Make your own Smash Bros. roster

[GameArtist1993]

I really want to commend Mr. Sakurai and his beloved team in creating the legendary and critically acclaimed platform-brawler to exist in the form of Super Smash Bros. with over 89, we are inspired by the amount of fighters currently featured in official Super Smash Bros so I wanted to talk you guys about an art project called "Future Smashers" please let me explain about the name, Future Smashers is about making artwork of characters who are NOT fighters in any Smash Bros game so far, talk about their origin and why they contribute to video game history, it's not just about highly requested candidates I also want to bring attention to characters who don't get enough love and support like for example Saki Amamiya.

I've made a journal on my Future Smashers in DeviantArt if any you are interested.

I made some rules when creating a Smash Bros. roster:

• There should be 89 overall candidates (equalling the total amount of 89 in Smash Ultimate and the series as a whole)
• There should be 7 Echo Fighters (just like in Ultimate)
• They must be video game characters
• Put any character you like, however you MUST drew all of them yourself

For my Smash Bros. roster, here are my picks of the 89 candidates:

Characters:

1. Bandanna Waddle Dee (Kirby) - DONE
2. Black Shadow (F-Zero) - DONE
3. Kamek (Yoshi) - DONE
4. Chibi-Robo (Chibi-Robo) - DONE
5. Krystal (Star Fox) - DONE
6. Waluigi (Mario) - DONE
7. Geno (Mario) - DONE
8. Isaac (Golden Sun) - DONE
9. Ashley (WarioWare) - DONE
10. Sceptile (Pokémon) - DONE
11. Zoroark (Pokémon) - DONE
12. Pico (F-Zero) - DONE
13. Toad (Mario) - DONE
14. Paper Mario (Mario) - DONE
15. Cranky Kong (Donkey Kong) - DONE
16. Samurai Goroh (F-Zero) - DONE
17. Lip (Panel de Pon) - DONE
18. Lyn (Fire Emblem) - DONE
19. Adeleine & Ribbon (Kirby) - DONE
20. Ayumi Tachibana (Famicom Detective Club) - DONE
21. Jody Summer (F-Zero) - DONE
22. Caeda (Fire Emblem) - DONE
23. Tetra (Zelda) - DONE
24. Dixie Kong (Donkey Kong) - DONE
25. Tails (Sonic) - DONE
26. Knuckles (Sonic) - DONE
27. Amy Rose (Sonic) - DONE
28. Crash Bandicoot (Crash Bandicoot) - DONE
29. Dr. Eggman (Sonic) - DONE
30. Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic) - DONE
31. Metal Sonic (Sonic) - DONE
32. Spyro the Dragon (Spyro) - DONE
33. Shantae (Shantae) - DONE
34. Rayman (Rayman) - DONE
35. Chun Li (Street Fighter) - DONE
36. Arle Nadja (Puyo Puyo) - DONE
37. Shovel Knight (Shovel Knight) - DONE
38. Bomberman - DONE
39. Sans (Undertale) - DONE
40. Cuphead (Cuphead) - DONE
41. Funky Kong (Donkey Kong) - DONE
42. Saki Amamiya (Sin & Punsihment) - DONE
43. Dillon (Dillon's Rolling Western) - DONE
44. Baby Mario (Yoshi) - DONE
45. Aran Ryan (Punch Out!!) - DONE
46. Toxtricity (Pokemon) - DONE
47. Birdo (Mario) - DONE
48. Takamaru (Mysterious Murasame Castle)- DONE
49. Magolor (Kirby) - DONE
50. Viridi (Kid Icarus) - DONE
51. Tingle (The Legend of Zelda) - DONE
52. Vaati (The Legend of Zelda) - DONE
53. Porky Minch (Earthbound) - DONE
54. Skull Kid (The Legend of Zelda) - DONE
55. Masked Man (Earthbound) - DONE
56. Primid (Super Smash Bros.) - DONE
57. Donkey Kong Jr. (Donkey Kong) - DONE
58. Ninten (Eartbound) - DONE
59. Blood Falcon (F-Zero) - DONE
60. M. Bison (Street Fighter) - DONE
61. Spring Man (ARMS) - DONE
62. Linne (Under Night In-Birth) - DONE
63. Noel Vermillion (BlazBlue) - DONE
64. Zero (Mega Man X) - DONE
65. Xiaomu (Namco X Capcom) - DONE
66. Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden) - DONE
67. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) - DONE
68. Akira Yuki (Virtua Fighter) - DONE
69. Reimu Hakurei (Touhou Project) - DONE
70. Jin Kazama (Tekken) - DONE
71. Sol Badguy (Guilty Gear) - DONE
72. Reiji Arisu (Namco X Capcom) - DONE
73. Toadette (Super Mario) - DONE
74. Wonder-Red (The Wonderful 101) - DONE
75. Mai Shiranui (Fatal Fury/ King of Fighters) - DONE
76. Lloyd Irving (Tales of Symphonia) - DONE
77. Armarouge (Pokemon) - DONE
78. Ceruledge (Pokemon) - DONE
79. Ring Fit Trainee (Ring Fit Adventure) - DONE
80. Noah (Xenoblade) - DONE
81. Heart Aino (Arcana Heart) - DONE
82. Aigis (Persona 3) - DONE
83. Espio (Sonic) - DONE
84. Charmy Bee (Sonic) - DONE
85. Vector (Sonic) - DONE
86. Scorpion (Mortal Kombat) - DONE
87. Marx (Kirby) -DONE
88. 2B (NieR) - DONE
89. Akuma (Street Fighter) - DONE

