Every Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate lives up to its name in every way – including the sheer number of characters who appear through the Assist Trophy item. First introduced in Brawl with 27 characters, the Assist Trophy roster grew to 39 in Smash 4 before reaching its peak in Ultimate with 59 unique summonable characters drawn from across gaming history. These range from iconic franchise mascots to deep-cut retro obscurities that even hardcore Nintendo fans might not recognize. For the first time in the series, multiple Assist Trophies can appear simultaneously, they can fight each other, and nearly all combat-oriented Assist Trophies can be defeated by dealing enough damage – earning the attacker a point just like a regular KO. Here is every single Assist Trophy available in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Akira

Akira Yuki from Sega’s Virtua Fighter series appears as one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies, bringing the world’s first 3D fighting game into Smash representation. When summoned, Akira runs across the stage delivering martial arts strikes drawn from his Virtua Fighter moveset, including his signature Tetsuzankou body check. In a visual homage to Virtua Fighter’s 1993 origins, Akira appears in his original low-polygon model rather than his modern high-definition design – a deliberate choice by the development team to celebrate the game’s historical significance. His blocky, angular appearance makes him one of the most visually distinctive Assist Trophies on the roster. Virtua Fighter is widely credited with creating the 3D fighting game genre, and Akira’s inclusion in Ultimate acknowledges that legacy. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Alucard

Adrian Fahrenheit Ţepeş – better known as Alucard – brings Castlevania: Symphony of the Night’s half-vampire protagonist into Ultimate as an Assist Trophy. He wields the Crissaegrim sword, one of the most powerful weapons in Symphony of the Night, delivering rapid multi-hit slash combos. Alucard can also transform into a bat to reposition across the stage, recreating one of his signature abilities from the source game. His attacks deal significant damage and knockback, making him one of the more dangerous combat-oriented Assist Trophies. Alucard has a unique stage restriction: he cannot be summoned on Wii Fit Studio because the stage features a large mirror in the background, and as a half-vampire, the developers decided he shouldn’t appear in front of reflective surfaces. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage, and his presence alongside Simon and Richter Belmont as playable fighters gives Castlevania three characters in Ultimate.

Andross

Andross, the primary antagonist of the Star Fox series, has been an Assist Trophy since Brawl – making him one of the longest-serving characters in the item’s history. When summoned, his massive face appears in the background of the stage and spits a barrage of polygonal tiles at opponents, mimicking his boss fight pattern from the original Star Fox on SNES. The visual design uses his classic blocky polygonal appearance rather than his more detailed modern incarnations, connecting the character to his 1993 debut. Andross cannot be damaged or defeated, making him one of the Assist Trophies that operates entirely on a timer. His tile projectiles cover a wide area and can be difficult to avoid on smaller stages. Andross has appeared as an Assist Trophy in all three games that feature the item.

Arcade Bunny

The Arcade Bunny from Nintendo Badge Arcade operates one of the most mechanically unique Assist Trophies in Ultimate. Rather than attacking directly, the pink rabbit controls a giant crane claw that descends from the top of the screen and attempts to grab opponents – recreating the gameplay of the 3DS Badge Arcade application where players used a similar claw to collect Nintendo-themed badges. When the claw successfully grabs a fighter, it lifts them toward the upper blast line for a potential KO. The claw can grab multiple fighters in sequence, and its movements are unpredictable enough to create genuine panic among players trying to avoid it. Nintendo Badge Arcade was a free-to-play 3DS game that ran from 2014 to 2018, making the Arcade Bunny one of the more obscure characters on the Assist Trophy roster.

Ashley

Ashley from the WarioWare series first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4 and returns in Ultimate with her signature dark magic cloud. When summoned, she conjures a purple zone of effect that causes multiple debilitating effects to any opponent caught inside: fighters may shrink, slow down, take gradual damage, or find that food items damage them instead of healing. Ashley is one of the most popular WarioWare characters in Japan, where her theme song became a genuine cultural phenomenon. Her gothic witch design and companion demon Red give her a visual identity unlike any other character in the Smash roster. The cloud she creates covers a large area, making her particularly effective on smaller stages where opponents have less room to escape.

Black Knight

The Black Knight from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies, wielding his blessed sword Alondite as he patrols the stage. True to his characterization in the Fire Emblem games, the Black Knight moves slowly but hits devastatingly hard – his sword swings deal massive damage and knockback. He is also extremely resistant to attacks, possessing some of the highest HP of any defeatable Assist Trophy. In his source games, the Black Knight serves as the primary rival to Ike, who appears in Ultimate as a playable fighter. His enormous black armor and glowing red eyes make him one of the most visually imposing Assist Trophies on the roster. Despite his slow movement speed, his range and power make him dangerous to approach.

