How to Unlock Every Character in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

The newest Super Smash Bros. game is now out and with it comes a whole cast of characters for you to unlock. That’s right, like other Smash Bros. games, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate requires you to play and unlock characters. The guide below will show you how to unlock every character in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Guide Status: Being Updated.

Ways of Unlocking Characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

When you start playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you will have a access to the eight of the original 12 characters from Smash 64: Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox and Pikachu. The other fighters in the game can be unlocked using three different methods. The three main methods of unlocking characters are:

• Playing VS mode.
• Freeing Captive Spirits in Adventure Mode: World of Light.
• Playing a full round of Classic Mode with specific characters.

Every character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate can be unlocked using the methods highlighted above. The only character not unlocked using via any of the game modes above is the Piranha Plant which is a DLC character.

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Fastest: Unlock Characters Playing VS Mode

One method of unlocking characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is by playing the game’s VS mode. Unlike other titles in the Smash series, Ultimate’s VS Mode character unlocks is not triggered by things like distance travelled, KOs, Damage Dealt, play time, or even amount of matches. Instead what seems to trigger a character unlock in VS Mode is a 10 minute cooldown timer between unlocks. To circumvent this time gate hinderance, you can reset the unlock timer by resetting your game after each VS battle.

When you are challenged, you and the character you are challenged by will enter a 1v1 battle with a total of one life each. If you win, you unlock the character. If you lose, you will need to faceoff with the character that challenged you again.

You will receive a prompt when the challenger is challenging you again. You can accept it or access it at any time under the Games & More menu on the lower right hand corner (looks like two doors) of the screen called Challenger’s Approach. 

All characters can be unlocked in VS Mode except for the Mii Fighters. These characters can be created at any time through the Mii Fighter menu (Under Games & More > Mii Fighters). There are three types of Mii Fighters you can create: Brawler, Gunslinger, and Swordfighter.

Fastest Strategy: For fastest results if you are wanting to unlock every character in the shortest amount of time, start up a VS Mode match with one stock. As soon as the match starts jump off the stage and die. Upon completion of the match you should be challenged by a new character. Beat them then reset you game (by closing application and relaunching). Rinse and repeat for an hour and a half. You should have close to everyone by then.  

VS Mode Character Unlock Order

The order of character unlocks in the VS mode is as follows (changes if you’ve unlocked characters using other methods):

• Ness.
• Zelda.
• Bowser.
• Pit.
• Inkling.
• Villager.
• Marth.
• Young Link.
• Wii Fit Trainer.
• Ice Climbers.
• Captain Falcon.
• Peach.
• Ryu.
• Ike.
• Jigglypuff.
• King K. Rool.
• Sonic.
• Simon.
• Zero Suit Samus.
• Little Mac.
• Isabelle.
• Shulk.
• Lucina.
• Wario.
• Ridley.
• Pokemon Trainer.
• Lucario.
• Daisy.
• Roy.
• King Dedede.
• R.O.B.
• Falco.
• Luigi.
• Pichu.
• Richter.
• Lucas.
• Diddy Kong.
• Meta Knight.
• Snake.
• Ganondorf.
• Corrin.
• Mega Man.
• Bayonetta.
• Toon Link.
• Rosalina & Luma.
• Incineroar.
• Sheik.
• Olimar.
• PAC-MAN.
• Dark Samus.
• Wolf.
• Mr. Game & Watch.
• Robin.
• Dark Pit.
• Cloud.
• Duck Hunt.
• Ken.
• Greeninja.
• Chrom.
• Mewtwo.
• Bowser Jr.
• Dr. Mario.
• Palutena.

If you have friends to play with, VS Mode character unlocks are the quickest and most fun way to fill out the roster. If you don’t have people to play with, you can use the modes below to unlock your characters instead (though VS mode can be done solo as well).

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Unlock Characters in Adventure Mode: World of Light

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The Adventure Mode in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is another way you can unlock the full roster of characters (Found under Spirits > Adventure Mode). This mode is the story mode of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and is rather time consuming. When you start the Adventure Mode you will only have Kirby available and must unlock the rest of the cast by freeing their spirits as you find them.

