The 4.0.0 update for 4.0.0 patch included support for a brand new Online Tourney mode, which allows players to compete in events against opponents from around the world, new DLC packs, and a brand new character in the form of Dragon Age’s Hero.
Alongside Hero, a large number of the game’s other characters have received balancing updates, with a number of buffs and nerfs made to different fighters by Nintendo.
Mewtwo got some major buffs in the 4.0.0 update.
Pokemon character Mewtwo has been on the receiving end of some changes, with Nintendo reducing the area of the character’s tail that can take damage, increasing the time of hit detection on its Up Smash and the power of Backward Throw, and pumping up the attack speed on Side Special.
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Ridley was also given a major buff by Nintendo, with all his attack maneuvers boosted to make him a much more powerful character, in hopes that he may become a more regularly-used fighter in the future.
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Elsewhere, Ivysaur was nerfed to make it slower, while all fighters must now use their Final Smash within 20 seconds of their FS Meter becoming fully charged, otherwise their meter will reset and they’ll be forced to build it up again.
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Ridley’s attacking moves were all strengthened with the balancing update.
In total, 43 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate fighters underwent some sort of balancing change in the 4.0.0 update, meaning we could see a huge shift in terms of which characters are the most popular to use, affecting everything from casual players right the way up to esports competitions.
You can view the full list of fighter balancing changes below.
| Fighter | Move | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Common for All Fighters Using Shields (Link, Young Link, Toon Link, Hero) | Basic Movements | Characters who carry shields can now shieldstun shuffle when blocking a projectile with their shield. |
| All Fighters | FS Meter | Once the FS Meter is fully charged, the Final Smash must be used within 20 seconds or the FS Meter will reset. Note: This change will not affect Spirits mode. |
| All Fighters | — | The max combo count in Training will stop counting when the opponent can move |
| All Fighters | Item Attack | Shortened the distance opponents can hitstun shuffle when attacked by the Daybreak item. |
| All Fighters | Item Attack | A fighter on the ground will now be launched after one hit from the Thwomp assist trophy. |
| Mario | Basic Movements | Adjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters. |
| Donkey Kong | Basic Movements | Adjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters. |
| Link | Basic Movements | Adjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters. |
| Link | Up Special | Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn’t connect. |
| Samus | Basic Movements | Adjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters. |
| Samus | Up Smash Attack | Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn’t connect. |
| Dark Samus | Up Smash Attack | Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn’t connect. |
| Yoshi | Side Smash Attack | Reduced the range opponents will be pushed while charging. |
| Fox | Basic Movements | Adjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters. |
| Peach | Neutral Special | When blocking an attack from the rear, Toad’s counterattack will hit opponents easier. |
| Peach | Up Special | Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn’t connect. |
| Daisy | Neutral Special | When blocking an attack from the rear, Toad’s counterattack will hit opponents easier. |
| Daisy | Up Special | Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn’t connect. |
| Bowser | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Sheik | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Mewtwo | Basic Movements | Reduced the area of the tail that can take damage. |
| Mewtwo | Up Smash Attack | Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts.Extended launch distance. |
| Mewtwo | Down Smash Attack | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Mewtwo | Backward Throw | Increased power. |
| Mewtwo | Side Special | Increased attack speed.Increased the speed to reflect projectiles. |
| Mr. Game & Watch | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Pit | Neutral Attack 1 | Increased attack speed. |
| Pit | Up Tilt Attack | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Pit | Down Smash Attack | Extended launch distance when hit with the first attack. |
| Pit | Back Air Attack | Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move. |
| Pit | Down Air Attack | Extended launch distance when hitting an opponent in the air with a meteor effect. |
| Dark Pit | Neutral Attack 1 | Increased attack speed. |
| Dark Pit | Up Tilt Attack | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Dark Pit | Down Smash Attack | Extended launch distance when hit with the first attack. |
| Dark Pit | Back Air Attack | Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move. |
| Dark Pit | Down Air Attack | Extended launch distance when hitting an opponent in the air with a meteor effect. |
| Zero Suit Samus | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Snake | Basic Movements | Adjusted the vulnerability when waking up from sleep to match other fighters. |
