Summary
- The Super Smash Bros roster faces bosses from their world and crossover series, each with unique challenges and motives.
- Giant Donkey Kong, Fighter Husks, Possessed Fighters, and more are encountered throughout the game, each with distinct abilities.
- Key bosses like Giga Bowser, Rathalos, Dracula, and Winged Marx bring a range of attacks and strategies to test players’ skills.
The Super Smash Bros. roster has been fighting for their lives since the first entry. As the roster grows, so do the encounters that follow. They explore multiple worlds to fight for their very existence since losing in battle results in loss of control, reverting them to trophies.
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The main obstacles that interrupt their goal are the bosses. They appear from within the Super Smash Bros. reality or a crossover series like Castlevania and Pokemon. Most of the bosses have their own reasons to challenge the allied roster, especially the malicious masterminds behind each major plot. The most ideal bosses have some ominous presence and uniquely memorable experiences, especially when they affect the overall story.
20
Giant Donkey Kong
The D.K.
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. (1999)
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Konga Jungle
Giant Donkey Kong is a straightforward boss that challenges a character halfway through their 1P Game run. He takes the fighter to his home turf that’s designed with slopes, moving platforms, and a launch barrel that can save a user’s life offstage.
It is just Donkey Kong with the super mushroom effect to increase his size and damage. Since he receives little knockback and greater attack range, the player teams up with two allied partners to match his damage output. His huge size makes his recovery options riskier, exposing him to attacks and items offstage.
19
The Fighting Team
Fighter Husks
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. (1999)
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Stage Preference: Battlefield
The Fighting Team are incomplete fighters without any details. They’re made of wires, polygons, or alloyed shapes to look similar to other characters like Captain Falcon and Kirby, but with the most basic moves.
They’re terrible during one-on-one combat since they get launched fairly easily at low percentages. Their limited attacks and weak defenses force them to rely on numbers to overwhelm their targets, wearing them down with the hope of taking them out. They’re more of a challenge when facing waves of them during Multi and Cruel Modes.
18
Possessed Fighters
Without Free Will
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Final Destination
False characters were copies of the original fighters that took form during the Subspace Emissary. Their movesets aren’t different, though they can shapeshift to enlarge or shrink their size. They can even combine to make an even stronger foe.
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Puppet fighters had most of the roster mind-controlled during the World Of Light. They fight the same but with malicious intent. Beating them in battle would break the mastermind’s control, letting them rebel against the villain. This was also one of the main ways to unlock the characters.
17
Porky
Boy Genius
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Wii U (Trophy)
- Stage Preference: Ruined Zoo
Porky is an Earthbound villain who yearns to annihilate the Earthbound newcomer who took the Super Smash Bros. Brawl roster spot, Lucas. He starts off chasing Lucas with his Pig King Statue, unable to take any damage during the chasing phase. After cornering and preparing to destroy his target, Ness saves his PK magical comrade from the statue.
This forces the young mastermind to take matters into his own hands through his mecha invention. He moves and attacks like a spider, using its legs to stab or trample the PK users. Its other options showcase the kid’s genius through his energy lasers and explosive Porky Robos. After his defeat, he doesn’t return until much later.
16
Giga Bowser
Empowered Koopa King
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Final Destination
Giga Bowser enhances Bowser’s strength to brand new heights by sacrificing his speed. His moveset doesn’t change much from his original form, though his attacks are more elemental-based, producing freeze, electrical, or explosive effects. It’s a lot easier for him to trap his opponent in the stage’s corner to slash, breathe fire, or even grab them for major damage.
Not only is his offense enhanced, but his defenses as well. Bowser’s main mechanic, Tough Guy, is upgraded to endure greater knockback from attacks, making him more resistant to KOs. The option to KO by Blastzone isn’t completely locked out if the Koopa King gets baited to fall offstage, especially when he’s forced to use his worse recovery options.
15
Rayquaza
Disturbed Beast
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Spirit)
- Stage Preference: The Lake
Rayquaza was peacefully asleep within his shelter until the villainous invasion broke his slumber. His forceful awakening turned him hostile to the intruders, conveniently the main party cast. This forces him to fight out of defense for his own home, though doesn’t get involved much further.
