In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, unlock most of the base-game fighters by winning challenger battles. You can encounter challengers during play, after completing Classic Mode, or as you find and awaken fighters in World of Light. Lose a challenger battle? Retry it from Games & More → Challenger’s Approach. DLC fighters are separate from the base roster and must be acquired separately.
How challenger battles unlock fighters
A new save starts with eight fighters: Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu. Most other base-game fighters join after you defeat them in a challenger battle.
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Nintendo’s official gameplay guide explains that new fighters approach during play and challenge you; winning unlocks the challenger. There is no single fixed character-by-character sequence for every player. Which fighter appears can depend on the mode or character you use.
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Choose a route to meet base-game fighters
| Route | How it works | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary play | New challengers can appear as you play. Beat each one to add that fighter. | Players who want to unlock fighters as part of normal play. |
| Classic Mode | Complete a run to trigger a challenger battle. The character you start with affects which fighter appears next on that character’s unlock tree, so switching starters can change the sequence. | Players who want a structured single-player route. |
| World of Light | Find and awaken fighters during the adventure to unlock them. | Players who want to unlock fighters while progressing through the story adventure. |
These are alternative ways to unlock base-game fighters; World of Light is not required. The mode-specific details and unlock-tree behavior are documented by the community-maintained SmashWiki character-unlock guide.
#1 Best Overall
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
What to do if you lose a challenger battle
You do not need to wait for the same fighter to approach again. Open Games & More → Challenger’s Approach and choose the rematch. Nintendo’s gameplay guide gives this as the retry path. SmashWiki’s version history notes that update 4.0.0 made Challenger’s Approach available immediately after a loss.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Base-game unlocks versus DLC fighters
DLC fighters are not unlocked by clearing the base-game challenger battles, Classic Mode, or World of Light. Nintendo Support lists 11 Challenger Packs, each containing one fighter, one stage, and music. Fighters Pass Vol. 1 covers packs 1–5; Fighters Pass Vol. 2 covers packs 6–11. Piranha Plant is a separate standalone fighter rather than part of either pass. See Nintendo Support’s DLC fighter list for the pack structure.
| Challenger Pack | Fighter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Joker |
| 2 | Hero |
| 3 | Banjo & Kazooie |
| 4 | Terry Bogard |
| 5 | Byleth |
| 6 | Min Min |
| 7 | Steve & Alex |
| 8 | Sephiroth |
| 9 | Pyra/Mythra |
| 10 | Kazuya |
| 11 | Sora |
Whether a specific pack or pass is currently available to buy depends on the region and storefront; the cited support listing does not establish current regional availability or prices.
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Best Value
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- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. game
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
Rank #4
- International Version. ESRB rated. This game is tied to the USA region and any DLC content is available on the USA regional Nintendo eShop. Works on all systems worldwide. (Middle East / Southeast Asia -- Official Nintendo Product).
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
Rank #3
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