Important: Characters you’ve unlocked in other modes will not show up in the Adventure Mode, but characters unlocked in the Adventure Mode will appear in the other Smash Modes. This is due to narrative reasons. IGN has a good map showing the locations of each character on the overworld here. 

Here’s where to find all the characters in Adventure Mode:

• Kirby, Starting character.
• Mario, 1st character you meet in Starting Area.
• Marth, Crossroads – Starting Area.
• Sheik, Crossroads – Starting Area.
• Villager, Crossroads – Starting Area.

When you fight either Marth, Sheik, or Villager, you will go down their character specific path. Each path has different characters to unlock along them. I will break down each path below. Important: You can backtrack to unlock characters you may have missed so don’t fret.                                                                                              

• Link – Southern Great Plateau – Villager’s route.
• Captain Falcon – Raceway (requires Pico spirit) – Villager’s route.
• Jigglypuff – River Woods north on Sheiks’ route (Bord, Cord, and Barst Spirit needed for broken bridge). 
• Mii Swordfighter – Town to northeast of Sheik’s route start. 
• Olimar – In the Mushroom area west of the Crossroads near the dock (Need Kammy Koopa’s Spirit to access). 
• Lucario – Path along cliffside North of Raceway.
• Yoshi – On Ribbon Road.
• Fox – Heart Pool west of Ribbon Road.
• Dr. Mario – Just north of Lumiose City.
• Wii Trainer – Middle of Lumiose City.
• Inkling – Console City. 
• Donkey Kong – Kongo Jungle just after rope bridge in middle of area. 
• Ice Climbers – On top of Mountain down left iced pathway. 
• Lucas – Found in the town in the Northwest corner of the world (below the Mountain). 
• Duck Hunt – In the Foggy Woods southwest of the ruins. 
• Mega Man – In the Metal Gear Base which is located at the southwest corner of the map. (Need Hal Emmerich spirit to access).
• Pac-Man – East of the Metal Gear Base (just outside the Mushroom area).
• Ryu – Beat the World Tour Zone (involves fighting a number of enemies across the world) that is accessible via the airport between the Crossroads and Mushroom Area (Need Kapp’n Spirit to access). 
• Pikachu – On a small island at the base of two waterfalls in the northwest corner of the map. To reach this point jump into the left waterfall from this ledge above to ride it down to the island.  
• Isabelle – Accessible by taking the Kapp’n Wild World Spirit bus from the northwestern town to the east side of the island. 
• Peach – Inside the Molten Fortress Dungeon which is located in the northern most point of the map. 
• Bowser – Boss at the end of the Molten Fortress Dungeon. In the fight Bowser will take the form of Giga Bowser. Beat him to unlock Bowser.
• Pichu – Inside the Power Plant dungeon.  
• Little Mac – Inside Lumiose City behind a closed gate. Complete the Power Plant dungeon to access.
• Falco – Found in space. Need to have the Slippy Toad spirit to access. 
• Snake – Found inside the Metal Gear Base dungeon. 
• Simon – Inside the Light Temple in the northwest corner of the map. Need to activate all three colored switches to access.
• Pit – Also inside the Light Temple. 
• Samus – East across the bridge blocked by the yellow light (beat the Light Temple to reach). 
• Zero Suit Samus – On the peak of the fire mountain (in area unlocked after beating the Light Temple). 
• Mr. Game & Watch – Inside the futuristic maze at the bottom of the fire mountain. 
