Home / Tier List / SSBU Tier List – Super Smash Bros Ultimate: Best Characters, Meta-Analysis, & Tier Breakdown

Tier List

SSBU Tier List – Super Smash Bros Ultimate: Best Characters, Meta-Analysis, & Tier Breakdown

November 7, 2026

SSBU Tier List – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Best Characters, Meta-Analysis, & Tier Breakdown

Have you heard about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Of course you must have heard, if you are already a fan of modern fighting games. And that’s why you are here! Isn’t it? It is one of the most popular games globally. And also, it is the third bestselling game on Nintendo Switch. In 2019, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, has won the ‘Best Fighting Game’ award, which is just after the release in the year 2018. And you know what? It is also one of the biggest fighting games played globally, as it has more than 80 fighting characters. For a new player, it can be a hard decision to pick a single main fighting character out of so many characters. To pick the best character, a player will need to compare the fighters and analyze them. And that hard work can be a little bit confusing, isn’t it?

This is where the role of an official SSBU Tier List comes into play. Are you wondering how this list can help you? A SSBU Tier List is made by combining real tournament results with the help of top pro fighters and stats teams. So, it’s a kind of ranking which lets the fighters know which character is performing best. Therefore, to make your character-picking journey easier, we have come up with this SSBU Tier List guide, where we will be breaking down the latest rankings as well. Let’s begin.

What is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

If you are completely new to the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, then let’s learn about this game first, before moving further. SSBU, also known as Smash Ultimate, is a crossover platform fighting video game, which was released in the year 2018, by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch.

In this fighting game, fighters build up a damage percentage by attacking opponents. A higher percentage means higher chances of knockback. So, the final goal is to knock opponents outside the arena boundaries, meaning the area of play, which we call ‘blast zones’ in SSBU. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can be played in both local and online multiplayer modes. There are various attractive levels and tournaments, which make this game a highly demanding fighting game from Nintendo.

How the SSBU Tier List Works: Evaluation Criteria?

If you are a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate player, then a SSBU Tier List will help you a lot. But what is a SSBU Tier List? SSBU Tier List is a ranking list which ranks the characters based on certain metrics. This tier list lets you know which fighter has a higher chance of winning at a high-level tournament. But do you know how a tier list is made? Which factors are considered to rank any fighter in an SSBU tier list? Below mentioned are four main factors which contribute to the ranking system of SSBU tier list.

1. Player Speed and Safety – SSBU tier list ranking system ranks the fighters based on how fast the player moves, or how fast their attacks hit. A player’s speed and safety are a major factor in the ranking system.

2. Player Fighting Control – SSBU Tier List has fighters ranked based on their fighting control, which means how easily the fighters land their first hit. And, it is also considered that how these fighters trap enemies who are trying to get back onto the stage.

3. Matchup Spread – Ranking is also done based on how well a character fights against all 80+ characters without getting eliminated by bad matchups.

4. Tournament Results – Various tournament results also affect the ranking system in the SSBU Tier List. The more often a player wins big real-world competitions and takes trophies, the more the chances are for the player to remain at the top of the ranking list.

Complete SSBU Tier List Overview

SSBU Tier List allows you to get an idea of where every fighter stands according to their performance and capability. Based on the fighter’s strength and tournament reliability, various fighters are grouped into respective tiers. Below mentioned are the tiers and representative fighters, which can help you get an idea.

Tier	Status	Representative Characters
S Tier	Meta Dominators	Steve, Sonic, Snake, Mr. Game & Watch, R.O.B., Kazuya, Pyra/Mythra, etc.
A Tier	High Viability	Olimar, Roy, Luigi, Palutena, Mario, Ryu, Terry, Lucina, Toon Link, etc.
B Tier	Solid Mid-Tiers	Young Link, Ken, Captain Falcon, Pit/Dark Pit, Meta Knight, Inkling, Pichu, etc.
C, D and E Tiers	Niche & Low-Tier	Wii Fit Trainer, Incineroar, Chrom, Robin, Bowser, Bowser Jr., Jigglypuff, Marth, Piranha Plant, Villager, Dr. Mario, Ganondorf, Little Mac, etc.

