Top 10 Best Super Smash Bros. Characters

Super Smash Bros., a game that's not just a game but a battleground where legends are made, friendships are tested, and sometimes, where you find out your little cousin is way better at this than you'll ever be.

You're here because you're curious about who people think are the best characters in this iconic game. But what does "best" really mean in Super Smash Bros.? Is it the character with the swiftest moves? The one who can knock an opponent out cold with a single, well-timed smash? Or maybe it's the underdog that no one expects to win, but somehow always does? It's a tough call, right?

This isn't just about stats and numbers. It's about those moments of glory, the nail-biting finishes, and the characters that make your heart race a bit faster when you pick them. Think about the times you've leaped off the couch in victory or groaned in defeat. The characters that got you those reactions? They might just be your personal best.

The Top Ten

Captain Falcon

Douglas Jay Falcon, known commonly as Captain Falcon, is a playable character in the racing video game series F-Zero. He first appeared in the original F-Zero game released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. Captain Falcon is also a prominent fighter in the Super Smash Bros. series... read more

Who doesn't love Captain Falcon? This guy is great in every manner possible. You have to admit, his character is defined mostly by his appearance in Smash Bros.
He is the best guy. The real guy. The guy who should be number 1. Vote him up!

The most explosive and fun character to play with. If you're not setting up his Knee of Justice, you're comboing, dunking, or footstooling your opponent. He is one of the few characters with no projectiles, and yet this makes no difference in terms of his ability.

Captain Falcon. No projectiles, no counter, only punches and kicks, and a damn Knee of Justice! The ultimate symbol of brave fighters who never resort to cowardly tactics.
Link

Link refers to several different incarnations of the same protagonist in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. Each incarnation of Link is typically chosen by the gods to protect the land of Hyrule from evil forces, often wielding the Master Sword and bearing the Triforce of Courage. His main goal is... read more

Yes, Link is really good. I can see why you would put him in second, even if I personally would put him in first. But to Captain Falcon? Really? I mean, sure, his Falcon Punch is OP, but it's really easy to dodge, and all his other attacks are pretty neutral.
Whereas Link is fast, strong, and can actually jump really high (if you know that you can use bombs to boost yourself). Maybe it's just because I've only played Smash Ultimate, but just so you know, I'm not saying Captain Falcon is bad.

Link is the best character. You can pull your opponent towards you with his boomerang attack. You better not try to attack him from the air because he can use his up smash, bomb, or upward spin attack to send you flying away. Also, his amiibo is not that rare, so you can find it easily and train him to turn him into a mean green fighting machine.
For some reason, some of his attacks are similar to Shulk's.
Sonic

Sonic the Hedgehog is the title character and protagonist of the video game series of the same name released by SEGA. He has since appeared in numerous spin-off comics, several television shows, an animated OVA, and a live-action movie trilogy. Known for his incredible speed and signature blue color... read more

I like the transformation to Super Sonic he gets with the Smash Balls. It's entertaining to fly around, smashing everyone, then seeing how that somehow makes them fly into the air.

Sonic is annoying, enough said.
Sonic is fast and powerful. His final smash is very powerful.

His fantastic Up-B combined with his excellent aerial combos make Sonic a must-pick in any Super Smash Bros. game!
Kirby

Kirby is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Kirby series of video games, owned by Nintendo and developed by HAL Laboratory. His first appearance was in Kirby's Dream Land, released in 1992 for the Game Boy. The pink, spherical hero is known for his ability to inhale enemies and copy their... read more

Honestly, the best Nintendo character ever! (Never steal his food if you value your life). Kirby is cute, fun, happy, small, and powerful. His copy abilities never fail to catch my interest. He is adaptable to his environment and foes. The idea of Kirby is so original and enjoyable. Characters from his series, such as Marx or Meta Knight, are interesting. There's no arguing that he is extremely unique and well-developed.
I'm also glad he had a decent role in the Subspace Emissary.
My personal favorite characters (1 being the greatest, 5 the least):
1. Kirby
2. Marth
3. Ike
4. Pit
5. Sonic

Possibly the #1 deadliest Smash character. He eats people and spits them out as stars. He has a hammer too large for his tiny body, and when you least expect it, he takes out a 60-foot-long sword!
Plus, he is a master chef and will throw you into his soup whenever he wants to.
Meta Knight

Meta Knight is a fictional character from the Kirby series of video games created by Nintendo and HAL Laboratory. He is often portrayed as one of Kirby's rivals, although he sometimes allies with Kirby to battle common enemies.... read more

You all clearly are beginners both at spelling and Smash Bros. Consult competitive battles and look at tier lists. Brawl Meta Knight is the best character of all time.

