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Simon Belmont and Richter Belmont are standard unlockable fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, not paid Challenger Pack characters. You can unlock either one through VS. matches, Classic Mode, or World of Light, then win the challenger battle. Simon is the 18th VS. unlock and Richter is the 35th. In Classic Mode, both are connected to Link’s unlock tree: Simon is the third unlock after Ice Climbers, while Richter is the seventh after Young Link. World of Light provides a separate encounter for each fighter.
What you need to unlock the Belmont fighters
Simon and Richter are included in the base Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster. Nintendo’s product listing identifies Simon as a new character and Richter as an echo fighter, and gives the game’s release date as December 7, 2018: Nintendo’s official product page. You do not need to buy an amiibo, a controller, a guidebook, or a Challenger Pack for either Belmont.
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- A copy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for Nintendo Switch.
- Access to at least one normal unlock route: VS. matches, Classic Mode, or World of Light.
- The ability to win the challenger battle when the fighter appears.
Nintendo’s DLC support page lists Challenger Packs 1 through 11, but Simon and Richter are not among those paid fighters. The official list is available in Nintendo’s Challenger Pack support article. If you see a store listing for a bundle or expansion, that purchase is not the step that unlocks either Belmont in the base roster.
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Choose the unlock route that fits your play style
| Route | How you reach Simon | How you reach Richter | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS. matches | Simon appears as the 18th character in the VS. unlock sequence. | Richter appears as the 35th character in the VS. unlock sequence. | Players who want to play ordinary matches and unlock fighters progressively. |
| Classic Mode | Clear Classic Mode with Link or a fighter in Link’s unlock tree; Simon is the third character unlocked after Ice Climbers. | Clear Classic Mode with Link or a fighter in Link’s unlock tree; Richter is the seventh character unlocked after Young Link. | Players who want a repeatable route with a known character-tree position. |
| World of Light | Find Simon’s encounter on the World of Light map, have him join the party, and win his fighter battle. | Find Richter’s encounter, have him join the party, and win his fighter battle. | Players already progressing through the story-driven adventure. |
All three routes end the same way: a challenger battle must be completed successfully. Merely reaching the unlock prompt or seeing the fighter on the map does not add the character to your selectable roster.
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Method 1: Unlock Simon through VS. matches
What the number means
Simon is the 18th fighter in the normal VS. unlock sequence. The number refers to the order in which challenger encounters are generated by the game’s standard fighter-unlock progression, not Simon’s position in the roster’s character grid. You do not need to buy anything or select a special stage to make Simon eligible.
Steps
- From the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate main menu, open the regular Smash mode and set up a VS. match.
- Play VS. matches until the game presents Simon as the next challenger. The exact match settings can vary, but this route is based on continuing normal VS. play rather than entering World of Light or a paid-content menu.
- When the challenger battle loads, fight Simon and win. The battle is the actual unlock check; losing leaves the fighter unavailable until you get another chance to challenge him.
- After the victory screen confirms the unlock, return to the character-select screen and verify that Simon is available.
If Simon does not appear yet
Seeing another challenger first does not mean the route has failed. Simon is specifically the 18th VS. unlock, so continue the same route until the sequence reaches him. A VS. session can unlock a different fighter before Simon; that changes the current challenger, not Simon’s place in the sequence.
Method 2: Unlock Richter through VS. matches
What the number means
Richter is the 35th character in the normal VS. unlock sequence. That makes this route longer if Richter is the only fighter you want, but it also lets you build out the roster while playing standard matches.
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- Open regular Smash from the main menu and start VS. matches.
- Continue playing until Richter appears as the challenger at his 35th position in the sequence.
- Win the challenger battle against Richter. The victory is required to recruit him.
- Check the roster after the battle to confirm that Richter can be selected.
If you are targeting both Belmonts only through VS. play, Simon arrives earlier at position 18, while Richter arrives later at position 35. There is no requirement to unlock Simon before Richter; each fighter has an independent place in the game’s normal unlock progression.
Method 3: Use Link’s Classic Mode unlock tree
Simon’s Classic Mode position
Simon is reached through Link’s Classic Mode unlock tree. The documented position is the third character unlocked after Ice Climbers in that tree. To use this route, clear Classic Mode with Link or with a character that belongs to Link’s unlock path. When the relevant challenger appears, win the battle against Simon.
Richter’s Classic Mode position
Richter is also connected to Link’s tree, but at a different position: he is the seventh character unlocked after Young Link. This is why using Link-related Classic Mode runs can reach both Belmonts while producing different intermediate challengers.
How to run Classic Mode
- Choose Games & More from the main menu, then open Classic Mode.
- Select Link, or select another fighter that is in Link’s unlock tree.
- Complete the Classic Mode route. The route’s final result triggers the next challenger associated with that character’s tree position.
- When Simon or Richter challenges you, win the battle to unlock that fighter.
- If a different challenger appears first, record which fighter you received and continue using the appropriate Link-tree character for later runs.
Classic Mode does not unlock both Belmonts in a single guaranteed battle. Simon and Richter occupy separate positions, so you may need multiple clears and must win each challenger encounter when it appears.
