Forget Byleth! These 8 Fire Emblem characters deserve to be in Smash Bros.

We want these Fire Emblem characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

By Gabe Gurwin January 16, 2020

On January 16, Nintendo and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai surprised everyone when they revealed that Fire Emblem: Three Houses protagonist Byleth would be the next DLC character in the fighting game.

Contents

Raphael
Mordecai
Hector
Ephraim
Seth
Zelgius
Azura
Athos

It wasn’t what fans had expected. Twitter had spun rumors that Devil May Cry’s Dante would be the next fighter. Many fans were upset to see another Fire Emblem character in Smash. To make matters worse, Byleth is a blue-haired, sword-wielding fighter, hardly different from the Fire Emblem characters already included.

It’s not that Fire Emblem lacks choices, either. Here’s 8 Fire Emblem characters that deserve to be in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in boring Byleth’s place.

Raphael

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What isn’t to love about Raphael, Fire Emblem: Three Houses‘s hungry behemoth? The enormous and powerful Raphael is a master of fisticuffs, and even better at eating. His slower style of play would separate him from the sword-flashing, countering, and flipping we see from most Fire Emblem characters on the Smash roster. If armored up, he could make a formidable opponent in free-for-all battles, too. Extra healing rewarded for eating food would give him a unique edge that vibes with his personality in Three Houses.

Mordecai

Mordecai — Mordecai Image used with permission by copyright holder

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is one of the best games in the entire series, and one of the reasons for that is the Laguz race. These shape-shifting people can turn from humanoid into animal at the drop of a hat. In the case of Mordecai, he turns from a muscular man into a tiger, capable of delivering punishing blows in a short period of time. This would make him a unique fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as he would need to bide his time before being able to transform again and deal extra damage.

Hector

Fire Emblem Heroes - Legendary Hero (Hector: Marquess of Ostia)

The first Fire Emblem game to release in North America, simply titled Fire Emblem, featured three main protagonists: Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector. Of these three, only Hector used something other than a sword. His powerful axe made him an essential part of any combat squad, and a perfect mid-level fighter in Smash. Rather than counter attacks, he would go on the offensive with short bursts of raw power. Yes, Hector does have blue hair, but he doesn’t have a sword, so I’ll cut him some slack.

Ephraim

Ephraim — Ephraim Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of the only protagonists in the Fire Emblem series — at least among North American games — to not use a sword, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones hero Ephraim instead uses a powerful lance to defeat his enemies. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this lance could give him the advantage against enemies attempting to close in on his position from the front or the air.

Seth

Seth solos FE8 so hard he defies stats

Another character from The Sacred Stones, Seth played an important role in the game’s early chapters. His class, Paladin, could easily take on the tougher enemies and bosses. He also rides a horse into battle, which we haven’t seen from any Fire Emblem characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Why have him only use a lance or a sword when he could use the horse itself as a powerful weapon, trampling on enemies below?

Zelgius

Zelgius — Zelgius Image used with permission by copyright holder

Revealed to be the Black Knight — the archenemy of Ike — late in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Zelgius is a powerful and stoic knight with political savvy. As The Black Knight, he could play the role of a heavy damage-dealer and space-controller in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, capable of reaching targets from a distance with his enormous sword and knocking enemies off the stage with only a few hits. His armor is undeniably cool, which is a bonus.

Azura

Fire Emblem Warriors - Azura Trailer (Nintendo Switch)

A songstress who plays a key role in Fire Emblem: Fates, Azura is among the most mysterious characters in the whole series. Azura can transform into a flying class using a Pegasus, which would give her a great advantage over her opponents when playing on stages with a lot of obstacles. However, as anyone who has played a Fire Emblem game knows, it would also leave her very vulnerable to arrows, and there are certainly enough archers in Smash to make this an effective counter.

Athos

Fire Emblem: Athos' Journey

The Game Boy Advance game Fire Emblem can be difficult, with permanent death always enabled, and an extremely challenging final boss fight against a dragon. For players who are unprepared, the powerful magic-wielder Athos is available to battle the dragon as a late-game addition. Fire Emblem heroes tend to use physical weapons in Smash, but a purely magical character would be a refreshing change. Athos could deliver devastating damage from afar, but would need to be careful if enemies closed in.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge - Gameplay overview
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Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch
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Poinpy
Poinpy | Official Game Trailer | Netflix
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Neon White
NEON WHITE | Launch Trailer
Neon White presents itself as a first-person shooter with an edgy story and intense platforming, but it really just wants you to have a good time. This game is about a bunch of criminals trying to earn their place in heaven by competing in a contest to kill the most demons. As you do this, you’ll be platforming around heavenly levels and taking out demons with guns that come from cards strewn about the level. It’s an odd mix of genres, but it works.
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AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative
AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative Gameplay Trailer
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Card Shark - Release Date Trailer - Nintendo Switch
Like Neon White, Card Shark puts a spin on the card game formula. Instead of blending shooting and platforming mechanics, Card Shark is all about cheating at traditional card games with different tactics. It’s also a beautiful game, as Card Shark is styled after the paintings from 18th century France, where the game is set.
“Card Shark is one of the most inventive video games I’ve played this year, completely spinning the concept of genre on its head,” Giovanni Colantonio wrote about the game earlier this month. “Despite having cards, I can’t really call it a 'card game.' It’s an unclassifiable title that’s more about finding a compelling way to turn real-world sleight of hand into engaging gameplay. Whenever I could successfully pull off a trick without arousing too much suspicion, I felt like an overconfident mastermind.”
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