It’s been more than four years since the last game, but Super Smash Bros. is finally back. And this time it’s on Nintendo’s hybrid handheld console, the Switch. So you no longer need to decide between taking your brawls on the go and playing the “true” version at home. Smash Ultimate is the complete package, no matter how you decide to play. And we really do mean “complete.”
Smash Ultimate sports 74 different playable characters at launch. That includes every single previous character from previous Smash games and a bunch of fresh faces — including the long-awaited Ripley and other strange fighters. That’s not even including the glut of DLC additions, assist trophies, deployable Pokemon, and more. There’s so much that no normal person could possibly keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a guide to every single character!
- 7 Characters That Deserve to Be Smash Ultimate DLC
- Smash Ultimate Character List – Complete Fighter Roster
- Smash Ultimate Pokemon List – All Poke Ball and Master Ball Pokemon
This guide, if you hadn’t already guessed it, focuses on Nintendo’s marquee mascot: Mario. He’s an old standby for a lot of players. So it makes sense that he hasn’t changed that much in Smash Ultimate. Visually, he’s almost identical to his previous versions. The one major exception is Cappy from Super Mario Odyssey, who makes a few cosmetic changes to Mario’s general style.
According to Mario’s official Nintendo description…
Mario is an all-around fighter who uses his wide variety of techniques to respond to any situation. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he shows up in his Wedding tux and his Builder outfit, and Cappy even makes an appearance!
Moves
Fireball (B) – Throws a fireball that bounces along the ground.
Cape (Side + B) – Whips out a cape to spin opponents around and reflect projectiles.
Super Jump Punch (Up + B) – Hits repeatedly with a rising punch.
F.L.U.D.D. (Down + B) – Blasts opponents with water. Can charge and aim at an angle.
Mario Finale (Final Smash) – Mario unleashes a devastating torrent of fire in the direction he is facing. The attack covers a wide range and travels far, so it’s best to fire this after you jump.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
Nintendo’s posterboy is the all-around, balanced fighter on the Smash roster. Mario has a tool for just about every situation, whether it’s a fireball at range or his devastating grabs reminiscent of tossing Bowser into lava in Super Mario 64. The mustachioed plumber makes for a good first character because it’s rare to find any situation he doesn’t have tools for.
Weaknesses
That jack-of-all-trades approach can be a double-edged sword though; while Mario doesn’t exponentially lack in any area, he doesn’t particularly excel either. An opponent who knows how to make you play the game at their tempo and range can cause issues. Use Mario’s excellent normal attacks and diverse specials to keep control of the match, and you’ll be fine.
Changes
With Mario’s hat Cappy evolving into awareness, it’s also joined the fray. Though you’ll see it occasionally, leaks say it ultimately has no effect on gameplay.
Other leaks say that Mario can jump slightly higher, as well as walk, dash, and move through the air faster than he could in the last installment. His neutral attack animations have also been worked on a bit to help players connect after the first two hits.
Mario’s Fireballs can also hit the same target multiple times, but only when you’re at extremely close ranges.
Outfits
Nintendo has confirmed a Wedding tux outfit from Super Mario Odyssey and a Builder outfit from Super Mario Maker. Although there’s sure to be more down the line — either hiding in the game as unlockables, or coming down the pipe in future updates.
And that’s all we’ve got for everyone’s favorite plumber! Of course, how well you actually handle Mario in combat is up to you. There’s still quite a lot to learn about the ins and outs of Smash Ultimate beyond this single character. So be sure to check out the rest of Fanbyte’s guides — from single-player tips to vital multiplayer tricks. Above all else, just make sure you enjoy yourself!
All of our Smash Ultimate guides created with the help of Eric Van Allen.
