The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, unlock most fighters in the base game by winning the challenger battles that appear as you play. You can also trigger challengers by completing Classic Mode or unlock fighters along the way in World of Light. Lose a challenger battle? Go to Games & More → Challenger’s Approach and try again. DLC fighters are acquired separately.
How base-game character unlocks work
A fresh save starts with eight fighters: Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu. Most other base-game fighters join the roster after you defeat them in a challenger battle.
![Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61bkI3XqQ7L._SL160_.jpg)
Nintendo’s gameplay guide says challengers approach during play and that winning unlocks them. The game offers more than one way to encounter challengers, so there is no single required mode for unlocking the base roster.
Choose a route to unlock fighters
| Route | How it works | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary play and timed encounters | Play until a challenger appears, then win the battle to unlock that fighter. | Players who want to unlock characters as they play. |
| Classic Mode | Complete a run to trigger a challenger battle. The character you use affects which fighter appears next in that character’s unlock tree. | Players who prefer a structured single-player route. |
| World of Light | Find and awaken fighters as you progress through the adventure. | Players who want to unlock fighters while playing the story-style mode. |
The Classic Mode unlock-tree details and World of Light mechanics are documented by the community-maintained SmashWiki character-unlock reference. Classic Mode’s next challenger depends on your chosen starter, so the order is not one universal sequence. World of Light is an alternative route, not a prerequisite.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall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
What to do if you lose a challenger battle
You do not have to wait for another random encounter. After losing, open Games & More → Challenger’s Approach to retry the fight. Nintendo’s guide gives this route for rematches, and the option was made immediately available after a loss in update 4.0.0, according to SmashWiki’s Challenger’s Approach reference.
- From the main menu, select Games & More.
- Select Challenger’s Approach.
- Choose the waiting challenger and win the rematch to unlock them.
DLC fighters are separate from base-game unlocks
DLC fighters are optional additional content; buying a pack does not replace the battles or modes used to unlock the base roster. Nintendo Support lists 11 Challenger Packs, with one fighter, one stage, and music in each. Fighters Pass Vol. 1 covers packs 1–5, and Fighters Pass Vol. 2 covers packs 6–11. Piranha Plant is sold separately from those passes.
| DLC pack | Fighter |
|---|---|
| Challenger Pack 1 | Joker |
| Challenger Pack 2 | Hero |
| Challenger Pack 3 | Banjo & Kazooie |
| Challenger Pack 4 | Terry Bogard |
| Challenger Pack 5 | Byleth |
| Challenger Pack 6 | Min Min |
| Challenger Pack 7 | Steve & Alex |
| Challenger Pack 8 | Sephiroth |
| Challenger Pack 9 | Pyra/Mythra |
| Challenger Pack 10 | Kazuya |
| Challenger Pack 11 | Sora |
| Standalone fighter | Piranha Plant |
See Nintendo Support’s DLC purchase and pack information for the listed content. Purchase availability and prices can vary by region and were not established here.
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
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
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors
