Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List: All fighters ranked plus the best melee, sword and ranged fighters explained

Fighting your friends in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has become more heated than ever, but with over 70 playable characters, it can be tough to choose which is the best Smash Bros Ultimate character to try.

We've done the hard work and worked out a Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List in order to help you get to grips with competitive play, updated to include all the latest Smash Bros DLC characters, up to the newly available Kazuya, released June 2021.

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Super Smash Bros Ultimate Opening Movie

One of the first things that you should look out for is the general play style of the character. We've segmented these into three categories, Melee, Sword and Ranged. Be aware however, that some characters (such as Link and all of his variants) do not generally fit into this mould.

When you have settled on which character to play as, you need to get them first - which is where our Super Smash Bros Ultimate character unlock page comes in handy. We also have some Super Smash Bros Ultimate tips if you want to brush up on the essentials.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List

We've attempted to rank every current fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate into a single list, based on their strengths, weaknesses, options for attack, recovery and general attack power.

With the arrival of the devil-gene infused Kazuya Mishima in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, we take a look at everything patch 12.0 drops our way along with the stalwart Tekken character.

With new balance changes to shift characters up and down, along with a brand-new character in the fray. We've spent quite some time in the lab checking out the latest character, along with the newest changes to see just who comes out on top.

We've spent some good time in the lab to see exactly they fit into our Super Smash Bros Ultimate tier list, letting you know which characters are the creme of the crop.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List changes at a glance

Between new characters and patches, here's how the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List has changed since 12.0:

• Kazuya (Strong - NEW)
• Pyra / Mythra (Best - previously Strong)

Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List (Fighters ranked by Tier, last updated August 6th, 2021)

Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List (Fighters listed alphabetically)

How we settled on our Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List - and how it's changed in the latest update

With Kazuya and patch 12.0 dropping, we've seen yet another character in the Super Smash Bros Ultimate Season Pass Vol. 2. The latest patch gives us a handful of meaningful changes for a few characters.

Mostly comprised of buffs, these patch notes do indicate that there is still a fine-tuning of balance, though the changes are not quite as sweeping or dramatic as seen in some of the earlier patches.

This is reflected in the changes in the character tier changes - but we'll also go over some of the changes which might not also facilitate a complete tier change, too.

Firstly, the tuning on Marth's damage while at the tip of his blade has been adjusted on his dash, up and down tilt attacks. Meaning, if you are at the right distance when attacking an enemy, you're more likely to dish out a bit of extra damage, as well as having increased power and launch distances while performing the dash and up tilt attacks.

Marth is already one of the most powerful characters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and these changes just make this powerful character even better.

The suite of Mii characters have also enjoyed a slew of additional buffs, but while it's an all-around character buff, they're still not quite cohesive enough to necessitate a total tier change.

Bayonetta has also enjoyed a buff, through the increased attack speed on her down smash, extended launch distance on her flurry attack and increased time when an opponent is slowed. However, for us, these buffs did not really justify an entire shift in the tier list. Bayonetta is still far from the heights she was at as a character in Super Smash Bros for Wii U.

Min Min has experienced a debuff through shortened launch distances in attack speed, and launch distance, in addition to her up special having got a decreased speed for edge-grab detection. However, due to the competitive performance of Min Min as a character, we've chosen for her to stay in her current tier, rather than shifting her down.

Pyra & Mythra received some significant adjustments, mostly by the way of a handful of buffs and debuffs. However, while they are tricky to use for newcomers, the viability and versatility of both of their forms and attacks mean that we've shifted her up a tier over from Strong to Best.

This latest patch does have some more fine-tuning for the character, but it doesn't take away from the character being incredibly strong while in the right hands, and now that the dust has settled since launch, we're confident in their more firm place in the highest tier.

Finally, our latest entrant into the list Kazuya Mishima is an incredibly powerful and complex character, with certain skills and strengths in his moveset that lend himself well particularly to 1v1 scenario. But with a slew of more complex inputs to contend with, we've placed Kazuya into the 'Strong' tier.

How good are DLC characters, including the latest, Kazuya, in our Super Smash Bros Ultimate Tier List?

The addition of new characters always add new dimensions to the tier list ranking - and it can be hard to keep track on the impact they make each time. Here a rundown of what each DLC character adds to Super Smash Bros Ultimate.

Kicking off with Piranha Plant, its range of moves and attacks make it a slightly weaker ranged character, but it doesn't quite give you the same sort of options as the most recent addition, Joker adds.

