between winning and losing a set.
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The Weird Ones We Love
Some characters are just... there. And we love them for it. Piranha Plant was the first DLC, and it was the ultimate "troll" move by Nintendo. Who asked for a potted plant? Nobody. But it’s fun.
The Miis are another weird spot. Most people ignore the Mii Swordfighter, but Mii Brawler has actually seen some surprising high-level play lately. You can customize their move sets, which makes them the only "wild card" in the entire lineup. You never really know what specials they’re running until the match starts.
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Learning the Roster Without Losing Your Mind
If you’re trying to get back into it, don't try to learn everyone. That’s a trap. Most people find a "main" and stick with them for years.
Pick someone who fits your vibe. Do you like being fast and annoying? Go Pikachu or Mythra. Do you like hitting people with a truck? Bowser or Ganondorf (though Ganon is technically one of the worst characters in the game, he's still the king of "disrespect" kills).
Practical Next Steps for 2026
- Update your game: If you haven't played since 2021, you're missing a huge chunk of the balance patches.
- Check the "Smash University" VODs: Competitive players have figured out "zero-to-death" combos for almost half the roster by now.
- Focus on Movement: This late in the game's life, everyone knows how to hit buttons. The winners are the ones who know how to move.
The roster is finalized. There are no more secret characters coming, no matter what that one "leaker" on Twitter says. This is the definitive collection of gaming history. Whether you're playing a casual 8-player free-for-all on Great Plateau Tower or grinding out elite smash, there's a specific kind of magic in seeing Cloud Strife fight a Duck Hunt dog.