With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate set to enter into its third month of existence, Nintendo has released the latest major patch.
Smash Ultimate launched in December 2018 and while it was a critical and commercial success, many players were surprised to see a lack of updates to the game in the weeks following launch.
After the 1.2.0 patch dropped on December 14, Nintendo went silent on the update front for Smash Ultimate, but that all changed with the release of the v2.0.0 update.
The v2.0.0 update for Smash Ultimate has finally arrived.
What does the 2.0.0 patch contain?
In a surprise move, Piranha Plant was made available with this update. While the patch notes themselves say that it would be released “at a later date,” Nintendo later followed up with a Tweet stating that the character is now playable.
Super #SmashBrosUltimate has also been updated to Ver 2.0.0! In addition to adding the DLC fighter Piranha Plant, this update introduces the ability to play Spirit Board with up to four players.
Learn more: https://t.co/qxN8ED5DUg
— Nintendo Versus (@NintendoVS) January 30, 2019
In addition to Piranha Plant, the v2.0.0 update contains a laundry list of changes to various characters in the game.
While the patch notes themselves don’t give much information about the balance changes – simply stating “Various gameplay changes” in true Nintendo fashion – they separately released a massive chart (found below) detailing every change.
That’s right, Piranha Plant is Smash Ultimate’s first DLC character. Really.
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Will the 2.0.0 patch affect Genesis 6?
The prospect of a new patch usually has the community both excited and anxious to see what changes will come, but this time around, many were upset over the fact that Nintendo would drop a patch just days before the biggest Smash Ultimate tournament of the year, Genesis 6.
Most notably, TSM’s William ‘Leffen’ Hjelte expressed his contempt towards Nintendo for the timing of this patch on Twitter.
Luckily for Leffen and anyone else who was worried about the negative effect this patch could have on Genesis, the tournament organizers let everyone know that the tournament will be held on the current patch no matter when Nintendo releases the 2.0.0 update.
FYI for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, we are staying on the current patch of 1.2.1 per our Patch Clause ruling for reasons of logistical and competitive integrity regardless if a new patch comes out before Genesis 6.
– Genesis 6 team#G6
— Genesis 6 @ #G6 (@Genesis_Smash) January 24, 2019
You can read the full patch notes for the v2.0.0 update below:
OFFLINE ・You can now play Spirit Board with up to four players. Select the Spirit you want to challenge on the Spirit Board, and then go to Party → Fighter to select the number of people who will play. When playing with multiple people, you will lose the battle if any player is KO’d.
・The below Spirits will now appear in the Shop. ・Partner Pikachu ・Partner Eevee ・Dice Block ・River Survival ・Golden Dash Mushroom
ONLINE ・Adjusted the calculation method for Global Smash Power. *Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
GENERAL ・Added the DLC fighter Piranha Plant. *Piranha Plant will become available for purchase as DLC at a later date. ・Pressing both jump buttons at the same time will now cause you to Short Hop. ・Fixed the issue where the KO score included your teammates’ KOs when Team Attack was On. ・Game-balance adjustments. You can see which fighters had specific adjustments on the official website. ・Various gameplay fixes.
Source – Nintendo In-game Notice
Additionally, you can find the full list of character balance changes below, courtesy of Nintendo below:
| Fighter | Move | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mario | DashAttack | Adjusted launch angle. |
| Mario | FS Meter | Extended launch distance. |
| Donkey Kong | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Link | Up Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Link | Neutral Special | Extended the time from when the arrow is loosed to when it disappears. |
| Samus | Side Special | Extended the range of the missile and reduced the vulnerability when using the move in the air. |
| Samus | Down Special | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Dark Samus | Down Special | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Yoshi | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Kirby | Dash Attack | Increased power range and attack power while maintaining launch distance. |
| Kirby | Side Tilt Attack | Slightly reduced vulnerability and extended undamaged launch distance. |
| Kirby | Down Special | Adjusted the super armor frames after using the move. |
| Pikachu | Grab Attack | Shortened hitstun time. |
| Luigi | Up Smash Attack | Extended launch distance. |
| Luigi | Down Air Attack | Opponents on the ground will no longer suffer a meteor effect. |
| Luigi | Side Special | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Luigi | Down Special | Extended launch distance. |
| Ness | Up Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Ness | Down Air Attack | Increased attack power and maintained launch distance. |
| Jigglypuff | Side Tilt Attack | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Jigglypuff | Down Tilt Attack | Extended launch distance. |
| Jigglypuff | Up Smash Attack | Increased attack power of low-power zone. |
| Jigglypuff | Back Air Attack | Increased attack speed. |
| Jigglypuff | Forward Throw | Adjusted launch angle. |
| Jigglypuff | FS Meter | Extended launch distance. |
| Peach | Up Special | Shortened launch distance of repeated attacks. |
| Daisy | Up Special | Shortened launch distance of repeated attacks. |
| Bowser | Neutral Attack | Increased power. |
| Bowser | Side Tilt Attack | Increased power. |
| Bowser | Down Smash Attack | Extended launch distance. |
| Bowser | Up Special | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Bowser | Final Smash & FS Meter | Crouching opponents will now be launched the same as standing opponents. |
| Ice Climbers | Basic Movements | Nana and Popo will follow each other more when separated. |
| Ice Climbers | Up Special | Made it easier to grab edges. |
| Sheik | Up Smash Attack | Increased the first attack’s range. |
| Sheik | Down Smash Attack | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Sheik | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Sheik | Up Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Sheik | Side Special | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Pichu | Grab Attack | Shortened hitstun time. |
| Ganondorf | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Ganondorf | Up Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Mewtwo | Dash Attack | Shortened the downtime from shielding. |
| Mewtwo | Side Tilt Attack | This move will now always launch forward. |
| Mewtwo | Up Special | Made it easier to grab edges. |