Joker is incredibly versatile, with fantastic close range and melee attacks, in addition to a dynamic recovery. In addition to this, when you fill his gauge up and unleash his persona, Joker becomes a master of zone control, if you want to keep your enemies at bay, you can - but you can also stand toe-to-toe with some of the better melee fighters, but a change to the way that Arsene reacts to projectiles in 4.0 means that we've given him a slightly lower ranking.

That said, a Joker player just won Evo 2019. Sometimes, raw tiers don't always count towards player skill!

In update 4.0, we saw the addition of Dragon Quest's Hero and his many cosmetic incarnations. And phwoar, he's very strong. Being a swordfighter, Hero has an MP Bar, with a menu ability that allows you to use special attacks, that often do some incredible damage, including a movement and speed buff.

Additionally, you're able to block projectiles with a forward tilt, and his special attacks consume a slight bit of MP. If you fully charge your side special, Zapple, you're able to almost certainly thwack an enemy right off stage. With really strong normals, tilts and smashes, and to top it all off, a skill named Thwack, that has the potential to instantly KO enemies.

It's likely that Hero may be banned in future tournaments, just because he's that good.

The fourth character, Banjo and Kazooie, is worth considering thanks to a decent range of attacks.

Banjo and Kazooie's normal attacks and tilts can come across as slightly stubby, and as such they aren't a great fighter when playing up close, with Banjo and Kazooie you'll want to use their excellent throw and side special to do a big hunk of damage and close the gap.

If your opponent is at range, you're also able to use their side special, which spouts eggs at the enemy. The trick with Banjo and Kazooie is that because their side special is so strong, they give you limited uses by the way of feathers, so use them wisely.

Banjo and Kazooie is an incredibly situational character, and not really the best all rounder, even with their range of attacks, which is why we have placed them in the average section of our tier list.

Patch 6.0 introduced Fatal Fury and Garou: Mark of the Wolves legend, Terry Bogard.

This technical fighter is not for players who cannot quickly perform fighting game inputs, but if you handily know how to do Supers and special moves in Street Fighter, you'll be fine.

Either way, you can practice in the training room until you've nailed it.

Terry has a lot of special moves, and with the right inputs you'll be able to master them all. Tapping B does Power Wave, a short-ranged projectile that tracks across the floor, a quarter circle forward and B or A will do Burn Knuckle, a horizontal punch that covers a decent amount of ground.

Back, down back and down will perform Crack Shoot, an overhead kick that is a really good situational gap closer, which will help out with your zoning and distances.

Power Dunk is forward, down and down forward which will launch your enemies into the air and smash them back down again, which is great for getting those high percentage spikes.

Terry's final special Rising Tackle isn't too useful we've found, and is an attack that launches you upwards, dealing a minimal amount of damage.

Just from these moves alone, Terry isn't too powerful, and can be hard to close the gap with ranged fighters, but due to the amount of air attacks that Terry has, he can do excellently when fighting offstage.

The real interesting meat, and what tipped Terry from Good to Strong in our Tier list are the special moves that he gets when he hits 100% damage, where a 'Go' will appear near his character portrait.

Power Geyser requires you to input down, down back, back, down back, forward and A or B, this will make Terry perform a quick smash to the ground, which can kill at relatively low percentages, and launch your opponents into the air.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Terry Bogard In-Depth Gameplay Breakdown

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The other notable move is Buster Wolf, which can be performed with two quarter circles forward on the stick and B or A. This will launch Terry forward, and connect with one attack, before "shooting" them.

This does some great damage and can also kill at lower percentages, especially if you're close to the edge of the stage.

The only thing holding Terry back from the "Best" Tier are his options for closing distance with other characters, and average movement speed. This makes Terry a more difficult character to use, but one that we'll be keeping an eye on in the competitive scene.

Finally, Fire Emblem: Three Houses star Byleth gets a well-earned cameo in Super Smash Bros Ultimate as the final character in the first Fighter's Pass.

Byleth appears in both masculine and feminine forms, and also has a few other tricks up their sleeve. Byleth's gimmick is that they're often a slower, hard-hitting character that has pretty variable (inconsistent) range, but can very easily kill at lower percentages.

Doing an upward direction attack will see Byleth use a fast whip, which causes multiple hits, a side attack using the lance has long range, and usually comes out slower.

A down attack uses Byleth's Axe, which comes out incredibly slowly, but with some pretty incredible damage. Byleth's most useful attack is their Bow, which can be used just by using neutral special.