Tier Categorization Breakdown

Now, let’s know about how these tiers are categorized and how the fighters are ranked and placed in these tiers.

S Tier (Meta Dominators) -‘S Tier’ contains fighters who are completely best in the game. You can say that these are the top-ranked fighters. In SSBU Tier List, fighters who are placed in the S Tier have unmatched move sets, high combo damage and dominant tournament results in major events.
A Tier (High Viability) – ‘A Tier’ contains extremely strong fighters. The fighters in this category have incredible tools, which makes it easier for them to win major tournaments. All you need is to have great skills to control these fighters.
B Tier (Solid Mid-Tiers) – ‘B Tier’ in SSBU Tier List contains fighters with good strength, but they have noticeable weaknesses. These weaknesses are a disadvantage when they fight with top-tier fighters.
C & D Tier (Niche & Low Tier) – ‘C & D Tier’ fighters have slow movement, poor recovery options and weak defence. If you choose these fighters for casual play, then it’s a good option but choosing them for a competitive tournament can give you bad results.

Deep Dive into the Tiers

As you have got an idea about the tiers and ranking system, now let’s know about these tiers deeply, including which fighters are ranked in which tier.

1. Top – Tier Dominance (S+, S, S-)

S Tier represents the top-ranked fighters, who can easily dominate their competitors easily. It includes –

S+ Tier (The Meta Leaders) – S+ tier in SSBU Tier List includes top-ranked fighters such as Steve, Snake and Sonic. Steve’s block-building mechanics and Sonic’s unbeatable movement speed are some of the noticeable factors making them lead the ranking board.
S/S- Tier (Top Solo Mains) – Fighters like Mr. Game & Watch, R.O.B, Pyra/Mythra, Diddy Kong, Fox, Joker, Pikachu, Yoshi, etc. are ranked in the S/S- Tier. Their exclusive stage control and powerful move sets keep them apart from other fighters and are a reliable pick to win major tournaments. Their characteristics make them a winning solo fighter without the need of any secondary fighter.

2. High- Tier Contenders (A+, A and A-)

Ranked just below the S Tier fighters, A Tier fighters are also extremely strong, with consistent performance in top-tier tournaments. It includes –

A+ Tier – A+ Tier in SSBU Tier List includes ranked fighters like Cloud, Roy, Luigi, Palutena, Mario, etc. These fighters have explosive combos and high speed. These factors let them easily win major tournaments. But do you know why they are ranked below S Tier? Of course, they have slight flaws. For example, Fox is a light fighter and dies early.
A and A- Tier – This tier includes ranked fighters like Wario, Corrin, Wolf, Ryu, Terry, Greninja, Pac-Man, Lucina, Pokemon Trainer, Toon Link, etc. Of course, they have an incredible matchup tool, but these fighters miss that ‘much-needed effort’ to beat the S+ tier fighter threats in an active tournament.

3. Mid-Tier Picks (B+ and B-)

The fighters who are ranked B Tier are well balanced, but they do have few barriers, which make them ranked below the S and A Tier. It includes –

B+ Tier – B+ Tier includes solid fighters like Pit/Dark Pit, Young Link, Ken, Captain Falcon, Rosalina & Luma, etc. Being ranked in the B Tier, these fighters are still dangerous counter picks as they have strong moves and great fighting skills.
B- Tier – Fighters like Mega Man, Meta Knight, Ness, Sheik, Byleth, Pichu, Donkey Kong, Inkling, Ice Climbers, etc. remain ranked in the B- Tier. Their fighting range is very short, which the top fighters can easily take advantage of.