Echo Fighters: Donkey Kong Jr, Birdo, Blood Falcon, Dixie Kong, Shadow, Jin Kazama and Toadette

 

[GameArtist1993]

This is my made up Smash Bros. candidates roster:

 

[Veca Gorebyss]

•




wow. how nice.

this whole concept.

you made all these?



•



{ own list }

a better mewtwo overall! goodness.

rayman. heck yes.

mhmm. spyro.

all for now.



•

 

[NintenisKingten]

No Lief? Garbo roster then

 

[GameArtist1993]

•




wow. how nice.

this whole concept.

you made all these?



•



{ own list }

a better mewtwo overall! goodness.

rayman. heck yes.

mhmm. spyro.

all for now.



•

Indeed I have.

 

[Veca Gorebyss]

Indeed I have.

•


wow.

gosh.

theyre great!

browsing some right now.


•

 

[TheLastMaverickHunter]

This is my made up Smash Bros. candidates roster:

This is amazing, I wish I was this good at drawing.

 

[GameArtist1993]

No Lief? Garbo roster then

My apologises.

 

[NintenisKingten]

Bonus points for remembering Lip. I never see her ANYWHERE mentioned when it comes to smash


Who am I choosing?

Shadow (we NEED another sonic rep)

Waluigi (do I even need to explain)

Reimu (she'd be pretty cool)

Paper Mario (he's been due since 2008)

Spring Man (he was cucked MAD HARD in Ultimate)

Funky Kong (yes)

 

[Veca Gorebyss]

My apologises.

•


i need to check you out haha.

I want to make time to do so. hopefully today.

want to see what you're showing. it's intriguing.

you draw all these.

very cool.



•

 

[GameArtist1993]

•


i need to check you out haha.

I want to make time to do so. hopefully today.

want to see what you're showing. it's intriguing.

you draw all these.

very cool.



•

You can follow me on the following social media sites
DeviantArt
Twitter
Tumblr
Reddit

 

[Veca Gorebyss]

You can follow me on the following social media sites
DeviantArt
Twitter
Tumblr
Reddit

•


oh yayy. thanks.

ill check in a bit.

but you are in my mind haha.

thanks.


•

 

[Perkilator]

This is moreso me revising an existing roster, but I still feel proud of most of my choices:

Spoiler: 64

Luigi​	Mario​	Donkey Kong​	Link​	Samus​	Captain Falcon​
Ness​	Yoshi​	Kirby​	Fox​	Pikachu​	Meowth​

Spoiler: Melee

Mario​	Luigi​	Peach​	Bowser​	Donkey Kong​	Link​	Zelda / Sheik​
Ganondorf​	Samus​	Yoshi​	Kirby​	Fox​	Falco​	Pikachu​
Meowth​	Mewtwo​	Ness​	Captain Falcon​	Ice Climbers​	Marth​	Mr. Game & Watch​

