Most Consistent Fighters In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournaments

Key Takeaways

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features a diverse roster for tournament play, with adaptable characters and consistent balance patches.
Characters like Joker, Roy, and Palutena have shown potential and consistency in competitive play despite changes in the meta.
Fighters like Kazuya, Mr. Game & Watch, and R.O.B. have maintained top-tier status with unique strengths and varied playstyles.

As a long-time Smash fanatic who’s witnessed the evolution of the game since its humble beginnings, I can confidently say that the current roster is more diverse and exciting than ever before. The top three characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are truly a testament to this fact, each offering unique playstyles and mechanics that keep fans on their toes.

In the game of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the combatant lineup boasts an impressive size that’s perfect for competitive play. Each character is skillfully crafted with top-notch stats, but they also possess unique weaknesses to balance things out. Occasionally, even the seemingly weaker characters can secure high rankings, although it may not always be a consistent achievement.

As a game unfolds, certain characters evolve within the strategy, while others struggle to keep up. Although updates aimed at balance reshuffle characters in rankings, some remain significant contenders in recent tournaments. After the wrap-up of “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate,” several fighters consistently demonstrated their abilities.

12 Joker

The Unstoppable Thief

In simpler terms, Joker was the initial downloadable character who remained significant across various game modes in “Ultimate.” His move set provides multiple strategies for both long-range attacks and close combat. He can keep opponents at bay using his gun and magic spells, gradually reducing their health. His combo sequences are swift and reliable, allowing him to execute a continuous combo and knock out opponents with ease.

As a gamer, I’d say Arsene is arguably one of the top mechanics in this game. Revealing his mask or glasses significantly boosts every attack, adding more hit zones, damage output, and reach. He retains that quick agility like Sheik, but packs quite the punch, similar to Ganondorf. His special moves even transform when he unleashes his persona.

At Evo 2019, the top-tier player MKLeo demonstrated exceptional skill. His character’s moveset was subject to numerous update patches, reducing the power of his gun’s extensive range, persona meter, and down special counter. These significant adjustments didn’t render the character obsolete, as MKLeo continues to employ him when needed alongside his newer main choices.

11 Roy

Royal Aggression

Roy embodies an assertive playstyle remarkably well. He’s built primarily for close combat, with his powerful sweet spot sword hilt being his preferred choice. Unlike Marth, who excels at medium-range with his tipper sword, Roy inflicts the most damage in close quarters, almost touching distance. His swift speed makes it easy for him to dodge opponents’ attacks and projectiles, setting him up for a decisive strike with his destructive smash attack.

Initially, Roy’s strategy stays largely unchanged upon release, undergoing minor adjustments primarily to enhance his hit accuracy. Regardless of attempts by opponents to keep him at bay using zoning tactics, his swift speed and reflexes render projectiles ineffective. Kola serves as a notable instance where Roy’s offensive prowess outmaneuvers top-tier players like Light.

10 Palutena

Divine Neutral

At the debut of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Palutena’s design showcased its angelic zenith. Her basic attacks flow seamlessly together, delivering consistent hits such as nair. They provide a wide range of coverage around her, particularly her invincible bair and dash attack, which offer effective disjoints at a distance. Her special moves are particularly potent at long ranges. She can keep opponents at bay with her neutral-special and side-special or employ her up-special to add unpredictability to her landings by teleporting.

In earlier competitions, she significantly boosted her competitive standing. Her key techniques were moderated due to numerous adjustments, narrowing her combo paths while making her attacks more hazardous. Although this altered her overall approach, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm players had for her. She continues to perform exceptionally well in neutral gameplay, particularly for players like Chag who consistently secure high rankings in tournaments such as S Factor 11 and Battle of BC 6.

9 Diddy Kong

Slipping Through Meta

Initially considered mid-tier when he first appeared, Diddy Kong has since climbed up to his current high rank. However, at the game’s launch, he was noticeably weaker in terms of knockout power compared to his later versions. What he lacked in KO power, he made up for with exceptional speed and versatile special moves that allow for various combinations, particularly his side-special command grab. Despite being capable of building good damage, Diddy Kong often struggled to secure the final, decisive blow.

