The Ultimate Super Smash Bros Fighter Tier List (2023) Revealed - Uncover the Most Powerful Characters!

Highlights

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, players can dive into an incredible selection of 81 diverse characters, each packed with their own distinctive attributes and abilities. This vast variety allows for boundless exploration and fine-tuning, enabling players to discover endless possibilities for strategic experimentation and optimization.

S-tier characters, such as Sheik, Link, and Joker, are masters at inflicting massive damage through their impressive combo attacks and unique special abilities. On the other hand, characters like Steve possess the uncanny ability to create near-impossible situations for their opponents, making victory seemingly unattainable.

B-tier characters, including Kirby and Mega Man, enjoy significant popularity due to their diverse range of moves and dependable combat options. These characters prove to be reliable choices suitable for players of various skill levels. However, they are not as potent as the higher-tier characters when it comes to sheer power potential.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the latest installment in Nintendo's acclaimed fighting game series, is renowned for its extensive selection of playable characters. While other similar fighting games like MultiVersus and Nickelodeon's All-Star Brawl have been influenced by the Super Smash Bros. franchise, Nintendo's long-standing take on the crossover party fighter still dominates, thanks in part to its commitment to offering a wide array of options for players.

Since its release in 2018, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate initially included a staggering 69 fighters. Over the years, the game has expanded its roster through DLC, adding 12 more fighters. With such an expansive list of characters, each possessing unique statistics, abilities, and strategic possibilities, the potential for experimentation and optimization is limitless. Whether players favor the iconic fighters or the newcomers, every character is worth exploring, especially as the game approaches its fifth anniversary.

S Tier

Most characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can be effective with skill and strategy, but S-tier characters stand out for their ability to deal high damage through combos and special abilities. Some S-tier characters like Sheik, Link, and Joker rely on speed to deliver quick and devastating basic attacks while maintaining versatility. Others like Snake utilize special B-moves to dominate their opponents, particularly when players have mastered their moves.

However, certain S-tier characters are regarded as overpowered. For instance, Steve from Minecraft has been prohibited in many Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments due to his excessive strength. Steve possesses the same speed and special abilities as the aforementioned characters, but players can exploit his moving attack and mining skills to create nearly unbeatable situations for their opponents. This character exemplifies almost limitless exploitability and is among the few DLC characters included in the S-tier.

Cloud

Fox

Joker

Kazuya

Link

Min Min

Mr. Game & Watch

Pac-Man

Peach

Pikachu

Pyra & Mythra

Roy

Sephiroth

Sheik

Snake

Sonic

Sora

Steve

Wolf

Zero Suit Samus

A-Tier

Moving down from the pinnacle of excellence, the A-tier is designated for characters who are exceptional and dependable choices, albeit lacking the potential to be overwhelmingly dominant Super Smash Bros. characters or guarantees of instant victories. The majority of A-tier characters possess a well-rounded mix of strength, speed, and exploitable moves. They are relatively easy to comprehend, but can be further perfected to enhance their effectiveness. In the realm of Super Smash Bros Ultimate online matches or tournaments, these characters are frequently encountered.

Certain A-tier characters, such as Lucas and Ness, present a slightly steeper learning curve. Novice players may face some additional challenges in grasping the intricacies of these fighters and maximizing their combat prowess. However, once their unique qualities are understood, they exhibit enormous potential in various scenarios, ranging from online Super Smash Bros. matches and large-scale tournaments to casual games amongst friends. These fighters excel by virtue of their potent special abilities and low-level attacks, enabling them to execute impressive combos and cultivate diverse metas and strategies. Though these distinctive characters are comprehended to a greater extent, it is still uncommon to witness them completely dominating high-level tournaments as Steve does, which is why they fall short of reaching the S-tier.

However, any A-tier character is a strong choice, regardless of the player's experience or skill level. These fighters do not necessitate familiarity with complex Super Smash Bros. techniques such as edge-guarding or boost-grabbing, although mastering these skills can greatly enhance their effectiveness.

Bowser

Byleth

Captain Falcon

Dark Samus

Diddy Kong

Greninja

Lucas

Lucina

Luigi

Mario

Marth

Mii Fighter

Ness

Olimar

Pokemon Trainer

R.O.B

Ryu

Samus

Toon Link

Wario

Wii Fit Trainer

Yoshi

Young Link

B-Tier

The characters in the B-tier are still considered to be good and are quite popular in the game. There are various reasons why a fighter can be placed in the B-tier, but most of them lack the power potential of those in the higher tiers. Additionally, B-tier characters often lack the unique factor that makes their superiors so powerful, which is something that Super Smash Bros. clones struggle with. However, these fighters are known for their versatility, ease-of-use, and reliable combat options, which makes them solid choices for a wide range of players.