Bomberman

Bomberman, the star of Konami and Hudson Soft’s long-running franchise, places bombs that detonate in the series’ iconic cross-shaped explosion pattern. Each bomb detonates after a short timer, creating horizontal and vertical blast lines that can catch multiple opponents. Bomberman himself can be hit by his own explosions, adding a layer of unpredictability to his attacks. His Assist Trophy behavior faithfully recreates the core Bomberman gameplay loop of strategic bomb placement, making him instantly recognizable to fans of the franchise. Bomberman has appeared in over 70 games since his 1983 debut, making him one of gaming’s most prolific characters. His inclusion as an Assist Trophy rather than a playable fighter was one of Ultimate’s more debated roster decisions, given his historical significance and the simplicity of translating his gameplay into a Smash moveset. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Burrowing Snagret

The Burrowing Snagret from the Pikmin series is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies, bringing one of Captain Olimar’s most recognizable enemies into the battle. This half-bird, half-snake creature emerges from the ground and wildly pecks at nearby opponents with its sharp beak before burrowing back underground and reappearing at a different location. The Burrowing Snagret’s behavior directly mirrors its boss fight pattern in the Pikmin games, where it serves as one of the earliest and most recurring large predators. Its head is its vulnerable point – attacks to the body deal reduced damage, while strikes to the exposed head above ground deal full damage. It can be defeated if it takes enough damage to its weak point.

Chain Chomp

Chain Chomp, the iconic ball-and-chain enemy from the Mario series, first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4 and returns in Ultimate with its characteristically aggressive lunging attacks. When summoned, it is staked to the ground and bounces in place before targeting a nearby opponent and lunging forward to bite them with its massive jaws. The chain limits its range, creating a defined danger zone around its stake point. Chain Chomp cannot be damaged or defeated – fighters must simply avoid its attacks until it disappears. The character first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 in 1988, where Shigeru Miyamoto based its design on a childhood experience being chased by a neighbor’s dog that was restrained by a chain.

Chef Kawasaki

Chef Kawasaki from the Kirby series is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies, using his signature cooking abilities to capture and damage opponents. He swings a large telescopic ladle across the stage to scoop up nearby fighters. Anyone caught is dumped into a boiling pot where they take continuous damage – and when the cooking is complete, food items are produced that can heal any fighter who picks them up. This mechanic is directly based on Kirby’s Cook ability, which Kawasaki grants when inhaled in the Kirby games. If the ladle misses on its first attempt, Chef Kawasaki may throw plates as secondary projectiles or attempt to scoop again. He first appeared in Kirby Super Star in 1996 as a mid-boss.

Color TV-Game 15

The Color TV-Game 15 Assist Trophy is one of the deepest historical references in all of Smash Bros. It recreates Nintendo’s 1977 Color TV-Game 15 – one of the company’s earliest consumer products, predating even the original Game & Watch handhelds. When summoned, two paddles appear on opposite sides of the stage and begin bouncing a ball back and forth in a game of Pong. The ball damages any fighter it contacts, creating a moving hazard that bounces across the stage. The paddles themselves can also push fighters around. Neither the paddles nor the ball can be destroyed. This Assist Trophy first appeared in Smash 4 and represents Nintendo’s pre-Famicom history, a period rarely acknowledged in modern Nintendo games.

Devil

The Devil from the 1984 Famicom game Devil World is one of the most disruptive Assist Trophies in the game. Rather than attacking fighters directly, the Devil appears at the top of the screen and points in various directions, causing the camera and stage boundaries to physically shift. This moves the blast lines closer to fighters on one side while creating more space on the other – potentially KOing fighters who were safely on stage moments earlier. The effect is disorienting and unpredictable, making the Devil particularly dangerous in competitive play. Devil World was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and is notable for being the only Miyamoto-designed game never released in North America due to its religious imagery. The Devil cannot be damaged or defeated.

Dillon

Dillon from Dillon’s Rolling Western attacks by curling into a ball and rolling at opponents at high speed, mimicking his primary attack method from his 3DS eShop game series. After several quick rolling strikes, he charges up a more powerful spinning attack that deals significantly more damage and knockback. Dillon first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4 and returns in Ultimate with enhanced behavior. His rolling attacks cover large distances quickly, making him effective at chasing down fleeing opponents. Dillon’s Rolling Western launched on the 3DS eShop in 2012 as a tower defense game starring an armadillo ranger defending frontier towns. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Dr. Kawashima

Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, the neuroscientist whose research inspired the Brain Age series, appears as a floating disembodied head that flings numbers onto the stage. These numbers bounce and scatter across the battlefield, and fighters can attack them to knock them around. When numbers collide and their values add up to 10 or more, they explode – with a sum of exactly 10 producing a massive blast equivalent to a Smart Bomb. This creates an unusual dynamic where fighters must decide whether to ignore the numbers, avoid them, or strategically knock them into opponents. Dr. Kawashima first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. Brain Age sold over 19 million copies on the Nintendo DS, making Kawashima one of the best-selling “characters” represented in Smash.

