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Here are the 10 must-have Spirits in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
There are over 1,200 Spirits in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. Here are 10 that we think you should keep an eye out for.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is out on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s smashing records. It's the fastest-selling game in the history of the franchise, moving over 3 million copies in less than two weeks. It strikes a perfect balance between party game for the casual fans and frame-counting, tiered competition for the hardcore fan.
It's also the first game in the franchise to add an action RPG component to its mayhem, via a single player campaign titled World of Light. For the first time, you can collect different 'Spirits,' which provide your character with a variety of buffs and immunities. You equip one Primary Spirit, who provides you with additional attack and defence points And each Primary Spirit has anywhere from 1-3 support slots, which can be filled with Support Spirits and give you additional specialised abilities.
There are over 1,200 Spirits in the game, with more to be added as DLC. So it can be a bit overwhelming to manage sheer volume of Spirits you collect. Dismissing Spirits ('dismissing' gives you in-game cash and upgrade points) also becomes a nerve-wracking experience. You don't want to boot someone off the team, only to regret it hours later, when you need him or her to do something crucial!
We're going to try and save you some heartache. Here are 10 incredible, must have Spirits in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
We're going to shy away from the obvious, late game Spirits like Akuma, Galeem, Big Boss, who are obviously incredible. These are Spirits from the early part of the game. If you take the time to upgrade and enhance them, they'll get your World of Light playthrough off to a solid start.
You get Boom Boom early in the campaign, and you'll be glad you did
© Nintendo
1. Boom Boom & Pom Pom
Boom Boom is one of the first enhanceable Primary Spirits you'll earn; he's in the Cliffside Rapids section of the map, outside the portal to the Molten Fortress. And he's unbelievably powerful when maxed out to Level 99. Enhanced, he becomes Boom Boom & Pom Pom, and he gains Hyper Smash Attack, which allows you charge your Smash attack faster and for more damage.
You'll earn Boom Boom & Pom Pom way before accessing the Hypersmash ability on your skills upgrade tree. And plus, even after you earn it on the tree, the two Hypersmash abilities will stack on top of each other, creating a truly terrifying weapon.
An early, solid buff for the right cost
© Nintendo
2. Rock Mario
Found at the base of Frozen Mountain, Rock Mario is an all-purpose Support Spirit with great versatility. It'll buff your character's punches, kicks, and bites, so whoever you choose as your main character, it'll buff him or her in at least one way, and perhaps, in multiple ways. The cost is right too; Rock Mario only takes up one slot, giving you room to personalise the rest of your team.
Hyper Smash for the win
© Nintendo
3. Victini
You can find Victini in the Power Plant Zone, which is itself located in the Poison Woods. This Support Spirit takes up a single slot, and like Boom Boom & Pom Pom, grants the user Hyper Smash Attacks. It's great for buffing a weak character and for overpowering a strong one.
Who's ready for a one-punch KO?
© Nintendo
4. Spring Man
If you want to speed through World of Light and knock out opponents in one or two hits, then the Spring Man Spirit, found on the outskirts of Lumiose City, is a great place to start. He has a Fist Attack buff, and although other Primary Spirits also have the same buff, Spring Man has the highest maxed out Attack Power, plus three Support slots.
Here's what you do: choose a character with high punching damage, like Little Mac or Donkey Kong. Next, Equip Spring Man as your Primary spirit; make sure he's upgraded to 99. Lastly, fill all three Supporting slots with Fist Attack Spirits, like Fei Long, Piston Hondo, and Ricky the Kangaroo. Because everything stacks, you now have a punching beast, who can end 90 percent of fights in one or two hits. You won't get a whole lot of rewards with such a lopsided advantage. But conversely, you won't need a lot of rewards with this type of setup.
Become an unstoppable force and an immovable object
© Nintendo
5. Polar Bear
Another Support Spirit at the base of Frozen Mountain, the Polar Bear from Ice Climbers appears fairly early in World of Light. For two slots, he gives you Slow Super Armour, which means that even though you'll lose some speed, you'll also be very difficult to launch. Pair this with a high offensive Primary Spirit, and you won't even have to move much to chalk up a win.
An extra jump could make all the difference
© Nintendo
6. Ho-Oh
Kirby can perform five mid-air jumps in a row, which makes him the perfect beginner character. But not everyone is Kirby; the super heavyweight characters, like Bowser and King K. Rool, have no similar, forgiving mechanic.
That's why you need Ho-Oh, who can be found in the Molten Fortress, in the northern part of the map. Equip him to give yourself an extra mid-air jump. It costs two Support slots, but that could be just enough to save your hide in a close match.
The battle to get this Legend is worth it
© Nintendo
7. Shine Sprite
This Legendary Spirit is in Beachside Town, located south of the Pac-Maze. To earn it, you'll have to take on Rosalina – who will randomly turn invincible and randomly acquire a Final Smash – and three Kirbys.
But if you manage a victory, you'll get one of the best Spirits in the game. For one slot, the Star Sprite buffs all of your directional special attacks.
Send their projectiles right back at 'em
© Nintendo
8. Ana
Ana can be found in the Ribbon Road area of the map, and she’s one of the first Spirits in the game who grants you a Franklin Badge, which reflects all incoming projectiles. This is particularly crucial against ranged fighters or against 'curry' fighters, who are constantly emitting flames from the moment the match starts. Use Ana to rush these opponents down and get in close.
He starts out so unassuming...
© Nintendo
9. Petey Piranha
When you first visit Galeem's shop after unlocking it, you may come across a Nipper Plant, which is small, unassuming, and weak. Don't let that fool you for a second. Buy it, feed it, and enhance it, and the Nipper Plant will become Petey Piranha, a Primary Spirit who will make your character Giant.
Combine Petey with the Polar Bear, who takes up both of Petey's support slots, and you'll have a massive, armoured brute who can smash through his opponent's attacks.
These little creatures pack a wallop
© Nintendo
10. Cyrus & Reese
In the Poison Woods, you'll run into Cyrus & Reese, who’ll make the game a whole lot easier if you let them. They'll equip you with an ore club, a melee weapon that has super armour while you charge its smash attacks. And even if the opponent is nowhere near you, you can still do damage; the ore club sends a massive tornado across the screen.
It takes three slots to use, which means you're looking for the 1-2 hit kill. You need to finish the match quickly; once the ore club disappears, you'll be in a bit of trouble with no support.