He battles with the hit n’ run tactic, using his high agility to charge through the stage to hit his targets before flying off-screen. He’ll even dig into the ground and charge out to surprise his opponents. He can even provide himself space by knocking back opponents with its roar before zoning with its electric ball or eye blast explosions.
14
Duon
Yin & Yang
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Spirit)
- Stage Preference: Battleship Halberd Bridge
Duon is one of the few monstrosities created from the combination of smaller false fighters. He’s an original Super Smash Bros. fighter who uses the main tactic of switching between two fighter versions, similar to Eyedol in Killer Instinct.
The boss uses his two sides to mix up his approach to his opponent. The red fighter utilizes canons to zone with explosives and energy blasts while the blue fighter slashes with its blades for close combat. His large size does little effect on his movement speed since he can dash, jump, or spin to move and damage any hostiles in his way.
13
Master-Core
Master Beyond Limits
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. For Wii U, 3DS
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Spirit)
- Stage Preference: Final Destination
Master-Core is another form of Master Hand that spirals out of his control. His fighting style completely changes to make him more beastly and wild than Crazy Hand. He still has his energy attacks but relies on transformations to attack the player as a Master Beast or Master Edges. It even shifts into the Master Shadow of its opponent to change the fight into a mirror match.
When all else fails, Master Core resorts to its final transformation, Master Fortress. The fighter has to scour through the maze to destroy its hidden weak points while avoiding its enemies and traps like the Danger Zones that can harm or instantly KO the fighter. Destroying all its weak points will reveal its core, a vulnerable form that deals no damage.
12
Ridley
Embodiment Of Hate
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Spirit/playable)
- Stage Preference: The Research Facility II
The hatred for Samus made Ridley fly into the Subspace Emissary just to ruin her main quest. His first encounter made him rely on more physical moves, letting him use flight to ram to his target. He even uses his tail to scrape the stage, which can drag the player to deal growing damage.
After his defeat, he’s left knocked out for the story to continue. It isn’t until later when he returns as Meta-Ridley for a rematch. Since the main cast is driving the Falcon Flyer, the boss would force the player into his preferred domain, the air. He uses his advantage by tumbling and dragging the stage to the bottom of the screen while blasting fireballs to force his targets to dodge mid-air. It’s cool that he shifts his playstyle to force the player into his aerial territory.
11
10
Galleom
Tech Brawler
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: The Wilds (Part I), The Ruined Hall
Galleom is tied only within the Super Smash Bros. universe, making him an original combatant. His fighting style utilizes his brawler superstrength for close combat by throwing out uppercuts, grabs, and lariats. He’s equipped with tech inventions to let him hover with his jet boots, blast explosions with missiles, or bulldoze through the stage as a tank.
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Galleom is very expressive, especially when he goes into a rage after losing a certain amount of life. His enraged tantrum even damages anyone who gets too close. His rage form increases his attack speed while diminishing his recovery frames, making the punishment windows tighter.
9
Rathalos
The Monster
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Forest Hill
Rathalos is a Monster Hunter guest who brings the most animalistic terror to the battlefield. He uses charge attacks, poison claws, and fire breath to burn the stage, limiting the player’s landing space. He likes to swing his tail and fly over the stage, even soaring into the background to shoot explosive blasts.
He can be stunned by hitting his weaknesses like his face and tail. Another more effective option is using the items that spawn midstage. Throwing them at the beast at the right moment will stun him instantly, exposing him to more damage while restricting his escape options.
Heroic Steel
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. (1999)
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Meta Crystal, Battlefield
Metal Mario is a simple, yet menacing boss that appears near the end of a 1P Game run. His presence makes him somewhat reminiscent of altered versions of protagonists like Evil Ryu or Devil Jin since he plays like Mario with his fireballs, but with a much heavier weight.
Since he’s metal, he can take a lot of damage due to receiving low knockback. This also makes it harder for him to recover since he’s vulnerable to gravity. This forces the player to challenge him through a damage percentage war of attrition or bait to gimp him off-stage.
7
Ganon
True Form Of Hatred
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Sacred Land
Ganon changes Ganondorf into his beast form with greater power and dual-wielding swords. His moves showcase his aggressive, wizardry techniques such as energy beams, tackle assaults, and slash projectiles to cover full-screen. The beast moves efficiently well with his charge and jumping attacks, which sometimes take him offscreen. He’s a much better version than his Ganondorf form due to portraying his darker magic.