Dr. Wright

Dr. Wright, the green-haired advisor from the SNES version of SimCity, summons buildings that erupt from the ground. Any opponent standing in the construction zone takes damage and significant vertical knockback as the buildings rise. Occasionally, Dr. Wright summons a massive skyscraper instead of standard buildings, which deals even more damage and can KO at surprisingly low percentages. He has been an Assist Trophy since Brawl, making him one of the longest-tenured characters in the roster. Dr. Wright is unique to the SNES version of SimCity, which was co-developed by Nintendo – he does not appear in any other version of the game. His character design was inspired by the real-life game designer Will Wright, creator of SimCity. He cannot be damaged or defeated.

Elec Man

Elec Man from the original Mega Man is one of the Robot Masters represented in Smash. He moves freely around the stage and fires his Thunder Beam attack – a triple-directional electrical projectile that was one of the most powerful weapons in Mega Man’s arsenal when acquired from defeating him. Elec Man first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4 and returns in Ultimate. In the original Mega Man, Elec Man was designed by Dr. Light to control the voltage of nuclear power plants. His inclusion alongside Mega Man as a playable fighter and the various other Mega Man content in Smash creates one of the most comprehensive third-party franchise representations in the game. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Flies & Hand

The Flies & Hand Assist Trophy is based on the Mario Paint fly-swatting minigame that became one of the most memorable parts of the 1992 SNES title. When summoned, flies buzz around the screen while a giant hand holding a fly swatter attempts to swat them. Any opponent caught in the path of the swatter takes damage. The hand moves independently, targeting flies rather than fighters, but its large swatting motion covers enough area to be a persistent hazard. Mario Paint was a creativity application that shipped with the SNES Mouse peripheral, and its fly-swatting minigame became so popular that it was referenced across multiple Nintendo titles. This Assist Trophy is new to Ultimate.

Ghirahim

Ghirahim, the flamboyant Demon Lord from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, fights with his rapier and throwing knives. He teleports around the stage pursuing opponents, and if knocked off the edge, he teleports back rather than being defeated by a ring-out – a trait that makes him more persistent than most Assist Trophies. His swordplay is fast and aggressive, delivering multi-hit combos that can trap opponents in extended hitstun. Ghirahim first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4, where he was one of the first Assist Trophies that could actively teleport to avoid being knocked off stage. In Skyward Sword, he serves as the primary antagonist for most of the game and is later revealed to be the spirit of Demise’s sword – the dark counterpart to Fi and the Master Sword. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Ghosts

Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde – the four iconic ghosts from Pac-Man – travel around the stage in formation as if navigating an invisible maze. Their movements follow the grid-based pathfinding logic of the original 1980 arcade game, turning at right angles and changing direction at unseen intersections. Any fighter they contact takes damage and is pushed backward. The four ghosts appear simultaneously and move as a group, creating a wide hazard zone. They cannot be damaged or defeated and disappear after their timer expires. Pac-Man himself appears in Ultimate as a playable fighter, and his moveset includes several references to the ghosts, but this Assist Trophy puts all four on stage simultaneously in their classic forms. The ghosts first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4.

Gray Fox

Frank Jaeger, the Gray Fox, is a cyborg ninja from the Metal Gear series who runs across the stage delivering rapid sword slashes to any opponent in his path. He also has the ability to reflect incoming projectiles with his blade – a trait that can turn an opponent’s ranged attacks against them. Gray Fox originally appeared as an Assist Trophy in Brawl alongside Snake’s debut as a playable fighter, was absent from Smash 4 when Snake was cut, and returned in Ultimate alongside Snake’s reinstatement. In Metal Gear Solid, Gray Fox is one of the most memorable boss encounters, and his dying words – “We’re not tools of the government or anyone else. Fighting was the only thing I was good at” – are among the most quoted lines in gaming. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Guile

Guile from Street Fighter II is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies, and his behavior perfectly recreates one of the most fundamental strategies in fighting game history: the “Guile player.” When summoned, he crouches in place and throws Sonic Booms – his signature horizontal projectile – while blocking any physical attacks that hit him from the front. If an opponent gets too close, he intercepts them with his Flash Kick, a powerful rising kick that launches fighters vertically. The crouching-and-projectile-zoning pattern is a direct reference to the defensive playstyle that Guile players have been using since 1991. His presence alongside Ryu and Ken as playable fighters makes Street Fighter one of the most represented third-party franchises in Ultimate.

