There are various methods to unlock Super Smash Bros. Ultimate characters. If you want to unlock them in a straightforward way, this is the guide for you.
You might have heard about the reset exploit, even if it was patched with the day one update. The exploit still works albeit in a different way as detailed here. For the rest of the character unlock methods, you can use either the adventure mode or go through simple CPU or player battles and unlock them through challenge battles.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate World of Light Adventure Mode Character Unlock
In the World of Light story mode, you unlock characters by simply playing through it. It begins with just Kirby instead of the standard 8 fighters that are playable in the other gameplay modes. It is a simple method to not just enjoy the single player story, but get rewarded with unlocking the full character roster.
World of Light mode can take you between 20 to 40 hours to complete, so it is a rather hefty time investment. If you want to use a faster method, the reset exploit can still be used to get them a little faster than the World of Light mode. Keep in mind that if you unlock characters through the VS. mode, you won’t be able to use them in World of Light since they don’t work retroactively. If you unlock characters in World of Light mode, you do get them in the other gameplay modes.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate VS. Mode Character Unlock
In VS. mode, you unlock characters by either fighting the CPU or other players in random matches. Once you fulfill the conditions and meet the criteria, which requires you to be as active as possible in each match, then you can get a new challenger once the battle ends. The challenger is only a 1 vs. 1 fight and it is given to the human player or in case of a multiplayer battle, the winner of the round will take this challenge match.
The characters that are unlocked this way are all pre-determined but if you lose a challenge match, then it basically skips that fighter and will proceed with the next one until you end up with a full rotation. Here are the characters as they appear in a challenge in the VS. mode.
- Ness
- Zelda
- Bowser
- Pit
- Inkling
- Villager
- Marth
- Young Link
- Wii Fit Trainer
- Ice Climbers
- Captain Falcon
- Peach
- Ryu
- Ike
- Jigglypuff
- King K. Rool
- Sonic
- Simon
- Zero Suit Samus
- Little Mac
- Isabelle
- Shulk
- Lucina
- Wario
- Ridley
- Pokemon Trainer
- Lucario
- Daisy
- Roy
- King Dedede
- R.O.B.
- Falco
- Luigi
- Pichu
- Richter
- Lucas
- Diddy Kong
- Meta Knight
- Snake
- Ganondorf
- Corrin
- Mega Man
- Bayonetta
- Toon Link
- Rosalina & Luma
- Incineroar
- Sheik
- Olimar
- PAC-MAN
- Dark Samus
- Wolf
- Mr. Game & Watch
- Robin
- Dark Pit
- Cloud
- Duck Hunt
- Ken
- Greninja
- Chrom
- Mewtwo
- Bowser Jr.
- Dr. Mario
- Palutena
Once you have unlocked everyone, you can proceed to unlock the spirits or other collectibles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now for the Nintendo Switch.