Meta Knight is OP, and his up special is incredibly strong. He is agile, and the only reason I am the best in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Meta Knight is so good, many players said he should be banned in Brawl. He was, and thankfully, he was nerfed in Smash 4. However, he still looks amazing and remains powerful.
Snake

This guy opened the way for Ryu, Cloud, Bayonetta, and Simon Belmont. He's an important Smash Bros. character, like it or not.
I was proud to main him in Brawl, and I can't wait to main him again in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Rocket launchers, grenades, helicopters - what more could you ask for?

Best character by far. An even match for any other character.
Mario

Mario, originally named Jumpman, is the main character of the Super Mario Bros. franchise and was created by Nintendo of Japan's game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Mario appears in nearly every game in the series, including many spin-off titles, with a few exceptions such as New Super Luigi U, the Luigi's... read more

He is my favorite video game character. Who doesn't love this guy? He can even beat Sonic in Super Smash Brothers.

Why is Mario all the way down here? He's my favorite character, and I'm really good with him. He should be higher.

Mario is weak in Brawl, enough said.
Mario is actually the most balanced character in every Smash game.
Ike

Ike is the protagonist of the video game Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance for the Nintendo GameCube and one of the central characters in its sequel Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn for the Wii. He is the leader of the Greil Mercenaries and is notable as the first main character in the series who is not of noble... read more

I only voted for Ike because he is my favorite.
Now, in all seriousness, any of these characters can be good depending on who is playing them. Whether or not they are competitive is the key, and a lot of the characters above here are NOT competitive.
If you had the same person playing as all the characters with the same skill level for each, then characters such as Captain Falcon and Lucario would definitely be lower on the list. So, I am sorry that I voted for Ike. He IS my favorite, but I wouldn't say he is the most competitive.

Thank you, my Fire Emblem fans. Ike is a character that requires quick reflexes because he is slow, but if you time him well, he is unstoppable.
Fox

Fox is a pretty great fighter. I consider him to be the best Smash Bros. fighter in the whole franchise. Sure, he wasn't that great in Brawl, being C tier, but in all other games, he was at least A Tier.

He's just awesome. Awesome attacks and combos. I'm always getting better with him. He ROCKS!

Fox should be number 1 because his Fox Barrier can block almost anything. His Final Smash is one of the longest-lasting Final Smashes. If he gets knocked out, he can get back to the stadium by using either Fire Fox or Fox Illusion.
Luigi

Luigi is a major character in video games and related media produced by Nintendo. He was originally introduced as a green-colored palette swap of Mario and is portrayed as Mario's younger, taller fraternal twin brother.
Created by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi appears in many... read more

I would vote for him if he had more meteor attacks besides only one frame of his down aerial attack and his down taunt.

He is one of my three mains. Link still outranks him, in my opinion.

Luigi is great, guys. You can't say that Luigi is bad! Learn to control him, and you'll see.

The Newcomers

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Sephiroth

Sephiroth is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII developed by Square. He is a former SOLDIER operative who becomes mentally unstable and seeks to destroy the world. Sephiroth is considered one of the most iconic villains in video game history... read more

Safer Sephiroth is strong and dope. Go, Sephiroth!

He is the creepy guy who kills all!
?
Pyra and Mythra

Why are they at the bottom of the list? I thought they were popular. Kazuya is the most recent DLC at this time and still made it over Pyra and Mythra.

The Contenders

Mewtwo

Mewtwo is a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon. Designed by Ken Sugimori, it first appeared in Pokémon Red and Blue in 1996.
Created by Dr. Fuji through gene splicing to clone Mew, Mewtwo is known in game lore as one of the most powerful Pokémon. In later games, it can undergo Mega Evolution into... read more

I like Mewtwo, first from The Pokemon Series and now in Smash Bros. I love Mewtwo despite his hatred towards humanity. He is powerful in both the Pokemon Series and Smash, where he has tons of moves to use to attack others. He even has his two megas, which have the highest base stats but are tied with Mega Rayquaza. In Smash, he shows more of his evil moves.

Roy, Mewtwo, and Little Mac are in a three-way tie for the strongest character. They are so broken! They are the BEST!

His Confusion and Disable attacks are great for catching the enemy off guard. Then, strike with a Shadow Ball!
Mr. Game and Watch

He is very unique as a character. He is my main in Brawl. (That's the only Smash game I currently have.) He can be tricky to master, but once you do, you become a beast. He requires frame-by-frame perfection, and you have to be particular with the movements on the controller.
He is powerful, fast, and has great recovery. He might be a little too light, but he makes up for that by being an amazing character to master. Worth it? Absolutely! I was literally the only kid back in 2009 who used the OG of Smash. Everyone else I knew used Fox, Kirby, Mario, Link, etc.