Hammer Bro

Hammer Bro, the helmet-wearing Koopa soldier from the Mario series, throws an arcing barrage of hammers at opponents. This enemy type has appeared in Mario games since the original Super Mario Bros. in 1985, where Hammer Bros. were among the most feared regular enemies due to the difficulty of dodging their projectiles. In Ultimate, the Hammer Bro hops back and forth on platforms while throwing hammers in a high arc, creating a rain of projectiles that covers a surprisingly large area. Hammer Bro has been an Assist Trophy since Brawl. Unlike many other Mario enemies that appear as Assist Trophies, Hammer Bro cannot be damaged or defeated – fighters must simply endure his barrage until his timer expires.

Isaac

Isaac from Camelot’s Golden Sun series uses Psynergy – the magical discipline from his RPG – to manipulate the battlefield. In Ultimate, his abilities were significantly expanded from his Brawl appearance. He retains his original Move ability, which summons a giant spectral hand that pushes opponents across the stage with fixed knockback. New to Ultimate, he also uses Pound, which slams a fist downward to spike airborne opponents, and Lift, which launches a hand upward from below the stage. Isaac was an Assist Trophy in Brawl, was notably absent from Smash 4 entirely, and returned in Ultimate – his absence from Smash 4 had briefly fueled speculation that he might have been promoted to a playable fighter.

Jeff

Jeff Andonuts from EarthBound fires a volley of homing rockets from his Multi Bottle Rocket 5 invention. The rockets launch upward before tracking the nearest opponent and diving toward them, dealing significant damage on impact. Jeff fires four smaller rockets followed by one larger rocket that deals more damage and knockback. The homing nature of his projectiles makes Jeff one of the more reliable Assist Trophies for actually hitting opponents, as the rockets will pursue fleeing targets across the stage. Jeff has been an Assist Trophy since Brawl. In EarthBound, Jeff is the only party member who cannot use PSI abilities, instead relying on gadgets and inventions to support the team – the Multi Bottle Rocket 5 being his most powerful weapon.

Kapp’n

Kapp’n from Animal Crossing drives his bus straight across the stage, and any fighter who contacts it is trapped inside. The bus continues driving until it reaches the blast line, KOing the captured fighter at virtually any percentage. Kapp’n is one of the most lethal Assist Trophies in Ultimate – there is almost no way to survive being caught by his bus, making him functionally a one-hit-KO summon. The character is based on the kappa of Japanese folklore, and in the Animal Crossing series he serves as a transportation NPC, ferrying the player to various islands. His Assist Trophy debut was in Smash 4, and his guaranteed KO on capture makes him one of the most impactful items in competitive play.

Klaptrap

The Klaptrap from the Donkey Kong Country series is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies. This small, toothy crocodilian enemy dashes across the stage and latches onto any opponent it contacts. Once attached, the Klaptrap bites repeatedly before launching the fighter with a final chomp. Despite its small size, the Klaptrap deals respectable damage and can catch fighters off guard with its low profile and fast movement speed. Klaptraps first appeared in the original Donkey Kong Country in 1994 as common enemies that crawled along the ground, and their tiny stature made them difficult to jump on safely. The Klaptrap cannot be damaged or defeated – it simply runs across the stage on a set path.

Knuckle Joe

Knuckle Joe from the Kirby series delivers a rapid series of Vulcan Jabs – a flurry of punches that traps opponents in hitstun – before finishing with either a powerful Smash Punch or a Rising Break uppercut. The combo is one of the most damaging Assist Trophy attack sequences in the game, capable of dealing over 50% damage if the full jab series connects. Knuckle Joe has been an Assist Trophy since Brawl, making him one of the most tenured characters on the roster. In the Kirby games, he is a mid-boss who grants the Fighter copy ability when inhaled – one of Kirby’s most popular and powerful abilities. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage, though interrupting his combo can be difficult once he locks onto a target.

