After three years of updates and new content, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has just received its final patch, offering the last balance adjustments players can expect to the title. Any subsequent updates will be to fix bugs or make small adjustments not related to combat mechanics, so get used to these current character stats being set in stone. Not every character saw changes, but some may feel different the next time you pick up those Joy-cons.
Notable buffs include those for Meta Knight, Inkling, and Bowser Jr. Sadly, Min Min and Pyra/Mythra were two characters to get nerfed. Pikachu managed to get out with no changes whatsoever, as Sora, the newest addition to the game, saw only minor tweaks. The update also includes support of the Samus & E.M.M.I. amiibo recently released alongside Metroid Dread.
Check out all changes below:
- Donkey Kong – Neutral Attack 2: Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts. Reduced vulnerability.
- Donkey Kong – Down Tilt Attack: Extended the amount of time opponents will be in the damage animation.
- Donkey Kong – Neutral Special: Increased the speed that super armor activates.
- Link – Neutral Attack 1: Increased attack speed.
- Link – Down Tilt Attack: Adjusted launch angle.
- Link – Up Smash Attack: Extended launch distance for the final attack.
- Peach – Side Special: Made it easier to grab edges.
- Daisy – Side Special: Made it easier to grab edges.
- Ice Climbers – Dash Attack: Increased attack speed.
- Ice Climbers – Down Smash Attack: Extended launch distance.
- Ice Climbers – Up Special: Increased attack speed. Increased the speed of the edge-grab range detection.
- Falco – Dash Attack: Increased attack power while maintaining launch distance.
- Falco – Side Smash Attack: Increased the attack range in the front to match the visual.
- Mewtwo – Side Tilt Attack: Increased power. Extended launch distance.
- Mewtwo – Forward Throw: Increased power.
- Meta Knight – Up Smash Attack: Increased attack range. Adjusted so opponents won’t fall over when hit with the first or second hit.
- Meta Knight – Forward Air Attack: Increased power.
- Meta Knight – Back Air Attack: Increased power.
- Meta Knight – Up Throw: Extended launch distance.
- Wario – Neutral Attack 1: Increased power. Reduced vulnerability.
- Wario – Neutral Attack 2: Increased attack power while maintaining launch distance. Reduced vulnerability.
- Ike – Neutral Attack 3: Increased power. Extended launch distance.
- Ike – Up Smash Attack: Extended launch distance for the high-damage range.
- Ike – Side Special: Increased power when starting to charge forward on the ground. Extended launch distance when starting to charge forward on the ground.
- Mega Man – Dash Attack: Extended launch distance for the final attack. Increased attack speed.
- Mega Man – Down Smash Attack: Extended the damage range downward.
- Mega Man – Side Special: Increased power.
- Rosalina & Luma – Basic Movements: Shortened the launch distance when Luma is launched.
- Rosalina & Luma – Down Smash Attack: Extended Rosalina’s damage range inward.
- Robin – Flurry Attack: Increased attack range. Increased power.
- Robin – Flurry Attack to KO: Increased attack range.
- Bowser Jr. – Dash Attack: Made it easier to hit multiple times. Increased power.
- Bowser Jr. – Down Tilt Attack: Made it easier to hit multiple times. Adjusted launch angle for the final attack.
- Bowser Jr. – Up Smash Attack: Increased power.
- Bowser Jr. – Side Special: Extended launch distance when spinning.
- Ryu – Side Tilt Attack (Strong): Increased attack speed.
- Ryu – Neutral Special: Increased attack power while maintaining launch distance for light, medium, heavy, and command-input attacks.
- Ryu – Side Special: Reduced vulnerability for light, medium, heavy, and command-input attacks when used on the ground.
- Cloud – Down Special: Increased attack speed for Finishing Touch.
- Inkling – etc.: Reduced vulnerability when reloading ink.
- Inkling – Side Tilt Attack: Increased power. Extended launch distance.
- Inkling – Up Tilt Attack: Made it easier to hit opponents on the ground.
- Inkling – Side Smash Attack: Made it easier to hit the high-damage range.
- Inkling – Neutral Special: Extended the distance of the shot.
- Ridley – Dash Attack: Increased power. Extended launch distance.
- Piranha Plant – Side Tilt Attack: Extended launch distance for the final attack.
- Piranha Plant – Down Tilt Attack: Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts. Reduced vulnerability.
- Piranha Plant – Down Air Attack: Increased the amount of time the meteor effect lasts for the damage window.
- Piranha Plant – Down Special: Shortened the time to use the move.
- Min Min – Basic Movements: Reduced the power against shields for each punch. Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.
- Min Min: Neutral Air Attack: Increased the vulnerability when landing.
- Min Min : Side Smash Attack: Reduced the duration of the Dragon’s beam.
- Steve: Up Smash Attack: Reduced the duration of an opponent’s animation when they are struck by different parts of this attack.
- Pyra: Basic Movements: Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.
- Pyra: Side Special: Increased vulnerability.
- Mythra: Basic Movements: Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.
- Mythra: Side Smash Attack: Shortened launch distance.
- Sora: Basic Movements: Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.
The director of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Masahiro Sakurai is undecided when it comes to making another entry to the beloved fighting franchise.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was initially released in 2018 for the Nintendo Switch. The fifth installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, Ultimate features 89 playable fighters and is the best-selling fighting game of all time, selling over 25 million copies. DLC was continually released for the title until October 2021 when, at long last, Sora from Kingdom Hearts rounded out the roster.