This can be charged, and do an obscene amount of damage, flinging your enemies far across the screen. The key to using Byleth is to not only know how fast your attacks come out, but also how to wrap your enemies around your finger using zone-control using the bow.

Since the bow is pretty powerful and also has a longer range, you need to carefully think about what attacks to use and when.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Mr. Sakurai Presents "Byleth"

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Like Terry, you don't want to be mashing out on Byleth willy-nilly, as it probably won't end well when the slow movement speed is compounded with the slower side and down attacks that use the lance and axe.

One thing redeeming this is that Byleth has a great recovery, which can also allow you to bounce straight off walls and into another attack. However, this is a really finicky character.

Since you're able to deal a bit more damage than a lot of other characters, we've popped Byleth in the 'Average' tier. We can only hope to see that Byleth gets buffed in the future, as the slow movement speed and slow attacks do not make up for the damage output we managed.

With Arms finally getting some representation in the form of Min Min in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, we've found that she's not quite all that when it comes to raw power and versatility, in comparison to some of the other characters that we have seen being introduced to the game.

Min Min has a pretty average movement speed, with some impressive range on some attacks, this doesn't necessarily mean she's a ranged fighter, however.

We've found that she can hold her own up close or at a medium distance, thanks to her spring-loaded arms. Side specials and smashes perform relatively well, if not a little bit underpowered for how slow they come out.

You can charge the cannonball using down special, and release the energy with a side special. but we've found that it's a bit too much investment to prove useful when it comes to being in a high-octane brawl.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Mr. Sakurai Presents "Min Min"

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However, she does have an impressive fast recovery time, using her arms to zip up to the edge, this may be useful for edge guarding in a pinch.

Her air attacks are where those spring-loaded arms come in really handy, you can keep enemies at a pretty safe distance, but all of your attacks dish out fairly mediocre damage, and don't necessarily always have the launch power to fully take your enemies out.

Unfortunately, this means that we didn't exactly have a great time online with Min Min, as she just didn't have all the tools we needed to hold our own.

The saving grace for Min Min are her defensive options, which are thanks to her impressive melee range. For this reason, we've placed Min Min onto the 'Average' tier.

If you think it could have gotten weirder than how characters like Joker, Hero or Terry play, strap in, because Minecraft's iconic default skin, Steve has entered the ring, and he might just be a little bit too much to take in.

Mechanics for Steve revolve around mining the stage for resources, and then using those resources to power up your attacks. With each stage having a different number of resources, and types of resources available, you'll always be changing up your attack strategies when playing as this mind-boggling character.

The complexity and randomness isn't an issue, however. It becomes a bit more stark when looking at his slow movement speed. Luckily for poor Steve and his equally-blocky alternate costume compatriots, the amount of damage that Steve can put out is fairly formidable.

His normal attacks combo incredibly well, meaning that characters that attack at shorter ranges will have a hell of a time against Steve. His smash attacks are also pretty good, with an up and down smash that has decent range, does a decent amount of damage.

Steve's special allows him to 'mine' whatever he's stood on top of, and then that resource can be 'crafted' by tapping special again to upgrade his weapons, depending on what resources he has.

This makes for a base upgrade to attacks and not much else, however. Steve's down special plops some TNT in front of you and your enemy, which can be a bit of a risky move, but quick-witted players could easily activate the TNT from a distance using something like Steve's throw; a ranged fishing hook to trigger it.

To surmise, Steve might have his own weaknesses when it comes to movement speed, but his potential is fairly massive. However, there are just too many elements of randomness involved in his playstyle, which means that he's been placed in our 'Good' tier, for now.

While some would be disappointed to see another sword user in the Smash roster, Sephiroth brings us some welcome additions, in the form of stubby, close-range normals, which has huge range when using his Masamune for smash attacks and tilts.

With his side-tilt having peak damage if you catch them in the middle of the blade, so there's still room to finesse at what distance you attack from. His downward smash is a powerful spike, that will launch foes into the air, which can easily be comboed into a grab and throw, with a fantastic cherry on-top of a quick neutral-special, Flare, a chargeable projectile.

With a decent amount of damage peppered in, Sephiroth is all about managing distance and space to keep your opponents in the mid-range, and moving in on the specials when you want to keep them away, or want to work them into a combo.

It doesn't stop there for everyone's favourite villain. Sephiroth is also able to counter using his down special, like many other sword users.