Spoiler: Brawl

Mario​	Luigi​	Peach​	Bowser​	Yoshi​	Wario​	Donkey Kong​
Diddy Kong​	Dixie Kong​	Link​	Zelda / Sheik​	Ganondorf​	Tetra​	Samus / Zero Suit Samus​
Kirby​	Meta Knight​	King Dedede​	Fox​	Falco​	Wolf​	Pikachu​
Pokémon Trainer (Totodile / Grovyle / Charizard)​	Meowth​	Mewtwo​	Plusle & Minun​	Lucario​	Ness​	Lucas​
Captain Falcon​	Ice Climbers​	Marth​	Lyn​	Ike​	Mr. Game & Watch​	Pit​
Olimar​	Isaac​	DeMille​	R.O.B.​	Snake​	Sonic​	RANDOM​

Spoiler: for 3DS / Wii U

Spoiler: Base game

Mario​	Luigi​	Peach​	Bowser​	Paper Mario​	Bowser Jr.​	Rosalina & Luma​	Yoshi​	Wario​
Donkey Kong​	Diddy Kong​	Link​	Zelda​	Sheik​	Tetra​	Ganondorf​	Ghirahim​	Samus​
Zero Suit Samus​	Kirby​	Meta Knight​	King Dedede​	Fox​	Falco​	Pikachu​	Meowth​	Lucario​
Greninja​	Ness​	Captain Falcon​	Marth​	Lyn​	Ike​	Robin​	Mr. Game & Watch​	Pit​
Palutena​	Olimar / Alph​	Isabelle​	Wii Fit Trainer​	Little Mac​	Shulk​	Duck Hunt​	Takamaru​	Mii Fighters (Brawler / Swordfighter / Gunner)​
​	Dixie Kong​	Lucina​	Dark Pit​	Sonic​	Mega Man​	PAC-MAN​	RANDOM​	​

Spoiler: DLC

​	Mewtwo​	​
Rayman​	Ryu​	Lucas​
Cloud​	Elma​	Bayonetta​

Spoiler: Ultimate

Spoiler: Base game

64	Melee	Brawl	for 3DS / Wii U	Ultimate
1. Mario 2. Donkey Kong 3. Link 4. Samus 4ε. Dark Samus 5. Yoshi 6. Kirby 7. Fox 8. Pikachu 9. Luigi 10. Ness 11. Captain Falcon 12. Meowth	13. Peach 13ε. Daisy 14. Bowser 15. Zelda 16. Sheik 16ε. Yiga 17. Ice Climbers 18. Ganondorf 19. Falco 20. Mewtwo 21. Marth 21ε. Lucina 22. Mr. Game & Watch	23. Meta Knight 24. Lyn 25. Pit 25ε. Dark Pit 26. Wario 27. Snake 28. Ike 29. Zero Suit Samus 30. Wario 31. Plusle & Minun 32. Olimar 32ε. Alph 33-35. Pokémon Trainer (Totodile / Grovyle / Charizard) 36. Diddy Kong 36ε. Dixie Kong 37. Lucas 38. Sonic 39. King Dedede 40. Tetra 41. Wolf 42. Lucario 43. Isaac 44. DeMille 45. R.O.B.	46. Isabelle 47. Mega Man 48. Wii Fit Trainer 49. Rosalina & Luma 50. Paper Mario 51. Little Mac 51ε. Glass Joe 52. Ghirahim 53. Greninja 54-56. Mii Fighters (Brawler / Swordfighter / Gunner) 57. Palutena 58. PAC-MAN 59. Robin 60. Shulk 61. Bowser Jr. 62. Duck Hunt 63. Takamaru 64. Rayman 65. Ryu 65ε. Ken 66. Cloud 67. Elma 68. Bayonetta	69. Inkling 70. Simon 70ε. Richter 71. Ridley 72. King K. Rool 73. Azura 74. Incineroar 75. Bandana Waddle Dee

Spoiler: Fighters Pass

Vol. 1	Vol. 2
76. Joker 77. Hero 78. Crash Bandicoot 79. Estelle Bright 80-82. Team NEO GEO Terry Bogard Iori Yagami Nakoruru 83. Banjo & Kazooie	84. Chun-Li 85. Dr. Eggman 86. Sephiroth 87-88. Pyra / Mythra 89. Kazuya Mishima 90. Sora

 

[Oracle Link]

I just drew characters i like (its not finnished yet!)

