Super Smash Bros. Ultimate v2.0.0 update has been released – Patch notes and character balance changes

With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate set to enter into its third month of existence, Nintendo has released the latest major patch.

Smash Ultimate launched in December 2018 and while it was a critical and commercial success, many players were surprised to see a lack of updates to the game in the weeks following launch.

After the 1.2.0 patch dropped on December 14, Nintendo went silent on the update front for Smash Ultimate, but that all changed with the release of the v2.0.0 update.

The v2.0.0 update for Smash Ultimate has finally arrived.

What does the 2.0.0 patch contain? 

In a surprise move, Piranha Plant was made available with this update. While the patch notes themselves say that it would be released “at a later date,” Nintendo later followed up with a Tweet stating that the character is now playable.

In addition to Piranha Plant, the v2.0.0 update contains a laundry list of changes to various characters in the game.

While the patch notes themselves don’t give much information about the balance changes – simply stating “Various gameplay changes” in true Nintendo fashion – they separately released a massive chart (found below) detailing every change.

NintendoThat’s right, Piranha Plant is Smash Ultimate’s first DLC character. Really.

Will the 2.0.0 patch affect Genesis 6? 

The prospect of a new patch usually has the community both excited and anxious to see what changes will come, but this time around, many were upset over the fact that Nintendo would drop a patch just days before the biggest Smash Ultimate tournament of the year, Genesis 6.

Most notably, TSM’s William ‘Leffen’ Hjelte expressed his contempt towards Nintendo for the timing of this patch on Twitter.

Luckily for Leffen and anyone else who was worried about the negative effect this patch could have on Genesis, the tournament organizers let everyone know that the tournament will be held on the current patch no matter when Nintendo releases the 2.0.0 update.

You can read the full patch notes for the v2.0.0 update below:

OFFLINE
・You can now play Spirit Board with up to four players.
Select the Spirit you want to challenge on the Spirit Board, and then go to Party → Fighter to select the number of people who will play. When playing with multiple people, you will lose the battle if any player is KO’d.

・The below Spirits will now appear in the Shop.
 ・Partner Pikachu
 ・Partner Eevee
 ・Dice Block
 ・River Survival
 ・Golden Dash Mushroom

ONLINE
・Adjusted the calculation method for Global Smash Power.
*Online play requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.

GENERAL
・Added the DLC fighter Piranha Plant.
*Piranha Plant will become available for purchase as DLC at a later date. 
・Pressing both jump buttons at the same time will now cause you to Short Hop.
・Fixed the issue where the KO score included your teammates’ KOs when Team Attack was On.
・Game-balance adjustments. You can see which fighters had specific adjustments on the official website. 
・Various gameplay fixes.

Source – Nintendo In-game Notice

Additionally, you can find the full list of character balance changes below, courtesy of Nintendo below:

