Background character

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Background characters are cameo characters that appear in a stage that correspond to their home universe (e.g. King Dedede appears in the Super Smash Bros. stage Dream Land). Note that background characters should not be confused with stage hazards, since background characters do not directly affect gameplay.

From Super Smash Bros.

Peach's Castle

A Lakitu Bro. can sometimes be seen flying in the background.

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  Lakitu Bro. in Super Smash Bros.

Kongo Jungle

Necky appears flying in the background.

Dream Land

King Dedede and Bronto Burt appear flying in the background; in rare instances, two King Dedede sprites may be visible at once. In SSB4 and Ultimate, when King Dedede is participating, he will not appear in the background.

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  King Dedede as a background character in Dream Land.

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  Bronto Burt in Super Smash Bros.

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  Bronto Burt in Melee

Mushroom Kingdom

Many classic enemies from Super Mario Bros. are seen in the background, including Koopa Troopas and Buzzy Beetles.

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  Koopa Troopa in Super Smash Bros.

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  A red Koopa Troopa in Ultimate.

Planet Zebes

Ridley and Waver sprites ripped directly from Super Metroid can be seen flying around.

• SSB Ridley.jpg

  Ridley in Super Smash Bros.

• ZebesWaver.jpg

  Two Wavers in Super Smash Bros.

Saffron City

Several flying-type Pokémon, including but not limited to Pidgey, Fearow, Moltres (rarely), and Butterfree, fly across the skyline.

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  Butterfree sprite from Super Smash Bros.

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  Fearow sprite from Super Smash Bros.

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  Pidgey sprite from Super Smash Bros.

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  Moltres in Super Smash Bros.

Yoshi's Island

Propeller Shy Guys appear in the background. A Goonie, in its Yoshi's Story design, occasionally flies in the background.

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  Propeller Shy Guy in Super Smash Bros.

From Super Smash Bros. Melee

Brinstar

A Chozo Statue on the main platform comes to life and briefly walks before settling down into its original position, much like the Torizo in Super Metroid; it does not move in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS. There is a large brain-like organism in the far background that shakes constantly, though it is not based upon any specific creature from the Metroid series.

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  Chozo Statue in Melee

Fourside

Porky Minch indirectly appears in his helicopter.

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  Porky Minch's helicopter in Melee

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  Porky Minch's helicopter in Ultimate

Great Bay

After three minutes have passed, the Four Giants appear on the hillside to push the falling Moon back into the sky.

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  The Four Giants pushing back the moon in Ultimate.

Jungle Japes

Cranky Kong is seen walking back and forth in his cottage, sometimes also rocking in his chair at some points. Flocks of Neckies can also be seen in the far background.

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  Cranky Kong in Melee

Yoshi's Island

A Fishin' Lakitu and a Banzai Bill fly around in the background.

Yoshi's Story

Pak E. Derm can be seen walking behind the scenery.

From Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Regardless of stage and game mode, using Pokémon Trainer will have the Trainer himself stand on a platform in the background. As with the previous games, there are stage-specific background characters as well.

Distant Planet

A Red Bulborb appears in the background; it is always sleeping in Brawl and for 3DS, and occasionally walks across the grassy terrain in Ultimate. A Cloaking Burrow-nit can also be seen in Brawl, and four more can be seen with it in Ultimate.

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  A sleeping Red Bulborb in Brawl

Frigate Orpheon

The Parasite Queen, the first boss of Metroid Prime, appears in the background in Frigate Orpheon.

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  Parasite Queen in Brawl

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  Parasite Queen artwork from Ultimate

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  Parasite Queen in Ultimate

Green Hill Zone

Tails, Knuckles, and Silver can be seen running up and down the shuttle loop.

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  Tails, Silver, and Knuckles in Brawl

Luigi's Mansion

Boos briefly appear from the rubble of the mansion when it collapses.

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  Boo in Wii U

Pokémon Stadium 2

Electivire, Magnezone, Snorunt, Snover, Drifloon, Hoppip, Skarmory, Cubone, and Dugtrio all appear in the background of the various elemental transformations of the stage.

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  Electivire in Brawl

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  Skarmory, Drifloon, and Hoppip in Brawl

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  Dugtrio and Cubone in Brawl

Shadow Moses Island

Occasionally, Metal Gear REX, Metal Gear RAY, or two Gekko appear in the background of the stage.