However, Sephiroth will always deal some sort of damage in response, giving you yet another opening. He's a very powerful addition and is only marred somewhat by a slightly sluggish movement speed. He is distinctly heavier than average, but since he's a mid-ranged character, it will pay off if you learn optimal placements to ensure that you're always able to strike back.

Additionally, you're also able to activate his Wing abilities if you've taken enough damage, it gives you another jump, and gives you a slight boost to strength and speed. It only appears when you're losing, and makes for a very very hype comeback mechanic built into the character, especially since your smash attacks will also gain hyper-armour.

That's why we've placed Sephiroth firmly at the top-end of strong, but not quite best, as his performance in tournaments is still yet to be seen.

Taken in isolation, Pyra and Mythra as separate characters would both be fairly underwhelming. However, being able to change between them at will with the down special is a game changer, and makes both of them a potent combo in the right hands.

Pyra is the heavier character of the two, with a slower running speed, but making up for it in sheer power; her sword attacks deal a decent amount of damage, and her recovery acts very similarly to Ike's. When at the right striking distance, Pyra can easily rack up the damage percentage for your enemies quickly.

However, there are some glaring holes in her toolset. While her side special dishes out a decent amount of damage, be sure to never use it in a situation where you want to clear horizontal distance, as you'll just stay in place.

This is where Mythra comes in. She's quicker, has a better side recovery and her normal recovery will allow you to hit an enemy at an intercardinal distance from yourself, if they're not too far away.

Her combos are perfect for getting close to enemies, or whenever you need to quickly duck out and recover, or just find an opportunity to strike, where there was none before with Pyra.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Mr. Sakurai Presents "Pyra/Mythra"

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This ends up with both characters feeling slightly incomplete without the other, and the key to good play with Pyra / Mythra is knowing when to switch, by knowing each individual character's weakness.

We can see Pyra/Mythra climbing up the tiers in the next revision once the best-of-the-best have gotten their hands on them, just because the sheer potential is incredibly high when used correctly, and when all of the best 'switching' windows allow you to juggle up enemies between them.

The arrival of another fighting game-style character in Super Smash Bros heralds the arrival of more than a few new mechanics to contend with, and Kazuya may just be the most complex character in the entire game so far - with a toolkit of incredibly high-damaging skills and attacks.

We're not going to go over every single move Kazuya is able to perform, but please note that many of his attacks do require technical inputs to execute them.

He's on the heavier side of the scale for a Super Smash Bros character and has a walking speed to match. However, this is made up for in droves by the way of his ability to stun characters and the sheer amount of damage output.

Also of note is a trait named Tough Body that we've previously seen used on Bowser, meaning that Kazuya is protected from knockbacks on some weaker attacks and will not flinch.

This means that he's incredibly dangerous up close, and possibly unmatched in close-up scenarios.

Also of note is his Rage mechanic, where after reaching over 100% damage received, Kazuya will begin to flow red, and now have a 1.1% multiplier added to his attacks.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Battling with Kazuya (Nintendo Switch)

This also unlocks his unique Rage Drive attack. Which can be performed just by inputting down and B/R, or forward, down, down-forward and holding A. The version of the attack that requires a more complicated input will indeed dish out more damage, as previously seen on other fighting game characters such as Ryu.

Kazuya also has the ability to keep opponents at range with his neutral B attack, but this isn't too effective against some of the quicker characters in the game.

We recommend that you instead try to close the distance and get up-close and personal while fighting other enemies, as this is where Kazuya can be incredibly dangerous, with his devastatingly powerful moveset.

That said, if you have never played as Kazuya in a Tekken game, or are not used to inputting directional attacks in a style similar to a fighting game, this character will be incredibly difficult to pick up and memorise, as he is incredibly technical, moreso than even Terry Bogard.

However, simply because of his damage potential in the right hands, we're going to place Kazuya in the Strong tier. His only weakness is really the complexity of the inputs on some of his moveset, which can be incredibly difficult in the middle of a melee.

This is not one for a less-experienced player to pick up. However, if you do decide to learn all of the ins and outs of Kazuya's playstyle, you will be rewarded in droves.

With the above changes and explanations out the way, it's time to choose a fighter. One of the first things that you should look out for is the general play style of the character. We've segmented these into three categories, Melee, Sword and Ranged. Be aware however, that some characters (Such as Link and all of his variants) do not generally fit into this mould.

If you're looking for a specific playstyle, then may the following sections help...

