Unlockable character

"Challenger" redirects here. For info on fighters, to whom the title "challenger" is often applied, see List of Super Smash Bros. series characters.

File:The Original 8.jpg

Character selection screen in Super Smash Bros. indicating unlockable characters.

An unlockable character (also referred to as a secret character or hidden character, and in-game as challengers) is one that is not available at the start of the game (unlike a starter character), but instead must be received in-game (unlike downloadable characters) through other means.

A unique criterion must be met in order to unlock a certain character, as outlined below. Once the player has met this criteria in-game, a message will display; in all cases, the player is given this screen after completely finishing gameplay.

As with most fighting games, in all four games if the player fails to defeat the character in the Vs. Match to unlock them after the criteria has been met, playing another Vs. Match or mode will allow for a second attempt.

In Super Smash Bros., the character select screen displayed placeholders for not yet unlocked characters. This was changed in Melee, where some characters didn't have placeholders prior to unlocking, with their portraits simply appearing afterward. The placeholder slots were completely removed in Brawl and Smash 4.

"Challenger Approaching!" screen

The Challenger Approaching! screen which Jigglypuff challenges the player in Super Smash Bros. 64

The Challenger Approaching! screen which Falco challenges the player in Super Smash Bros. Melee

File:Challenger Approaching R.O.B. Brawl.png

The Challenger Approaching! screen which R.O.B. challenges the player in Super Smash Bros. Brawl

The Challenger Approaching! screen which Bowser Jr. challenges the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

The Challenger Approaching! screen which Duck Hunt challenges the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

The "Challenger Approaching!" (挑戦者が現れました！, A Challenger has Appeared!) screen is a message that will be displayed after the player has met a criteria required to unlock any of the available characters. Every game has its unique screen.

Western versions of the game had a silhouette of the character merely displayed in a blue box in front of a black background, with an exclamation point in a red circle on the top of the screen, and the phrase "Challenger Approaching" next to it. Japanese versions had the approaching challenger fully revealed. The original game also uses similar music to the 1P-Game's intro, with the only difference being the absence of drums for the "challenger approaching" tune.

Melee added the phrase "A new foe has appeared!," and also had a silhouette of the approaching challenger. The poses for the challengers were silhouettes of their renders when selected on the Character Select screen (some, however, like Ganondorf's and Luigi's, were their renders from inside the boxes). The game also added animations to the screens, with an undulating matrix effect in the background, while the exclamation point, text and silhouette would be eased in. Original music was also provided solely for the screen, which took the sound of a slow, ominous siren.

Brawl returned to the plain black background (there would be a silhouette of an unlockable character the player would face), but still had animations that would ease in, and when the player pressed any button, the images would fade to black, while the "Challenger Approaching!" text would scatter all over the screen; the siren is also considerably faster and more panicky in its sound than how it sounds in Melee.

Smash 4 reused Brawl's warning siren, but there are some differences in both versions. The 3DS version added in considerably more colours, including hues of green, black, and violet; the screen also says "A challenger approaches!" instead of its previous quotations. The Wii U version uses a font style similar to the ones in the newcomer trailers, and the background contains a picture of a supernova; the text is nonetheless reused from past games.

After the "Challenger Approaching!" screen, the unlockable character will then be fought in an ordinary one stock match with no time limit, on a pre-determined stage and pre-determined music (often that which can not normally appear without hacking, such as the Fire Emblem theme playing on the Fountain of Dreams in Melee when Marth is unlocked). The player uses the last character played as, as well as the same palette swap; in the case of multiplayer battles, the player who won the match will fight the challenger for the first three games, though if a CPU won the match, then the players are not given the opportunity to unlock the character. Super Smash Bros. 4 changed this formula, and it is no longer necessary to win a multiplayer battle in order to fight the challenger; if a CPU wins the match, then the human-controlled player with the highest rank will fight.

By defeating the opponent, the character becomes playable. If the player fails, however, they will not unlock the character, but in the next battle they win, they are guaranteed to meet with the challenger again.