| Pokémon Trainer | Other | The invincibility time for grabbing edges is no longer shortened when performing a Pokémon Change in the air and then grabbing an edge. |
| Ivysaur | Down Air Attack | Reduced the range of the strong launching attack.Shortened the launch distance when the weak launching attack hits. |
| Ivysaur | Side Special | Reduced attack speed and increased vulnerability. |
| Ivysaur | Up Special | Shortened launch distance for the high-damage range when using the attack in the air. |
| Charizard | Side Tilt Attack | Extended launch distance when hit in the high-damage range. |
| Charizard | Side Smash Attack | Increased power. Extended launch distance. |
| Charizard | Up Smash Attack | Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn’t connect. |
| Charizard | Neutral Air Attack | Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts. Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move. |
| Charizard | Forward Throw | Extended launch distance. |
| Charizard | Side Special | Increased the speed of the edge-grab timing. |
| Lucas | Dash Attack | Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts. |
| Lucas | Side Tilt Attack | Increased the range at the beginning of the move.Extended launch distance when hit in the high-damage range. |
| Lucas | Up Smash Attack | Extended the invincibility time at the start of the move. |
| Lucas | Up Air Attack | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Lucas | Side Special | Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move. |
| Sonic | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Olimar | Side Smash Attack | Increased the distance for Purple Pikmin.Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts for Purple Pikmin. |
| R.O.B. | Neutral Attack 1 | Reduced the amount of time opponents will be in the damage animation when hit with the tip’s attack range. |
| Toon Link | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Villager | Up Smash Attack | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Basic Movements | Rosalina can be more easily grabbed from the front when walking, crouching, and shielding when Luma is following. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Neutral Attack 1 | Luma will be in front when reversing the attack. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Side Smash Attack | Luma will be in front when reversing the attack. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Up Smash Attack | Luma will be in front when reversing the attack. |
| Greninja | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Little Mac | Neutral Attack 3 | Depending on the timing of continuing from neutral attack 2 to neutral attack 3, neutral attack 3 will no longer decrease vulnerability. |
| Mii Brawler | Basic Movements | Reverted falling speed to match version 3.0.0. |
| Mii Brawler | Neutral Special 2 | Increased attack speed.Extended launch distance. |
| Mii Brawler | Up Special 1 | Extended launch distance. |
| Mii Swordfighter | Neutral Special 3 | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Mii Gunner | Up Smash Attack | Made it easier to hit multiple times.Shortened launch distance when the full combo doesn’t connect. |
| PAC-MAN | Neutral Special | Will no longer drop the Bonus Fruit while charging the neutral special even if flipped left or right with attacks like Mario’s side special. |
| Ryu | Basic Movements | The attack after a perfect shield will be unleashed after facing the opponent. |
| Ken | Basic Movements | The attack after a perfect shield will be unleashed after facing the opponent. |
| Corrin | Side Smash Attack | Extended launch distance. |
| Corrin | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Corrin | Side Special | Reduced vulnerability when jumping after stabbing the ground. |
| Corrin | Up Special | Extended vertical and horizontal distance. |
| Bayonetta | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Ridley | Up Smash Attack | Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts.Extended launch distance. |
| Ridley | Back Air Attack | Increased power. |
| Ridley | Up Air Attack | Increased the high-damage range.Made easier to hit the high-damage range. |
| Ridley | Dash Attack | Increased attack range. |
| Ridley | Side Special | Reduced vulnerability when jumping after grabbing an opponent.Extended launch distance when throwing an opponent at the edge. |
| Ridley | Up Special | Increased attack speed.Increased movement speed. |
| Simon | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Richter | Down Air Attack | Immediately descend when using the attack after being launched. |
| Isabelle | Basic Movements | Extended distance of forward and backward dodging. |
| Isabelle | Neutral Attack 1 | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Isabelle | Up Smash Attack | Extended launch distance. |
| Isabelle | Side Special | Extended launch distance of upward throws.Increased the speed of the grab detection. |
| Isabelle | Down Special | Increased attack speed of the Lloid attack. |
| Piranha Plant | Dash Attack | Adjusted launch angle. |
| Piranha Plant | Up Tilt Attack | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Piranha Plant | Side Special | Capped the attack-power increase when repeatedly reflected.Increased attack speed.Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts. |
| Piranha Plant | Down Special | Reduced vulnerability.Increased the power against shields.Shortened the charge time until reaching max charge. |
| Joker | Down Special | While Arsene is summoned, projectiles that deal 50% or more damage cannot be reflected. |