Knuckles

Knuckles the Echidna from the Sonic the Hedgehog series is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies. He burrows underground before erupting upward with a powerful rising uppercut, then follows up with homing attack strikes similar to Sonic’s. Knuckles’ burrowing ability makes him unpredictable – he disappears from view while underground, and opponents cannot tell exactly where he will surface. His homing attack tracks opponents from the air, creating a two-phase assault that is difficult to avoid completely. Knuckles first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 in 1994 as both a rival and eventual ally to Sonic, and has been a core member of the Sonic cast ever since. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Krystal

Krystal from Star Fox Adventures is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies, wielding the staff that served as the primary weapon in her debut game. She wanders the stage delivering staff strikes and can freeze opponents with ice-based attacks – referencing the Ice Blast ability from Star Fox Adventures. Krystal’s inclusion as an Assist Trophy was closely followed by the Smash community because she had been among the most requested fighters during the Smash 4 era. She is the only Star Fox character who doesn’t pilot an Arwing in her home games, instead using melee combat and magic, which would have made her mechanically distinct from Fox, Falco, and Wolf. She can be defeated if she takes enough damage.

Lakitu and Spinies

Lakitu hovers above the stage on his signature cloud and drops Spinies onto the battlefield below. The Spinies meteor smash opponents when falling from above and then walk along the ground dealing contact damage. Lakitu has appeared as an Assist Trophy since Brawl and has been a staple enemy of the Mario series since the original Super Mario Bros. in 1985. In Ultimate, Lakitu moves faster and drops Spinies more frequently than in previous appearances. Lakitu himself can be defeated if he takes enough damage, which stops the Spiny production early. The Spinies also have their own HP and can be individually destroyed by fighters.

Lyn

Lyn from Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade performs a single devastating iaijutsu strike – a quick-draw sword technique where she sheathes her blade, focuses, teleports to the nearest opponent, and delivers one enormously powerful slash. The screen darkens momentarily during her focus phase, creating a dramatic pause before the strike lands. Lyn has been an Assist Trophy in all three games featuring the item, making her one of the most tenured characters alongside Waluigi and Andross. In Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, she is the first lord the player controls and the protagonist of the game’s tutorial campaign. She won the first-ever Fire Emblem Heroes “Choose Your Legends” popularity poll, beating out hundreds of characters. Her single powerful attack can KO at mid-to-high percentages.

Magnus

Magnus from Kid Icarus: Uprising is one of the largest and most physically imposing Assist Trophies in the game. He leaps around the stage swinging the Magnus Club – a massive sword – delivering heavy blows that deal significant damage and knockback. Magnus is one of the more durable Assist Trophies, possessing high HP that makes him difficult to defeat quickly. He flinches when attacked, which can interrupt his swing animations, but his high HP pool means he usually recovers and resumes attacking. In Kid Icarus: Uprising, Magnus is the strongest human warrior in the game’s world and briefly becomes a playable character when Pit is incapacitated. He first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4.

Metroid

The Metroid – the parasitic organism central to the Metroid franchise – latches onto fighters and drains their energy, dealing continuous damage. Once attached, the Metroid is difficult to shake off, requiring mashing or taking a hit from another source. While attached, it also prevents the victim from using recovery moves effectively, making it particularly dangerous near the edge of the stage. The Metroid can be attacked and temporarily knocked off its target, and in Ultimate it can be fully defeated if it takes enough damage. Metroids have been an Assist Trophy since Brawl. The organism was genetically engineered by the Chozo to combat the X Parasites, and Samus Aran’s mission in the original 1986 game was to prevent Space Pirates from weaponizing them.

Moon

The Moon from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies and one of the most dramatic. When summoned, the menacing moon with its iconic grimacing face appears in the sky and slowly descends toward the stage before crashing into it with a massive explosion that covers nearly the entire battlefield. The impact deals enormous damage and knockback to anyone caught in the blast radius. The Moon is one of the few Assist Trophies capable of KOing multiple fighters simultaneously, and its slow descent creates mounting tension as fighters scramble to position themselves to survive. In Majora’s Mask, the falling moon serves as the game’s central threat – Link has three days to prevent it from destroying the land of Termina.

Mother Brain

Mother Brain from the Metroid series emerges in her containment tank and fires her signature laser beam – a devastating horizontal blast that sweeps across the stage dealing massive damage. She is protected by Rinka enemies, small energy rings that orbit around her and damage fighters who attempt to approach. Mother Brain first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4 and returns in Ultimate. She serves as the final boss of both the original Metroid and Super Metroid, where her second form – a towering bipedal creature – became one of the most iconic boss encounters in gaming history. Her Assist Trophy uses her first form, housed in the mechanical containment tank. She can be defeated by attacking the tank directly, ignoring the Rinka projectiles.