And drawing 50 Characters is already a tall order 89 forget it!

 

[MasterCheef]

SSB Tag Team , -
each character slot can swap between 2 characters
except ; Shulk & ( Officer Howard ) , & ( Demon King Ganondorf )


1 Mario , ( Luigi = alt ) & Yoshi
2 Donkey Kong , & , Diddy Kong
3 Link , & , Zelda
4 Samus , & , Sylux ?
5 Kirby , & , Marx
6 Pikachu , & , Wigglytuff
7 Peach , & , Daisy
8 Bowser , & , Bowser Jr.
9 Demon King Ganondorf
10 Mewtwo , & , Mega Lucario
11 Alear , & , Byleth
12 Pit , & , Viridi
13 Wario , & , Waluigi
14 King DeDeDe , & , Magalor
15 Greninja , & , Incineroar
16 Mii gunner , & , Mii Brawler
17 Palutena , & , Pandora
18 Shulk
19 Inkling , & , Octoling
20 Ridley , & , Raven Beak
21 Pyra , & , Mythra
22 Noah , & , Mio
23 Officer Howard – Astral Chain


Officer Howard’s up Special = ??
Officer Howard‘s Neutral Special = blaster shot
OH’s down Special = choose Legion w/ health & regenerates over time
Officer Howard’s Horizontal Special = Legion move
L. axe = Blue Shield = 3 blue shields around O.H. & absorbs attacks
Legion Sword = Hit rush = L. rushes in & attacks & O.H. can too
Legion arrow = Air Shot = Legion & O.H. both Fire Arrows
Legion beast = Howl = stuns nearby opponent(s) & attacks
Legion arm = Gravity Storm = like black hole item

24 Boruto Uzumaki & ( Himiwara Uzumaki ? / Eida ? )

25 Yami Yugi ; = Dark Magician & Alexis Rhodes ; = Cyber Angel Izana

26 Ichigo KuroSaki & Inoue Orihime

27 Monkey D. Luffy & Nami

 

[Wario Wario Wario]

Here's one I did a while back - just a newcomer roster for an EIH sequel

A while back I made a newcomer roster for an Ultimate sequel, don't know if I ever posted it here, but I just added some echoes, and kinda feel like going through why I went with the characters I did

Spoiler

I'll do the unique characters first, since a lot of the reasoning for the echoes was derived from gaps in this set. The aim here was to please both Celebration-of-Gaming fans and Nintendo All-Stars fans, and fill perceived gaps in the roster without just overloading it with fan-requests. Realism wasn't considered.

