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Choose a route to unlock base-game fighters
| Route | What you do | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Challenger Approaching | Win a one-on-one encounter when the game presents one. | Players who want discrete unlock fights. |
| Classic Mode | Finish a run to trigger a challenger encounter; character-specific paths can guide progression. | Players who prefer a structured series of fights. |
| World of Light | Find and awaken fighters during the adventure campaign. | Players who want a longer single-player progression. |
These routes unlock base-game fighters; buying DLC is not an alternative way to unlock the base roster. SmashWiki documents the mechanics and routes below; Nintendo’s official page covers DLC categories, rather than giving a full guide to base-game unlocks.
![Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61bkI3XqQ7L._SL160_.jpg)
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Win Challenger Approaching fights
After qualifying play, the game may show a “Challenger Approaching” screen and start a fight against a locked fighter. Win to add that fighter to your roster. SmashWiki lists activities that can precede encounters, including VS matches, Mob Smash, Home-Run Contest, Spirit Board fights, and exiting World of Light.
SmashWiki also describes action-count and timing conditions for encounters, including a ten-minute wait for later timed encounters and a way to bypass the wait by closing and reopening the game. Treat these as community-reference details, not independently verified Nintendo guidance. Classic Mode encounters are described as not having that timed delay. See SmashWiki’s unlockable-character reference.
#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
Retry a fight you lost
- Open Games & More from the main menu.
- Select Challenger’s Approach.
- Choose the missed fighter and fight again; winning adds the character to the roster.
The retry option is documented by SmashWiki.
Unlock fighters through Classic Mode
Complete a Classic Mode run to trigger a challenger fight. The available progression depends on which fighters you have already unlocked, including through other routes, so there is no single guaranteed next-character order for every save file.
SmashWiki describes character-specific unlock trees for eight starting characters, with a shorter tree for Pikachu. If you have a particular fighter in mind, check the relevant tree against your current roster rather than assuming every run follows the same universal sequence. The source is SmashWiki’s unlockable-character reference.
Awaken fighters in World of Light
World of Light is the game’s adventure route. As you progress, find and awaken fighters; a fighter awakened in the campaign also becomes available in the main roster outside World of Light. Choose this route if you would rather unlock characters as part of an ongoing single-player adventure than focus on repeated standalone challenger fights.
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Create Mii Fighters
Mii Brawler, Mii Swordfighter, and Mii Gunner are custom fighters, not standard Challenger Approaching unlocks. Create the Mii Fighter type you want. SmashWiki also says that awakening a Mii Fighter type in World of Light automatically creates that custom fighter. Details are in SmashWiki’s unlockable-character reference.
Rank #3
DLC fighters are separate from base-game unlocks
Nintendo Support says, “Players can purchase new fighters (some including their own stage and music) as DLC for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.” The official Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC page lists Fighters Pass Vol. 1, covering Challenger Packs 1–5, and Fighters Pass Vol. 2, covering Challenger Packs 6–11. Their fighters are Joker, Hero, Banjo & Kazooie, Terry Bogard, Byleth, Min Min, Steve & Alex, Sephiroth, Pyra/Mythra, Kazuya, and Sora. Nintendo lists Piranha Plant separately as a standalone fighter; it does not include a stage or music. Mii Fighter costumes are also listed as separately sold content.
Classic Mode, World of Light, and Challenger Approaching do not unlock these paid DLC fighters. Pack availability and store details may vary by region and current storefront.
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
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a Nintendo Switch game, according to Nintendo’s game page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Nintendo Super Smash Bros. Ultimate + Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighter Pass Bundle - [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/516jRPfTrLL._SL160_.jpg)
- 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
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