Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the culmination of Nintendo's all-star fighting series, consisting of over 80 characters from video game history. Additionally, the title introduced a new concept to the series: Echo Fighters, rebranding some variant characters as slight alterations to existing characters, like Dark Pit or Lucina.
The game consists of several new Echo Fighters that are modeled off existing fighters, such as Chrom from Fire Emblem Awakening, Richter Belmont from Castlevania, and Ken from Street Fighter. Assuming these special characters continue into future installments, here are some alterations we'd like to see in the next Super Smash Bros title.
10 Funky Kong
Super Smash Bros Ultimate re-introduced King K. Rool as a long overdue addition to the Donkey Kong franchise's representation. However, there are still plenty of memorable characters who could show up as an Echo Fighter. One of those is Funky Kong, Donkey Kong's more laid-back ally who has appeared in many of the franchise's installments.
Furthermore, Funky Kong has even made his Mario Kart debut in Mario Kart Wii. As an Echo Fighter in Super Smash Bros., he could offer up a much different playstyle than the strong heavyweight that is Donkey Kong. Perhaps more improved movement speed and some alternate special moves would be enough to shake up those familiar with DK's moveset.
9 Birdo
Birdo is one of the oldest characters in the Mario franchise, debuting in Super Mario Bros. 2. While she's mainly appeared in Mario spin-off games as a female variant of Yoshi, her existence in the Mario universe even predates Mario's dinosaur sidekick. She would make an excellent addition to the Super Smash Bros. roster as an Echo Fighter of Yoshi.
There are plenty of moves that Birdo could possess that vary from Yoshi, such as being able to shoot eggs from her mouth. Her movement options could also be less floaty than Yoshi, making her a more grounded fighter than her lightweight green counterpart. Given that Birdo was just re-added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, her time to shine could be on its way.
8 Impa
One could make the argument that of all the potential The Legend of Zelda characters to be added to Super Smash Bros., Impa is the most prime to be her own character. Nevertheless, the inclusion of Sheik as the series' representative of the Sheikah tribe could mean Impa may get relegated to an Echo Fighter in a future installment.
Thankfully, Impa has had in-game appearances that would complement Sheik's moveset. Her younger self in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity for instance already battles using teleportation and knives, while her Echo Fighter form could incorporate new moves like using the Sheikah Slate for grab attacks or even during her Final Smash.
7 Hoenn Trainer
It would be quite ambitious for an Echo Fighter to essentially completely replace an entire character's moveset, but it could be a possibility for Pokemon Trainer. Since Super Smash Bros Brawl, the Kantonian Pokemon Trainer's team has consisted of Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard, but perhaps an Echo Fighter could possess a new mixture of starter Pokemon.
The third generation would likely be the best choice, given that it's one of the most popular and has no representation on the Super Smash Bros roster. A line-up of Treecko, Marshtomp, and Blaziken would certainly mix things up for Pokemon fans. Plus, who wouldn't want to play as Blaziken in a Super Smash Bros tournament?
6 Shadow
Sonic was quite a surprising addition when he first appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but these days he's a welcome member of the Nintendo family. However, there are plenty more characters from his series who would make fine additions to the Super Smash Bros roster, one of them being Sonic's own rival, Shadow, as an Echo Fighter.
In his appearances throughout the series, Shadow has many similar moves to Sonic, including homing attacks and the ability to run at top speed. It's unlikely that the character will be seen sporting guns as he does in his standalone Shadow the Hedgehog game, but as a slightly different version of Sonic, he could pack way more of a punch in battle.
5 Glass Joe
Punch-Out!! has some of Nintendo's most interesting characters, representing their countries as they battle the underdog known as Little Mac. The short series protagonist finally made his debut in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS, as one of the more controversial fighters. His lack of ability to fight in mid-air made him quite the difficult threat in the series.
Nevertheless, Little Mac's flaws could be fixed in an Echo Fighter, such as Glass Joe. Although the character of Glass Joe is designed to be frail and easy to beat, he could boast strengths where Little Mac is weak in exchange for the original fighter's raw power. Plus, it'd be an easier translation than making King Hippo the Echo Fighter of Little Mac.
4 Medusa
It's no secret that Masahiro Sakurai has a lot of affection for Kid Icarus: Uprising, which he created for the 3DS in between Brawl and SSB4. SSB4 subsequently saw two new additions from the 3DS title: Dark Pit (who became Pit's Echo Fighter), and Lady Palutena, the Goddess of Light. However, Palutena could be the recipient of her own Echo Fighter, too.
For the first half of Kid Icarus: Uprising, Medusa plays the role of antagonist as the main threat to the world. As Palutena's Echo Fighter, her moveset could potentially incorporate lost moves from Palutena's variants in SSB4, including a brand-new Final Smash that potentially turns all enemies on the screen into stone for a certain amount of time.
3 Micaiah
Robin is a unique Fire Emblem representative as one of the few who utilizes magic and tomes in his moveset. However, the mage class has been a staple of the franchise ever since the series' beginning. Perhaps, a great Echo Fighter for Robin would be another iconic spellcaster from the Fire Emblem series: Micaiah from Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn.
Micaiah is one of the protagonists of said title, which inspired Ike's costume in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U & 3DS. Micaiah also recently appeared as a legacy Fire Emblem character in Fire Emblem Engage, potentially securing her place as a well-deserved representative of an already abundant franchise in Super Smash Bros.
2 Octoling
Inkling was a new addition to Super Smash Bros Ultimate, representing the Splatoon franchise. However, their villainous counterparts the Octolings weren't made playable until the Splatoon 2 DLC was released in 2018, making them too late to be made into Echo Fighters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
However, as of Splatoon 3, Octolings are playable variants to Inklings from the game's launch, which means by the time the next Super Smash Bros rolls around, Octoling could be a shoo-in for the Inkling's Echo Fighter. It's hard to say what would be much different about their playstyle, but maybe they'd have access to weapons that Inkling doesn't use.
1 Ribbon Girl
ARMS was an early title for Nintendo Switch, albeit it wasn't represented in Super Smash Bros Ultimate until Min-Min was added via DLC. Given the large roster of characters, however, there are plenty of possibilities for a potential Echo Fighter. The best option, based on the trend with previous Echo Fighters, may be Ribbon Girl.
Although Spring Man is the series mascot, he already appears as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Other characters like Twintelle, Max Brass, and Helix also may be too different from Min-Min to adhere to her overall playstyle and moveset. Meanwhile, Ribbon Girl could offer a slightly different version of Min-Min's existing moveset.