Although Super Smash Bros. Ultimate announced no new characters would be added to the line-up after their final additions in 2021, modders continue to find ways to bring other favorite video game characters into the brawl, like the recent addition of Street Fighter's Ryu to the already impressive array of characters to choose from. Each brings something unique to the table and it's wonderful that Nintendo can celebrate its diverse history of intriguing heroes and villains. However, not all of them are cut out for battle.
No matter how incredible it is that these characters have been included on the roster and regardless of how brilliant their designs look within the title, ultimately these individuals just aren't great to use in the midst of a brawl. Perhaps their powers aren't that useful, or they are difficult to control, but on balance, these are the worst fighters to utilize.
Pac-Man
Pac-Man is a classic character and a legacy figure for the retro arcade genre. While his addition to the Super Smash Bros. franchise is absolutely welcome, he doesn't offer quite as much as fans might have been hoping for. Essentially it's all about the speed of his combat abilities.
His smash is one of the slowest in the title and his combos aren't much quicker. It takes a while for the character to get going, and in a competitive setting, he's just not fast enough. Of course, his unique array of skills definitely allows him to stand out, but they're actually not particularly useful.
Ice Climbers
The Ice Climbers have always been popular choices in the title and indeed would be pretty attractive within any fighting game. The reason for this is their combination of skills, allowing players to utilize both Ice Climbers at once, giving them a distinct advantage in a fight.
But, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate took all of that away. In fact, now one Ice Climber will sit and wait for the other while they complete their move. Their special attacks that made them stand out so much, have essentially now been removed, making them a pale imitation of what they used to be but without any additional fire power.
Piranha Plant
The Piranha Plant is such a classic figure within Nintendo history. Its addition to the game was a much-needed shift and a refreshing change, allowing players to take control of what has often just been part of the scenery. However, his mobility has become a real issue.
Ultimately, the ceiling on the character is pretty low because of its design, with the pot of the plant essentially holding it back. It's great in closer quarters but outside of this, its range is certainly limited. Defensively it's weaker as well, although its speedy grab abilities have to be commended.
Robin
Robin is pretty middling in terms of his ability. In fact, he's rather a nothing character, never really providing anything to work with, nor he is particularly controversial in terms of being underpowered. He's ultimately one of the worst because he simply doesn't contribute much at all.
His physical design is superb, but there's a real lack of ingenuity in terms of his abilities. His grab is average as well, although at the very least his agility and moveability is among the more impressive in the game. The likelihood of winning with any style (if there is a victory to hand at all) is pretty low with Robin.
Isabelle
Nintendo fans were really excited to see this Animal Crossing alumnus brought into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. But Isabelle isn't really a good fit for a game that's built around battling and brawling, and it's unusual to bring in a character from a title with no combat whatsoever.
The concepts that Isabelle brings alongside her allow Nintendo to play off of easter eggs from Animal Crossing, but ultimately this non-violent character is extremely limited. She's small, easy to push around, and has such a small level of defense that she's always got her back to the wall.
Ridley
The Samus villain Ridley might be the god of death, but he's certainly not any kind of deity in regards to the wider Super Smash Bros. universe. Considering how monstrous he looks, fans would assume that he would be great in this kind of setting.
Really Ridley is just a massive moving target though. He doesn't fly with the speed and agility fans might expect and with a lower level of defense, he essentially becomes canon fodder pretty quickly. The power of his attacks shouldn't be overlooked, but Ridley has to get in there alive first, to make an impact.
Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario has the same style as Mario with none of the benefits. Of course, no one could overtake the classic, original variation of the character. And thus, the other iterations of Mario aren't able to hold their own against the retro Nintendo figure.
He's slower, weaker, and reminds players each time that they chose the wrong Mario. For someone from the healthcare industry, it's pretty odd that Dr. Mario heals so slowly, which is a real drawback in competitive play. Combine this with a vulnerability that's only matched by the worst characters and Dr. Mario is probably being left on the roster page.
King Dedede
King Dedede used to be a heavy hitter in the Super Smash Bros. world. In fact, that giant hammer and the strength he could put behind it was a fantastic way to turn the tide of battle, with his combo skills only adding to the ferocity of the fighter. That's all changed in Ultimate.
He's still built like a tank and boasts great strength, but has been depowered compared to previous installments. What's more, the combos that fans so adored have now been removed, perhaps in order to balance the title more. Those that used to use King Dedede regularly will be disappointed by the shifts.
Little Mac
In theory, Little Mac was built for battle. Hes' a boxer and has the gear to prove it. That means that he does his best work in close quarters though, which can always be quite the weakness in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. But just by looking at the character, the flaws of his design can be easily observed.
He is so limited with what he can actually do. Little Mac might have a great punch, but he can't compete against the likes of Samus or Luigi? His moves are superb, but he feels vulnerable and can't survive once off of the platform which is a downside when players have the habit of pushing one another off.
Jigglypuff
Jigglypuff isn't really a standout. It's not even the most interesting Pokémon included in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Sure there are some intriguing abilities that link with the sound component of the character, but it's so often outmatched in a battle.
Jigglypuff can very rarely do something that turns the tide in its favor. In fact, the floaty nature of the character feels really slow at times and players often fail to capitalize on an opportunity when playing as Jigglypuff. Design-wise though Jigglypuff is still an iconic one from its respective franchise.