During developer assistance, issues related to KO options and incongruous hitboxes associated with Diddy were significantly improved. These alterations noticeably boosted the character’s standing, placing it in at least a high tier. The character’s latent potential was recognized by many Diddy main players such as Ryuoh and Tweek. In fact, Tweek demonstrated Diddy’s top-tier abilities this year by winning Get On My Level X using only Diddy, showcasing his top-notch skills.

8 Snake

Brawl Veteran Explosive Power

In simpler terms, Snake is a character who seldom alters his primary strategy across different matches. He maintains an advantage by confining the stage with his powerful grenades, which can cause significant damage while simultaneously serving as his initial escape from combos. Despite causing self-damage with explosives, his heavyweight allows him to endure at higher health levels. His gameplay is intricate and risky, requiring careful placement of explosive traps and quick reactions.

It’s particularly challenging for players to cope with Snake’s various weapons when they’re at a disadvantage. Players such as ApolloKage and Hurt demonstrate that it’s nearly impossible to dodge his traps, given their ability to cover numerous possibilities, including his down-special C4 and up-smash mortar. Additionally, Snake’s large, lasting Close Quarter Combat hitboxes should not be overlooked. These overpowering moves have kept him in the top tier ever since he was launched.

7 Cloud

Soldier At His Limits

In the game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Cloud stands out as one of the top-notch swordfighters. This is mainly due to his massive Buster Sword and a collection of impressive combat methods. Compared to previous high-tier versions, some of his moves have been toned down, but they remain potent. His attacks are swift, offering good range and minimal risk, with his bair and fair being particularly noteworthy. Despite the limit being scaled back, it remains his most powerful asset as it boosts his stats and one of his special moves when fully upgraded. This feature significantly aids him in challenging opponents like Snake and Donkey Kong.

Initially, I found Cloud a bit tricky at the start, dealing with challenges like getting knocked out and recovering to the ledge. However, over time, he’s been fine-tuned with improved ledge recovery and more lethal moves like his dash attack and up smash. In the online circuit, Spargo rose to prominence before stepping into offline competitions. Despite using other characters as mains, Cloud continues to offer a unique challenge to the current game meta.

6 Kazuya

Hell Incarnate

Kazuya is the dream for any DLC character, as he embodies the essence of a formidable adversary when he approaches. With an extensive catalog of over 15 grounded moves, his normal attacks are abundant. Given that he’s a fighting game character, he automatically adjusts his position to face his opponent during attack spamming, thanks to his auto turnaround feature. His attacks encompass various characteristics, such as invincible moves, paralysis-inducing attacks, high shield damage, and trip maneuvers. Furthermore, he boasts super armor attacks, like a forward smash reminiscent of Bowser’s tough guy passive.

One move that many players dislike is Kazuya’s Electric Wind God Fist, a challenging yet lucrative combo opener. Executed correctly, it gives Kazuya an extended period to continue combos, leading to multiple zero-to-death scenarios. The move is untouchable as Kazuya is invulnerable during its execution. Despite his significant advantage, his intricacy demands players to practice extensively to gain the necessary experience. He necessitates precise input timing and effective approach strategies to implement his winning strategy effectively. The most skilled Kazuya players are often exhibited by mains like Riddles, demonstrating his powerful influence in the meta with high rankings in Riptide 2024 and Get On My Level X tournaments.

5 Mr. Game & Watch

Rise Of 2D Fighter

Initially, Mr. Game & Watch was perceived as a secondary character upon his debut in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, in contrast to his prior version. His earlier iteration could repeatedly use forward-air attacks while also possessing up-air as a reliable KO move. However, the new version reduced both options significantly, with low power and knockback. It seemed he lacked versatility until players like Maister and Miya unveiled his hidden potential.