1. Waluigi is the fan demand pick of the 1Ps. That's really the whole rationale. Of the major 1P fan picks, he's my favourite, and also probably the most popular from a mainstream perspective.
2. Impa, Midna, and Tingle were all in response to a percieved lack of Zelda rep. There aren't really any fully agreed upon Zelda reps who are overwhelmingly wanted by fans, even if Ninja Impa and Skull Kid seem to be more popular, that isn't overwhelming. Impa was chosen for her importance, with Elderly Impa being chosen in specific for making up the majority of Impa appearances and lending herself to a more unique moveset, along with a lack of geriatric characters in fighting games. this was before the nasb 2 leak I tried to make sure the female characters were unlike the usual female characters of Smash, since most of the women in Smash fall into the camp of "slender, pretty, human, young adult" - not that there's anything wrong with that alone (as you'll see with a later 1P pick), but it's nice to have more diverse female designs.
3. I really like Midna's character design, and I think that her whole hair thing lends itself to a fun moveset. TP fans were probably disappointed by Ultimate, so she fills that niche. Being a non-human female character is also an advantage she brings.
4. A lack of modern Kirby rep is a common criticism of Smash, and Susie fills that niche, being a bit of a fan favourite from what many consider the definitive best Kirby game. She also has a very abstract design, which is fun, especially for a female character.
5. Youngster was a me pick - I wanted more Gen 1, and I wanted a weaker, sillier Pokemon like Squirtle, Jigglypuff, and Pichu before him. While there are other Pokemon that fit either or both descriptors I'd prefer, I think Youngster's trio (Pidgey, Rattata, and Zubat) is so iconic that it's hard to really shoot down or view as "random", and a second Pokemon stance fighter has been a common request since Brawl.
6. The lack of legendary Pokemon representation in Smash is quite bizarre from an objective standpoint, and Genesect just fits Smash perfectly as a mobile, powerful, and fast creature. Gen 5 is, like Robobot, often considered the best Pokemon game, so it makes sense to represent it here.
7. While not particularly popular Smash requests, Callie and Marie are in a similar spot to Isabelle as being overwhelmingly popular outside of that niche, and probably having a large support base that's just silent and doesn't frequent Smash forums.
8. Rhythm Heaven has been a popular Smash pick for a while, and had a few devastating close calls. Yuka was chosen because she's so generic that she can basically do anything. Hanging on to a rocket, partaking in a quiz show, slashing a sword - she could basically do anything because she's just... a girl who hangs out with monkeys. Unlike Karate Joe, the Chorus Boys, or the Wandering Samurai who are all very specific in themes. Rhythm games are also not yet repped in Smash
9. Tingle is a bit of a me pick, he's very much a popular character, and has received quite a bit of re-evaluation in recent years from the Westerners who once got him banned from the Zelda series. I think I like Tingle as a sort of way of saying "hey, the dust has settled, you want to give this guy another go?" choice. I also like that he represents a spin-off series that isn't Mario.
10. Going into third parties, the reasons will be a lot more simple since 3Ps are nowhere near as comprehensive as they exist today. Case in point: Dr. Eggman. Sonic is underrepped, villains are underrepped, Eggman is one of the most iconic villains and one of the most iconic Sonics.
11. Blanka was a me pick of sorts. It doesn't really make sense to only rep a fighting game series, known for its wide cast, with the basic protagonist - and Blanka is my favourite of the SF cast.
12. M-rated games are underrepped, gritty games are underrepped, Western games are underrepped - these 3 things were all being kept in mind heavily for 3Ps. CJ is a somewhat humourous pick that would catch people off-guard and get people talking - but, like Steve, makes perfect sense when you step back and forget about the Smash discourse and fan rules.
13. Sub-Zero basically has the same reasoning as CJ, even if not exactly as memetic. I chose Sub-Zero over Scorpion simply because I think ice is more unique, with there only really being one character in Smash who is mostly ice-based. Also a bit interesting as a series that has infamously flopped in Japan. MK also has an interesting role in Nintendo history, which would give SZ's inclusion a bit of irony factor.
14. Kratos is the most iconic PlayStation character, and falls under the gritty Western M-rated camp. I think I would want to encourage a Nintendo-based audience to learn more about PS.
15. PaRappa supplements Kratos as a sort of way to say to Nintendo fans "hey, PlayStation does silly kiddie stuff too!". A lot of PaRappa fans haven't played the games, so it's very likely that he has a bigger fandom overlap with Nintendo than any other PS character. Also technically the first rhythm game (this title is somewhat dubious, but mostly correct) so a nice game to honour. Also a me-pick, as should be obvious
16. Master Chief fills the big 3 criteria I was looking for, and also properly represents Xbox after two non-Xbox-associated Microsoft reps.
17. Nintendo fans don't like Call of Duty - at all, it almost has a cryptid-like status where nobody in the Nintendo scene knows anything about it, but hates it for... killing platformers or something (which it didn't). Ghost is probably the most controversial non-echo on the roster for this, so I guess you could call him an "evil pick". I think a game this big should probably be represented somehow, and it'd be nice to try and quell the sheer hatred Nintendo fans have for COD, even if it'd be at its most intense before the reveal sets in. Ghost was chosen because the mask gives him a slightly more stylised edge.
18. Adventurer? Want to teach Nintendo fans about history, simple really. I chose the square over the dragons/ducks/seahorses because well... playing as a faceless square is funny, and feels more representative of "character design" of the era.

Now, the echoes, these were a little more driven by personal bias.