The "Challenger Approaching!" screen has become somewhat of a meme in the Smash community. Many digitally manipulated versions of these screens have appeared, often featuring characters who do not appear in the games, mostly using artwork of the character from another game instead of original artwork (which gives away its falseness). The screens became so popular that they were featured as part of the DOJO!!; in earlier updates, whenever a new character was introduced, a banner that said "Warning! Challenger Approaching!" would appear above the entry.

• Smash 64's challenger alarm.

• Melee's challenger alarm.

• Brawl's, Smash 3DS's and Smash U's challenger alarm.

Super Smash Bros.

Characters

Character	How to unlock	Unlock location
Captain Falcon	Complete the 1P Game in 20 minutes or less.	Planet Zebes
Jigglypuff	Complete 1P Game with any character.	Saffron City
Luigi	Complete the Bonus 1: Break the Targets with all starter characters.	Peach's Castle
Ness	Complete 1P Game on Normal with three lives and no continues.	Dream Land

Gallery

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  Captain Falcon challenging the player in Smash 64

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  Jigglypuff challenging the player in Smash 64

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  Luigi challenging the player in Smash 64

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  Ness challenging the player in Smash 64

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Characters

Character	How to unlock	VS matches required	Unlock Location	Music
Jigglypuff	Complete Classic Mode with any character.	50	Pokémon Stadium	Pokémon Stadium
Luigi	Complete Adventure Mode when the second on the time limit in the first stage gets a "2". For example: XX:X2:XX.	800	Mushroom Kingdom II	Mushroom Kingdom II
Dr. Mario	Complete Classic Mode with Mario.	100	Princess Peach's Castle	Dr. Mario
Young Link	Complete Classic Mode with 10 different characters.	500	Great Bay	Saria's Theme
Ganondorf	Complete the Event 29: Triforce Gathering.	600	Final Destination	Great Bay
Marth	Complete Classic Mode with all starter characters or use all starter characters at least once in VS. mode.	400	Fountain of Dreams	Fire Emblem
Roy	Complete Classic Mode with Marth.	900	Temple	Fire Emblem
Falco	Complete the 100-Man Melee.	300	Battlefield	Corneria
Pichu	Complete the Event 37: Legendary Pokémon.	200	Pokémon Stadium	Battle Theme
Mewtwo	Play VS. mode for 20 hours.	700	Final Destination	Poké Floats
Mr. Game & Watch	Complete Classic Mode, Adventure Mode, or Break the Targets with all 24 characters.	1000	Flat Zone	Flat Zone

Gallery

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  Jigglypuff challenging the player in Melee

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  Luigi challenging the player in Melee

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  Dr. Mario challenging the player in Melee

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  Young Link challenging the player in Melee

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  Ganondorf challenging the player in Melee

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  Marth challenging the player in Melee

• RoyApproaching.png

  Roy challenging the player in Melee

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  Falco challenging the player in Melee

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  Pichu challenging the player in Melee

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  Mewtwo challenging the player in Melee

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  Mr. Game & Watch challenging the player in Melee

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Masahiro Sakurai stated that it would be appropriate that third-party, or "guest" characters, like Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog, would be unlockable characters. This became true when Brawl was first released in Japan.

In addition to the challenges and versus match method of unlocking, all unlockable characters can be unlocked by playing through The Subspace Emissary. The majority of these characters are unlocked as part of the linear story of SSE. However, Jigglypuff, Wolf, and Toon Link are only unlockable after the main SSE gameplay is completed by finding a secret area while replaying levels. Once a character joins a group of playable characters, the character will be instantly unlocked for normal play (without requiring a "Challenger Approaching" battle). However, some characters, as per the SSE's story, must be battled before they will join the player's party, such as Bowser.

Only when the Adventure Mode method is not used, Ganondorf is the only unlockable character that takes place on a Super Smash Bros. universe stage (Final Destination). The other 15 out of 16 (Ness, Marth, Luigi, Falco, Captain Falcon, Lucario, R.O.B., Mr. Game & Watch, Sonic, Jigglypuff, Toon Link, and Wolf all have home stages; and so will all be fought on those stages (listed below). When unlocking R.O.B., it takes place on Mario Bros. (which is the exclusive usage). But since no Mario characters are ever fought on Classic Mode and All-Star Mode, that stage is considered R.O.B's (even when unlocking him).