Best Melee Fighters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Melee fighters are the best at getting up close and personal with your enemies. Their normal attacks should be quick, their tilts exceptional, and smashes hit hard. A great example of a good melee fighter would be Bowser, who might have some ranged options with his firebreath, but excels at getting up close and personal to dish out some pain.

You should also consider a move often forgotten by a lot of casual Smash Players, the throw is an excellent way to chuck your enemies offstage, a great example of a character with a great throw is Ken's Roll-Back throw, as you're able to take an enemy from the last quarter of the stage, grab and roll them straight off the edge, leaving them vulnerable to your spiking smash attacks to finish them off.

While Terry is a great character, we wouldn't recommend him for those who might not be used to fighting game inputs. Practice with Ryu or Ken, then move onto Terry.

Peach / Daisy

Peach/Daisy are arguable the best melee fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with some devastating attacks with her side special, and quick tilts, you can often find yourself juggling characters in the air, or driving enough pressure on them to the side of the stage that they cannot escape.

A great bonus to any Peach/Daisy players out there is the fact that their recovery is also brilliant, with the iconic parasol dishing out damage where it causes the most pain.

Finally, While Terry is a great character, we wouldn't recommend him for those who might not be used to fighting game inputs. Practice with Ryu or Ken, then move onto Terry when you're ready.

Ryu / Ken

While our iconic street fighters are not in our top 'strongest' tier, that doesn't make them any less deadly up close. With their focus attack, Ryu and Ken gain armour on a single attack, and are able to crumple your opponents to the ground, meaning that this is a great counter to hard hitting single attacks or smashes.

Additionally, with their repertoire of traditional Street Fighter moves, Ryu and Ken might be a little bit stubby when it comes to their normal attacks, but it is a great starting point for someone wanting to play a melee character.

Ridley

This fan-favourite character has shown their true colours as the patches have gone by, highlighting how good Ridley really is. Focusing on a big close-range game, and with some devastating attacks and a strong recovery, Ridley is a great option for players who want to use a melee character at a high level.

In particular, Ridley's dominance in the air is one of his biggest strengths. From tilts that come out incredibly quickly, to great recoveries on his side special, Ridley is a force to be reckoned with, in the right hands.

Kirby

With a range of buffs as of Patch 8.0, we're really happy to finally be able to pop Kirby on this list, as one of, if not the easiest entry-level Super Smash Bros Ultimate character.

They might not have the strongest attacks, but Kirby certainly is the most forgiving, and with the most options too. Kirby's most potent attack is the charging side special, a hammer which you are able to dish out a decent amount of damage to smash characters offscreen

In addition to this, Kirby's recovery is incredibly generous, so if you are starting out in the game, or trying to get to grips with the basics, Kirby is a no-brainer.

Wii Fit Trainer

Wii Fit Trainer is one of those characters that goes under the radar to a lot of Smash players. But, just underneath the surface is a character with extreme longevity, with health restoratives and a decent damage output and moveset that's not too complicated to learn.

A charged special will cover you when needed at range, and with some attacks that are less stubby and more long-range, Wii Fit Trainer really has a well-rounded arsenal, should you choose to pick them up casually or competitively.

Best Sword Fighters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Sword Fighters dominate a lot of our 'Best' tier, and for good reason. Their attacks have some decent range, and they use that to use space to their advantage. Sword fighters have excellent zone control, and often can also combo you into oblivion. Many Sword Fighters also have a 'Counter', which is essentially a parry, but have to be timed excellently. So what's all the big fuss about? We go into detail with two of the best characters below.

Roy / Chrom

Roy and Chrom are more than just simple Marth clones. With fire damage side specials in addition to an excellent neutral air attack. Roy and Chrom are in our 'Best' tier, and it shows when coming face to face with them. They have incredible midair control and options, in addition to being able to dish out some incredibly hard hitting attacks. Combine that with some of the fastest running speed in the game, and you're left with an absolute beast of a character.

Ike

Ike is a tank. His movement might not be the best, but when it comes to raw attack power, he's hard to beat. Combined with handful of buffs, this is the best version of Ike yet.

Why? With a fast sweeping side special in addition to a neutral special that can be charged to erupt into three fire pillars, Ike is great when you're surrounded, or have to deal with multiple enemies, his smashes can sweep up multiple enemies, and while slow, they can KO Characters at less than 75% damage when coming out raw.

Hero

This new DLC character is one of the most unpredictable characters out there, with great range and a huge range of spells at his disposal, Hero can even do a 1 hit kill, if the RNG gods smile upon you with the list of spells you get when hitting down special.

