The competitive landscape of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has evolved dramatically, and the release of Smash Ultimate’s 3rd Official Tier List marks a pivotal moment in the game’s competitive history. As someone who’s followed the Smash competitive scene since its inception, I can confidently say this latest LumiRank ranking represents the most comprehensive analysis of character viability we’ve ever seen. Based on evaluations from 93 globally ranked panelists, this tier list captures the dramatic shifts in Ultimate’s metagame throughout 2024, revealing surprising risers, shocking fallers, and regional differences that will shape competitive play for years to come.
In this complete guide, I’ll break down every aspect of the 3rd official tier list, from the methodology behind the rankings to detailed analysis of each character’s placement. You’ll discover which characters have risen to dominance, which have fallen from grace, and how different regions around the world view the competitive landscape. Whether you’re a competitive player looking to optimize your character choice or a casual fan interested in the evolving meta, this comprehensive analysis will give you everything you need to understand the current state of Smash Ultimate.
| Tier | Characters | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| S+ | Steve, Sonic, Snake | Consistent tournament results, versatile kits |
| S | Mr. Game & Watch, R.O.B., Pyra & Mythra, Kazuya | High damage output, strong neutral games |
| S- | Diddy Kong, Min Min, Fox, Peach/Daisy, Joker, Yoshi, Pikachu | Reliable combos, excellent recovery options |
Analysis: The S tier remains dominated by familiar faces, but with some notable shifts. Steve maintains his position as the consensus #1 character, with an impressive 67% of panelists ranking him first. Sonic holds firm at #2, while Kazuya makes a strong case for #3 with more panelists ranking him first than Sonic.
| Tier | Characters | Notable Changes |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | Roy, Olimar, Cloud, Luigi, Bayonetta, Samus/Dark Samus, Palutena, Mario | Luigi rose significantly |
| A | Corrin, Wario, Sora, Falco, Wolf, Hero | Hero made major jump |
| A- | Ryu, Shulk, Mii Brawler, Terry, Zero Suit Samus, Greninja, Pac-Man, Pokemon Trainer, Toon Link, Lucina | Pac-Man fell notably |
Key Insights: The A tier saw some of the most dramatic movement in this tier list. Luigi and Hero both made impressive climbs of over 10 spots, while Pac-Man and Pokemon Trainer experienced significant drops.
| Tier | Characters | Regional Variance |
|---|---|---|
| B+ | Young Link, Pit/Dark Pit, Captain Falcon, Ken, Rosalina & Luma | Captain Falcon favored in Japan |
| B- | Ness, Sheik, Meta Knight, Mega Man, Inkling, Sephiroth, Byleth, Ice Climbers, Pichu, Donkey Kong | Donkey Kong rose significantly |
Notable Movement: Donkey Kong emerged as one of the biggest success stories in the B tier, rising over 10 spots from the previous ranking. Meanwhile, Sheik continues her downward trend, falling further from her once-dominant position.
| Tier | Characters | Playstyle Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C+ | Lucario, Banjo & Kazooie, Wii Fit Trainer, Chrom, Lucas, Mii Gunner, Incineroar | Heavy reliance on specific gimmicks |
| C- | Link, Ridley, Bowser, Duck Hunt, Kirby, Isabelle, Robin, Bowser Jr., Mewtwo, Jigglypuff, Marth | Kirby rose significantly, Marth fell hard |
Biggest Shocks: Kirby’s rise of over 10 spots surprised many panelists, while Marth’s continued decline (falling over 10 spots) represents one of the most dramatic shifts in the entire tier list.
| Tier | Characters | Competitive Viability |
|---|---|---|
| D | Mii Swordfighter, Zelda, Ike, Piranha Plant, Villager, King Dedede, King K. Rool, Simon/Richter | Limited tournament success |
Regional Note: Interestingly, Japan ranked Simon/Richter as the worst character in the game, below even Ganondorf, showing significant regional differences in character evaluation.
| Tier | Characters | Why They Struggle |
|---|---|---|
| E | Little Mac, Ganondorf | Severe matchup disadvantages, poor recovery |
Consensus: Unlike previous years, Ganondorf’s position as the worst character isn’t quite as decisive, with only 66 of 90 evaluating panelists giving him the lowest score.
