'Smash Ultimate' Tier List: New Ranking Reveals the Best Version of Link

Nintendo made some major changes to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with its 2.0.0 update, tweaking almost every character in an effort to improve and balance the game. As a result, tier lists meant to rank the best characters in Ultimate have been adjusted, and one of the latest comes from William Peter Hjelte (aka, Leffen), the top-ranked player in Smash Bros. Melee for GameCube (which many fans consider to be the best version of the game).

Leffen’s new Smash Bros. Ultimate list, initially shared in a Twitch live stream marks some dramatic changes from his original rankings. As EventHubs notes, every character he originally considered to be top tier has been demoted, and of that group, only Richter managed to qualify as a second-tier fighter.

Leffen’s new top tier is mostly in line with other recent Smash Bros. Ultimate tier lists. Pichu and Pikachu are there, along with the new and powerful character Inkling and perennial favorite Peach. Interestingly, the only Zelda franchise character to make top tier is Young Link, while Marth, Lucina, and Ike represent the Fire Emblem family.

As a Link main in Super Smash Bros. Wii U (or Smash 4 as some fans call it), I’d have to begrudgingly agree with Leffen’s ranking of the Zelda fighters. Nintendo made some interesting changes to regular Link in an effort to match his moveset in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but the end result feels inferior to what he used to be in Smash 4. (At least bring back the grappling hook, Sakurai!) Meanwhile, Toon Link was nerfed severely in Ultimate, and the 2.0.0 update didn’t do much to fix him.

Young Link, who wasn’t even playable in Smash 4, offers a nice middle ground between the other two. He’s heavy enough to deal serious damage, but light enough to feel floaty when you’re playing off-stage. Plus, those fire arrows are freaking awesome.

As you reach the bottom of the list you might notice some inconsistencies. Peach is top tier, but Daisy is poorly ranked. It doesn’t exactly make sense, but clearly the lower ranks of this tier list are meant to be at least a little humorous. (Charizard even gets roasted in a special bottom tier section just for the giant fire-breathing dragon Pokémon.)

Check out Leffen’s full Smash Bros. Ultimate tier list below:

Top Tier (Ordered)

• Pichu
• Inkling
• Peach
• Wolf
• Lucina
• Young Link
• Pikachu
• Ike
• R.O.B.
• Marth
• Wario

High Tier (Roughly Ordered)

• Shulk
• Roy
• Link
• Yoshi
• Palutena
• Fox
• Richer
• Cloud
• Chrom
• Olimar
• Greninja
• Mega Man
• Zero Suit Samus

Mid Tier (Not Ordered)

• Snake
• Pokémon Trainer
• Donkey Kong
• Toon Link
• Falco
• Mewtwo
• Sonic
• Diddy Kong
• Sheik
• Bowser
• Ivysaur

Characters I don’t care about

• Mr. Game & Watch
• Robin
• Corrin
• Ness
• Pit/Dark Pit
• Ice Climbers
• Lucas
• Duckhunt
• Pac-man
• Wii Fit Trainer
• Wii FIghters
• Incineroar
• Ganondorf
• Villager
• Meta Knight
• Simon/Richter
• Ken/Ryu
• Bowser Jr.
• King Dedede
• Jigglypuff
• Mario
• Bayonetta
• Captain Falcon
• Samus/Dark Samus
• Doctor Mario
• Lucario
• Luigi

Bottom Tier and has no value

• Squirtle
• Kirby
• Rosalina and Luma
• Isabelle
• Piranha Plant
• Little Mac
• King K. Rool

Charizard tier aka trash tier

• Charizard

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now on Nintendo Switch.