Either way, he has a very good run speed, as well as being able to KO at low percentages with your neutral special or side tilt. Hero might just be the best character in the game, for now.

Byleth

Byleth isn't strictly another sword fighter, but sure does fight in the same style as one, with a number of options by their side, you can expect Byleth to KO others at low percentages with the lance and axe attacks, which may be a good strategy if you manage to dominate through usage of the bow, employing responsible zone-control where necessary.

Coupled with a pretty generous recovery, Byleth is a good option for a mid-ranged fighter who can be potent in the right hands.

Link is one of the most well-rounded sword fighters of the bunch. With a solid moveset that'll see you through any close range combat, and with tools like the Bow, Boomerang and Bomb that'll help you at range, Link has all the tricks in the book when it comes to wanting to try out a swordfighter who is very good at the mid-long range game.

However, Link really comes into his own as you start to use him while up close. His smash attacks deal a significant amount of damage, with his down smash in particular being incredibly potent for any enemies who don't keep their wits about them.

For almost all intents and purposes, Link is the ultimate beginner character for anyone wanting to dip their toes into a character who happens to be carrying a big hunk of sharp metal.

Best Ranged Fighters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Ranged Fighters are excellent at shutting down fast-moving characters and trapping those slower characters into a loop, all from a distance. Like their name might imply, they might be in a spot of trouble when up close against a good melee fighter, but with the options available to you to keep them at a distance and dish out the pain leading up to a powerful smash, Ranged Fighters are no joke.

Simon / Richter

Simon and Richter are exceptional ranged fighters. Namely, the Holy Water, Throwing Axe and Boomerang are all deadly combos for pretty much any character. With the Axes being thrown at an arc, they hit incredibly hard, and can KO high percentage characters.

Combined with the horizontal control with the boomerang, you can complete your setup by trapping them with your Holy Water and charging a whip attack. This deadly concoction can shut down almost any character.

Samus

While not quite as potent as Simon or Richter, Samus is a great beginner ranged fighter. With missiles and a chargeable blast, Samus is a good starting point to build from when it comes to fighting ranged.

She has some trouble when fighting up-close, but when practicing your ranged game with Samus, she has enough options to build from and take to a better character. Samus has value, if not just for being a great starting point to use as a ranged fighter.

Ready to get started playing as some of the above fighters? Our Super Smash Bros Ultimate character unlock can help you start getting your hands on them.

Banjo and Kazooie

Rare's finest fighter is finally in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and they're a very situational duo. Banjo and Kazooie we've found is best at range and closing distance when you've softened them up with your ranged attacks.

The feathers that appear above your head mean that you only have five side specials per stock, and they deplete with each use. But, if you use them wisely along with your throw, you can end up with some great setups to smash your enemies offstage.

Banjo's down spike smash attack is also great, but you'll have to make sure the enemy is at a pretty high percentage and if you can land safely. They're a pretty tricky character to learn and not super strong, but we've found are incredibly fun to play as.

Ness

Ness is a Super Smash Bros. staple, and no list would ever be complete without highlighting the benefits of this slightly harder to control character.

If you've dabbled with simpler ranged characters before, Ness is hardly a bad pick, when it comes to stepping up your game. PK Fire, Ness' side special can provide enough annoyance to your foes to find another opening, and just when they think they're safe, you can use your up special, PK Thunder, to shoot them out of the skies, and follow up with a sweet yo-yo smash to finish the job.

Upon first glance, Ness can seem slow and a bit floaty, especially in comparison to the closer ranged fighters, but don't be turned-off, this just takes some getting used to. The same can be said of Ness' PK Thunder, which can also be used to launch yourself back onto a platform after you've been thrown off, but takes some careful control.

If you're looking for a slightly different character that dishes out heaps of damage, you could be off worse than Ness, who has been newly-introduced into our 'Strong' tier after a series of buffs, thanks to patch 9.0.

Snake

Solid Snake made his first debut in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and has been in every entry of the game since.

He specialises in ranged abilities, using all manner of guns, cannons and drones in his arsenal. As a heavier character, Snake also dishes out a huge amount of damage while on the ground.

The Neutral special hand grenade is one of the best neutral specials in the game, just by virtue of how quickly it comes out, in addition to the ability to help Snake escape combos.

The remote C4 is also a fantastic option, as you can lead opponents into traps on the stage of battle. It can be tricky to adjust to Snake's playstyle. However, we're confident that he's a fantastic ranged character that you should look to at least play around with in Super Smash Bros Ultimate.