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  Metal Gear REX in Brawl

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  Metal Gear RAY in Brawl

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  Gekko in Brawl

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  Metal Gear REX in Ultimate

Smashville

Villagers from Animal Crossing appear in the background, depending on actual time of day and date, including K.K. Slider, Tom Nook, Blanca, Blathers, Booker, Brewster, (behind a counter, serving coffee) Celeste, Copper, Cornimer, Crazy Redd, Dr. Shrunk, Gracie (with her car), Gulliver (flying in his UFO), Harriet, Human boy (one of which bears a resemblance to Villager), Human girl Kapp'n (in the crowd and driving his taxi to the town hall) Kaitlin, Katie, Katrina, Lyle, K.K. Slider (on Saturdays at 8 PM, the same as Animal Crossing), Mabel, Pascal, Pete (flying in the background), Phyllis, Rover, Sable, Saharah, Joan, Timmy and Tommy, Tom Nook, Tortimer and Wendell.

Spear Pillar

Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit may occasionally appear on the stage at random.

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  Close up of Mesprit in Ultimate

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  Close up of Azelf in Ultimate

• Uxie (U).jpg

  Close up of Uxie in Ultimate

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  Mesprit during gameplay in Ultimate

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  Azelf during gameplay in Ultimate

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  Uxie during gameplay in Ultimate

WarioWare, Inc.

Jimmy T. and various Fronks appear in the background during several microgames.

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  Jimmy T. in Brawl

Yoshi's Island

For a third time, Shy Guys appear in the background, with Support Ghosts, Chain Chomps and Goonies also occasionally appearing.

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  Support Ghost aiding Meta Knight in Brawl.

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  Chain Chomp roaming below the stage in Brawl.

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  Goonies taking flight in Brawl.

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  Fly Guy in Brawl, when items are turned off.

From Super Smash Bros. 4

Super Mario Maker

Various Mario objects and enemies sometimes fly by in the background, including Bullet Bills; a Hammer Bro, a Koopa Troopa, a Lakitu flying by in clouds, and a Goomba riding a Koopa Clown Car.

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  Lakitu, Hammer Bro and Koopa Troopa riding Lakitu Clouds in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

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  3 Bullet Bills in Ultimate.

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  Goomba riding a Clown Car in Ultimate

Umbra Clock Tower

The angels Affinity and Inspired only appear and fly around in the background of Purgatorio, and occasionally the enormous Fortitudo comes close to the playing field and lets out a powerful roar, shaking the screen.

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  Affinity and Inspired in Wii U

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS exclusive

Spirit Train

Toon Link, in his Spirit Tracks incarnation, appears as a background character in the Spirit Train stage, where he drives the train. If Link or Toon Link is selected as a fighter on this stage, then Alfonzo will drive the train instead.

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  Toon Link in 3DS. Note that this is a pre-release image, as Link cannot appear alongside Spirit Tracks Toon Link in the final game.

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  Alfonzo in 3DS

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  Toon Link in Ultimate

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  Alfonzo in Ultimate

Find Mii

A Mii appears in the cage in the background, like the player's Mii in the original game Find Mii. In 3DS, this Mii is the Mii assigned to the player's console. In Ultimate, one of the Miis from the player's system is randomly selected instead.

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  Caged Mii in Ultimate.

Tomodachi Life

Miis appear in the background hanging out in the apartments.

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  Mii in 3DS

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  Mii in Ultimate

Living Room

A few Nintendogs or a calico cat can appear as background characters in this stage.

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  Beagle in 3DS

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  Toy Poodle in 3DS

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  Calico in 3DS

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  Toy Poodle in Ultimate

• SSBU-Living Room 3.PNG

  Calico in Ultimate

Tortimer Island

Kapp'n appears occasionally in his boat. Leila, Leilani, or Tortimer can also appear beside the shop depending on the variant.

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  Kapp'n in 3DS

Reset Bomb Forest

Prior to the Reset Bomb's landfall, Viridi appears for a moment. In 3DS, she is a still frame, but in Ultimate she has an animated model. She is one of few background characters with voice clips.

