There are more than 1500 spirits in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which represent a vast array of characters from throughout gaming history. Naturally, though, there’s quite a large power disparity between Magikarp and Galeem, so knowing which spirits are the strongest goes a long way. This is your guide for making that call.

12. Skull Kid & Majora’s Mask

While Skull Kid & Majora’s Mask is the weakest spirit in terms of raw power level on this list, there’s no denying that this prankster is a useful asset to your loadout. His unique Lifesteal ability sets him apart from the competition, despite being a little inconsistent.

What’s Great About Skull Kid & Majora’s Mask:

• Lifesteal ability: This grants the user a unique ability, with a random chance to recover health after damaging the opponent 
• Easy to obtain: Skull Kid can be found on the Spirit Board, Store or in World of Light, so is relatively accessible
• Grab-type: Grab spirit types are strong against Shield-types, so bringing Skull Kid along for fights against those is never a bad call

Skull Kid & Majora’s Mask’s Stats:

• Type: Grab
• Slots: 2
• Base Power: 4588
• Base Attack: 1596
• Base Defense: 2394

11. Lyn (Blade Lord)

From the nation of Sacae, Lady Lyndis emerges as one of the strongest Primary Spirits in the game, but not just for her stats! Lyn’s Special Ability, Critical Hit Up, means that she can KO opponents with ease if fortune smiles upon her.

What’s Great About Lyn (Blade Lord):

• Critical Hits: Lyn has a special trait which causes the user to land critical hits 12% of the time!
• Versatility: With 2 slots, Lyn can be combined with support spirits such as Mythra for some insane killpower
• Attack-type spirit: Lyn’s Attack-type means that she’s an ideal choice against Grab-type spirits

Lyn (Blade Lord)’s Stats:

• Type: Attack
• Slots: 2
• Base Power: 4846
• Base Attack: 2402
• Base Defense: 1812

10. Zero (Z-Saber)

Wielding his signature weapon from Mega Man X and Mega Man Zero, the titular Zero is quite a unique case in the world of spirits. Alongside his brilliant stats, he grants the user with not one, but two special buffs! 

What’s Great About Zero (Z-Saber):

• Multiple Traits: Unlike most spirits, who either have one ability or none altogether, Zero has two!
• Weapon Attack Up: This trait increases the power of melee weapons, so it’s a great option for sword-wielders
• Move Speed Up: Any movement buff is always a plus in Smash, even it is a small one

Zero (Z-Saber)’s Stats:

• Type: Attack
• Slots: 2
• Base Power: 4810
• Base Attack: 2447
• Base Defense: 1736

9. Medusa

It’s no secret that the standard Medusa spirit leaves a little to be desired. Ranked at 2-stars and with a pitiful attack stat of only 716, it’s not the best choice as far as Attack-type spirits go. Luckily, that couldn’t be further from the case for Medusa’s enhanced version, which uses her design from Kid Icarus: Uprising.

What’s Great About Medusa (Kid Icarus: Uprising):

• Giant Trait: This ability means that you start off the battle giant, which is great for quick kills!
• Good for Heavier Fighters: The strengths of heavyweights, such as raw KO potential and solid defense are only reinforced by being Giant
• Support Options: When combined with Victini, which gives you the “Hyper Smashes” trait, it’s very possible to finish fights in seconds!

Medusa’s Stats:

• Type: Attack
• Slots: 2
• Base Power: 4984
• Base Attack: 2426
• Base Defense: 1985

8. Cutie J

Cutie J is obtained by enhancing the Jeanne Spirit, which is achieved through leveling her up to Level 99. It’s a bit of a grind, but it’s definitely worth it for a Spirit with one of the highest power ratings in the game!

What’s Great About Cutie J:

• Increased invincibility duration: When dodging attacks, this trait gives you more invincibility frames, lowering the chance that you’ll be punished
• Air-dodge distance: Being able to air-dodge further provides you with more mobility and lets you evade opponent’s attacks with ease
• Team Configurations: Cutie J has some useful evasive abilities, but these are even handier when coupled with Autohealing Support Spirits like Celebi!

Cutie J’s Stats:

• Type: Attack
• Slots: 2
• Base Power: 5025
• Base Attack: 2466
• Base Defense: 2187

7. Queen Elincia

The first Defense-Type spirit on this list, Queen Elincia doesn’t enhance your damage as much as others, but they say the best offense is a great defense anyway! The best part is her “Additional Midair Jump” trait, which does exactly what it says on the tin.

What’s Great About Queen Elincia:

• Recovery: Queen Elincia is one of the few Primary Spirits who gives you an extra jump, which does wonders for your recovery
• Edgeguarding: Having one more jump is not only useful for recovering, but equally for going deep off-stage to edge-guard the opponent
• Defense-type: With Attack-type spirits being so prevalent, having the upper-hand over them is useful in many cases

Queen Elincia’s Stats:

• Type: Shield
• Slots: 2
• Base Power: 4840
• Base Attack: 1810
• Base Defense: 2399

6. Black Knight

Black Knight is another Attack-type spirit with the stats to back it up. With a Power rating of 4823 and a base-attack of 2328, it’s undeniable that he has some real firepower! However, what really makes him stand out are, surprisingly enough, his defensive capabilities.

