Pyra and Mythra from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 were recently revealed as DLC in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
For those of you who don’t know, Super Smash Bros. is a game where Nintendo characters such as Mario, Link, Kirby, and Pikachu, battle it out with third-party characters like Sonic, Snake, Cloud, and Ryu.
Following the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, DLCs came out through the Fighters Pass. Vol. 1 which consisted of Joker from Persona 5, Hero from Dragon’s Quest, Banjo and Kazooie from The Well, Terry Bogard from Fatal Fury, and Byleth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Meanwhile, Vol. 2 consists of Min Min from ARMS, Steve from Minecraft, Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, and the previously-mentioned Pyra and Mythra from Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
Usually, when it comes to DLCs, fans tend to think of their predictions for who the next character will be in Smash, and I consider myself no exception when it comes to speculation. With two more characters left, I will discuss my predictions and why I think they are likely for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Please note the following article was first made on February 26th. Since characters get revealed more than a few months later, and predictions are often proven right or wrong depending on who you want, it runs the risk of being outdated by the time of its release. It is also opinion-based. There will be picks for the next fighters different than mine, and it is okay to disagree with some character choices that I picked.
Prediction #1: Gen 8 Pokémon
Apart from Incineroar in the base roster, no new Pokémon were revealed as a fighter as of March 2021. And with the reveals of Min Min and Pyra & Mythra in Fighters Pass 2, we might get one more first-party character in the form of a new Pokémon. Especially since we got a new game through Pokémon Sword & Shield back in August 2019, but this year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise. I know some people don’t want another Pokémon in the game since we already have eight of them in it, and it might be considered another Fire Emblem situation of too many characters of the same series. But from a marketing standpoint, it would make sense. If Byleth, Min Min, and Pyra & Mythra can get in, it is probably good enough for another first-party character being a Pokémon. We also might get another Arms situation, where we are listed a bunch of characters for DLC speculation.
Here are some possible candidates, all of which seen from Sword and Shield:
Toxtricity
Being one of the most popular characters in this generation, this electrical/poisonous Pokémon would spice up the roster and pack a deadly punch. Its punk aesthetic, short temper, confidence, and attitude perfectly match Smash as it is a fighting game consisting of gaming mascots duking it out. This Pokémon can also generate 15,000 volts of electricity and fill its surroundings with the sound of a bass guitar strum, as well as build up more electricity than a thundercloud and contaminate opponents with toxic sweat while being out of control. From attack moves like Overdrive, Sludge Wave, Gunt Shot, and Poison Jab, Toxtricity could rock out as a Super Smash Bros. DLC.
The Galar Starters
Like with any Pokémon game, a group of starters is featured for beginners, and Sword and Shield is no exception with newcomers such as Grookey, Scorbunny, and Sobble, in addition to their evolution forms such as Thwackey, Raboot, and Drizzle, and Rillaboom, Cinderance, and Inteleon. Would we get one of the starters or include all three mixed and matched of their starter and evolution forms similar to Pokémon Trainer with Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard? Let us discuss each starter and see how they would work. In terms of their evolution forms, as stated by Dexerto, both Rillaboom and Cinderance are considered fan-favorites, and their moves could work well in a fighting game like Smash. Rillaboom could not only be the first standalone grass-type Pokémon of a new generation, but he would also provide drumming techniques that could cause damage to its opponents. On the other end, Cinderance can deliver a Pyro Ball that can burn its opponents. Inteleon, meanwhile, is versatile with his sniping and poking at long distances, as well as having fingertips shooting out water, and its back membrane that can allow it to glide through the air. In terms of a Pokémon Trainer-like fighter, all three would swap out with each other similar to Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard with their already-mentioned abilities. But it would be interesting to have different trainers on the side within each alternate color you choose, rather than the same trainer in different colors. Whether compiled together or fighting alone, the Galar starters would provide interesting moves and fit in well with the rest of the Pokémon in Smash.
Kubfu
As part of the Isle of Armor expansion in Sword and Shield, Kubfu obtains different fighting techniques and martial art skills. He would be a unique Pokemon to join Smash, similar to Incineroar and Mii Brawler in terms of their fighting styles. Incineroar provides wrestler-like moves while Mii Brawler contains a handful of different movesets when creating your Mii, and Kubfu is a martial artist and provides various fighting techniques such as taekwondo. This bear may look cute on the outside but is brutal and deadly on the inside.
Prediction #2: Someone big to cap off DLC
According to a Famitsu column, Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai stated that after Fighters Pass 2 is complete, it will also conclude Smash Ultimate. So, I figured, if this is the last time getting characters in the game, it’s worth speculating who will be the last one. And as the title of the section says, it can be someone big to round out DLC. This category is summarized as, “Yeah, that’s the character everyone and their mother wanted.” But to narrow it down a little, here are some choices that I think are likely.
Crash Bandicoot (from well, Crash Bandicoot):
Okay, hear me out on this. We don’t need or even want Crash Bandicoot in Smash Bros. Yes, you heard me. We do not want him in Smash. He has to be in Smash. Like with Minecraft Steve or Mega Man, Crash Bandicoot is a gaming icon, first appearing on the original PlayStation back in 1996 around the time the console wars were raging on with Nintendo competing against Sega or putting it simply Mario vs. Sonic. As a contender of the war, it would be a no-brainer (pun intended) for this orange marsupial to get in. From his iconic spin, the crates, and even a fruit bazooka, Crash could not only be a fun and interesting character but also seeing him in the game would make the console wars come full circle as we could see him duke it out with Mario and Sonic.
