Smash Bros Ultimate receives last ever balance update

There’s a new Super Smash Bros Ultimate update available to download on Nintendo Switch.

The crossover fighting game has received numerous balance patches over the years, fine tuning the movesets and stats of Ultimate’s growing roster.

However, it has been confirmed that Super Smash Bros Ultimate 13.0.1 will be the final time Nintendo rebalances its characters. That means that the gameplay mechanics and roster will be locked in with no further changes or tweaks in the pipeline. This follows the recent addition of Kingdom Hearts hero, Sora, as a playable fighter.

Nintendo hasn’t ruled out future updates, though these will focus on potential bug fixes and game events (for example, adding new Spirits). For the full (and final) list of fighter changes, see the patch notes below.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Update 13.0.1 Patch Notes

Donkey Kong

• Neutral Attack 2 Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts.
  • Reduced vulnerability.
• Down Tilt Attack Extended the amount of time opponents will be in the damage animation.
• Neutral Special Increased the speed that super armor activates.

Link

• Neutral Attack 1 Increased attack speed.
• Down Tilt Attack Adjusted launch angle.
• Up Smash Attack Extended launch distance for the final attack.

Peach

• Side Special Made it easier to grab edges.

Daisy

• Side Special Made it easier to grab edges.

Ice Climbers

• Dash Attack Increased attack speed.
• Down Smash Attack Extended launch distance.
• Up Special Increased attack speed.
  • Increased the speed of the edge-grab range detection.

Falco

• Dash Attack Increased attack power while maintaining launch distance.
• Side Smash Attack Increased the attack range in the front to match the visual.

Mewtwo

• Side Tilt Attack Increased power.
  • Extended launch distance.
• Forward Throw Increased power.

Meta Knight

• Up Smash Attack Increased attack range.
  • Adjusted so opponents won’t fall over when hit with the first or second hit.
• Forward Air Attack Increased power.
• Back Air Attack Increased power.
• Up Throw Extended launch distance.

Wario

• Neutral Attack 1 Increased power.
  • Reduced vulnerability.
• Neutral Attack 2 Increased attack power while maintaining launch distance.
  • Reduced vulnerability.

Ike

• Neutral Attack ３ Increased power.
  • Extended launch distance.
• Up Smash Attack Extended launch distance for the high-damage range.
• Side Special Increased power when starting to charge forward on the ground.
  • Extended launch distance when starting to charge forward on the ground.

Mega Man

• Dash Attack Extended launch distance for the final attack.
  • Increased attack speed.
• Down Smash Attack Extended the damage range downward.
• Side Special Increased power.

Rosalina & Luma

• Basic Movements Shortened the launch distance when Luma is launched.
• Down Smash Attack Extended Rosalina’s damage range inward.

Robin

• Flurry Attack Increased attack range.
  • Increased power.
• Flurry Attack to KO Increased attack range.

Bowser Jr.

• Dash Attack Made it easier to hit multiple times.
  • Increased power.
• Down Tilt Attack Made it easier to hit multiple times.
  • Adjusted launch angle for the final attack.
• Up Smash Attack Increased power.
• Side Special Extended launch distance when spinning.

Ryu

• Side Tilt Attack (Strong) Increased attack speed.
• Neutral Special Increased attack power while maintaining launch distance for light, medium, heavy, and command-input attacks.
• Side Special Reduced vulnerability for light, medium, heavy, and command-input attacks when used on the ground.

Cloud

• Down Special Increased attack speed for Finishing Touch.

Inkling

• Reduced vulnerability when reloading ink.
• Side Tilt Attack Increased power.
  • Extended launch distance.
• Up Tilt Attack Made it easier to hit opponents on the ground.
• Side Smash Attack Made it easier to hit the high-damage range.
• Neutral Special Extended the distance of the shot.

Ridley

• Dash Attack Increased power.
  • Extended launch distance.

Piranha Plant

• Side Tilt Attack Extended launch distance for the final attack.
• Down Tilt Attack Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts.
  • Reduced vulnerability.
• Down Air Attack Increased the amount of time the meteor effect lasts for the damage window.
• Down Special Shortened the time to use the move.

Min Min

• Basic Movements Reduced the power against shields for each punch.
  • Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.
• Neutral Air Attack Increased the vulnerability when landing.
• Side Smash Attack Reduced the duration of the Dragon’s beam.

Steve

• Up Smash Attack Reduced the duration of an opponent’s animation when they are struck by different parts of this attack.

Pyra

• Basic Movements Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.
• Side Special Increased vulnerability.

Mythra

• Basic Movements Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.
• Side Smash Attack Shortened launch distance.

Sora

• Basic Movements Adjusted the length of some of the animations when knocked down on the ground to match other fighters.

With this latest update, it looks like Nintendo is finally wrapping up its work on Ultimate. The journey has been a long one to say the least, spanning almost an entire decade with the game being massively enhanced and expanded for Switch following its original release on Wii U and 3DS.