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Simon’s World of Light encounter
World of Light contains a Simon encounter. Progress through the adventure map until you reach the area where Simon can join the party. Winning the fighter battle recruits him for the rest of the adventure and unlocks him for regular play.
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Richter’s World of Light encounter
Richter has his own World of Light encounter. Find his position on the map, complete the battle, and he joins the party after your victory. You do not need to purchase DLC to access this encounter.
What is different about the battle
Both Belmont encounters use Dracula’s Castle. In World of Light, the stage is presented in its Ω form. That stage designation applies to the World of Light fighter battle; it does not change the fact that the encounter is a normal fight that you must win.
- Open World of Light and continue the story until the relevant map location becomes reachable.
- Move your party to Simon’s or Richter’s fighter encounter.
- Start the battle on Dracula’s Castle (Ω form in World of Light).
- Win the fight. The character then joins your party and becomes available as a playable fighter.
World of Light is the most story-focused option. It does not provide Simon or Richter as an immediate menu shortcut: you must reach each fighter’s location through the adventure and complete the associated battle.
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How the challenger battle works
The unlock is complete only after you defeat the fighter in the challenger battle. This applies to VS. matches and Classic Mode, and the same principle applies to the World of Light fighter fight. If you lose, Simon or Richter is not added to the roster at that moment.
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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
Practical preparation
- Choose a familiar fighter rather than changing your controls or character at the moment the challenger appears.
- Use the battle’s stage preview to recognize Dracula’s Castle; in World of Light, expect the Ω-form version.
- Play for a clean stock advantage instead of taking unnecessary risks near the blast zones.
- After the win, wait for the unlock confirmation before quitting to the Home menu or closing the game.
The documented route information establishes the stage and the requirement to win, but it does not prescribe a particular character, difficulty setting, controller, or item configuration. Use the settings in which you play most consistently.
Simon and Richter: what is the difference for unlocking?
| Detail | Simon Belmont | Richter Belmont |
|---|---|---|
| Roster status | Base-roster unlockable fighter | Base-roster unlockable echo fighter |
| VS. unlock position | 18th | 35th |
| Classic Mode connection | Link’s unlock tree; third character unlocked after Ice Climbers | Link’s unlock tree; seventh character unlocked after Young Link |
| World of Light | Separate fighter encounter | Separate fighter encounter |
| World of Light stage | Dracula’s Castle, Ω form | Dracula’s Castle, Ω form |
| Paid Challenger Pack required? | No | No |
The important distinction is not ownership or DLC access; both use ordinary roster-unlock systems. The main route difference is timing: Simon comes earlier in the VS. sequence, while Richter appears later and occupies a different point in Link’s Classic Mode tree.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which route should you choose?
Choose VS. matches if you want to play normally
VS. play requires no story-map progress and no specific Classic Mode character. It is the natural choice if you are already playing local or solo matches and want the roster to expand as you go. Simon’s 18th position makes him the earlier target; Richter’s 35th position means you will encounter more challengers first.
Choose Classic Mode if you want a character-based path
Classic Mode is preferable when you want to use Link or another fighter in Link’s tree and work toward a known branch. Simon and Richter are not at the same tree position, so plan for separate runs rather than expecting one clear to unlock both.
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- 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
Choose World of Light if you want the adventure campaign
World of Light integrates the unlocks into exploration. It is a valid route for each Belmont and shows the Dracula’s Castle Ω-form battle, but it requires reaching the appropriate map locations first. Choose it when you are already progressing through the campaign rather than looking for the shortest menu-based path.
Common misconceptions and fixes
“Richter is DLC, so I need a Challenger Pack.”
No. Nintendo’s paid Challenger Pack list does not include Richter or Simon. Richter is an echo fighter in the base roster and is obtained through normal in-game unlock routes.
“I reached the encounter, so the character should already be unlocked.”
Reaching a challenger prompt or World of Light map marker is not enough. Win the associated battle, then confirm the roster unlock.
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They do not share one unlock event. Simon is 18th in the VS. order, Richter is 35th, and their Classic Mode positions are separate. Use the route information for the specific fighter you want.
“Any Classic Mode character will work.”
The documented Classic Mode path is Link’s unlock tree. Use Link or a character in that tree rather than assuming every fighter leads to a Belmont encounter.
“The Dracula’s Castle Ω stage applies to every unlock route.”
The cited Ω-form description is for the World of Light encounters. The key requirement across routes is defeating the challenger; the stage presentation can depend on the route.
Quick checklist
- For Simon through VS. play, continue until the 18th challenger and win.
- For Richter through VS. play, continue until the 35th challenger and win.
- For Classic Mode, use Link or a fighter in Link’s tree.
- Remember Simon’s position: the third unlock after Ice Climbers.
- Remember Richter’s position: the seventh unlock after Young Link.
- For World of Light, reach each fighter’s map encounter and win on Dracula’s Castle (Ω form).
- Do not buy a Challenger Pack for either Belmont; neither is listed as paid DLC.
Bottom line
Play VS. matches for the straightforward roster route, use Link’s Classic Mode tree when you want a known branch, or find each fighter in World of Light if you are following the story. Simon is the 18th VS. unlock and Richter is the 35th; whichever route you choose, the final step is winning the challenger battle.
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