There are 82 fighters to unlock - not including Echo Fighters (ɛ) or unique alternate costumes (*). The majority of fighters can be unlocked through gameplay while 12 can be purchased as DLC.
Unlock Methods
(See more details in the tables below)

Mario
- Default
- Adventure Mode

Donkey Kong
- Default
- Adventure Mode

Link
- Default
- Adventure Mode

Samus
- Default
- Adventure Mode

(Metroid Series)
- VS CPU or Human (50th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 5th)
- Adventure Mode

Yoshi
- Default
- Adventure Mode

Kirby
- Default

- Default
- Adventure Mode

Pikachu
- Default
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (33rd)
- Classic Mode (Mario 5th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (1st)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (11th)
- Classic Mode (Fox 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (15th)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 2nd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (12th)
- Classic Mode (Fox 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (28th)
- Classic Mode (Fox 5th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (3rd)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (10th)
- Classic Mode (Link 2nd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (47th)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 5th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (2nd)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 4th)
- Adventure Mode

(Super Mario Series)
- VS CPU or Human (62nd)
- Classic Mode (Mario 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (34th)
- Classic Mode (Pikachu 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (32nd)
- Classic Mode (Fox 4th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (7th)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 2nd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (23rd)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 5th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (8th)
- Classic Mode (Link 6th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (40th)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 4th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (60th)
- Classic Mode (Fox 8th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (29th)
- Classic Mode (Mario 6th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (59th)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (52nd)
- Classic Mode (Pikachu 6th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (38th)
- Classic Mode (Link 4th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (4th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (54th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 8th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (19th)
- Classic Mode (Fox 2nd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (24th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (39th)
- Classic Mode (Link 5th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (14th)
- Classic Mode (Mario 4th)
- Adventure Mode

(Male)
*
(Female)

- VS CPU or Human (26th)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 2nd)
- Adventure Mode



- VS CPU or Human (37th)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (36th)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (17th)
- Classic Mode (Mario 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (30th)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 4th)
- Adventure Mode

Olimar
- VS CPU or Human (48th)
- Classic Mode (Mario 8th)
- Adventure Mode


- VS CPU or Human (27th)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (31st)
- Classic Mode (Pikachu 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (44th)
- Classic Mode (Link 8th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (51st)
- Classic Mode (Fox 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (6th)
- Classic Mode (Pikachu 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (42nd)
- Classic Mode (Pikachu 4th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (9th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 2nd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (45th)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (20th)
- Classic Mode (Mario 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (58th)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 6th)
- Adventure Mode


- Create a Mii Brawler
- Adventure Mode

- Create a Mii Swordfighter
- Adventure Mode

- Create a Mii Gunner
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (63rd)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 8th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (49th)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (53rd)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 5th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (22nd)
- Classic Mode (Pikachu 2nd)
- Adventure Mode

Bowser Jr.
- VS CPU or Human (61st)
- Classic Mode (Fox 6th)
- Adventure Mode








- VS CPU or Human (56th)
- Classic Mode (Donkey Kong 8th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (13th)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (57th)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 8th)
- Adventure Mode

FINAL FANTASY VII
Ver. 10.0.0+:
FINAL FANTASY Series
- VS CPU or Human (55th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 6th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (41st)
- Classic Mode (Kirby 6th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (43rd)
- Classic Mode (Mario 2nd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (5th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (25th)
- Classic Mode (Yoshi 6th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (18th)
- Classic Mode (Link 3rd)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (35th)
- Classic Mode (Link 7th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (16th)
- Classic Mode (Link 1st)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (21st)
- Classic Mode (Pikachu 5th)
- Adventure Mode

- VS CPU or Human (46th)
- Classic Mode (Samus 4th)
- Adventure Mode

- Purchase the Piranha Plant DLC from the Nintendo eShop
- Preorder Bonus

- Purchase the Joker Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass from the Nintendo eShop

Hero
(Eleven)
- Purchase the Hero Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass from the Nintendo eShop

(Arusu)

(Solo)

(Eight)

- Purchase the Banjo & Kazooie Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass from the Nintendo eShop

- Purchase the Terry Bogard Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass from the Nintendo eShop

- Purchase the Byleth Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass from the Nintendo eShop
76
- Purchase the Min Min Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from the Nintendo eShop

Steve
- Purchase the Steve & Alex Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from the Nintendo eShop



78

Ver. 10.0.0:
17th December 2020 at 3:00pm PST - 22nd December 2020 at 5:00pm PST
- (Early Access) First purchase the Sephiroth Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from the Nintendo eShop. You'll then be able to access the Sephiroth Challenge mode from the main menu of the game by pressing the start button. Defeat Sephiroth on any difficulty to unlock him early before his scheduled release date.
Ver. 10.1.0+:
- Purchase the Sephiroth Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from the Nintendo eShop

Ver. 11.0.0+:
- Purchase the Pyra & Mythra Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from the Nintendo eShop

81

- Purchase the Kazuya Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from the Nintendo eShop
82