4. Low – Tier and Niche Characters (C+, C-, D and E Tiers)

Low-tier fighters have various flaws, and therefore, choosing these fighters can prove to be a moment of struggle for you to win a tournament. It includes –

C+ & C- Tier – C+ & C- Tier has fighters like Lucario, Chrom, Mii Gunner, Incineroar, Banjo & Kazooie, Link, Bowser, Kirby, Robin, Bowser Jr., Marth, Mewtwo, etc. These fighters need specialized skills to fight at higher levels. In simple terms, we can also say that these fighters are easy to defeat at high-level tournaments.
D Tier – D Tier has fighters like Zelda, Villager, Dr. Mario, Simon/Richter, King Dedede, Mii Swordfighter, Ike, Piranha Plant, etc. D Tier fighters have very slow movement and also poor recovery options. In high-level tournaments, they are easier to defeat. But in casual games, they can also be a great option to choose.
E Tier – E Tier includes fighters such as Little Mac and Ganondorf. E Tier fighters sit at the very bottom of the SSBU Tier List because their design flaws make them extremely difficult to win at higher-level play.

Official vs. Community Tier Lists

If you search about SBBU tier lists a lot, then you must be knowing that there are two types of tier lists. One is an official tier list, or the official rankings, and the other is a community tier list. A community tier list means a tier list which has been built by any player of SSBU. Yes, it’s true that any player can build a tier list. But still, there will always be a difference in official SSBU tier list and community tier list. Of course, official lists are more accurate. But, let’s understand how these tier lists are made. Because it will help you in deciding that which tier placements matters most to your training.

Official Aggregates (LumiRank / UltRank) – Official rankings of the SSBU Tier List do not rely on a single person’s opinion. The ranking list is made based on the data from thousands of matches across global tournaments. The results of these tournaments make a clear picture of which fighter wins most consistently.
Pro Player Tier List – The SSBU top players kike Sparg0, Sonix or MkLeo publish their personal made lists often. These lists are based on their hands-on experience. But these rankings are not consistent. The rankings might shift based on play style as well as regional play. For example, Japanese players focus on defensive zoning, but at the same time, North American players focus on aggressive advantage play.
Patch History Impact – Since Nintendo stopped updating the game with patch 13.0, character stats will never change again. There are no more updates to make characters stronger or weaker. Today, character rankings only change when players discover new tricks, combos, and strategy counter-picks on their own.

How to Choose a Main Based on Tier List?

No doubt, S Tier fighters in the SSBU Tier List offer clear mechanical advantages over other tier fighters. But still, picking a main is a lot more than just selecting a top-tier fighter. A player considers a lot of factors, such as personal playing style, player execution or game enjoyment. Below mentioned are some of the points, which a player considers while choosing a main in the SSBU main.

Play-Style Fit – As a player, you must check a fighter’s movement speed or execution requirements before finally selecting. It is not necessary that a top-tier fighter will only win. If a fighter’s play-style feels uncomfortable, then it can lose a tournament, even if it belongs to the S Tier.
Beginner vs. Tournament Play – If you are a beginner, then you must pick simple fighters like Mario, Wolf or Lucina. Do you know why? They will help you in learning game basics with no tricky mechanics. Pro tournament players, on the other hand, stick to top-tier characters to win against tough opponents.
Secondary Characters and Counter Picking – You can check backup characters to cover your main fighter’s worst matchups. Learning a second character helps you beat tough opponents without giving up on your main choice.

Conclusion

Even though Super Smash Bros. Ultimate no longer gets updates from the developers’ end, the game’s competitive Meta keeps evolving. There are many top SSBU Tier List players who continuously find new combos or winning strategies, and that changes our view of the SSBU Tier List Ranking.

But, at the same time, this is true that the SSBU Tier List is a great tool to choose a main fighter in the game. The tier list helps you in getting a data that which fighter is performing best in the tournaments. Apart from this, you must also view your personal comfort, practice and having fun with your character. This plays a huge role in the success of SSBU fights. With the help of SSBU Tier List rankings, you can get a good guidance on the fighters, but you must always select a fighter with whom you enjoy playing on the stage.