Smash Bros. Ultimate’s 5th DLC fighter is Byleth

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s fifth DLC fighter is Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ Byleth, game director Masahiro Sakurai announced on Thursday.

Revealed in a new live stream video, Byleth will come in both male and female variations and will be available from January 28 either as part of the game’s Fighters Pass or individually for $5.99 USD / £5.39.

The character’s Relic weapons change based on the direction the player attacks, Sakurai explained in the live stream. Up attacks utilise a whip which Byleth can use to grapple opponents or even hang from ledges.

Byleth’s stage is the Garreg Mach Monastery from Three Houses. The level cycles through the Marketplace, Reception Hall, Bridge and Cathedral from the Switch RPG and familiar characters will appear in the background.

As is typical for Ultimate’s DLC packs, Byleth will arrive with a roster of new music tracks (11 in total) and a Spirit Board based on Three Houses. In addition, a new Heroic Legacy route has been added to Classic Mode featuring Fire Emblem stages.

The latest Mii Fighter costume pack will also release on January 28, featuring designs based on Ubisoft’s Altair (Assassin’s Creed) and Rabbids, Capcom’s MegaManX and MegaMan.Exe, plus StudioMDHR’s Cuphead which will also include a music track.

Finally, Sakurai confirmed that Smash Bros. Ultimate’s second Fighter Pass will be expanded from five to six characters.

Nintendo will continue to keep the fighters secret until close to their release, he said, although the identities of each have already been decided.

Switch owners will be able to pre-order the Fighters Pass 2 from January 28, with a special Zelda: Breath of the Wild Mii costume available as a pre-order bonus.

Ultimate’s director Sakurai previously said he feels there’s “no way” the series will be able to have as many fighters or series represented again in future games.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has sold some 16 million copies since its release in December 2018.