1. Dr. Bowser is THE joke pick. I have no non-comedic justification for him, that's why he got in. Just a weird, obscure, excessively nonsensical pick who gets a quick laugh every time you hover over him on the CSS. While I like Igglybuff and Small Mario better for this role, I think that Dr. Bowser benefits from being more obscure (being from a defunct mobile game), the sheer juxtaposition of a powerful monster being a professional heathcare expert, and technically being a mixture of two Smash characters. It all just culminates in something very bizarre and questionable, wheras Small Mario and Igglybuff are well known characters in their own right regardless of how frail they are.
2. Paula is just a very obvious pick - all of Ness' moves are from her, why wouldn't she get in as an echo? Plus, she is really the true hero of EarthBound all things considered. I think having female echoes of male characters is a very good thing to do, so people who want to play as a woman but like the moveset of another character could have an option.
3. Malos was a response to a mistake I feel I made with the initial version - an overcorrection on "anime swordfighters".
4. While the other 2 retro picks are third party, The Amazon is for the retro Nintendo fans specifically. I also think cross-series echoes are fun, and The Amazon makes a lot of sense since few of Incin's moves are that heavily themed, while Pro Wrestling is a very popular NES title.
5. The Classic Sonic games are near-universally regarded as the series' peak, so it's frankly a little bizarre as is that the series' representation leans so much towards the modern games. Hell, I could imagine Modern Sonic being the one with the echo e and adjective in his name this go around.
6. Most of the 3P picks here are general gaming history picks rather than Nintendo picks, with Blanka as the main and barely-counting exception - Roll is here to somewhat remedy that, so the Nintendo side of the fandom gets a pick they're more familiar with in the 3P pool. I chose her over ProtoMan for the same reason I mentioned for Paula earlier.
7. Zack Fair was added for the same reason as Malos. Additionally, FF is such a big deal that it'd be strange to not give it a 3rd rep.
8. Giana is a historical curio, which I think is fun. I regretted not putting in a microcomputer rep (I couldn't think of one who didn't overlap somehow with Adventurer), and I think having a rip-off game represented as an echo fighter is just very cheeky and clever. This Giana would have a design similar to her original version instead of the Twisted Dreams version to further drive in the intent as a microcomputer rep, but would also be less ugly and a little more cartoonish, sorta like a reverse Pit. I think it's nice to represent something Nintendo were previously against, like with Sub-Zero earlier.

 

[GameArtist1993]

I just drew characters i like (its not finnished yet!)
View attachment 379835
And drawing 50 Characters is already a tall order 89 forget it!

You do what you got to do. It's a decent amount of characters, hope it turns out great.

 

[Wario Wario Wario]

Here's the DLC for the roster I previously posted

If you remember this roster, I've made a DLC lineup to go with it - this roster takes Smash fandom and marketability into account much more heavily. All except one of these is 3P since... TBH, the well is kinda dry for 1Ps from a marketability perspective, especially with Waluigi in now, and I don't want to make a bunch of blank spaces for "CURRENTLY NON-EXISTENT POKEMON" and "CURRENTLY NON-EXISTENT FIRE EMBLEM NON-LORD" - HOWEVER, this will not be dominated by fan demand entirely - I'm considering silent fandoms, new fandoms to draw to Smash, and fandoms who may have overlap but generally stay out of Smash speculation due to being seen as "impossible" as well. There's 5 "fans want this" picks and 5 "we'll make fans with this"/"fans don't know they want this" picks. I'm not the most satisfied with this DLC lineup, and feel the Sora half of the roster is significantly worse than the Joker half (to be frank, most fan demanded Smash character picks are really lame)
View attachment 380806