What’s Great About Black Knight:

• Armor Knight: With this trait, your movement is slightly reduced, but this is traded off for a vastly improved defense
• Boosted Attack: While the major perk of the Armor Knight trait is its defense, it also grants a slight buff to your attack
• Doubling Down: As Black Knight has two slots, you can combine his Armor Knight with Slow Super Armor Support Spirits for an effectively impenetrable defense!

Black Knight’s Stats:

• Type: Attack
• Slots: 2
• Base Power:  4823
• Base Attack: 2328
• Base Defense: 1866

5. Galacta Knight

The lack of slots is a little troubling, but you can’t argue with stats like these. Besides the spirits for Galeem and Dharkon, Galacta Knight has the highest Power stat in the game, with a neat attribute to benefit sword-fighters as a bonus!

What’s Great About Galacta Knight:

• Sword Attack Trait: This increases the power of characters like Marth and Link, so is great for builds using them
• Stats: Galacta Knight is the strongest Defense-type spirit in the game stat-wise and that’s something that can’t be overstated
• Balanced attributes: Galacta Knight provides you with great buffs to both your Attack and Defense for some well-rounded coverage

Galacta Knight’s Stats:

• Type: Shield
• Slots: 0
• Base Power: 5337
• Base Attack: 2669
• Base Defense: 2183

4. Soma Cruz

Soma Cruz is the enhanced form of Dracula and is the first Neutral-type Spirit on this list! Boasting a substantial attack stat of 2510 and a whopping three support slots, he is one of the best all-purpose spirits you can use in your loadouts.

What’s Great About Soma Cruz:

• Neutral-type: Unlike most, Soma Cruz is a Neutral-type spirit, meaning that he is not weak to any type in particular
• Three Slots: With three slots for Support Spirits, Soma Cruz has an insane amount of versatility when it comes to builds
• Giant Killer: The Giant Killer trait is great for World of Light, as you’ll run into many-a giant foe on your quest!

Soma Cruz’s Stats:

• Type: Neutral
• Slots: 3
• Base Power: 4843
• Base Attack: 2510
• Base Defense: 1893

3. Akuma

When it comes to the Attack stat, nobody does it quite like Akuma. With a massive 3176 points, he has the highest base attack in the game and this only gets higher the more you level up. While he has no slots or special skills, he’s a reliable pick if raw damage is what you’re after.

What’s Great About Akuma:

• Attack stat: Akuma has the highest attack stat in the game, giving him an insane damage output and crazy killpower
• What you see is what you get: Akuma doesn’t need to be enhanced – he just comes the way that he is
• Satisfying to unlock: To get Akuma for yourself, you have to fight an enhanced Ryu, who can pretty much kill you in 3 hits – a tough, but satisfying challenge!

Akuma’s Stats:

• Type: Attack
• Slots: 0
• Base Power: 5293
• Base Attack: 3176
• Base Defense: 2117

2. Big Boss

Here we have our highest-placing Grab-type spirit on the list! Hailing from the Metal Gear series, Big Boss is the enhanced form of Naked Snake. With his two slots and power stat of 5090, he’s truly a force to be reckoned with. 

What’s Great About Big Boss:

• Metal Killer: This skill increases the damage you deal to metal opponents, which is pretty nifty to have in the story mode!
• Two slots: While the Metal Killer skill is primarily used in World of Light, having two extra slots goes a long way in expanding Big Boss’ utility
• He’s the best of his kind: As the strongest Grab-type spirit in the game, Big Boss is the best choice for taking down Shield-type spirits

Big Boss’ Stats:

• Type: Grab
• Slots: 2
• Base Power: 5090
• Base Attack: 2476
• Base Defense: 2152

1. Metal Face

You might be wondering why Metal Face is at the number 1 spot here. After all, his Power stat is lower than many of the spirits ranked below him and he only has one support slot. Well, despite all of this, the reason for his placement lies in his special ability: Metal and Giant. You can probably guess what that does.

What’s Great About Metal Face:

• You start the battle giant: This is pretty self-explanatory and would make Metal Face a solid choice on its own, but it’s even better when you combine it with the fact that…
• You start the battle metal: Yeah – being giant and metal makes you pretty much unstoppable, as foes will be powerless against your lethal attack power and impenetrable defense
• Combination ideas: When you couple the Metal and Giant trait with a spirit like Sudowoodo who increases the duration of your transformation, you can absolutely dominate anyone who comes your way

Metal Face’s Stats:

• Type: Attack
• Slots: 1
• Base Power: 4996
• Base Attack: 2353
• Base Defense: 1811

You may also be interested in:

• Smash Bros Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Advanced Players
• Smash Ultimate Best Characters [Smash Ultimate Tier List]
• [Top 10] Smash Ultimate Best Spirits That Are OP
• Smash Ultimate Tournaments List (All Major Tournaments To Watch)
• 10 Best Smash Ultimate Custom Stages