It is not uncommon to encounter novice Super Smash Bros. players opting for these fighters, as they are relatively easy to understand and possess a wide array of powerful moves. However, unlike the characters in the A-tier, these fighters have a lower skill ceiling, reaching their maximum potential at lower levels and preventing them from becoming unstoppable forces, even for experienced players. In essence, many of the B-tier Super Smash Bros. characters offer satisfaction and enjoyment to players, but they lack the qualities that make the A- and S-tier choices superior.

Another characteristic of B-tier characters is their straightforward and comprehensible set of moves. Fighters like Ness may not be as straightforward to learn and play due to their unique abilities, but mastering these moves can lead to effective strategies that are difficult to counter. Although certain B-tier fighters, such as Kirby, have slightly higher skill ceilings because of their unique abilities, it is still uncommon to witness players achieving victory in major tournaments with them, placing them in a somewhat average position. B-tier Smash Bros. fighters certainly have room for improvement, but they are not so inadequate that they are rendered non-viable.

Chrom

Corrin

Dark Pit

Daisy

Donkey Kong

Falco

Hero

Inkling

Kirby

Mega Man

Meta Knight

Terry

Pichu

Pit

Schulk

C-Tier

The C-tier signifies a slight increase in importance. While not inherently terrible, these characters do not excel either. They may offer an enjoyable gameplay experience, mostly due to their uniqueness, but their chances of dominating tournaments are few and far between.

C-tier characters, although sometimes enhanced by unique play styles or strategies, are generally more suitable for casual play rather than high-stakes competition. For example, characters like Ice Climbers possess their own distinct charm but lack the combo potential and special abilities to inflict significant damage effortlessly, unlike other Super Smash Bros. fighters. Additionally, many of these characters, including Jigglypuff, not only lack offensive strength but also prove unreliable in defensive situations. Despite certain moves or strategies yielding decent damage, these fighters are easily susceptible to being eliminated or interrupted before they can execute their maneuvers, thus making them risky choices without a worthy payoff.

Banjo & Kazooie

Bowser Jr.

Duck Hunt

Ice Climbers

Incineroar

Jigglypuff

Mewtwo

Mii Gunner

Mii Swordfighter

Richter

Ridley

Simon

Villager

Zelda

D-Tier

C-tier characters have value for those who can master them, but D-tier characters are practically useless in competitive play. These characters are not suitable for beginners in Super Smash Bros., and experienced players will not want to invest their time in characters with weak offense and defense. They are generally not a great choice for most players, except for those who enjoy experimenting and exploring the roster.

Some fighters in this tier, like Dr. Mario, are simply weaker versions of other more effective characters. Others, like the heavyweight King K. Rool, are only effective in specific situations and lack versatility, making them easy to defeat for most players. The only thing that prevents these characters from being in the lowest tier is the inclusion of certain powerful abilities that, when used correctly, can create advantageous scenarios. Piranha Plant, for example, has a devastating Final Smash.

Isabelle

King K. Rool

Lucario

Piranha Plant

Rosalina & Luma

F-Tier

Lastly, we have the F-tier. These characters represent the lowest tier and while there may be some enjoyment found in playing certain ones (such as Little Mac with his impressive speed), they are generally not recommended for competitive play, and it is uncommon to witness their triumph in tournaments. Even with skill and clever tactics, seasoned players will usually dominate anyone opting for these characters.

Ganondorf

King Dedede

Little Mac

Some fans may recognize a few of their beloved fighters on this roster, and that's absolutely acceptable. Ever since the Nintendo 64 days, Super Smash Bros. has refined and enhanced numerous core characters, along with incorporating formidable fighting mechanics for the fresh faces they introduce in each installment. The main point being, while it may be more common to witness players triumphing in tournaments with specific characters, this does not render lower-tier ones entirely useless. Ultimately, nearly any character can prove to be a viable option in Smash, provided that the player possesses sufficient skill and employs a successful strategy - it's just that certain characters are better suited for a wide range of play styles.

The characters in the Super Smash Bros. series can easily change their position in the tier list as the series progresses. For instance, Meta Knight was known for being excessively strong in Brawl, but in Ultimate, he is considered average. The future of the series is uncertain, so it is difficult to predict how these characters will evolve. However, this unpredictability is what adds excitement to Super Smash Bros.