His uninterrupted, vintage maneuvers have been a constant source of strength for him since the beginning until now. Despite being compact in size, his attacks – resembling hammers, turtles, chairs, keys, among others – give him a good reach with minimal risk. These moves aren’t just safe; they can lock opponents into damaging combinations or set them up for knockout blows like his up-air, neutral-air, and down smash. He boasts the simplest yet highly effective resets in the game, using his neutral special and forward-air to limit the opponent’s choices.

4 R.O.B.

Spin To Win

As a gamer, I’d say R.O.B., my go-to heavy zoner, excels at winning neutral in any playstyle you desire. His gameplan revolves around two basic projectiles – laser and gyro – that provide solid coverage across the stage and even in the air. Getting close to him can be tricky because he has the ability to decide when to shield while charging. If things start getting heated, R.O.B. can switch gears and engage in close combat with his swift rotor arm. And just when you think it’s all over, he even has a straightforward zero-to-death move that works against every character on the roster!

In the support phase for developers, none of R.O.B.’s key tactics underwent significant alteration. The only substantial update eliminated his instant gyro cancel, which enhanced his mixup possibilities. Additionally, a minor adjustment boosted the reliability of his side-special, ensuring hits connected more effectively. As a result, employing his zero-to-death combo became even more efficient without the opponent slipping out. In the current competitive environment, R.O.B. remains a formidable adversary to confront in tournaments. Notably, players like Zomba and MKBigBoss achieved impressive rankings with R.O.B. in events such as Kagaribi 12 and Riptide 2024.

3 Sonic

Not Too Slow Hedgehog

Sonic demonstrates why he’s the fastest hedgehog, showcasing a versatile playstyle. He can be incredibly aggressive with his hit-and-run strategies or defensive with his skillful bait-and-punish gameplay. His attacks are swift and exaggeratedly large, allowing him to counter a wide range of moves. His special abilities often put the opponent on edge, as he decides when to advance. A single misstep by the opponent could lead to a loss of their stock.

In terms of enhancements, Sonic has primarily excelled through balance adjustments, allowing him to consistently deal damage and reduce lag during his swift attacks. Rarely does any opponent pose a threat to his speed, making him nearly invincible once he seizes the lead in a match. However, his low weight limits his ability to absorb significant damage. Yet, his skill of shifting hitboxes helps alleviate this issue. Notable Sonic players like Sonix and Wrath have demonstrated his formidable potential in both local and online competitions, defeating strong opponents such as Spargo and Esam.

2 Aegis

Replacement Of Rex

In essence, the Aegis duo, composed of Mythra and Pyra, are remarkably balanced due to their distinct mechanics. They share common movesets, but differ in stats – Mythra is swift, almost Sonic-like speed, yet her attacks lack power, while Pyra, though slower, possesses stronger blows. The pair compensate for each other’s weaknesses and amplify their strengths by switching roles akin to the Pokemon trainer or Zelda and Sheik in Super Smash Bros. Melee. A significant adjustment was made to Mythra, as her invincibility during an airdodge was reduced, making her more susceptible to attacks. However, this alteration did not affect her unique ability to dodge combos, which resembles Bayonetta’s Bat’s Within escape technique.

Most players agree that Aegis is one of the best fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Its swap special provides a lot of flexibility in various situations, allowing for aggressive play with safe moves or taking an opponent’s life points (stocks). Many skilled players like Shuton and Cosmos have found success with Aegis, and even top-tier pros such as MkLeo and Spargo use them.

1 Steve

Blocking The Meta

During his release, Steve was often overlooked as a damaged fighter due to his unique blocking abilities. Building stages with platforms and walls opened up various strategies, such as executing aerial smash attacks and setting traps. His versatile moveset gives him the upper hand in battles by covering numerous opponent options.

Players such as Onin and Acola demonstrated the immense influence that Steve exerts within the meta, subtly molding it through his exceptional skill. Notably, they dominated several major tournaments including Super Smash Con 2023 and Get On My Level X. The emergence of these proficient Steve players has made them persistent, troublesome adversaries in competitive play, causing some members within the community to question if a ban similar to Bayonetta in Super Smash Bros. For Wii U might be necessary.

2024-09-28 07:34