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  Viridi in 3DS

Prism Tower

Multiple Magnemite appear behind the tower. Zapdos, Emolga and Yveltal occasionally appear flying around the tower. Helioptile sometimes appears in the bushes on the ground.

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  Zapdos in 3DS

Unova Pokémon League

Occasionally, a Milotic, a Shaymin, or a Whimsicott will appear in place of Reshiram or Zekrom.

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  Shaymin (Land Forme) in Ultimate.

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  Shaymin (Sky Forme) in Ultimate.

Mute City (Ω form)

Captain Falcon can be seen riding the Blue Falcon in the background.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U exclusive

Garden of Hope

A Red Bulborb wanders around in the background; while it will not interrupt the battle proper, its presence stops Pikmin from reconstructing anything until it leaves.

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  Red Bulborb in Wii U

Pilotwings

Miis appear on this stage, flying through the sky riding jetpacks. Unlike most Mii appearances, these Miis are pre-modeled and do not use the faces of Miis from the player's system.

Wii Fit Studio

The living Wii Balance Board that is seen upon starting up Wii Fit is seen in the gym. In Ultimate, silhouettes of various people exercising appear as well.

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  Wii Balance Board in Wii U

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  An exercising person in Ultimate

Mario Galaxy

Lubba, along with several other Lumas, appears on Starship Mario in the background.

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  A close-up of Starship Mario, revealing Lubba and some Lumas, in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

Town and City

Gracie, Dr. Shrunk, Lloid, and Redd can be seen in the City variation, while Wendell, Pelly, and Sahara can be seen in the village variation.

Kalos Pokémon League

In the Dragonmark Chamber various Dragon-type Pokémon can appear, including Garchomp, Hydreigon, Axew, and Dragonite appear. In the Flood Chamber, Water types Piplup, Wailord, Blastoise, and Clawitzer appear. In the Ironworks Chamber, Steel types Klinklang, Steelix, Scizor, and Honedge appear. Finally, in the Blazing Chamber, Fire types Infernape, Tepig, Blaziken, Pyroar appear.

The aforementioned Pokémon may not appear if Rayquaza, Manaphy, Registeel, or Ho-Oh appear in their respective chambers as stage hazards.

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  Garchomp, Hydreigon, Axew, and Dragonite in Wii U

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  Infernape, Tepig, Blaziken, and Pyroar in Wii U

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  Klinklang, Steelix, Scizor, and Honedge in Wii U

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  Honedge in Wii U

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  Piplup, Wailord, Blastoise, and Clawitzer in Wii U

Skyloft

Loftwings can be seen flying around.

Windy Hill Zone

Seven Animal friends (Flicky, Pecky, Picky, Pocky, Cucky, Ricky, and Rocky) from Sonic the Hedgehog can be seen in the background.

Pac-Land

Mother Fairy appears during the Fairy Land section, where she rewards the fighters with Flying Boots. When a round is completed, Ms. Pac-Man can be seen waving to the fighters as they return to Pac-Man's house.

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  Mother Fairy and her fairies in Wii U.

From Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

New Donk City Hall

The members of The Super Mario Players, including Pauline, appear on floating platforms, and on the ground in front of City Hall. Interacting with the band members causes them to begin performing "Jump Up, Super Star!". Captain Toad and the Odyssey can be seen in the background as well.

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  The Bassist in Ultimate

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  The Brass Player in Ultimate

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  The Drummer in Ultimate

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  The Guitarist in Ultimate

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  Pauline in Ultimate

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  The Super Mario Players and Pauline in Ultimate

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  Captain Toad in Ultimate.

Great Plateau Tower

The Old Man from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild periodically floats onto the stage on his Paraglider.

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  The Old Man in Ultimate

Moray Towers

Judd and Li'l Judd appear on the stage, indicating who is in the lead by holding up a flag that corresponds to the player's color.

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  Judd and Li'l Judd in Ultimate

Dracula's Castle

Shadows of Dracula and Kid Dracula appear occasionally, illuminated by flashes of lightning. Other enemies make an appearance, each with an entrance based on how they appeared during their original boss battle in the Castlevania series: the Creature with Flea Man, Mummy, Medusa Head, Werewolf, Carmilla, and Death. With the exceptions of Dracula and Kid Dracula, all Dracula's Castle background characters received new original artwork for Spirits mode in Ultimate.

