Fighters That Got Worse In Super Smash Bros Ultimate Meta

Key Takeaways

The meta in Smash Ultimate has evolved with improved players and strategies, making early hype characters less prevalent.
Belmonts and Ike showed potential at launch but faced weaknesses as players adapted to their laggy attacks and limited options.
Lucina, Olimar, and Pichu underwent changes in the meta due to their predictable playstyles and nerfs impacting their competitive presence.

As a seasoned Smash player with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I’ve seen characters come and go, some leaving lasting impressions while others fade into obscurity. Each character has its unique quirks, but there are always a few that stand out due to their design flaws or hidden potential.

In the latest edition of Super Smash Bros Ultimate, the competitive scene has significantly evolved from its initial release. While certain characters were undeniably weak, many others revealed their full fighting capabilities. Back then, the game was relatively fresh, and some characters had yet to showcase their hidden strengths.

As a gamer, I must admit that some characters seemed unstoppable when they first hit the scene, but times have changed. Nowadays, players are fine-tuning their advantage states, minimizing mistakes during edge guards, juggling combos, and mastering spacing attacks. The tournament landscape remains bustling with a variety of fighters, though some characters aren’t as commonly seen as they were in the early days. This shift is due to a more skilled player base, emerging counter strategies, DLC releases, balance adjustments, and other factors at play. These characters still have promise, but they’re slowly losing their relevance in the current meta.

10 The Belmonts

Perfectly Flawed Hunters

Simon and Richter were renowned for their extensive range of demonic attacks when they first appeared, effortlessly striking enemies from both ground and air. Armed with various weapons such as the holy cross, axe, and holy fire to maintain a safe distance, they excelled in forcing opponents back, particularly using main attacks like T3 Dom.

As I advanced in the meta, it became more apparent where the Belmonts fell short. Despite their attacks having a decent reach, they were sluggish and lacked comprehensive coverage. With experience, players began to anticipate their strategies, skillfully timing their actions around the holy projectiles. Their limited close-range options meant that even a small error could cost them the advantage. As players mastered edge guarding techniques, it grew increasingly difficult for the Belmonts to recover. They weren’t the most formidable at long range once DLC characters like Byleth, Sephiroth, and Min Min entered the scene. However, they still possess one of the best ledge traps in the game, but it requires diligent effort to capitalize on that advantage.

9 Ike

Former Busted Swordsman

Initially, Ike excelled as a potent heavy swordsman, focusing on power. His neutral-air and forward-air moves served as his most effective neutral options. He was capable of delivering knockouts to opponents using back-air, up-air, forward-tilt, up-special, and additional techniques effectively.

As the match progressed, however, Ike seemed to struggle to improve. Opponents began to grasp his primary tactic, enabling them to respond effectively to his pre-arranged moves. His speed is notably slow, which makes it difficult for him to keep up with swift and zoning characters. Worse yet, the addition of DLC characters equipped with superior long-range abilities forced Ike, the sluggish swordsman, into a defensive position. Despite his fall in rankings, dedicated players like Ravenking continue to compete with him.

8 Megaman

Robotic Zoner

Megaman shines particularly in the mid-range combat, utilizing his arsenal of projectile moves effectively. These include his rocket punch when he descends, jab pellets, his blade special move, and his wind-up air attack. His close-combat attacks are quite powerful, with his up-tilt Shoryuken being particularly impressive.

Despite its focused design, Megaman’s combat skills necessitate a considerable investment of time and preparation to inflict substantial damage. Compared to other fighters who can achieve the same level of damage with fewer moves, Megaman requires more effort to maintain his offensive momentum. Players such as Peabnut have achieved impressive results with Megaman, but his lower damage output consistently presents a challenge.

7 Chrom

Glass Roy

Initially, Chrom was often discussed as a more skillful swordsman than Roy. Their main distinctions lie in areas such as damage output, elemental assaults, combo strategies, and up-special moves. Similar to his daughter, Chrom’s attacks consistently inflict substantial damage. He made a significant impact in the competitive scene at the time of his introduction.

As the meta (metagame) progressed, Chrom struggled to escape from opponents’ enhanced edge-guarding strategies. Unlike Roy, his recovery options are fewer. Although they share the same up-special move as Ike, he lacks an overhead hitbox, rendering him vulnerable. He can’t afford to be at a disadvantage, even when trying to gain an advantage himself. This predicament hinders the character’s full potential.

6 Bowser

Koopa Grappler

In the game, Bowser is among the stronger characters in the heavyweight category. His ability to inflict damage, even with limited combo sequences, is impressive, especially utilizing his neutral special move – flame breath. He’s capable of dealing substantial damage through his aerial and smash attacks, while also being resilient enough to absorb a lot of damage himself.