Dante (from Devil May Cry):
As Mega Man, Ryu, and Ken are already in the game, it would not hurt to see another Capcom representative in the form of Dante from the Devil May Cry series, especially since we have yet to see Capcom bring in one of their new characters to join the battle. Other Capcom contenders are considered, such as another Mega Man rep like Dr. Willy, Phoenix Wright from Ace Attorney, or another Street Fighter rep like Chun-Li. But I think Dante is more likely to make it in, as he is a highly demanded character by fans, and everyone is asking for him. And yes, I know it is another swordfighter that some people are getting tired of. But it is not about the consistency of certain fighters or the fighter is popular, it is about how fun the character plays, which Sakurai said when discussing Terry Bogard. With his Rebellion sword in hand, two pistols, and even some demon-like abilities in his attacks and Final Smash, Dante could beef things up with his powerful moves. Plus, Dante’s voice actor, Reuben Langdon, also provides the voice of Ken in Smash Ultimate. With Langdon already voicing Ken in the game, it would be interesting to have him and Dante clash, as well as putting in the “Featuring Dante from the Devil May Cry Series” sticker as a joke, since it has been used in countless memes and would work so well if he gets in the game.
Sora (from Kingdom Hearts):
With the inclusion of Cloud from Final Fantasy VII in the base roster and Sephiroth as DLC in Fighters Pass Vol. 2, I would not mind seeing another representative in the game from Square Enix, the company owning Final Fantasy VII. However, while Sora could be a possible candidate for Smash, there is one outcome to this, and that outcome is Disney. Disney cannot be part of the character, stage, spirits, and so on due to copyright issues. So, do not expect Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, or Goofy to be part of his character and certain Keyblades such as Sweet Memories, referencing Winnie the Pooh. And I know what you are thinking, Sora cannot be in the game at all due to his sword containing the Mickey Mouse keychain on the handle. They could change the logo with the Smash logo, similar to the King of Fighters stage changing its logo to the Smash logo. Being a magic-based user, Sora could wield his Keyblade into battle and provide various spells and other magic-based attacks, similar to Hero from Dragon’s Quest. At one point, I thought he was the fifth character in Fighters Pass 1 during the 2019 Game Awards found on Instagram, but that was not the case due to no reveal during the awards, and the artwork that I found was fan-made. Also, the fan demands for Sora are ridiculous, as he is both popular in the US and Japan. Plus, both Cloud and Sephiroth have made appearances in Kingdom Hearts, so it’s perfect for Sora to get in to reunite with his comrade and face against the One-Winged Angel himself.
Rayman (from well, Rayman):
With characters like Min Min and Pyra & Mythra, they originally had spirits before becoming fighters in DLC, making people believe that characters with spirits debunk their chances of being in the game. Following their inclusions, it broke the rule of spirits debunking characters. I believe Rayman has a shot of getting in, thanks to a video from YouTuber Aaronitmar. In the video, he discusses a rumor of the Rayman license being renewed for a third-party product and how it has yet to be revealed, which is similar to how the Banjo-Kazooie license was renewed for his inclusion in the game at E3 2019. Whether as a fighter in Smash or something simple like a T-shirt or a plushie, it is still fun to speculate the possibility of him getting in as DLC. And with his detachable limbs, he could be a unique fighter to join as Smash is about adding in new mechanics.
Also contrary to belief, I do not think Rayman appears to be frozen in one of the crystals on the Battlefield stage, as I like to think it is just a pure coincidence.
Master Chief (from Halo):
And finally, wrapping my speculations of the next Smash fighter is the one character I like to think might break the internet, similar to how Steve broke Twitter on his initial reveal. And that, of course, is Petty Officer John-117 himself, Master Chief. Much like Cloud from Final Fantasy VII and Joker from Persona 5, their main games were initially not on the Switch, and Halo has yet to appear on a Nintendo console. But that does not stop Microsoft from supporting Nintendo by including Banjo-Kazooie and Steve in the game. For his moves, he would not just shoot various guns, he can also use bombs, the Gravity Hammer, the Energy Sword, a rocket launcher, and even a Warthog to annihilate his opponents. And with Halo Infinite slated for release in late 2021, around the time Fighters Pass Vol. 2 wraps up, as well as his popularity on the Xbox and his inclusion in Fortnite on Switch, this could perfectly wrap up DLC. It could also cause the internet to explode in joy, like what happened when Steve crashed Twitter by unveiling the biggest icons of video games together for the ultimate showdown.
As of writing this, we know next to nothing who the last characters will be. But that is the fun and beauty of speculating who will join next in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. They are the video game equivalent of lottery tickets, and someone will be lucky enough to get in. And who knows? Maybe we might get a reveal on one of the characters at this year’s E3, depending on the current state of the world at the moment. There are also plenty of fighters not mentioned that could come into Smash. If you have any suggestions, let us know in the comments below and tell us why they could get in.
I also recommend you check out Brawlfan1’s What If Smash series. He contains excellent ideas for potential characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and even features two characters in it already being in Smash by pure coincidence, with the characters in question being Banjo-Kazooie and Steve.