Nightmare

Nightmare from the Kirby series causes the entire screen to go dark for several seconds, obscuring all fighters and stage elements. This is purely a visual disruption – no direct damage is dealt – but the inability to see creates chaos in multiplayer battles as fighters swing blindly and lose track of their positioning relative to blast lines and other players. Nightmare first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. In the Kirby games, Nightmare is a recurring villain who feeds on the bad dreams of Dream Land’s inhabitants. The darkness effect is a reference to the Nightmare Orb form from Kirby’s Adventure, which obscures the player’s surroundings during the boss fight. Nightmare cannot be damaged or defeated.

Nikki

Nikki from Swapnote draws various objects directly onto the stage, which then interact with fighters. Her drawings include creatures and shapes that move across the screen dealing damage to anyone they contact. The visual style perfectly recreates the hand-drawn aesthetic of Swapnote, Nintendo’s 3DS messaging application that allowed users to send illustrated notes to friends. Nikki first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. She has a unique stage restriction: she cannot appear on stages with dark backgrounds because her drawings wouldn’t be visible against them. Swapnote was ultimately discontinued by Nintendo in 2013 due to misuse by some users, making Nikki a representative of a service that no longer exists.

Nintendog

A Nintendog – specifically a toy poodle in Ultimate – approaches the camera and blocks nearly the entire screen, obscuring the battle behind its adorable face. No damage is dealt, but the visual obstruction makes it extremely difficult to play effectively, as fighters cannot see their characters, opponents, or stage hazards. The Nintendog has appeared in all three games featuring Assist Trophies, with a different breed in each: a labrador retriever in Brawl, a French bulldog in Smash 4, and a toy poodle in Ultimate. The Nintendog cannot be damaged, defeated, or moved – fighters must simply wait for it to leave. Nintendogs was one of the best-selling Nintendo DS games with over 23 million copies sold worldwide.

Phosphora

Phosphora from Kid Icarus: Uprising flies around the stage at high speed and fires lightning bolts at opponents. Her fast movement makes her difficult for opponents to track or attack, and her electrical projectiles deal both damage and brief hitstun. Phosphora first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. She can be attacked, which causes her to flinch and temporarily interrupts her assault, and she can be fully defeated if she takes enough damage. In Kid Icarus: Uprising, Phosphora is the Lightning Flash – a boss character who fights for the Forces of Nature faction. Her speed and electrical attacks made her one of the more challenging boss encounters in that game, and her Assist Trophy captures that mobile, hard-to-pin-down fighting style.

Rathalos

Rathalos from Monster Hunter holds a unique distinction in Ultimate – it is the only character that serves as both an Assist Trophy and a boss in the game’s single-player modes. When summoned as an Assist Trophy, the massive fire-breathing wyvern unleashes flame-based attacks including fireballs and roaring to stun nearby opponents. Its sheer size makes it one of the largest entities that can appear on stage during normal gameplay. Rathalos is the flagship monster of Capcom’s Monster Hunter franchise, appearing on the box art of multiple games in the series. Monster Hunter has sold over 100 million units as of 2024, making it one of Capcom’s most successful franchises. Rathalos can be defeated if it takes enough damage.

Riki

Riki from Xenoblade Chronicles cycles through several of his Arts – the combat abilities from his source game – to create varied effects on the battlefield. His repertoire includes Happy Happy (heals the summoner), Bedtime (puts opponents to sleep), You Can Do It (boosts the summoner’s attack), Roly-Poly (trips opponents), Freezinate (freezes opponents), and Yoink (pulls items toward the summoner). This variety makes Riki one of the most unpredictable Assist Trophies, as his effects range from offensive to supportive to disruptive. Riki first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. In Xenoblade Chronicles, Riki is a Nopon who is selected as the Heropon of Frontier Village and joins Shulk’s party despite his small stature and comedic personality.

Rodin

Rodin, the demonic weapons dealer from the Bayonetta series, is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies and one of the most powerful. He attacks with massive arm and leg strikes that resemble Bayonetta’s Wicked Weave attacks, dealing enormous damage and knockback. He can also perform moves resembling Bayonetta’s After Burner Kick and heel drop. Before disappearing, Rodin spawns a random item and tosses it toward the summoner – a reference to his role as a shopkeeper in the Bayonetta games. In the source material, Rodin is hinted to be one of the most powerful beings in the Bayonetta universe, a former angel who fell from grace. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage, but his high HP and devastating attacks make him difficult to take down.

