Everyone Has Echo Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Thanks to the Efforts of Modders

Why It Matters

The fan‑made Echo roster broadens competitive options and prolongs player engagement, illustrating the power of community‑driven content to extend a franchise’s lifespan.

Key Takeaways

• Modders created Echo Fighters for all 79 base characters.
• Echo Fighters replicate movesets, offering cosmetic variations.
• Mario's Echo is Metal Mario, referencing Smash 64.
• Donkey Kong's Echo is Funky Kong, previously unseen officially.
• Community mods extend roster beyond Nintendo's official lineup.

Pulse Analysis

Echo Fighters have been part of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate since its launch, serving as palette‑swap variants that inherit the original character’s move set while offering distinct visual flair. Nintendo officially designated seven such fighters—Dark Samus, Daisy, Lucina, Chrom, Dark Pit, Richter and Ken—primarily to fill roster slots without developing entirely new mechanics. The recent mod project pushes this concept to its logical extreme, generating an Echo for each of the 79 base characters. By re‑using existing data, the mods deliver a seamless experience that feels native to the game.

For competitive players, the expanded Echo pool introduces fresh strategic layers. Even though the underlying mechanics remain unchanged, subtle differences in hit‑box visuals, voice lines, or animation timing can influence mind games and matchup perception. Moreover, the availability of alternate skins like Metal Mario or Funky Kong provides a personalization avenue that keeps veteran players invested long after the official DLC cycle ended. While Nintendo has not sanctioned these modifications, the community’s technical expertise demonstrates how user‑generated content can effectively extend a title’s lifecycle without official support.

The modding effort also signals a broader trend where fan communities fill gaps left by publishers. As development costs rise, studios increasingly rely on enthusiastic players to create supplemental content, from cosmetic skins to full‑scale gameplay tweaks. Nintendo’s historically cautious stance on modding may evolve if such projects prove to boost engagement and sales of related merchandise. Ultimately, the Echo Fighter initiative showcases how open‑source creativity can reshape a franchise’s ecosystem, encouraging both developers and fans to explore collaborative possibilities.