• Shulk – On top of the mountain to the northeast of the maze. 
• Ness – Located in the Magicant land which is located north of the canyon. 
• Pokemon Trainer – Found to the south of the Jungle Japes zone (along the roadway). 
• Mii Gunner – Found on the Alolan Islands (need Lapras Spirit to reach). 
• Toon Link –  Inside the Rathalos dungeon on the Alolan Islands. 
• King Dede – Beat the food challenge on the floating island.
• Link – Southern Great Plateau – Villager’s route.
• Captain Falcon – Raceway (requires Pico spirit) – Villager’s route.
• Jigglypuff – River Woods north on Sheiks’ route (Bord, Cord, and Barst Spirit needed for broken bridge). 
• Mii Swordfighter – Town to northeast of Sheik’s route start. 
• Olimar – In the Mushroom area west of the Crossroads near the dock (Need Kammy Koopa’s Spirit to access). 
• Lucario – Path along cliffside North of Raceway.
• Yoshi – On Ribbon Road.
• Fox – Heart Pool west of Ribbon Road.
• Dr. Mario – Just north of Lumiose City.
• Wii Trainer – Middle of Lumiose City.
• Inkling – Console City. 
• Donkey Kong – Kongo Jungle just after rope bridge in middle of area. 
• Ice Climbers – On top of Mountain down left iced pathway. 
• Lucas – Found in the town in the Northwest corner of the world (below the Mountain). 
• Duck Hunt – In the Foggy Woods southwest of the ruins. 
• Mega Man – In the Metal Gear Base which is located at the southwest corner of the map. (Need Hal Emmerich spirit to access).
• Pac-Man – East of the Metal Gear Base (just outside the Mushroom area).
• Ryu – Beat the World Tour Zone (involves fighting a number of enemies across the world) that is accessible via the airport between the Crossroads and Mushroom Area (Need Kapp’n Spirit to access). 
• Pikachu – On a small island at the base of two waterfalls in the northwest corner of the map. To reach this point jump into the left waterfall from this ledge above to ride it down to the island.  
• Isabelle – Accessible by taking the Kapp’n Wild World Spirit bus from the northwestern town to the east side of the island. 
• Peach – Inside the Molten Fortress Dungeon which is located in the northern most point of the map. 
• Bowser – Boss at the end of the Molten Fortress Dungeon. In the fight Bowser will take the form of Giga Bowser. Beat him to unlock Bowser.
• Pichu – Inside the Power Plant dungeon.  
• Little Mac – Inside Lumiose City behind a closed gate. Complete the Power Plant dungeon to access.
• Falco – Found in space. Need to have the Slippy Toad spirit to access. 
• Snake – Found inside the Metal Gear Base dungeon. 
• Simon – Inside the Light Temple in the northwest corner of the map. Need to activate all three colored switches to access.
• Pit – Also inside the Light Temple. 
• Samus – East across the bridge blocked by the yellow light (beat the Light Temple to reach). 
• Zero Suit Samus – On the peak of the fire mountain (in area unlocked after beating the Light Temple). 
• Mr. Game & Watch – Inside the futuristic maze at the bottom of the fire mountain. 
• Shulk – On top of the mountain to the northeast of the maze. 
• Ness – Located in the Magicant land which is located north of the canyon. 
• Pokemon Trainer – Found to the south of the Jungle Japes zone (along the roadway). 
• Mii Gunner – Found on the Alolan Islands (need Lapras Spirit to reach). 
• Toon Link –  Inside the Rathalos dungeon on the Alolan Islands. 
• King Dede – Beat the food challenge on the floating island.
• Diddy Kong – At the end of the Jungle Japes dungeon.