1. Crash Bandicoot - I'm not too keen on this guy as a Smash character, even as a huge fan, but I think it's "about time" he got in - I have true PS reps already and a non-Crash Activision character, so two of my biggest gripes are eliminated, and from a moveset perspective, well... it's my roster. I'd get to make the moveset. Also a scrimblo, so a good way to reassure fans "we're not going to have the same tone for every characters". Placed first so the DLC will start on a Nitro-box bang
2. Agumon/Greymon - To be frank, this pick was entirely motivated by one thing: "Digimon vs. Pokemon". That is it. Agumon would be a stance fighter, as you can tell. A character who's very popular, especially in Japan, but doesn't have that much Smash demand. Will explain the #2 placement on #3
3. Phoenix Wright - Another very big fan pick, perhaps a bit quirky but he makes sense, and Nintendo fans know who he is - both has fighting game material to work with and a lot of room for creative liberties. I don't want to do a one-two-punch and get everyone to expect picks that big the whole way through, so I put Agumon between him and Crash.
4. Red Bird - A pick that's gaining popularity lately, and is from a series that, while it's fandom tends to keep to itself, makes megatons of money. Like Crash, he's a scrimblo, and he represents mobile games. I prefer Bad Piggies, but I think that's too risky. Put in the middle due to being potentially controversial
5. Power Pro Kun - A huge IP over in Japan with some really interesting moveset ideas to draw from. Not sure how demanded he is in JP, but he's a big name that will attract a lot of players, and I think a Japanese-centric 3P was something essential left out of the initial roster. Probably best to leave low key in the middle instead of a big starter or ender given he doesn't have much worldwide reach
6. Kefka - Maybe not a fan demand pick, but one most people will recognise or at least have a vague idea of. Reading up on his wiki article, he's oozing of moveset potential, and I really like the clown/jester theme. Placed just at the end of the middle since he's universally iconic and non-controversial, but also not a fan demand pick.
7. Mettaton EX - Undertale is such a big IP that any character could be a million-seller on release day, since everyone has their favourite, so I'm going for MTT simply because I like him - I also think that, given how... sensually... Smash has tended to portray female characters, it'd nice to have a cute dude. Placed near the end - in spite of not being a big fan pick - because of UT's popularity and general demand for Smash, especially in Japan. If I went with Sans or Frisk, UT would've been the finale and topper.
8. Shovel Knight - I want to end on a triple punch of fan favourites, and luckily Shovel Knight happens to be a game I like with a fun, unique weapon and potential for some fun gadgets, as well as a multitude of other cameos to draw from - plus, he's got a really significant role in gaming history. Overall, he's mostly a for-the-fans pick.
9. Ashley & Red - This is a pick I'm VERY reluctant on, but looking at the most popular 1P candidates, she seems like the one I'd get the most mileage out of a moveset for. Smash doesn't have much in the way of spooky characters, and Ashley's got her whole food theme going on. She's certainly not as profitable as the other character choices here, even the oddballs like Pro-Kun, but Nintendo has used Ashley a lot for stuff like 3DS themes, Badge Arcade, and promotions for unrelated games, so I have a feeling there are some numbers only known behind the scenes that show that Ashley sells. Probably the most base game pick here, but she's also more DLC than the base game first parties sans Waluigi. Will divide some, but still popular enough to be part of the big 1-2-3 punch, plus placing her at the end will prevent players from overexpecting 1P content compared to if she were at the start or middle.
10. Dante - The finale's gotta be a big fan pick, so Dante it is. I think he's got a fun attitude, and think his edgy vibes set him apart a little better from the other swordfighters. I also think that, given how little "anime swordfighters" have been in to this point, it'd nice to end by relapsing diving back into the subset. There may not be much sentimental to him in the way Adventurer (my imagined base game topper) was, but it's a good sendoff.

Spoiler: honourable mentions

Honourable mentions: a Chrono Trigger character, Alis Landale, Ryu Hayabusa, Lara Croft, Doomguy, Bubsy, Reimu, Estelle, Fishbunjin 3000, Tetromino, Fortnite and Genshin characters, Peppino, Freddy Fazbear, a GG character, The Sims, and Canondorf - I didn't want to do more than one swordfighters after FP2's criticism and a side-over-protag for the Crono series was something I felt was too risky for a profit-driven roster compared to Undertale, Lara and Doomguy were scrapped due to the abundance of gritty characters from the West in base game, I felt that while Bubsy would sell he would also be percieved by some as a "meme pick" had a bit too strong a resemblance to Crash (im turning into venus), I only wanted one JP-regional character, which ended up being PPK, Fishbunjin, while sentimentally significant as a Smash pick, cannot and will not sell DLC, we already have a faceless square so Tetromino's at a disadvantage, and Fortnite and Genshin felt almost like malice picks, even if I'm sure a few people (or even the majority) would love them, and I felt I had enough zoomer/social-media-age characters as is with Red, SK, and Mettaton so Freddy and Peppino had to go, for GG I didn't want to do Sol and I had already decided to go half-and-half on fan demand and unexpected-but-popular picks and had done all 5 unexpected picks, while Sol is the only highly wanted character from the set. The Sims was also just a victim of bad timing. While I could justify Canondorf in a separate slot for base game, I cannot for paid DLC, and by no means would I want to get rid of Falcondorf.