Fighter Move Change
Mario DashAttack Adjusted launch angle.
Mario FS Meter Extended launch distance.
Donkey Kong Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Link Up Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Link Neutral Special Extended the time from when the arrow is loosed to when it disappears.
Samus Side Special Extended the range of the missile and reduced the vulnerability when using the move in the air.
Samus Down Special Reduced vulnerability.
Dark Samus Down Special Reduced vulnerability.
Yoshi Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Kirby Dash Attack Increased power range and attack power while maintaining launch distance.
Kirby Side Tilt Attack Slightly reduced vulnerability and extended undamaged launch distance.
Kirby Down Special Adjusted the super armor frames after using the move.
Pikachu Grab Attack Shortened hitstun time.
Luigi Up Smash Attack Extended launch distance.
Luigi Down Air Attack Opponents on the ground will no longer suffer a meteor effect.
Luigi Side Special Reduced vulnerability.
Luigi Down Special Extended launch distance.
Ness Up Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Ness Down Air Attack Increased attack power and maintained launch distance.
Jigglypuff Side Tilt Attack Reduced vulnerability.
Jigglypuff Down Tilt Attack Extended launch distance.
Jigglypuff Up Smash Attack Increased attack power of low-power zone.
Jigglypuff Back Air Attack Increased attack speed.
Jigglypuff Forward Throw Adjusted launch angle.
Jigglypuff FS Meter Extended launch distance.
Peach Up Special Shortened launch distance of repeated attacks.
Daisy Up Special Shortened launch distance of repeated attacks.
Bowser Neutral Attack Increased power.
Bowser Side Tilt Attack Increased power.
Bowser Down Smash Attack Extended launch distance.
Bowser Up Special Made it easier to hit multiple times.
Bowser Final Smash & FS Meter Crouching opponents will now be launched the same as standing opponents.
Ice Climbers Basic Movements Nana and Popo will follow each other more when separated.
Ice Climbers Up Special Made it easier to grab edges.
Sheik Up Smash Attack Increased the first attack’s range.
Sheik Down Smash Attack Made it easier to hit multiple times.
Sheik Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Sheik Up Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Sheik Side Special Reduced vulnerability.
Pichu Grab Attack Shortened hitstun time.
Ganondorf Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Ganondorf Up Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Mewtwo Dash Attack Shortened the downtime from shielding.
Mewtwo Side Tilt Attack This move will now always launch forward.
Mewtwo Up Special Made it easier to grab edges.
Roy Down Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Chrom Down Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Chrom Up Special Shortened the meteor distance. When falling off the stage with an opponent, Chrom will be KO’d first.
Mr. Game & Watch Forward Air Attack Increased attack range.
Mr. Game & Watch Down Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Pit Final Smash & FS Meter Crouching opponents will now be launched the same as standing opponents.
Zero Suit Samus Side Smash Attack Shortened the launch distance when the attack hits the middle of an opponent’s body.
Zero Suit Samus Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Zero Suit Samus Up Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Zero Suit Samus Down Special Shortened the amount of time undamaged opponents are buried.
Wario Down Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Snake Up Tilt Attack Extended the high-damage window.
Ike Up Special Shortened the meteor distance.
Charizard Dash Attack Increased attack power and extended launch distance.
Diddy Kong Neutral Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Lucas Up Tilt Attack Added electrical damage.
Lucas Neutral Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Lucas Down Air Attack Added electrical damage.
Lucas Grab Attack Added electrical damage.
Sonic Side Tilt Attack Made it easier to hit multiple times.
Sonic Forward Air Attack Shortened hitstun time.
Sonic Back Air Attack Reduced vulnerability when landing.
Sonic FS Meter Extended launch distance.
King Dedede Side Special Reduced the attack range of the moving Gordo.
Lucario Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Lucario Neutral Special Shortened hitstun time.
Lucario FS Meter Increased power.
R.O.B. Side Special Made it easier to hit multiple times.
Toon Link Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Toon Link Back Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Mega Man Side Tilt Attack Special moves will not be activated when jumping and using Mega Buster.
Rosalina & Luma Dash Attack Made it easier to hit multiple times.
Rosalina & Luma Up Tilt Attack Extended launch distance for Luma’s Up Tilt Attack.
Rosalina & Luma Down Tilt Attack Extended the distance Luma moves forward.
Rosalina & Luma Neutral Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move. Increased the amount of time hit detection lasts.
Rosalina & Luma Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Rosalina & Luma Down Air Attack Shortened the amount of time between the start of the move and the meteor effect.
Rosalina & Luma Neutral Special Reduced vulnerability when sending out and calling back Luma.
Rosalina & Luma Up Special Made it easier to grab edges.
Rosalina & Luma Final Smash & FS Meter Shortened the distance you can shift when the attack is making contact.
Little Mac Neutral Air Attack Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Little Mac Up Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Greninja Down Smash Attack Increased the range of the inner attacks.
Greninja Up Special Can no longer move immediately when landing on a moving platform or slanted ground.
Mii Brawler Flurry Attack Increased attack range and shortened the opponent’s hitstun shuffle distance.
Mii Brawler Up Smash Attack Extended the high-damage window and reduced the low-damage window.
Mii Brawler Neutral Air Attack Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move.
Mii Brawler Back Air Attack Reduced vulnerability when landing after using the move.
Mii Brawler Up Air Attack Increased power.
Mii Brawler Neutral Special Increased power.
Mii Brawler Neutral Special Reduced vulnerability.
Mii Brawler Side Special Extended distance and increased speed.
Mii Brawler Up Special Made it easier to grab edges.
Mii Brawler Down Special Greatly increased damage to opponents’ shields.
Mii Brawler Down Special Extended launch distance of kick performed with extra input.
Mii Gunner Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Palutena Neutral Air Attack Shortened hitstun time.
Palutena Up Special Made it easier to grab edges.
PAC-MAN Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
PAC-MAN Down Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
PAC-MAN Neutral Special Extended the time until you disappear after landing the attack.
Robin Up Special Increased the speed of the backwards edge-grab range detection.
Shulk Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Shulk Up Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Duck Hunt Neutral Special Reduced vulnerability.
DuckHunt Side Special Increased vulnerability. Shortened hitstun time for the exploding clay pigeons.
Ryu Neutral Attack Opponents hit in the air will be launched, making it easier to hit them with the next hit.
Ryu Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Ryu Down Tilt Attack Can no longer jump immediately after using the move.
Ken Neutral Attack Opponents hit in the air will be launched, making it easier to hit them with the next hit.
Ken Neutral Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Ken Forward Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Ken Down Tilt Attack Can no longer jump immediately after using the move.
Cloud Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Cloud Down Special Increased the range of Finishing Touch at the beginning of the move.
Corrin Neutral Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Corrin Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Corrin Up Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Bayonetta Neutral Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Inkling Neutral Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Inkling Side Special Shortened the amount of time undamaged opponents are buried. Moved attack range back while on the ground.
Ridley Neutral Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Ridley Forward Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Ridley Down Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Ridley FS Meter Increased power.
King K. Rool Neutral Special Shortened the length of the vacuum effect.
King K. Rool Up Special Reduced the range of the attack.
King K. Rool Downward Throw Shortened the amount of time undamaged opponents are buried.
Isabelle Neutral Air Attack Shortened the landing time and the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Incineroar Up Smash Attack Extended launch distance.
Incineroar Up Air Attack Shortened the amount of time you cannot grab edges after using the move.
Incineroar Down Air Attack Shortened the landing time after using the move.
Incineroar Up Throw Extended launch distance.
Incineroar Up Special Extended vertical and horizontal distance.

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