Sablé Prince

The Sablé Prince from the 1992 Game Boy title Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (For the Frog the Bell Tolls) releases a cloud of smoke that traps opponents before attacking them in one of his transformation forms – either a frog or a snake. The game was only released in Japan, making the Sablé Prince one of the most obscure characters in all of Smash Bros. His game is an action-adventure RPG that served as a precursor to The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, sharing the same engine and several gameplay mechanics. He first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Sheriff

The Sheriff from Nintendo’s 1979 arcade game of the same name walks through the air firing his pistol at opponents in eight directions. His retro sprite-based appearance faithfully recreates the visual style of the original arcade cabinet, making him one of the most visually distinctive Assist Trophies. When defeated, he disappears using his original 1979 death animation – a rare example of historical accuracy in character destruction effects. Sheriff first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. The original Sheriff arcade game was one of Nintendo’s earliest ventures into video gaming, predating Donkey Kong by two years. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight from Yacht Club Games’ critically acclaimed platformer runs and jumps around the stage using his signature Shovel Drop – a downward pogo-bounce attack – to strike opponents from above. He also digs into the ground, flinging dirt that damages and buries fighters it hits, and occasionally unearths items from the soil. Shovel Knight is the first indie game character to appear in Super Smash Bros. in any capacity, a milestone that was celebrated by the indie development community. His Assist Trophy faithfully recreates the tight, responsive movement and combat of his 2014 source game. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Skull Kid

Skull Kid, wearing Majora’s Mask from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, uses one of three randomly selected disruptive effects when summoned: flipping the screen upside-down, reversing all players’ directional inputs, or turning all fighters invisible. All three effects target every fighter on stage except the summoner. Skull Kid first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. The character’s three random disruptions mirror the chaotic, mischievous nature of Majora’s Mask itself, which in Zelda lore is an ancient artifact of immense cursed power. Skull Kid cannot be damaged or defeated – fighters must endure whichever disruption he inflicts until it wears off.

Spring Man

Spring Man from ARMS jumps around the stage delivering extended-arm punches that reach across long distances. He can also activate Rush – a flurry of rapid punches that ends with a powerful uppercut. Spring Man’s extendable arms give him range that most Assist Trophies lack, allowing him to hit opponents who believe they are safely spaced. He is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies. Spring Man is the mascot of ARMS, Nintendo’s fighting game that launched on the Switch in 2017. Notably, while Spring Man remained an Assist Trophy, Min Min – another ARMS character – was later added as a DLC fighter, making Spring Man the protagonist of a major Nintendo franchise who was passed over for a supporting character. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Squid Sisters

Callie and Marie, the Squid Sisters from Splatoon, perform a concert at the front of the stage. As their performance continues, the camera gradually zooms in on them, shrinking the visible playing field. Any fighter caught outside the camera’s frame when it finishes zooming is instantly KO’d, regardless of their damage percentage. This makes the Squid Sisters one of the most dangerous Assist Trophies in the game – the shrinking camera effectively brings the blast lines dramatically closer, and fighters on larger stages may not realize they’ve been pushed outside the safe zone until it’s too late. The Squid Sisters are one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies. In Splatoon, they host the Inkopolis News program and perform concerts that became a real-world cultural phenomenon.

Starfy

Starfy from The Legendary Starfy series wanders around the stage performing his Star Spin attack, dealing damage to any opponent he contacts. He has been an Assist Trophy since Brawl, where he held the distinction of being one of only two Assist Trophies that could be attacked (alongside Lakitu). Starfy is relatively weak compared to most Assist Trophies – his attacks deal low damage and knockback, and he can be easily knocked around by fighters. In Ultimate, he can be defeated if he takes enough damage. The Legendary Starfy series spans five games on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, all originally released only in Japan except for the final installment, which received a North American release in 2009.

Starman

The Starman from EarthBound teleports around the stage and fires PK Beam – a lightning bolt from its antenna – at opponents. Its teleportation makes it unpredictable, as it can appear behind or above fighters without warning. When defeated, Starman disappears with the “SMAAASH!!” effect from EarthBound – a critical hit indicator that appears in the game’s battle system – making it one of the few Assist Trophies with a franchise-specific defeat animation. Starman first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. In EarthBound, Starmen are among the most common alien enemies, serving as soldiers of the invasion force led by Giygas. They are one of the most iconic enemy designs in the Mother series.

