The DLC Legacy of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's post-launch DLC campaign was unlike anything Nintendo had done before. Spanning two Fighter Passes and delivering 13 additional characters, stages, and music tracks, the DLC period became a cultural event in gaming — with each reveal generating enormous community excitement. Now that the dust has settled, it's a great time to look back at the complete DLC roster and reflect on how each fighter changed the competitive and casual landscape.
Fighter Pass Vol. 1 (2019–2020)
Piranha Plant
The surprise bonus character before the official passes began. Piranha Plant arrived as a unique zoner with traps and projectiles — a deliberate left-field pick that showed Sakurai was willing to take creative risks.
Joker (Persona 5)
The DLC campaign opened with a bang. Joker from Persona 5 brought stylish aerial movement, the Arsene mechanic (a powered-up alter-ego), and the iconic Last Surprise battle theme. He quickly became a tournament staple.
Hero (Dragon Quest)
The Dragon Quest representative arrived with four selectable skins representing iconic DQ protagonists. His random-outcome spell system (Hocus Pocus, anyone?) made him both thrilling and controversial in competitive circles.
Banjo & Kazooie (Rare/Microsoft)
One of the most fan-requested fighters ever, Banjo & Kazooie's inclusion was a historic moment — a Microsoft-owned character appearing in a Nintendo game. Their moveset faithfully translated the N64 platformer's mechanics into Smash.
Terry Bogard (SNK)
Terry brought a fighting game feel to Smash, with SNK-style special move inputs (down-forward motions) and a packed stage featuring rotating characters from Fatal Fury and King of Fighters history.
Byleth (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
Closing out Vol. 1, Byleth was a divisive pick given the Fire Emblem representation already in Smash — but their weapon-swap mechanic offered a genuinely fresh playstyle.
Fighter Pass Vol. 2 (2020–2021)
Min Min (ARMS)
A standout design, Min Min played almost entirely at long range using extendable arm attacks. Her unique neutral game forced opponents to completely rethink their spacing strategies.
Steve & Alex (Minecraft)
The Minecraft reveal broke the internet. Steve and Alex's block-placing, resource-gathering, and crafting mechanics made for the most mechanically complex character in Smash history. Still one of the most discussed fighters competitively.
Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)
Cloud's iconic villain arrived with sweeping disjointed attacks, a massive sword range, and the dramatic One-Winged Angel reveal trailer. Sephiroth brought both nostalgia and competitive viability.
Pyra & Mythra (Xenoblade Chronicles 2)
The first duo-swap character pair in the game, allowing players to switch between power-focused Pyra and speed-focused Mythra mid-match. Highly versatile and competitively strong.
Kazuya (Tekken)
Kazuya's arrival brought the most traditional fighting game execution demands ever seen in Smash — with Street Fighter-style inputs and a punish-heavy playstyle ripped from the Tekken series.
Sora (Kingdom Hearts)
The final DLC character — and perhaps the most fan-requested of all time — Sora closed the book on Smash Ultimate's remarkable DLC journey with an elegant, floaty aerial playstyle and emotional reveal trailer.
The Legacy of Ultimate's DLC
Across both Fighter Passes, the DLC for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate demonstrated that crossover fighting games could genuinely bring together gaming's most beloved franchises in meaningful, well-designed ways. Each character felt purposefully crafted rather than copy-pasted. For players returning to the game or new players picking it up today, the full roster represents one of gaming's most ambitious and successful character celebrations ever assembled.