I made him my main as well. He is such a unique character, and I love it. His scuba up-smash is ridiculously overpowered!
Ness

Ness is a male video game character who made his first appearance in the 1995 Super Nintendo Entertainment System game EarthBound, known in Japan as Mother 2. He is the main protagonist of the game and uses psychic abilities in battle. Ness later became a recurring playable character in the Super Smash... read more

The best character in Super Smash Bros! The first Smash game I played was Ultimate, and I was just getting into gaming. I didn't know any characters in the game except for the Mario characters and Kirby.
I started to get bored playing Kirby, so I decided to try Ness. And I never looked back. He's my main character, and I feel pretty broken when I play as him. PK Fire is not the only attack I use with him. I rarely use it. His aerial attacks are great, and his magic is powerful as well. His baseball bat is overpowering, and his Yo-Yo is excellent for launching opponents into the air for up-air attacks.
I just love Ness, and it made me want to play Earthbound, which has become my favorite game too. Thank you, Sakurai.
Ganondorf

Ganon, referred to as Ganondorf in his human form, is a fictional character and the central antagonist of Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series. He is a power-hungry Gerudo who possesses the Triforce of Power and seeks to conquer Hyrule by obtaining the remaining pieces of the Triforce. Ganon has appeared... read more

Everyone says that Ganondorf is a clone of Captain Falcon. I disagree (unless you're talking about Melee. He was totally a clone in Melee). Ganondorf is a slower, more powerful character. Even though some of his moves, like the Warlock Punch, are clone moves, some of them are different, like the side B. It makes it easier to combo people than Captain Falcon's uppercut.

At a sleepover with some friends, we were playing SSB 4 with my best friend's dad watching. So, anyway... One of my friends had never played, so we put all the characters except her on random to even the odds, and I got Ganondorf. Since her dad was best with him, I let him play. Everyone else got wrecked. Even though he is slow, he has REALLY powerful attacks.
Lucario

Lucario was created by Ken Sugimori and first appeared as a central character in the film Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. It was later introduced in the main series games with Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Lucario has since appeared in numerous sequels, spinoff titles, and a wide range of merchandise... read more

Actually, in Smash 4, you could easily win with him. For those who don't take risks, Lucario isn't for you. He is a risk-reward type character. His up special is incredibly good at getting you out of the void and ledge bouncing opponents.
Use it, and if your opponent is in the air, you just attack him with it, and he'll bounce off the ledge. Along with that, his counter is good even with projectiles. Unlike other counters, they are really limited, but with Lucario, he does a clean sweep, basically. If playing a 4-player smash and all are in a row, he just plows right through them.

Come on! Why 17? Ness is worse. He should be below Jigglypuff. The Pokémon Trainer should be the last of all.
Anyway, Lucario is fast, his attacks are very cool and badass. Don't forget Aura Sphere. Gotta love Lucario and not hate him just because he'd replace him. Don't fret because Mewtwo was replaced.
Pikachu

Pikachu (Japanese: ピカチュウ) is a species of Pokémon that appears in video games, animated television shows and movies, trading card games, and comic books licensed by The Pokémon Company. It is the mascot of the Pokémon franchise and is widely considered the most iconic Pokémon. Pikachu is well known for... read more

Pikachu is great for people who want to hit fast, and its attacks can steadily build up damage if you use it right. In fact, it was at the top of the original Smash Bros. tier list, right?

Fast and agile, so you can dodge attacks and also hit them back with quick attacks. The only downside is that it is light, and the final smash isn't great.

I really like Pikachu. I like fast attacks and lightning, so that's why I like Pikachu. The first time playing as Pikachu was so fun!
Roy

The fact that he wasn't carried into Brawl upsets me terribly. He and Marth were my favorites, yet only one got continued... Shame, really. Amazing character with lots of tricks up his sleeve.

Okay, everyone, say it with me: Roy's our boy, Roy's our boy, Roy's our boy!

Why didn't he appear in Brawl?
Bowser

Bowser is the main antagonist of the Mario Bros. franchise. From kidnapping Princess Peach to disrupting games in the Mario Party spinoff series, this king of the Koopas has become a recurring enemy in the series. He first appeared in the 1985 video game Super Mario Bros., in which he kidnapped Princess... read more

Really, everyone? Bowser is totally the best! He might be a bit slow, but if you know how to use him right, Bowser's got great attacks, good dodges, and he breathes fire, for crying out loud!

