Up to this day, the fifth Super Smash Bros. franchise installation brought eighty-six different characters to the arena. Seventy-four of them were released with the base version of the game. However, Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd added thirteen of them later with the DLCs.
In this article, we will choose the best characters from the point of game balance. Who is the strongest? Who is the meta? We will answer these questions.
Joker
Let’s start with the phantom thief and a character that can be found at the top of almost any tier list. Ren Amamiya, aka Joker, is a protagonist of the latest installment in the famous Shin Megami Tensei: Persona franchise. Persona 5 was a huge success in the gaming world, with over 5 million copies sold (if we count Persona 5 Royal). While some people thought of it as one of the greatest role-playing games of all time, it was only a matter of time before Joker appeared in arguably the greatest crossover game in history.
In SSBU, Ren can change his appearance only when the rebellion gauge is full. But he is a powerful character, suitable for various playstyles. While without the full rebellion gauge, his firepower might be lacking, with his Persona activated, the Joker has all the means to secure the win. Bear it in mind while playing with or against him since there will be a difference in game tempo, which can be used to an advantage.
Steve
Steve is another legendary protagonist of another legendary game. The sandbox video game Marcus Persson created took the gaming world by storm. It provides millions of fun hours to the world while also being used in kids’ education.
However, you are wrong if you think that Steve gives lectures to opponents in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and enlightens them. He still does what he knows best: place blocks, mine different materials, and use the in-game items. He has decent survivability and great specials; however, be prepared, for he is relatively slow.
Pyra/Mythra
Pyra and Mythra are “swapping” characters. However, they are not clones. Most of their move set is identical, but three special moves and the Final Smash differ. They are classified as two different fighters but can transform into each other during the fight with the help of down special moves.
Pyra and Mythra are both from the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise. Despite being the same entity, they differ in characters and their attributes. Mythra is all about speed; her element is light, while Pyra relies on powerful attacks with Fire.
Usually, such characters, whose concept can not be called trivial in any sense, require more skill from the player but also provide higher rewards. You need to learn both the pros and cons of each entity and know how to utilize it in the best way possible. Here is a little tip: currently, the community thinks of Mythra as a superior character out of two. Maybe that will help you with the first steps in getting to know this duo.
Kazuya
The son of the Mishima Zaibatsu CEO and the lover of throwing opponents off the high cliffs finally made his way to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! Kazuya Mishima is one of the Tekken franchise’s main characters and brought lots of destruction with the help of his Devil Genes.
While we can talk about the Tekken lore for hours, let’s dive into what Kazuya offers to the SSBU universe. He has excellent survivability and specials, but his two significant downsides are small range (nothing surprising, considering he is a melee fighter who uses Mishima style fighting karate) and his overall difficulty.
Kazuya is not an easy character to learn. We would not recommend him for beginners, but he can deal terrible damage in the hands of a master player.
Sephiroth
The arrival of the antagonist of Final Fantasy VII caused a huge commotion in the gaming community. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sephiroth’s sword, Masamune, has the furthest reach in the game. However, the fighter is very tall while also being one of the lightest characters. These huge disadvantages become more evident at the highest level of play.
However, he is still really good since he provides excellent spacing, which might be a critical factor in many games. If you want to learn how to play him, look at KEN’s replay: the Japanese pro is one of the best Sephiroths in the world.
Being the ultimate crossover game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate provides you with a massive choice of all the favorite characters from many popular games. There is nothing wrong with picking a fighter, depending on your preferences. But if your favorite is also a decent character in terms of game balance, it is even better, isn’t it? Remember that games are made for joy. Respect your opponent, play fair and have fun!