During today’s Smash Direct broadcast, Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai introduced the fifth and final DLC fighter. It’s Byleth, the protagonist from last year’s big RPG release, Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Like previous Fire Emblem protagonists, Byleth has both male and female versions, and both are playable in Smash. Byleth can also adopt the colors and costume design of each of the three houses.
Byleth is low on mobility, but features strong attacks and impressive reach thanks to the whip-like Sword of the Creator. The Byleth Challenger Pack also includes the Academy Stage, 11 music tracks, and a new spirit board full of Fire Emblem: Three Houses characters.
Byleth is the eighth Fire Emblem character to join the Super Smash Bros. roster, which has been featuring Fire Emblem fighters since before the strategy-RPG series came to the US. Much of the vocal fan-base is upset about adding yet another Fire Emblem character (and yet another sword-wielding fighter), instead of exploring a different franchise.
Byleth completes the Fighter Pass DLC, which added Joker (Persona 5), the Dragon Quest hero (Dragon Quest 11), Banjo & Kazooie (Banjo Kazooie), and Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury) throughout 2019. Each Challenger Pack can be purchased separately for $5.99 each, or all five together for $24.99. Each Challenger Pack also included a new stage and themed music tracks.
As part of the Smash Direct, Sakurai also announced the Round 5 of Mii Fighter costumes, including a new Cuphead skin for Mii Gunner. The Mii Fighter costumes will be available January 28 for $0.75 each.
In a somewhat surprise announcement, Sakurai announced a whole new wave of DLC fighters, called Fighters Pass Vol. 2. This DLC pack will feature six Challenger Packs, which will release throughout 2020 and 2021. If you’re feeling confident, you can pre-purchase Fighters Pass Vol. 2 beginning January 28. If you purchase the full Fighters Pass, you’ll receive The Ancient Soldier (from Breath of the Wild) costume for Mii Swordfighter.
Sakurai confirmed on the broadcast that all six fighters in Vol. 2 have already been selected.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available on Nintendo Switch. It’s rated E10+.