Sukapon

Sukapon from Joy Mech Fight is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies and one of the deepest cuts in the entire roster. He moves around with his arms raised and attacks by detaching and launching his own head at opponents or grabbing and throwing them. Joy Mech Fight was a 1993 Famicom fighting game that was never released outside Japan. The game featured limbless robots that could fight by launching their detached body parts – a creative solution to the Famicom’s limited sprite capabilities. Sukapon’s rubbery, comedic movements are faithfully recreated in his Assist Trophy appearance. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Takamaru

Takamaru from The Mysterious Murasame Castle throws windmill knife projectiles at opponents and delivers rapid katana slashes at close range. His fighting style combines ranged and melee attacks, making him effective at multiple distances. Takamaru first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. Masahiro Sakurai publicly stated in a 2014 interview that he considered making Takamaru a playable fighter but decided against it because the character was “not well-known enough globally.” The Mysterious Murasame Castle was a 1986 Famicom Disk System game released only in Japan, developed alongside the original Legend of Zelda. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Thwomp

The Thwomp from the Mario series hovers near the top of the stage and waits for an opponent to pass beneath it before slamming down with its full weight. This behavior directly mirrors its function in Mario games, where Thwomps guard narrow passages by dropping onto anyone who walks beneath them. After slamming, the Thwomp slowly rises back to its original position and resets. Its downward slam deals massive damage and strong downward knockback – effectively a meteor smash that can spike opponents through platforms or off the bottom of the stage. The Thwomp is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies. It cannot be damaged or defeated.

Tiki

Tiki from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light transforms into her dragon form and unleashes powerful fire breath attacks from the air. Her flame breath covers a wide area below her, making it dangerous for grounded fighters. Tiki is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies and represents one of Fire Emblem’s oldest characters – she first appeared in the original Famicom game in 1990. As a Manakete, Tiki can transform between her human form (a young girl who appears when summoned) and her Divine Dragon form (which she uses to attack). In Fire Emblem lore, she is over 3,000 years old and is the daughter of Naga, the Divine Dragon. She can be defeated if she takes enough damage.

Vince

Vince from Art Academy draws large paintings in the foreground of the stage that obscure opponents and deal damage over time. Each drawing follows a specific opponent, covering them with paint that blocks visibility and gradually drains health. Vince first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. Art Academy was a series of drawing tutorial applications for the Nintendo DS and Wii U that taught players real artistic techniques using the touchscreen or tablet. Vince serves as the instructor throughout the series. His Assist Trophy turns the battle into a canvas, with his artistic creations serving as both visual obstacles and damaging hazards. He cannot be damaged or defeated.

Waluigi

Waluigi stomps opponents into the ground, burying them, before finishing with either a powerful kick or a swing of his tennis racket. He has been an Assist Trophy in all three games featuring the item – Brawl, Smash 4, and Ultimate – making him one of the most tenured Assist Trophies in the series alongside Lyn and Andross. Waluigi first appeared in Mario Tennis for the Nintendo 64 in 2000 as Luigi’s tennis rival, created by Camelot Software Planning. Despite appearing in over 60 Mario spin-off titles, he has never starred in a game of his own. His continued Assist Trophy status across three games has made him the most prominent example of a character stuck in “Assist Trophy purgatory.” In Ultimate, he can be defeated if he takes enough damage.

Wily Capsule

Dr. Wily pilots his Wily Capsule from Mega Man 7 and warps around the stage firing projectiles in three elements: fire, ice, and electricity. Each element has different properties – fire deals burn damage, ice can freeze opponents, and lightning stuns. When defeated, Dr. Wily falls out of his capsule and lands on his knees, bowing repeatedly to beg for forgiveness – perfectly recreating his signature defeated animation from the Mega Man games where he surrenders after every final boss encounter, only to return as the villain in the next game. This unique defeat animation makes him one of the few Assist Trophies with franchise-specific behavior upon being KO’d. The Wily Capsule is one of Ultimate’s new Assist Trophies.

Yuri Kozukata

Yuri Kozukata from Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water uses her Camera Obscura – a supernatural camera that can photograph ghosts – to take pictures of the battle. Opponents caught in her photograph are stunned and take gradual poison damage, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks from the summoner. Her ability to stun multiple opponents simultaneously makes her one of the more strategically valuable support-type Assist Trophies. Yuri first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4. Fatal Frame (known as Project Zero in Europe) is a horror game series co-owned by Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, which explains the character’s presence in a Nintendo crossover. She cannot be damaged or defeated.

Zero

Zero from the Mega Man X series fights using his Z-Saber, delivering fast slashing combos that deal significant damage and knockback. He also uses techniques from his various game appearances, including moves acquired from defeated Mavericks. Zero is one of Capcom’s most popular characters, starring in his own spin-off series (Mega Man Zero) in addition to his supporting role across the Mega Man X series. His swordplay-based combat style is completely different from Mega Man’s projectile-focused moveset, a distinction his fans have long argued would make him a compelling playable fighter. Zero first appeared as an Assist Trophy in Smash 4 and returns in Ultimate. He can be defeated if he takes enough damage.