I've also always pictured Skull Kid having a "turn you into a Deku Scrub" attack, and I don't think it would be particularly hard to balance. Just make it so the Deku Scrub can still run, jump and shield but nothing else (think Pyra when she doesn't have her sword), and make the effect obviously...
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Two months ago, I posted a roster prediction, and I've now made a few minor changes since then. I substituted the general Pokemon icon for Meowscarada. While I don't particularly care which Pokemon character gets in next, I do expect one in the base game and I feel Meowscarada is the most likely one. Coincidentally (or perhaps purposefully), all of the fully evolved starters in Smash were owned by Ash. Liko is the new star now and she has a Floragato (which could end up evolving into Meowscarada).
I swapped Kass with Master Kohga. I feel like there is more creativity to be done with him and he helps represent both BOTW and TOTK.
EDIT:
Forgot to post what my roster would actually look like now lol.
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With the news that Sakurai has been working on Kirby Air Riders as opposed to a new Smash (or at the very least maybe both at the same time, since there were listings for both a 3D & 2D game), I've altered my prediction for Smash on Switch 2. I think they will do a Switch 2 edition of SSBU that would arrive probably around September or October 2026.
The upgrade pack would cost $20 and would not include the DLC. Everyone would obviously be brought back. As far as new characters, no Assist Trophies, Poke Ball Pokemon, etc. would be promoted.
From the last roster, I removed Skull Kid, Isacc, Matthew, Shovel Knight & Takamaru. I promoted Master Kohga & Ring Fit Trainee to base game and Paper Mario to the bonus/Piranha Plant-like character (personal preference honestly, since I want Paper Mario in the game). Also re-arranged some of the DLC placements and put Astro Bot in place of Kratos. I don't personally like having all that dead space in the last row, but the roster maker does not allow for more than 15 columns. I do think it should be 16 columns with all DLC and just 15 with out DLC. Still works with 16 columns (meaning, no echoes are on different rows than their base character).
I think Pauline to Ring Fit Trainee as listed is a solid base game roster. I'm hopeful we will get some echo characters as well. Light on the third parties in the base game because I'm sure they'd prefer to be DLC. Tails as a Sonic echo is obviously a big exception. Would it be the end of the world if most of these characters didn't get in? Probably not, but this is what I'd like to see. DLC would start in the beginning of 2027 and run through the end of 2031.
I feel like a Switch 2 edition is the best way to go in order to preserve everything we got from SSBU. In addition to new characters, I can see new songs being added and maybe some new stages. Maybe Assist Trophies, Items, Poke Ball Pokemon, etc. too. Really hoping for better online. There should be a new stage for Ring Fit Trainee and maybe a DK Bananza stage. For other stages, most of the DLC newcomers will come with a stage and songs.
Ideally, I'd want the NS2 Edition to be $20, but I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they pulled a TOTK/MK World and priced it at $30 if it has much of what I'm hoping for.