| Roy | Down Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Chrom | Down Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Chrom | Up Special | Shortened the meteor distance. When falling off the stage with an opponent, Chrom will be KO’d first. |
| Mr. Game & Watch | Forward Air Attack | Increased attack range. |
| Mr. Game & Watch | Down Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Pit | Final Smash & FS Meter | Crouching opponents will now be launched the same as standing opponents. |
| Zero Suit Samus | Side Smash Attack | Shortened the launch distance when the attack hits the middle of an opponent’s body. |
| Zero Suit Samus | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Zero Suit Samus | Up Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Zero Suit Samus | Down Special | Shortened the amount of time undamaged opponents are buried. |
| Wario | Down Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Snake | Up Tilt Attack | Extended the high-damage window. |
| Ike | Up Special | Shortened the meteor distance. |
| Charizard | Dash Attack | Increased attack power and extended launch distance. |
| Diddy Kong | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Lucas | Up Tilt Attack | Added electrical damage. |
| Lucas | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Lucas | Down Air Attack | Added electrical damage. |
| Lucas | Grab Attack | Added electrical damage. |
| Sonic | Side Tilt Attack | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Sonic | Forward Air Attack | Shortened hitstun time. |
| Sonic | Back Air Attack | Reduced vulnerability when landing. |
| Sonic | FS Meter | Extended launch distance. |
| King Dedede | Side Special | Reduced the attack range of the moving Gordo. |
| Lucario | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Lucario | Neutral Special | Shortened hitstun time. |
| Lucario | FS Meter | Increased power. |
| R.O.B. | Side Special | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Toon Link | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Toon Link | Back Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Mega Man | Side Tilt Attack | Special moves will not be activated when jumping and using Mega Buster. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Dash Attack | Made it easier to hit multiple times. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Up Tilt Attack | Extended launch distance for Luma’s Up Tilt Attack. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Down Tilt Attack | Extended the distance Luma moves forward. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Down Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time between the start of the move and the meteor effect. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Neutral Special | Reduced vulnerability when sending out and calling back Luma. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Up Special | Made it easier to grab edges. |
| Rosalina & Luma | Final Smash & FS Meter | Shortened the distance you can shift when the attack is making contact. |
| Little Mac | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Little Mac | Up Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Greninja | Down Smash Attack | Increased the range of the inner attacks. |
| Greninja | Up Special | Can no longer move immediately when landing on a moving platform or slanted ground. |
| Mii Brawler | Flurry Attack | Increased attack range and shortened the opponent’s hitstun shuffle distance. |
| Mii Brawler | Up Smash Attack | Extended the high-damage window and reduced the low-damage window. |
| Mii Brawler | Neutral Air Attack | Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move. |
| Mii Brawler | Back Air Attack | Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move. |
| Mii Brawler | Up Air Attack | Increased power. |
| Mii Brawler | Neutral Special | Increased power. |
| Mii Brawler | Neutral Special | Reduced vulnerability. |
| Mii Brawler | Side Special | Extended distance and increased speed. |
| Mii Brawler | Up Special | Made it easier to grab edges. |
| Mii Brawler | Down Special | Greatly increased damage to opponents’ shields. |
| Mii Brawler | Down Special | Extended launch distance of kick performed with extra input. |
| Mii Gunner | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Palutena | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened hitstun time. |
| Palutena | Up Special | Made it easier to grab edges. |
| PAC-MAN | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| PAC-MAN | Down Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| PAC-MAN | Neutral Special | Extended the time until you disappear after landing the attack. |
| Robin | Up Special | Increased the speed of the backwards edge-grab range detection. |
| Shulk | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Shulk | Up Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Duck Hunt | Neutral Special | Reduced vulnerability. |
| DuckHunt | Side Special | Increased vulnerability. Shortened hitstun time for the exploding clay pigeons. |
| Ryu | Neutral Attack | Opponents hit in the air will be launched, making it easier to hit them with the next hit. |
| Ryu | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Ryu | Down Tilt Attack | Can no longer jump immediately after using the move. |
| Ken | Neutral Attack | Opponents hit in the air will be launched, making it easier to hit them with the next hit. |
| Ken | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Ken | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Ken | Down Tilt Attack | Can no longer jump immediately after using the move. |
| Cloud | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Cloud | Down Special | Increased the range of Finishing Touch at the beginning of the move. |
| Corrin | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Corrin | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Corrin | Up Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Bayonetta | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Inkling | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Inkling | Side Special | Shortened the amount of time undamaged opponents are buried. Moved attack range back while on the ground. |
| Ridley | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Ridley | Forward Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Ridley | Down Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Ridley | FS Meter | Increased power. |
| King K. Rool | Neutral Special | Shortened the length of the vacuum effect. |
| King K. Rool | Up Special | Reduced the range of the attack. |
| King K. Rool | Downward Throw | Shortened the amount of time undamaged opponents are buried. |
| Isabelle | Neutral Air Attack | Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Incineroar | Up Smash Attack | Extended launch distance. |
| Incineroar | Up Air Attack | Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. |
| Incineroar | Down Air Attack | Shortened the landing time after using the move. |
| Incineroar | Up Throw | Extended launch distance. |
| Incineroar | Up Special | Extended vertical and horizontal distance. |
