On one hand, yeah, this day kind of feels like a waste. On the other, he's a veteran who isn't on the no-vote list, so by extension we really should be doing a vote for him like all the other eligible veterans. Instead of pouting about it, let's make it meaningful:
Shulk
Chance - 100%
Like I said last night, I've been trying to think of good reasons Shulk wouldn't return, and as of right now I've still got nothing. He's unique, is the only rep for his series, is from a series that is actively growing in importance to Nintendo, is from a series Sakurai is known to like, and has no good reason to be replaced by a XC2 character in particular. In fact, to drive it home, let's look at all the veterans who have ever been cut and why (as far as we know):
Clones - Dr. Mario, Pichu, Roy, Wolf, Young Link
Licensing Issues - Snake
Technical Difficulties - Ice Climbers
Removed Transformations - Squirtle, Ivysaur
Cut Late in Development - Mewtwo
Shulk isn't a clone, so that's out. He's a Nintendo-owned character, so no licensing issues. He doesn't have an unusual moveset like Ice Climbers, so technical difficulties seems a stretch at best. He's not a transform character, so no worries there. The only thing that could remotely apply is being cut late like Mewtwo was in Brawl, and he ended up returning anyway as the first DLC character of Sm4sh. Considering Mewtwo was from a series with multiple other unique veterans and Shulk isn't, I doubt he is considered that expendable, nor do I think they want to remove any unique veteran without a very good reason.
Really, the only way Shulk gets cut is unpredictable elements, such as Smash for Switch being a major reboot of the series and/or the launch roster being substantially smaller than Sm4sh's. Considering such an event would effectively invalidate this entire thread, I don't think that should affect this or any other rating. Really, the biggest hurdle for Shulk getting into Smash was Xenoblade in general getting into Smash, and that hurdle was cleared in Sm4sh. Now he's here, and nearly as I can tell, he isn't going anywhere.
Want - 50%
I'm not going to say Shulk shouldn't be in Smash at this point. Unfortunately, old grudges die hard: back in 2014 I was unhappy because it felt like Shulk took the character slot that Isaac deserved to have, and, justified or no, I can't get past that thought while Isaac remains in Smash limbo. Sure, Shulk should stay on the roster, but do I want him? Not yet.
Nominations - Bayonetta x5
I think it's safe to say Lucina will be rated soon, and with low-vote characters theoretically being purged from the nominations any day now, let's give a bump to another veteran that should provide some interesting discussion.
Skull Kid Predictions - 7.5% Chance, 37.5% Want
I missed Zelda newcomer day, so maybe there is more expectation here than I would think, but this feels like the sort of character that will attract quite a few 0s and 1s.
