1) Waluigi - The embodiment for the many sports, party, and kart styled sub-series that Mario has spawned if not holding a major appearance in a Wario/Mario title by the time the next game comes around due to the very quirky nature of the character and growing popularity or the odd, odd man. Bias is here but I genuinely see him as more likely than Captain Toad as a newcomer.
2) Paper Mario - The far more differentiated Mario RPG series that I see getting one major title between now and Smash 5, likely salvaging his popularity well after Sticker Star's outcry by fans. His reliance on a hammer more than his legs makes him more akin to Icies than Mario with an arsenal of helpers whose bits and pieces could be put into a moveset.
3) Ganon - Starting with Nintendoland and Link Between Worlds, I believe the series is going to have a resurgence of usage for the more resident and potent identity of the main villain. Little else to say. Zelda has not gotten a newcomer since Brawl, and arguably Melee if you see Toon Link as an evolution of Young Link as a fighter. Against the outcry of Impa fans and her very questionable usage in the series to come, my bet is more on the Lord of Porkness.
4) Ridley - There's nothing that needs to be said that hasn't been done a thousand times before. I genuinely believe that by Smash 5, either Ridley is going to have a bulkier body that works better as a fighter, Sakurai is not going to be directing, or even both. Prediction, not desire.
5) Anna - The very versatile redhead of the series with appearances in all but one title to this point. If it wasn't assured before then, Awakening made it very clear that Anna is a character... and family that Intelligent System has a very big love for and use her very openly for various roles. If she holds a significant unit or even boss role in 14 & 15/16 between now and Smash 5, I don't see why she wouldn't be promoted by IS to be put in.
6) (Slot) Fire Emblem Newcomer - Yes, I'm holding grounds for 6 total Fire Emblem characters with another addition being a major protagonist from 14, 15, or 16. As much as people may groan, I genuinely see it happen if they have the potential to still be a unique fighter.
7) Andy - Advance Wars, the little sister to Fire Emblem is a series that has been fairly dormant but I see gaining at least one major addition between now and Smash 5. Little more to say other than it is a series that I believe will get more representation than just the assist trophy it holds.
8) Isabelle - I have no clue what her moveset would be, but after her big popularity out of New Leaf to warrant addition into Mario Kart and having a big role in Happy Home Designer... or whatever it's called makes me feel confident that she will take a major reocurring role in the series and out-shine Tom Nook as a second character.
9) (Slot) Pokemon Newcomer - If you don't think Pokemon will get a new character from Generations 7/8, I don't know what to even say.
10) Marshal - Legitimately is more being used as a seat filler for a Rhythm Heaven newcomer. It's a series that after the debacle this time around and only growing more popular with The Best + being campaigned for localization before even the Japanese release, I see it being another series to get a space in Smash.
11) Chibi Robo - A bit of an underdog of middling support but a creative non-combattive abilities for the most part. Him being worthy enough for an Amiibo and getting a new game is one step on his path in my opinion. A
for Smash 5.
12) (Slot) New Series Newcomer - Simply said, I think either a new series is going to pop up worthy of a slot in Smash like
or Inklings, or someone somewhat old will be brought in like
or Isaac.
13) Takamaru - Very leading retro character who was a Sakurai pic but was held back by western unfamiliarity that by now is a moot point by being in Smash as an assist trophy, the inverse case than
.
14) Tenative (Slot) Xenoblade Newcomer - If Elma or even a character from a third Xenoblade game is not impactful enough to get a second character for the series like
was for Mother, then chalk this up to either being a slot for another series like Dillon or a popular newcomer for an existant series such as Krystal.
15) Shantae - She's gotten a surge of popularity and push for a third party series with a close tie to Nintendo... even being one of few games people would say was worth a purchase on the DSi ware. While not a knock-out character like
Ryu, my other 3rd Party newcomer, or even
, I... just have a feeling that she'll find her way in.
16) Black Mage - If we want to talk about genre-defining series like Street Fighter or to a lesser extent Megaman, there's no argument that Final Fantasy is one of these massive series that was a massive tie to Nintendo and has a number of spin-offs that still make significant titles on Nintendo systems (namely handhelds). Black Mage is almost inarguably the most iconic character/design of the entire series that ties most to the Nintendo games for the series, much like how we got classic
&
. Square Enix has allowed for Black Mage to be one of 5 Final Fantasy characters present in Mario Sports Spin-Offs before so I truly don't believe it is a stretch to see making a debut in Smash.
17) Miigician - I think we'll see the Mii Fighters characters expanded out by at least one "class" put in. A spellcaster seems most probable because it's a fairly open idea for the few characters present that fill it:
. Ganon & Black Mage by my additions.