Good Switch controllers for Smash Ultimate?

[Deleted member]

New here and returning to smash after a few years, What are some good controllers for Ultimate? Doesn't have to be 1st party, anything goes at long as it's reliable and responsive.

 

[Wario Bros.]

The two controllers I use the most is the Switch Pro Controller and the PowerA GameCube controller for Switch.

The latter includes Switch buttons an official GameCube is missing and is available in both wired and wireless (one difference between the two is only wireless has gyro controls).

 

[silenthunder]

I hate nintendo controllers. Mine always break.

 

[channel_KYX]

I hate nintendo controllers. Mine always break.

So you are using Atari?

 

[silenthunder]

So you are using Atari?

Thanks for being a dip**** asshole. Your not funny.

 

[Deleted member]

Thanks for being a dip**** asshole. Your not funny.

Tranquilo bro

 

[Night Gale]

Durable, affordable, sexy.

 

[SecretAsianMan]

From my experience
Power A pro controllers are durable and have really good feel, and the sticks dont start sticking
Hori Pro controllers are also pretty good as well, but the shell can crack if you throw your controller too hard. Still good tho.

 

[channel_KYX]

the shell can crack if you throw your controller too hard

That's not how you play the game.

 

[Deleted member]

That's not how you play the game.

Yeah but just in case because of those "heated gamer" moments.

 

[channel_KYX]

Yeah but just in case because of those "heated gamer" moments.

I have never seen anyone getting this angry, however, I have heard that some can get this heated.

 

[Predatoria]

I switched to a pro recently. I've been very happy with it.

 

[Sean²]

Official GameCube Controller and official Pro Controller are probably tied for #1 in terms of build quality and reliability. Then in 3rd would likely be the PowerA Wireless GC-style Pro Controller, but there are durability concerns if you play a lot. All the Hori and PDP options this time around seem to eventually have ghosting of other buttons when using the control stick or C stick. Like, just inputting a dash will give you a dash attack even if you're nowhere near any other button.

 

[Predatoria]

Official GameCube Controller and official Pro Controller are probably tied for #1 in terms of build quality and reliability. Then in 3rd would likely be the PowerA Wireless GC-style Pro Controller, but there are durability concerns if you play a lot. All the Hori and PDP options this time around seem to eventually have ghosting of other buttons when using the control stick or C stick. Like, just inputting a dash will give you a dash attack even if you're nowhere near any other button.

I swapped from a PowerA GC style pro, actually. The C stick on the controller was starting to misinput different directions at random times, and the A button started sticking real bad. I actually had two of them, and both developed the same problems.

It's also nice not burning through so many AA batteries any longer.

 

[Scribe]

Now, I'm gonna preface this by saying that I am an absolute mad lad and have spent hundreds of dollars over the past four years trying to find the perfect controller for my needs.

Gamecube Controller is a serviceable baseline - imho less optimal if you're interested in tournament play, but you have a fully wired controller without the added input lag that comes with wired Pro Controller alternatives.

Pro Controller is, imho, your best possible choice if you're looking for a more standard controller, especially if you're playing competitively. You have more options for remapping your controller to make certain bits of niche tech easier without having to use claw grip (e.g. Peach/Daisy floats, Mewtwo DJC shenanigans).

Power-A makes a really cheap wired Pro Controller alternative that you can get at most big box retailers. Seems to have good build quality as well. If you're gaming on a budget, I'd highly recommend this one.

If you're an absolute mad lad or lass and don't mind dropping $100 on a controller just to make people ask what the **** is wrong with you (note: I am absolutey the kind of person who would do this), you can use a PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller alongside a Brook Super Converter (PS3/PS4 to Switch or 360/Xbone to Switch), or an Xbox One controller with their new wireless Xbox One to PS4/Switch adapter. If you already own an Xbox or Playstation controller for use with those consoles or on PC, I'd say this might actually be worth using, but if not, imho it's too much hassle.

You could also go down the road of using a Smashbox, something from Stickless, or building an all-button controller yourself using SimpleControllers' guide, but honestly it's so expensive and takes so much time and effort to get used to that I'd honestly only recommend it if you're absolutely sure you're gonna stick with it and have the money to spare. That said, as someone who has gone down that road, lemme tell you, it's absolutely worth it.

 

[Sean²]

I swapped from a PowerA GC style pro, actually. The C stick on the controller was starting to misinput different directions at random times, and the A button started sticking real bad. I actually had two of them, and both developed the same problems.

It's also nice not burning through so many AA batteries any longer.

It makes me wonder if there will ever be a good "big name" 3rd party controller. I always had the feeling that I was being set up to lose when I was handed the random MadCatz controller to play with as a kid. I guess the stigma has never worn off, because 3rd parties apparently still cheap out hard on parts.

If you're an absolute mad lad or lass and don't mind dropping $100 on a controller just to make people ask what the **** is wrong with you (note: I am absolutey the kind of person who would do this), you can use a PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller alongside a Brook Super Converter (PS3/PS4 to Switch or 360/Xbone to Switch), or an Xbox One controller with their new wireless Xbox One to PS4/Switch adapter. If you already own an Xbox or Playstation controller for use with those consoles or on PC, I'd say this might actually be worth using, but if not, imho it's too much hassle.

Tried this in the past as a cheap replacement for a broken WiiU Pro Controller until I could get a new one. Hated every minute of using Xbox 360 and One controllers, it was not intuitive at all for Smash. Something about the buttons felt too stiff for fast inputs. No way I could recommend it. I feel like the PS4 controller would be better, but not sure about the control stick placement. If you're not playing Smash, either option could work as a good Pro Controller replacement for other games, though.

 

[Scribe]

It makes me wonder if there will ever be a good "big name" 3rd party controller. I always had the feeling that I was being set up to lose when I was handed the random MadCatz controller to play with as a kid. I guess the stigma has never worn off, because 3rd parties apparently still cheap out hard on parts.

Tried this in the past as a cheap replacement for a broken WiiU Pro Controller until I could get a new one. Hated every minute of using Xbox 360 and One controllers, it was not intuitive at all for Smash. Something about the buttons felt too stiff for fast inputs. No way I could recommend it. I feel like the PS4 controller would be better, but not sure about the control stick placement. If you're not playing Smash, either option could work as a good Pro Controller replacement for other games, though.

In my experience, Dualshock 4 isn't that good for more dash dance heavy games. It tends to hurt my hands a bit.
I actually really enjoyed using an Xbone controller for Smash, though I had also been using it for Rivals of Aether for a year or two at that point, so that might be a factor there.

As for a good "big name" third party controller, the big thing is that, like, third party controllers need something to set them apart from their first party counterparts. Some companies like Qanba, Razer and Hori make specialist controllers designed for specific genres, as did MadCatz during their last few years of operation. Most of the rest - like Power-A and PDP - focus more on offering up a budget alternative - and in many cases, they accomplish that by cutting corners on build quality, though in the modern era, the option of cutting features like rumble, wireless functionality, motion controls or NFC functionality is also on the table.

Scuf and Razer have shown that there is room for what I guess I'd call a premium gamepad - a controller that uses a very similar shape and comparable - if not superior - build quality to its first-party counterpart, but with some feature designed for competitive play in mind. Stuff like splitting the d-pad into separate buttons, or adding extra buttons or paddles on the back. They've both done it with the PS4 and Xbox One, only time will tell if they'll do it with the Switch as well.

 

[SecretAsianMan]

you've ever been to a local and you have to like quarantine your wireless controller after matches so you don't reconnect to the switch you just played on
with power a controllers you can just rip out the AA instead
that in my book is a plus