Characters

Character	How to unlock	Subspace Emissary method	VS matches required	Unlock location (if Subspace Emissary method is not used)	Music
Ness	Reflect 10 Projectiles.	Complete Subspace (Part I)	5	Onett	Mother (Melee)
Marth	Complete Classic Mode.	Complete Battlefield Fortress	10	Castle Siege	Fire Emblem (Melee)
Luigi	Complete Classic Mode without using any continues.	Complete Subspace (Part I)	22	Luigi's Mansion	Luigi's Mansion Theme
Falco	Complete 100-Man Brawl	Complete The Swamp	50	Lylat Cruise	Area 6
Captain Falcon	Play through Classic Mode on Normal or higher and beat it in 12 minutes or less.	Complete Outside the Ancient Ruins	70	Port Town Aero Dive	Mute City
Lucario	Clear all levels of Target Smash!! with any single character.	Complete Glacial Peak	100	Spear Pillar	Victory Road
Snake	Play 15 Vs. Matches on Shadow Moses Island.	Complete Battleship Halberd Interior	130	Shadow Moses Island	Encounter
R.O.B.	Collect 250 different trophies	Complete Subspace Bomb Factory (Part II)	160	Mario Bros	Mario Bros.
Ganondorf	Clear Classic Mode on Hard with Link or Zelda.	Collect both Link and Zelda's trophies in Subspace (Part II)	200	Final Destination	Hidden Mountain & Forest
Mr. Game & Watch	Clear Target Smash!! with 30 different characters on any single difficulty level	Complete Battleship Halberd Bridge	250	Flat Zone 2	Flat Zone 2
Sonic	Complete Classic Mode with 10 characters, or Brawl for 10 combined total hours.	Complete The Great Maze	300	Green Hill Zone	Sonic Heroes
Jigglypuff	Beat 20 or more events after beating the Subspace Emissary.	After completing The Great Maze, defeat it in a secret room in The Swamp.	350	Pokémon Stadium 2	Pokémon Center
Toon Link	Complete Classic Mode after beating the Subspace Emissary.	After completing The Great Maze, defeat him in a secret room in The Forest	400	Pirate Ship	Dragon Roost Island
Wolf	Complete Boss Battles mode with Fox or Falco.	After completing The Great Maze, defeat him in a secret room in The Ruins	450	Lylat Cruise	Star Wolf

Sonic is the only character who can be unlocked 4 different ways.

Gallery

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  Ness challenging the player in Brawl

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  Marth challenging the player in Brawl

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  Luigi challenging the player in Brawl

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  Falco challenging the player in Brawl

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  Captain Falcon challenging the player in Brawl

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  Lucario challenging the player in Brawl

• Challenger Approaching Snake (SSBB).png.png

  Snake challenging the player in Brawl

• Challenger Approaching R.O.B. Brawl.png

  R.O.B. challenging the player in Brawl

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  Ganondorf challenging the player in Brawl

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  Mr. Game & Watch challenging the player in Brawl

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  Sonic challenging the player in Brawl

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  Jigglypuff challenging the player in Brawl

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  Toon Link challenging the player in Brawl

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  Wolf challenging the player in Brawl

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Characters

The inclusion of Wendy O. Koopa (as one of Bowser Jr.'s alternate costumes) and Lucina as unlockable characters makes them the first female characters to be unlockable.

In addition to the characters below, Mii Fighters are not shown on the character select screen until the player has created at least one. However, since the ability to create Mii Fighters is granted from the beginning, the characters cannot truly be called unlockable.