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  Dracula in Ultimate

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  Medusa Head artwork from Ultimate

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  Medusa Head in Ultimate

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  Mummy artwork from Ultimate

• Fleature.png

  The Creature and Flea Man artwork from Ultimate

• Death Castlevania.png

  Death artwork from Ultimate

• Carmilla2.png

  Carmilla artwork from Ultimate

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  Werewolf artwork from Ultimate

Mementos

Morgana, as the Morganamobile, will occasionally drive in the background of the stage, dropping off members of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. These include Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, and Haru Okumura. They'll react to the battle whenever a fighter is KOed. At times, a platform will lower down onto stage as well, which has a cracked screen on it. This screen has a chance of showing either Morgana running or Teddie, referencing the loading screens of Persona 5 and Persona 4 respectively.

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  Skull, Panther, Fox, Queen, and Noir in Ultimate

Yggdrasil's Altar

As the stage begins to rise from the ground to the skies, Cetacea can be seen flying with it shortly. Once airborne, the stage will occasionally feature Slimes or Tockles appearing to watch the battle for a while before exiting via leaping off or vanishing respectively. Very rarely, a Liquid Metal Slime will appear in the background of the stage for a very short amount of time, before quickly fleeing and jumping off similarly to Slimes.

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  Liquid Metal Slime in Ultimate

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  Catacea, Tockle, and Slime in Ultimate

Spiral Mountain

When the camera directly faces Gruntilda's Lair, Gruntilda rides her living broomstick around the mountain while cackling. Groups of Jinjos may also fly around the mountain in circular patterns. Bottles will pop out of various molehills or on the mountain's summit, performing his idle animations from Banjo-Kazooie. Mumbo Jumbo magically appears in various locations (including the mountain's summit, the entrance to Gruntilda's Lair, or the cliffs in the background), and he juggles his eyeballs much like he did in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. In the background, Tooty runs along the path leading to Banjo's house (occasionally stopping to wave at the camera), and numerous Buzzbombs fly around; unlike other characters, Tooty and Buzzbombs can be seen even while the camera is rotating. With the exception of Mumbo Jumbo, all Spiral Mountain background characters received new original artwork for Spirits mode in Ultimate.

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  Gruntilda and Mumbo Jumbo in Ultimate

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  Mumbo Jumbo in Ultimate

• Bottles Spirit.png

  Bottles artwork from Ultimate

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  Bottles in Ultimate

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  Jinjos artwork from Ultimate

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  Jinjos in Ultimate

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  Tooty artwork from Ultimate

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  Tooty in Ultimate

• Gruntilda Spirit.png

  Gruntilda artwork from Ultimate

• Buzzbomb Spirit.png

  Buzzbomb artwork from Ultimate

King of Fighters Stadium

A number of characters from various SNK franchises appear in the background watching the fight, akin to how selected fighters would "wait for their turn" in The King of Fighters '94-'98. It is random which characters will appear, but selecting specific music to play will sometimes guarantee the appearance of a character. For example, selecting the "Pasta - FATAL FURY 2" song will guarantee that Andy Bogard appears on the stage. A total of 20 different characters may appear in the stage, from several series such as Fatal Fury, The King of Fighters, Art of Fighting, Psycho Soldier and Ikari Warriors.

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  Andy Bogard in Ultimate

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  Athena Asamiya in Ultimate

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  Billy Kane in Ultimate

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  Blue Mary in Ultimate

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  Chang Koehan in Ultimate

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  Choi Bounge in Ultimate

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  Clark Still in Ultimate

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  Geese Howard in Ultimate

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  Goro Daimon in Ultimate

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  Iori Yagami in Ultimate

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  Joe Higashi in Ultimate

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  Kim Kaphwan in Ultimate

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  King in Ultimate

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  Kyo Kusanagi in Ultimate

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  Ralf Jones in Ultimate

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  Rock Howard in Ultimate

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  Ryo Sakazaki in Ultimate

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  Ryuji Yamazaki in Ultimate

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  Tung Fu Rue in Ultimate

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  Yuri Sakazaki in Ultimate

Garreg Mach Monastery

A number of characters from Fire Emblem: Three Houses appear in the background watching the fight.

See also

• Stage hazard
• Non-playable character