This guy is a tank! He has bad walking speed but decent running speed. He is the most powerful attacker on the roster, and it is hard to knock him out. If you love powerhouses, this is your guy.

This guy is awesome! He's my main in Smash. His side smash is very strong, and his final smash is amazing as it is very powerful. This guy is just awesome!
Little Mac

Little Mac is a fictional boxer and the main protagonist of Nintendo's Punch-Out!! video game series. He first appeared in Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! released in 1987 for the NES. Known for his small stature and underdog persona, Little Mac's signature move is the "Star Uppercut," a powerful punch activated... read more

Yes, his recovery is trash, but in the right hands, he is totally amazing! Such amazing attack power and a cool revamped design make it. Little Mac just fits Smash Bros so perfectly. He belongs in the game, and I hope he never gets cut! Little Mac will always be my favorite.

He is so awesome. I wish they would make him better in the next game so I can see him in competitive play. He is my all-time favorite, and it makes me sad that so many people hate him.
He fits the fighting game style more than many others, that's for sure.
Marth

Marth is a fictional character from the Fire Emblem series, which is developed by Intelligent Systems and owned by Nintendo. He is a Lord-class protagonist featured in the first and third games of the series, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light and Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem. He... read more

I kind of like using this character, but he should be slightly higher than just number 14. Listen to why he should be higher: He can make a powerful counter and is less vulnerable to a reflecting projectile thanks to his close-range capability. He's also quite fast with his sword. He'd also be a big distraction to anyone that falls in love easily.

You're kidding, right? As I write this, he is ranked 23! Why? Marth is awesome! He is easily one of the most fun to play in Brawl. He is very quick and can get many attacks in, as well as dodge when necessary.
Samus

Samus Aran is the protagonist of the science fiction action-adventure video game series Metroid, developed by Nintendo. She is a galactic bounty hunter who typically wears the Power Suit, a piece of advanced armor that provides her with enhanced abilities and access to a variety of weapons. Samus made... read more

Samus is the best female character in Brawl. Seriously, think about it. Peach is a ditzy, dumb, overly girly princess who would rather put on makeup than fight. Samus, however, is a determined tomboy who shoots guns and kills monsters for a living.
Zelda's okay, I guess, if you're into that kind of thing, but she gets kidnapped way too much to be a very strong and powerful character. Samus hasn't been kidnapped once, and she isn't the snobby, weak princess that can't defend herself (cough) Zelda (cough).
Nana is cute and funny. But when you think about it, Nana isn't powerful at all. And don't even get me started with Samus and power. You have to assume a woman who changes into a butt-kicking robot is pretty powerful. I don't suggest telling Samus she's weak or powerless. If you do, she and her shotgun might be the last thing you'll ever see.
Pit

Pit is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Kid Icarus video game series developed by Nintendo. He made his first appearance in Kid Icarus for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, followed by Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters for the Game Boy in 1991. Pit also appears as a playable... read more

He is my main, and he is pretty powerful if you know how to use him. The same goes for all the characters, so there really isn't a bad character.
Nobody is a bad character. It's just that people don't know how to use them.

This has been my main ever since the beginning of the game, and I don't think it will ever change. He is honestly really good and a pretty decent character if you want to learn all aspects of Smash.

His moves and final smash are really effective, and when he's off-stage, his power of flight can always send him back on stage.
Villager

Although Kirby is my main, Villager is my close secondary. He or she may be called weak, but Villager is a beast when used correctly. As long as you can master them, they are an amazing character. It's really fun to use bowling balls and trees, and troll opponents by pocketing their attacks.

This character is absolutely amazing! The tree attack is so incredibly annoying, and the rocket move is simply OP because it saves you from falling. Its rocket is also really powerful, and I still haven't figured out how to beat my friend when he uses this.
Dr. Mario

Dr. Mario is the persona Mario adopts in the Dr. Mario video game series. In this role, Mario wears a lab coat, a head mirror, and a stethoscope. He first appeared as Dr. Mario in the 1990 puzzle game of the same name.

I like him more than Mario in Smash 4. He is a bit slower but a bit stronger, and he doesn't have F.L.U.D.D.

People don't know how to use him in Smash 4. That's why they hate him.

An underrated and overlooked character.
Zero Suit Samus

She sucked in Brawl, I'll give you that. But in Smash 4, she's a combo master.

Extremely sexy and flexible. I'd pair her up with Palutena.

Pretty good in both Brawl and Smash 4.