Character	How to unlock	Vs. Matches Required	Unlock location
Ness	Clear Classic Mode on any difficulty	10	Magicant
Falco	Clear Classic Mode without any continues	20	Corneria
Wario	Complete 100-Man Smash	30	WarioWare, Inc.
Lucina	As Marth, clear Classic Mode without any continues	40	Arena Ferox
Dark Pit	Clear Classic Mode with three or more characters	50	Reset Bomb Forest
Dr. Mario	As Mario, clear Classic Mode on intensity 4.0 or higher	60	Mushroomy Kingdom
R.O.B.	Collect at least 200 different trophies	70	PictoChat 2
Ganondorf	As Zelda or Link, clear Classic Mode on intensity 5.0 or higher	80	Gerudo Valley
Mr. Game & Watch	Clear Classic Mode with 10 or more characters	90	Flat Zone 2
Bowser Jr.	As Bowser, clear Classic Mode on intensity 6.0 or higher	100	3D Land
Duck Hunt	Clear Classic Mode with 8 or more characters	110	Battlefield
Jigglypuff	Collect at least 30 different equipment items	120	Unova Pokémon League

Gallery

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  Ness challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Falco challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Wario challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Lucina challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Dark Pit challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Dr. Mario challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  R.O.B. challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Ganondorf challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Mr. Game & Watch challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Bowser Jr. challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

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  Duck Hunt challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

• ChallengerApproachingJigglypuff.jpg

  Jigglypuff challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Characters

Unlike Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, Ness, Jigglypuff, Ganondorf & Bowser Jr. are starter characters. Like the 3DS version, a character is unlocked for every 10 versus matches played. Two exceptions to this are Mr. Game & Watch and Duck Hunt, which they need 20 more versus matches than R.O.B. and Mr. Game & Watch, respectively. This time when unlocking these unlockable characters, non Super Smash Bros. universe stages are used. Super Smash Bros. universe stages (unlike the first three titles; not counting [[Super Smash Bros. for 3DS) are not considered home stages for any unlockable character. So Battlefield, Big Battlefield, and Final Destination are never used or fought on when unlocking these unlockable characters.

In addition to the characters below, Mii Fighters are not shown on the character select screen until the player has created at least one. However, since the ability to create Mii Fighters is granted from the beginning and there is no Challenger Approaching fight, the character cannot truly be called unlockable.

Character	How to unlock	Vs. Matches Required	Unlock location
Falco	Clear Classic Mode	10	Orbital Gate Assault
Wario	Clear 100-Man Smash	20	Gamer
Lucina	Clear Classic Mode on intensity 5.5 or higher	30	Coliseum
Dark Pit	Clear All-Star Mode on Normal	40	Palutena's Temple
Dr. Mario	Clear Master Orders on Hard	50	Delfino Plaza
R.O.B.	Clear Crazy Orders after 10 rounds and defeat Crazy Hand	60	Wrecking Crew
Mr. Game & Watch	Clear Classic Mode on intensity 2.0 or higher with 5 characters	80	Flat Zone X
Duck Hunt	Earn 1 KO in Cruel Smash	100	Duck Hunt

Gallery

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  Falco challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

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  Wario challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

• SSBU Lucina Approaches.PNG

  Lucina challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

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  Dark Pit challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

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  Dr. Mario challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

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  R.O.B. challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

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  Mr. Game & Watch challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

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  Duck Hunt challenging the player in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Trivia

• The AI level of unlockable character fights increases with each consecutive character, though the opposite is the case in Melee.
  • In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the AI level for all eight characters is high, no matter what order they are fought in.^{[citation needed]}
• Masahiro Sakurai originally intended for all the characters in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U to be available from the start, but eventually decided against it.
• Dr. Mario, Falco Lombardi, Mr. Game & Watch, and R.O.B. are the only playable characters to remain unlockable in every installment they appear in.
• Roy and Mr. Game and Watch in Melee and Wolf in Brawl are the only unlockable characters to have unlock criteria that involve other unlockable characters.
  • In fact, Mr. Game and Watch in Melee is the only character in which all of the other playable characters must be unlocked prior to unlocking making him the only character that players can unlock last in any Smash game.
• Wario is the only character who debuted as a starter to become an unlockable character afterwards, being a starter in Brawl before becoming unlockable in Smash 4.
• In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, DLC characters have a "(character name) Joins the Battle!" screen that appears once they are purchased, much like the unlockable characters. Unlike with unlockable characters, the last letters of their names are not larger.
• When a player fights a secret character to unlock in Brawl, his/her character will always wear their default costume even if the character was originally using an alternative costume.

See also

• Unlockable stage
• Starter character
• Starter stage
• Downloadable content