Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Announces Byleth As Fifth Fighters Pass Character

Nintendo has announced the final Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character as part of the first Fighter Pass. In a special presentation by game director Masahiro Sakurai showed a short trailer announcing the new character: Byleth, from Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

As in Three Houses, you can play as male or female Byleth, and you have access to the powerful Heroes Relics from the game as weapons. Those will change depending on your stick direction, and they serve different purposes. The sword is good for dash attacks, while the whip is a flurry attack, and the axe lends itself to launch power. The bow is used for neutral attacks. Byleth has low mobility, which Sakurai said is slightly better than Robin's.

Byleth's Final Smash is called "Progenitor God Ruptured Heaven," and lets you join forces with Sothis. Byleth also has alternate colors based on Sothis and the House leaders.

Naturally, Byleth will come alongside a new map, the Garreg Mach Monastery. It features different parts of the iconic location, with representatives from each of the houses hanging out together. The Marketplace has members of Blue Lion House (Dimitri, Dedue, and Ingrid), and if you destroy the market booths the stage expands. The Reception Hall houses Black Eagles House members Edelgard, Dorothea, and Petra. The Bridge has Golden Deer House members Claude, Hilda, and Lorenz. The Cathedral includes Seteth, Rhea, and Flayn. Locations cycle about every 2.5 minutes.

Byleth will be available on January 28 for $5.99 individually, or as part of the Fighters Pass. This is the fifth and final character as part of the Fighters Pass, which costs $25 USD / $37 AUD / £20 GBP. The other four have included Joker (Persona 5), Hero (Dragon Quest), Banjo and Kazooie (Banjo Kazooie), and Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury). This marks the end of this pass, but Nintendo has already promised that more characters are coming.