The Dark Realm is the area you go to after beating Galeem in the World of Light. In this area there are a number of characters to collect as listed below. 

• Incineroar – Found in the southwest section of the Dark Realm (go here after beating WoL). 
• Rosalina & Luma – Found in the north section of the Dark Realm. 
• Lucina – Found in the lower southeast corner of the Dark Realm. 
• Daisy – Located in Dracula’s Castle dungeon in the Dark Realm. 
• Wario – Located in Dracula’s Castle dungeon in the Dark Realm. 
• Ridley – Located in Dracula’s Castle dungeon in the Dark Realm. 
• Dark Pit – Found in Dracula’s Castle dungeon in the Dark Realm (go up through the fireplace by the tower stairs to reach). 
• Robin – Found in Dracula’s Castle dungeon in the Dark Realm (Shoot the lowest cannon on the left in the tower to reach). 
• Ken – Found in a tower of Dracula’s Castle. Pull the lever in the basement then shoot the highest cannon below the tower to reach. 
• Richter – Clear out all seven of the Shades in Dracula’s Castle to have Richter appear in Dracula’s room. Must have beaten Dracula. 
• Sonic – Found in the Sacred Land dungeon in the Dark Realm (on path to the Master Sword). 
• Young Link – Find the Saria Spirit in the Sacred Land dungeon to unlock the path to Young Link. 
• Zelda – Solve the Owl’s 12:10 riddle to reach Zelda in the Sacred Land dungeon. 
• Chrom – Jump inside the open chest in the forest (by the lake) to reach Chrom in the Sacred Land dungeon. 
• Cloud – Found just in front of the Master Sword in the Sacred Land dungeon. 
• Ganondorf – Located in the northern region of the Sacred Land dungeon. You need to have the master sword to reach this area. 
• Bowser Jr. – Located along the left path of the northern region in the Sacred Land dungeon. 
• Mii Brawler – Solve the Owl’s 4:40 riddle to have the Mii Brawler appear. 
• R.O.B. – Found in the Mysterious Dimension in the Dark Realm. 
• Greninja – Along the main pathway in the Mysterious Dimension. 
• Corrin – Found on a dead end path in the Mysterious Dimension. 
• Wolf – On the old airplane in the Mysterious Dimension. 
• Ike – Along the main pathway in the Mysterious Dimension. 
• Mewtwo – Along a dead end pathway in the Mysterious Dimension. 
• Meta Knight – Found on the main pathway through the Mysterious Dimension. 
• Luigi – Along a dead end pathway in the Mysterious Dimension. 
• King K. Rool – Found on the Pirate Ship in the Mysterious Dimension. 
• Dark Samus – Right before the fight with the Crazy Hand (L). 
• Roy – Before the fight with the Master Hand (R). 
• Bayonetta – Before the Crazy Hand that appears after beating the Master Hand of Light. 
• Palutena – Before the Master Hand that appears after beating the Crazy Hand of Darkness. 

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Unlock Characters in Classic Mode

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If you don’t want to unlock characters using the VS Mode or the Adventure Mode, you can unlock characters by playing through the Classic Mode (Found under Games & More > Classic Mode). In Classic Mode you will select a character at the start of the mode and then must complete the mode with that character. At the start you will have eight default characters to select from.

These original characters are linked to unlocking specific groups of characters. If you play with Mario you unlock Sonic. Playthrough again with Mario or Sonic and you unlock Bayonetta. Once you’ve collected enough characters from a og characters path, they can eventually reach another unlock path (meaning you can playthrough classic mode with the same character repeatedly if you want). There’s a good visualization of the character unlock chains here.

Here are the Classic Mode Character Unlock Chains (Difficulty Doesn’t Matter):

• Mario > Sonic > Bayonetta > Little Mac > Ike > Luigi > Roy > Dr. Mario > Olimar.
• Donkey Kong > Bowser > Pokemon Trainer > Rosalina and Luma > King Dedede > Sheik > Greninja > Diddy Kong > Duck Hunt. 
• Link > King K. Rool > Ice Climbers > Simon > Meta Knight > Snake > Young Link > Richter > Toon Link.
• Samus > Inkling > Wii Fit Trainer > Pit > Incineroar > Dark Samus > Cloud > Wario > Dark Pit.
• Yoshi > Lucario > Marth > Ryu > Ganondorf > Lucina > Ridley > Chrom > Ken.
• Kirby > Ness > Jigglypuff > PAC-Man > Zelda > Robin > Corrin > Lucas > Palutena.
• Fox > Captain Falcon > Zero Suit Samus > Peach > Falco > Daisy > Bowser Jr. > Wolf > Mewtwo.
• Pikachu > Villager > Shulk > R.O.B. > Mega Man > Isabelle > Mr. Game & Watch > Pichu.

Anything to add to our how to unlock every character in Super Smash Bros Ultimate guide? Let us know in The Pit below.