The most important changes in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS’s new patch

The game has changed for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS.

Nintendo released a patch yesterday that introduced new balance changes to the fighting game. This will have a big impact for fans who like to play competitively. Annoyingly, Nintendo never releases patch notes, so it’s difficult to understand exactly what got changed. However, the community at Smash Boards always does a great job documenting the updates itself. You can see a full list of them here.

Below, we’re highlighting some of most signficant character changes that Nintendo made with the new patch. Note that it’s impossible to really see how these differences will impact a fighter’s effectiveness until players have had weeks to mess around with the new patch, but we do have an idea of which characters should be better or worse.

Above: The buff fairy has blessed Zelda.

Image Credit: Nintendo

Some of the worst characters became stronger

Many of game’s weakest fighters might become a bit more viable in competitive play.

Charizard is now a bit faster in the air, and many of his moves (including a lot of his aerial attacks) now have less landing lag, meaning that he’s less vulnerable after performing them. A lot of his moves also saw damage increases.

Samus saw damage boosts to a lot her moves, including her forward tilt, back air, and neutral air attacks. Other moves, like her dash attack and standing grab, are also a bit faster.

Zelda also saw damage buffs (like to her forward tilt) and sped-up moves (like to her down smash attack). All of her grabs also now have an increased horizontal range.

Above: Zero Suit Samus got hit by the nerf beam.

Image Credit: Nintendo

Some of the game’s strongest characters are a little weaker

Two of the roster’s strongest and most popular competitive characters are now a bit weaker.

Sheik’s needle attack saw its range reduced. It now travels about 80 percent as far is it did before, making it a less useful tool. Her forward air attack, one of her best combo moves, also has a shorter range now. Her down throw now has greater knockback, which will make it harder to combo off of. She’s also a lighter character now, meaning she’ll get knocked back further by attacks.

Zero Suit Samus received damage decreases to her up air and neutral air, and her down throw also has increased knockback. This was one of her best combo setups, but it’ll now be a bit less effective.

Above: Cloud is a bit less sharp.

Image Credit: Nintendo Everything

The most recent DLC characters are bit less powerful

The three latest downloadable characters are all a bit less effective.

Bayonetta’s Witch Time attack, which would slow down anyone who attacked her during a short period, now has a shorter slow-down effect.

Corrin’s counter attack, which could kill opponents at ridiculously low percentages, now has less knockback. His aerial moves are weaker, and his running and walking speeds are slower.

Cloud’s Limit Break now takes longer to charge. Many of his attacks, including his forward and down smashes, now have less knockback.