- Purchase the Sora Challenger Pack DLC or the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Fighters Pass Vol. 2 from the Nintendo eShop
Versing other players locally or the CPU in a mode such as Smash Mode will unlock a new challenger about every 10 minutes. Fighters challenged via this method have a specific order in which they will appear. Reports suggest that the game records the amount and variety of button inputs you make during each match and that you must reach a minimum amount of inputs before another challenger can appear. You must also wait 10 minutes before another challenger can approach. Exiting and relaunching the game eliminates the need to wait for the 10 minute cool down making it possible to farm challengers as soon as the game has detected enough inputs. You don't need to win your match for a Challenger to approach. Classic Mode counts towards the input requirement but also causes a challenger to appear depending on the character you chose once you've completed the rounds. This means you can complete Classic Mode, get a challenger, restart the game and then do a quick 1 stock match in Smash Mode to get another challenger. This may be a good option if you only have CPU to battle. Entering Adventure Mode and exiting again will also get a challenger to approach if the conditions are met.
Every time you clear Classic Mode a challenger will approach depending on the fighter you used. Each default fighter has their own unlock path. When you beat Classic Mode with a default fighter it will challenge the next available fighter on its path. If you clear Classic Mode with a fighter you have unlocked it will continue to the next fighter from its spot on the same path. If a default fighter has battled everybody on their path or if an unlocked fighter has challenged everybody in front of them on their path they will start to follow Mario's path and then continue to the next path underneath.
Click here for more details about Classic Mode.

or







If you lose to a fighter it is possible to have a rematch.. eventually. It's not possible to have a rematch by doing method 1 or 2 again. You have to wait for a notification that says 'Challenger's Approach has appeared!'. A match will trigger it, such as after a round of Smash or completing a route in Classic Mode. When exactly does the notification appear? It appears not to be an exact science. Just keep playing offline modes and it will appear eventually.
When the notification appears press Y or go to Games & More and find the golden door below the amiibo option. You can select which fighter you want to use.
If you want to avoid the entire rematch process you could do the following. When you are battling a challenger and you lose your final stock straight away press the home button and close the game. The challenger will reappear once you have another match again (method 1) or complete the route in Classic Mode again (method 2).
Adventure mode is generally much slower to unlock all the fighters. If you plan on completing Adventure Mode and not in a rush to get all the fighters then you can accomplish two aims with one stone (one mode, multiple stones from Kirby). Unlike the other methods if you lose the fight you can have a rematch straight away.
Olimar is on the lowest path on the mushrooms. Reach Olimar with the help of Viridi/Lip/Kamek/Kammy Koopa.
(Volcano)
The Gourmet Race can be accessed from the portal above the star in the Floating Islands. Your position on the podium determines which reward you'll get. In this race the amount of food you collect determines your position not speed! Coming 1st will not give the 2nd or 3rd place rewards. You'll have to do the race three times.
If you gather 11 or more items you'll come 1st and be given the chance to battle King Dedede. The path to get 11 pieces of food is (from your perspective - not control inputs):
right → right (pear) → left (tea)→ down (cola) → left (sandwich) → down (soup) → left (salad) → down → right → down → right (bread loaf) → down (apple) → right (kebab) → down (roast chicken + grapes).
To locate the Mysterious Dimension, at the entrance in the Dark Realm head upwards across the bridge. At the first junction head right then keep going up. When you cant go upwards anymore head left. You'll reach a colorful floor after a zig zag road. There are four paths to choose from. Go up the path furthest to the right. There is the Mysterious Dimension Portal.
Enter and solve the quiz. Head right, beating the Winged Pikmin. At the next junction go right until the next quiz. Beat Redd and head up. R.O.B. is up there.
Daisy is on the roof of the castle as soon as you walk in. To reach her put the cannonball into the cannon. Head up the spiral staircase at the end of the room. Immediately head up the wooden ladder and activate the switch to the right. Head back down and left to the staircase. Head up and grab the cannonball. Continue left to another spiral staircase. Once on the roof head up the stair case to the right and put the cannonball into the cannon. Daisy can now be challenged.
If you pressed the switch to free Wario and didn't press it again after getting him then head back to the beginning of Dracula's Castle and activate the hourglass. Otherwise, from Dark Pit's position head down the chimney and then left up the steps. Head left into the next puzzle. Go up the wooden ladder and then up the ladder above the gear. Press the switch and go back down both ladders. Go down the next ladder until you are outside with the cannon. Put a cannonball in it and destroy the gears. Head up the ladder and then left over the gears. Head down the ladder to the outside area. Put a cannonball in the cannon and hit the demonic purple form.
If you missed then you need to go back to the beginning and activate the hourglass. Head up the ladders to face Robin. If you a short on cannonballs there are a surplus throughout the castle. Otherwise activate the hourglasses in the areas you used cannonballs to get them back.
Defeat all of the demonic purple forms throughout the castle. They must be destroyed with a cannonball. There are 7 cannonballs to find. If you waste a cannonball seek out a hourglass nearby to get it back (but also restoring the entire area, enemies and puzzles included).
Defeating Dracula will make it easier to navigate the castle as a vine will drop onto the starting roof from Dracula's coffin (the final boss fight room).