You just popped the cartridge in. Or maybe you finally hit "download" on the eShop after staring at that $60 price tag for months. You open the game, ready to main Cloud or Joker or maybe even Snake, only to realize the roster is... empty. Well, not empty, but it's the original Nintendo 64 lineup. Eight characters. That’s it. Out of a roster that eventually swells to nearly 90 fighters, starting with just Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu feels like a prank. But it’s not. Unlocking characters in Smash Ultimate is basically a rite of passage, though if you do it the "natural" way, it'll take you roughly forever.
Seriously, Nintendo wants you to work for it.
There are three main paths to filling out that character select screen. You can grind through the "World of Light" adventure mode, play Classic Mode repeatedly, or just participate in "Regular Smash" matches. Most people get frustrated because the game seems to have a hidden timer. You play a match, a "New Challenger Approaches," you beat them, they're yours. Then... nothing. No matter how many matches you play for the next ten minutes, nobody shows up. That's because the game has an internal cooldown of about ten minutes between character encounters. It's annoying. It’s a bottleneck. But there are ways around it if you're impatient.
The "Language Reset" trick is still the king of speed
If you want the fastest route, you have to exploit how the game handles its internal "re-trigger" logic. Normally, after you finish a match and defeat a new challenger, the game puts a 10-minute lockout on the next encounter. You can bypass this. Basically, you play a 1-stock match against a CPU, win or lose, and a challenger appears. After you fight them (and hopefully win), you don't just go back to the menu. You press the Home button on your Switch, close the software entirely, and restart it.
Wait. There’s an even faster way that doesn't involve closing the app.
Go into the game settings and change the language. Switch from English to French or Japanese. The game will force a "soft" reboot of the menu system. This often resets the encounter timer. It’s weird, kinda clunky, but it works because the game thinks it's a fresh session. If you’re trying to speedrun unlocking characters in Smash Ultimate, this is the method pros used back in 2018, and it still works in 2026. Just keep a 1-stock ruleset active and move a few meters in-game to satisfy the "distance traveled" requirement the game tracks behind the scenes.
Why World of Light is the worst way to unlock everyone
Look, World of Light is a cool mode. It’s got a massive map, Kirby is the hero (as he should be), and the spirit battles are creative. But as a method for unlocking the roster? It’s a slog.
When you unlock a fighter in World of Light, they become playable in that mode immediately. However, they only unlock for the rest of the game (Versus, Classic, etc.) once you’ve reached a certain point or triggered their encounter. The problem is the map is huge. If your favorite character is tucked away in the Dark Realm, you’re looking at 15 to 20 hours of gameplay before you can even see them on the character select screen in local multiplayer.
That said, World of Light is the only way to get some of the "Echo Fighters" quickly if you're struggling with the random encounter order. But honestly? Just stick to the Versus mode reset. It’s less of a headache.
The Classic Mode "Ladder" Strategy
Nintendo actually has a very specific, non-random order for unlocks if you play Classic Mode. This is something most casual players miss. The character you choose to play Classic Mode with determines which challenger appears at the end. It's a set of "trees."
- Mario's Tree: Playing as Mario (or anyone he unlocks) leads you to Sonic, then Bayonetta, then Little Mac, and so on.
- Kirby's Tree: This is how you get Ness, Jigglypuff, and eventually PAC-MAN.
- Fox's Tree: This is the path to Captain Falcon, Peach, and Falco.
If you have a specific "must-have" fighter, you should look up their specific tree. For example, if you really want Bowser, you need to play through Mario’s Classic Mode. If you want King K. Rool, you’re looking at the Link tree. It’s predictable. It’s reliable. It’s much better than just hoping the "Challenger Approaches" screen gives you someone you actually like.
What happens when you lose?
We've all been there. You've been grinding for three hours, your hands are cramping, and suddenly a high-level CPU Zelda shows up and kicks your teeth in. You don't get the character. You feel like you just wasted twenty minutes.
Don't panic.
They aren't gone forever. They go to a place called the Challenger's Approach. You’ll find it in the "Games & More" section of the main menu. It looks like a little glowing door icon in the bottom right corner. If you don't see it, it means you haven't waited long enough since your last loss, or you haven't played enough matches to "earn" a rematch. Just play a few more rounds of Smash, and the door will reappear. You can go in there and challenge anyone who previously beat you.
Pro tip: In the Challenger's Approach, you get to pick your fighter after you know who you're fighting. Use that. If the CPU is playing a heavy hitter like Ganondorf, pick someone fast or someone with a projectile to cheese the AI. There is no shame in playing dirty against a bot to get your roster filled.
The DLC situation
It's important to clarify: you cannot "unlock" DLC characters like Steve, Kazuya, or Sora through gameplay. I see people asking about this all the time. No amount of Classic Mode runs or World of Light grinding will give you Hero or Banjo-Kazooie. You have to buy the Fighters Passes or buy them individually. Once you buy them, they are just there. No challenge, no fight. They just show up with a little "New" tag on the select screen.
Final roadmap for efficiency
Stop playing 10-minute matches. It’s a waste of time for unlocking. Set the rules to 1-stock, 300% handicap if you want it to go lightning fast, or just run off the edge if you've already moved around enough to trigger the distance threshold.
If you're doing the "restart" method:
- Trigger a fight.
- Win or lose.
- Close the game or change the language.
- Open the game, play one quick match.
- A new challenger will appear immediately.
This cuts the total time to unlock the full base roster from about 20-30 hours of "natural" play down to maybe 2 or 3 hours if you're efficient. It's mindless, but it gets the job done so you can actually start playing the game with your friends.
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Once you have the full roster, your next step should be heading into the Vault to check out the Shop. You’ll have earned a ton of gold from all those matches, and the shop is where you get the alternate costumes (Mii Fighter outfits) and the best music tracks that aren't unlocked by default. Also, don't forget to jump into the Options menu and turn off "Stick Jump" if you're trying to actually get good at the game—most competitive players find that's the first hurdle to consistent movement.
Go get that "Roster Complete" notification. It’s one of the most satisfying screens in gaming.