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This greater power makes Ganon invincible, taking no pain anywhere except for his tail. Players have to maneuver around him to deal damage, though must remain cautious since he can attack behind him to protect his weak point. Some attacks can even reach all around the beast despite facing the opposite way. Dealing enough damage to his tail can stun him for more pain while exposing his head for another punishment option.
6
Dracula
Source Of Evil
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Dracula’s Castle
Dracula is one of the new guest bosses to terrorize the universe. He fights like his Castlevania iteration with his swirling enflamed projectiles and bat transformation. His weakness is also from his origin series since his head is only tangible whereas anything else below would phase through any attack.
After falling to his knees, Dracula shifts into his beastly demon form for his last resort. His fighting style changes to become more up-close with his claws and heavier weight trample. He still has zoning tools with his Shockwave and Fireshot. The safest area is to hide behind the beast, though Dracula can protect himself with turn-around back slashes.
5
Marx
Crazed Innocence
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Mysterious Dimension
Marx forced himself into the World Of Light to side with the dark villain to spread corruption. Despite his innocent appearance, he has one of the most insane moves for combat. He’s also one of the more annoying bosses to hit since he mainly flies and teleports in the air.
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His abnormal fighting style makes predicting his moves difficult. He relies on the art of surprise by flying offscreen to throw out attacks like the Makai Plant or soaring himself out from the ground. Some of his options are even unblockable like his Black Hole and Extra-Thick Laser.
4
Tabuu
Dimensional Collector
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Spirit)
- Stage Preference: The Great Maze (Omega stage)
Tabuu was the mastermind behind the Subspace Emissary to transport the Super Smash Bros. reality into his home dimension for control, including the fighters. Even when the villains turned against their leading boss, they were no match for his powers, making them fall down along with the allied forces. Tabuu almost won, though his demise would be tested through his drastic miscalculation and ignorant notice.
The dimensional villain’s grand power requires up to six characters to take him down. His main attacks involve flying and teleporting to throw various weapons like his hostile beams, blades, and whips. His most devastating option is his Off The Waves, an unblockable fullscreen instakill move that requires timed dodges.
3
Petey Piranha
Caged Naturally
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Pokemon Stadium
Petey Piranha introduces the player to the Subspace Emissary as the first boss by capturing Princess Peach and Zelda in cages. Its main tactics involve pressuring the player with its close-range attacks like swinging the cages or slamming itself into the ground from the sky.
He isn’t very challenging, though the best aspect about this boss is the fight’s decisive outcome. The main target isn’t the boss entirely, but rather one of the cages to free a princess. This fight can greatly affect how the story will manifest, becoming the most impactful battle to influence the progression in Subspace Emissary.
2
Master Hand & Crazy Hand
A Held Pair
- Origin Fight: Super Smash Bros. (1999), Super Smash Bros. Melee
- Latest Entry: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Final Destination
Master Hand has been the main issue since Super Smash Bros. (1999). It wasn’t until Super Smash Bros. Melee that Crazy Hand would assist his other limb during the final battle in the classic mode run. They utilize different tactics like Master Hand’s crafty attacks with his energy projectiles while Crazy Hand is wildly physical with his moves to apply debuffs. They rarely fight against each other until the new main villains separate the pair, creating armies of the respective Hands for their dimension-breaking war.
Despite their different fighting styles, they do team up well together. They throw out their own attacks or use duo attacks that limit any safety on stage like finger beams and electric slam. Some of their solo attacks can be used against them to stun like the golden spikes.
1
Galeem & Dharkon
Two Sides Of The Same Coin
- Origin: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Stage Preference: Battlefield
Galeem and Dharkon are the most recent main forces threatening peace over the Super Smash Bros. reality. They use similar techniques, like creating cloned fighters or explosive energy bombs. Galeem uses its divine powers to zone while Dharkon tears through reality with its dark malice that utilizes debuffs.
It’s necessary to challenge them both simultaneously since beating one of them gives the other the chance to overwhelm the entire world. Even when challenging both bosses at once, their resentment makes the ultimate battle more of a three-sided match. They rarely use their powers for team attacks, making them easily exploitable by using their attacks against each other. They do have their own forms of rage, making them more aggressive when reaching lower health.
- Released
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December 7, 2018
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- OpenCritic Rating
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Mighty