Over time, players become more proficient at landing combos regularly. A character like Bowser, being heavy, facilitates smooth linking of attacks. However, he has limited choices when placed at a disadvantage, making him vulnerable to juggles and off-stage attacks. Despite this, fans of Bowser, or ‘Bowser mains’, continue to represent the King Koopa. However, character types focused on combos and DLC releases make it challenging for Bowser to excel.

5 Lucina

Swordsman Of Neutral

A majority of players agree that Lucina outperforms Marth in many aspects. Her down-tilt and aerial attacks are excellent for poking opponents from a decent distance. Additionally, she moves quickly on foot, making it easy for her to navigate the stage with care, and her floaty air drift allows her to linger in the air longer when off-stage. However, Lucina does require some patience as she can be somewhat demanding to master. Yet, she excels at pressuring opponents when needed.

One way to rephrase the given text in natural and easy-to-read language is: Lucina’s primary weakness that has impacted her competitive standing is her rather conventional fighting approach. To win, she needs to put opponents at a disadvantage. With a smaller sword, she depends on her adversaries launching reckless attacks so she can retaliate. When confronted by faster, farther-reaching, or zoning enemies, it’s challenging for her to prevail.

4 Olimar

Small Explorer

Olimar was a sleeper threat in the earlier competitive years. His design allows control over different types of Pikmin with elements like fire and electricity. Some even have benefits, like yellow Pikmin’s longer range and blue Pikmin’s stronger throw. This allows him to adapt to his needs, whether he needs a Pikmin with better range or damage power. Players like Shuton revealed his potential early in several tournaments, like Umebura SP and Frostbite 2019.

Despite his robustness, Olimar’s overreliance on Pikmin is his most significant shortcoming. Losing a Pikmin forces him to gather more, which he can only do while on the ground. When airborne without Pikmin, he’s at a severe disadvantage. His limited arsenal of five weak, unarmed attacks necessitates active Pikmin usage. Furthermore, his light weight means even a small error could propel him to potentially fatal heights.

3 Inkling

Freshest Woomy

Initially, Inkling made a splashy debut among the existing lineup, being hailed as one of the most exciting new additions. At its introduction, this character displayed an impressive repertoire of neutral moves, secure aerial attacks, compact hitboxes, and powerful combo potential. Notably, its arsenal draws from its home franchise, featuring weapons such as splattershot, blaster, splatbombs, inkbrush, and roller. Previously, Cosmos was one of the top-ranking Inklings in earlier competitions like Umebura Japan Major 2019 and Smash Ultimate Summit.

The simplicity of Inkling’s design has weakened its competitive edge. Its limited combo sequences and pressure strategies have become predictable, allowing opponents to respond effectively. As players grow more adept at understanding the character’s setup patterns, they find it easier to dodge Inkling’s attacks. Moreover, opponents are increasingly mastering their spacing, which makes it hazardous for Inkling to miss any short-range strikes. While Inkling remains agile, arranging its combos effectively has become a challenge due to the need for careful choreography of its mix-ups.

2 Pichu

The Spark Of Good

At the initial release, Pichu was a seasoned returnee with an imposing influence during early competitions. The audience regarded him more respectfully due to his enhanced agility and strategy of bait-and-punish playstyle. Although some of his moves inflict self-damage, their benefits were significant, particularly his forward tilt move. Notable players such as Void frequently achieved impressive rankings in tournaments like Genesis 6.

Man, I’ve gotta admit, my time with Pichu has been cut short after a few rounds of nerfs. His hitbox feels expanded, making him an easier target, and his top moves are now less potent and more punishing when I miss. Every self-damage attack seems to multiply the risk, turning whiffs into real dangers. Keeping track of his damage percentage was already a challenge, given his lighter build. And it gets even tougher as I approach early KO percent, especially against characters who pack a powerful punch or explosion.

1 Shulk

Technical Potential

Initially, Shulk was discussed as a hidden top-tier character. The debate over his tier placement arises due to his unique neutral special move, Monado Arts. This ability allows him to adapt to any situation, but it comes with a significant catch – Shulk’s high technicality and drawbacks associated with the arts. Each time-limited art provides different bonuses and penalties. Success in battles depends on knowing when to use the right art throughout the game. Misusing an Art can significantly limit his chances for strategic advantages.

It’s troubling that another character from Xenoblade Chronicles shares a similar gameplay mechanic with higher risk levels. The intricate, high-risk design of this character left some players opting for the more straightforward one. Even top players such as Kome continue to place highly in tournaments like Umebura SP 11. Shulk still has potential, but his advanced features make the investment of effort seem less rewarding.

2024-09-28 07:04