The LumiRank team employed a rigorous selection process for their 93 panelists:
The methodology remains consistent with previous years, ensuring reliable year-over-year comparisons:
This year’s tier list boasts exceptional data reliability:
| Character | Previous Rank | Current Rank | Change | Key Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luigi | Mid-A tier | High-A+ tier | +10+ spots | Improved matchup spread, tournament success |
| Olimar | Low-B tier | High-A+ tier | +10+ spots | Better representation, optimized strategies |
| Hero | Low-B tier | Mid-A tier | +10+ spots | Critical hit mechanics better understood |
| Donkey Kong | Low-C tier | High-B- tier | +10+ spots | Armor usage optimized, tournament results |
| Kirby | Low-C tier | Mid-C- tier | +10+ spots | New techniques discovered, improved viability |
Analysis: These risers represent characters that the community has significantly underestimated. Luigi’s climb is particularly noteworthy, as he’s transformed from a solid mid-tier to a legitimate top-tier threat. Olimar’s rise reflects the community’s growing understanding of Pikmin management at the highest level.
| Character | Previous Rank | Current Rank | Change | Key Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marth | High-A tier | Low-C- tier | -10+ spots | Matchup disadvantages exposed, nerfs accumulated |
| Sheik | High-A tier | Low-B- tier | -10+ spots | Struggles against top tiers, meta evolution |
| Pac-Man | High-A tier | Low-A- tier | -10+ spots | Gimmicks less effective, optimized counterplay |
| Pokemon Trainer | Mid-A tier | Low-A- tier | -10+ spots | Switching mechanics less dominant |
| Sephiroth | Mid-A tier | High-B- tier | -10+ spots | Recovery vulnerabilities exploited |
Insight: These fallers often represent characters that were initially overestimated or have been hard-countered by the evolving meta. Marth’s dramatic fall is particularly shocking, as he was once considered a top-tier contender but now struggles in the current competitive landscape.
Highest Ranked (Compared to Global Average):
Lowest Ranked:
Analysis: North American players tend to favor characters with strong projectile games and disjoints, while undervaluing characters with more linear approaches.
Highest Ranked:
Lowest Ranked:
Insight: Latin American players show a strong preference for sword characters and traditional fighting game archetypes, while being particularly harsh on heavy characters.
Highest Ranked:
Lowest Ranked:
Notable Trend: European players show the most extreme valuation differences, particularly with Olimar being ranked 20 spots lower than the global average.
Highest Ranked:
Lowest Ranked:
Controversial Take: Japan is the only region that ranked Simon/Richter below Ganondorf, making them the worst character in the game according to Japanese panelists.
Consensus #1 with 67% of first-place votes
Steve’s dominance continues into the third official tier list, but with some interesting nuances:
Why Steve Dominates:
Solid #2 with 40% of second-place votes
Sonic maintains his position as the clear second-best character, though with less consensus than Steve:
Key Strengths:
Controversial #3 with more #1 votes than Sonic
Kazuya’s placement as #3 represents one of the most interesting aspects of this tier list:
Why Kazuya is #3:
The final balance patch (version 13.0.1, released December 2021) introduced several changes that influenced the current meta:
Notable Buffs:
Significant Nerfs:
Long-Term Impact: These final adjustments have had time to settle into the metagame, with characters like Donkey Kong and Ice Climbers benefiting significantly from their buffs, while Min Min and Pyra/Mythra have seen their tournament representation decrease.
The LumiRank tier list is updated annually, with this being the third official iteration. The first was released in 2023, followed by the second in 2024, and now this third version in 2025. Updates are based on a full year of tournament data and metagame evolution.
Steve maintains his #1 position because his tournament results speak for themselves. He has the highest top 8 conversion rate, the most favorable matchup spread among top tiers, and consistent representation across all regions. While some players find him frustrating to play against, the data clearly shows his competitive dominance.
Regional differences are significant but don’t drastically change the overall rankings. The LumiRank system weights responses by region’s representation in competitive play, so regions with more tournament success have slightly more influence. However, the core consensus remains strong across all regions.
No, version 13.0.1 (released December 2021) was the final balance patch for Smash Ultimate. Developer Masahiro Sakurai has confirmed that all development on the game has concluded, meaning this tier list represents the final state of the game’s competitive meta.
For casual players, this tier list should be viewed as a reference rather than a strict guide. While it reflects competitive viability, character enjoyment and personal playstyle are far more important for casual play. Many lower-tier characters can be extremely effective in casual matches with skilled players.
This tier list stands out due to its methodology: 93 globally ranked panelists, rigorous statistical analysis, regional weighting, and the use of K-Means Clustering for tier determination. It’s the most comprehensive and statistically sound ranking available.
The release of Smash Ultimate’s 3rd Official Tier List marks the end of an era for competitive Smash. With no more balance patches incoming and development officially concluded, this ranking represents the final word on character viability in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
What makes this tier list particularly fascinating is the story it tells about the game’s evolution. We’ve seen characters like Luigi and Olimar rise from obscurity to top-tier contention, while former staples like Marth and Sheik have fallen from grace. The regional differences highlight how diverse the global Smash community really is, with each area developing its own unique metagame understanding.
For competitive players, this tier list serves as both a historical document and a practical guide. It shows us how the meta has evolved over three years of intense competition and provides valuable insights for character selection and matchup preparation. For casual players, it offers a fascinating look into the complex world of competitive Smash and the incredible depth that makes this game so special.
As we move forward, this tier list will stand as the definitive ranking of Smash Ultimate’s competitive landscape. Whether you agree with every placement or not, there’s no denying the incredible amount of work and analysis that went into creating this comprehensive evaluation of the game’s entire roster.
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