Finished Challengers
Series 1
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sebg_kJz8o
Hailing from the breakout series Splatoon, these squid kids are widely seen as frontrunners for the next Smash game, whether that be an enhanced port of Smash 4 or a brand new entry. Inklings fight with a wide range of projectile weaponry, close-ranged attacks, and even sub weapons like ink bombs and cascading ink barriers to aid them in claiming their turf and controlling it. Unique to them is their choice of ammo:
The ink they use coats any surface it comes into contact with for a while, and they turn into squid form when running across it for increased mobility or even a low profile crawl!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXWeH-cDFLo
The Kremling king is a perennial fan favorite who's been requested for a long time. Though his lack of relevance has seemingly interfered with his chances, the Smash Ballot may yet give him a way around it. To fight as K. Rool is to step into the mind of a cunning and twisted individual, with
a moveset built around using traps and setups to confirm into powerful blows!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngA8KHryDBw
A facsimile from a world of living paper, this version of Mario is anything but flat, and he has the support to prove it. He may
look like the Mario we already know, but his repertoire is very different from his flesh-and-blood counterpart. In fact, just like his games are a quirkier take on the main Mario games,
Paper Mario would fight like a quirkier version of regular Mario, but with a moveset that's almost entirely unique!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDdGxAgJpEQ
Elma is one of humanity's last hopes in her time, a super soldier from a future where mankind clings to life on a hostile alien world after the destruction of Earth. A highly skilled fighter, Elma brandishes dual knives and dual beam pistols, switching between them on the fly for whichever her attacks need. In a nod to the secondary effects on many of her combat arts in her home series,
several of Elma's moves would deal extra damage or have other beneficial effects if they strike her opponent from certain directions or under certain circumstances!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kM4Edabbv4
Many Pokémon from Generation 7 are seeing support so far, but the Alolan Grass-type starter Decidueye has stood out the furthest. Though Sakurai wouldn't be one to add a Grass type just to complete a starter triangle, Decidueye's plant- and spirit-based powers and masterful archery add up to impressive moveset potential with a wide range of unique abilities. The latter even works as a moveset gimmick:
Decidueye's forward and up smashes take the form of long ranged arrow snipes that can even be fired at an angle!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgRt2rc8wyI
Pokémon's gigantic cast means quite a few have an argument for joining the fight! One of Gen 7's most prominent non-starters, the Lycanroc species is unique in having two (or possibly more) distinct forms based on the time of day the previous form Rockruff evolves and the legendary being whose energy they are most influenced by. As Rock types, they wield earth-elemental attacks that are nearly nonexistent in Smash so far, giving them a niche wide open for the taking.
This character is very flexible, with many different ways it could viably work in Smash: the battle-hungry Midnight Lycanroc, the more noble and passive Midday Lycanroc, both forms alongside each other, or even the ability to transform between them if such a thing was considered an acceptable creative choice!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e8TAKgl-ME
Third party characters are exceedingly hard to predict, but this one's odds have turned significantly over time. Cloud's inclusion means Square-Enix is officially involved in Smash, opening the door for a second character of theirs, and we know now that Geno was even considered for Brawl! Boasting powerful but high-commitment projectile attacks,
Geno's moveset would feature the action commands that debuted in his home game of Super Mario RPG. Perform an additional input with precise timing, and many of his attacks deal extra damage or gain additional properties!
Series 2
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nWG-toWM7g
This rising star is a newer face from a storied franchise, but he's racked up a lot of major roles and has essentially become the Kirby series' fourth main character. As a master at fighting with a spear,
Bandana Dee wields a weapon type we haven't yet seen in Smash, making him that much more unique and compelling. Combining it with the Waddle Dees' natural versatility and with the Parasol and Beam powers already associated with them makes Bandana Dee a very well-rounded fighter.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypTKTM_Sfok
Another fan favorite, Dixie Kong has been overshadowed in speculation by a certain fat crocodile. But where K. Rool's odds lie with the Smash Ballot, Dixie's relevance grants her means to get in without needing it, and their vastly different abilities mean they aren't directly competing with each other. Her fighting style relies on using her prehensile ponytail to bludgeon enemies and grasp objects, and
she can even twirl her hair like a propeller to give herself a high double jump, then spin forward through the air! Dixie boasts an odd set of mobility skills, but just like in her games, you can pull off some impressive movement once you know how to use it all.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyGGm07dRBk
The indie darling who rekindled the spirit of pixel platforming, Shovel Knight gained a massive support base for a while due to various circumstances, but his actual odds are murkier than they seemed then and may even rely entirely on the Smash Ballot. Much like how he controls and fights in his game,
fighting as Shovel Knight would be all about patience and attrition, winning through wearing his opponents down and outlasting them. He may not have the flashy movement and aggression that many seek, but a true knight knows that there is more than one way to save the day!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLpxUIERAu4
Another from a long list of fan favorites yet to join the fight, Isaac has a lot of people pulling for him despite technically being one of the dreaded anime swordsmen. His home series of Golden Sun has been on hiatus for a while now, but the Smash Ballot may give him a way to surmount that.
Isaac's playstyle combines the reach of a longsword with an array of Psynergy skills that manipulate his surroundings, zoning opponents at arm's length while also controlling the stage and dictating where his opponents can go. His earth-based magic takes many forms, from rocks to quakes to plant growth and much more!
