The 7.0 patch for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is now live and has added Byleth, a number of Mii costumes, and introduced numerous balance changes to the characters in the game.
The last Super Smash Bros. Ultimate patch didn’t offer any crucial changes to the game, but the 7.0 patch has affected almost every character on the roster. There has been a huge change in regards to shield size, one of the most fearsome characters in the game has received some severe nerfs, and a number of other characters have had their moves strengthened. Byleth is also here.
New Additions In The Patch
The 7.0 patch for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate adds Byleth (the character that absolutely everyone loves) to the game. Byleth is available to those who purchased the Fighters Pass or can be purchased separately.
A number of Fire Emblem: Three Houses Spirits have been added to the game and some of the previous event-only Spirits can now be purchased in the shop or fought on the Spirit Board. A number of new Mii Fighter costumes can now be purchased, including one from Cuphead (which comes with a new song), Altaïr from Assassin’s Creed, a Rabbid hat, a Megaman.EXE outfit, and a Megaman X outfit.
The Shield Buffs
A number of characters have had the size of their shields increased. These include Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Dark Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Pikachu, Captain Falcon, Bowser, Ice Climbers, Sheik, Zelda, Pichu, Falco, Young Link, Ganondorf, Mewtwo, Mr. Game & Watch, Meta Knight, Pit, Dark Pit, Zero Suit Samus, Snake, Squirtle, Charizard, Sonic, King Dedede, Olimar, Lucario, Wolf, Villager, Wii Fit Trainer, Rosalina & Luma, Little Mac, Greninja, Mii Swordfighter, Palutena, PAC-MAN, Bowser Jr., Duck Hunt, Ryu, Ken, Cloud, Corrin, Bayonetta, and King K. Rool.
Dark Samus & Samus - Buffed
Samus and Dark Samus have been given the same buffs. Their dash attack is stronger at the beginning of the attack, their up smash, down smash, and up throw have greater launch distance, and their midair grab is stronger and has longer hit detection.
Sheik - Buffed
Sheik’s down smash is faster and connects more reliably, the range of her standing grab has been increased, Sheik has less end lag after using Burst Grenade or Needle Storm in the air, the hitbox for Burst Grenade is bigger and the explosion cannot be negated. The explosion caused by Vanish lasts longer.
Zelda - Buffed
Zelda’s side tilt is stronger and launches enemies further, her up air has better range, hit detection, and launch distance when hitting with the sweet spot. Din’s Fire has greater hit detection, and Phantom Slash is stronger and has better launch distance.
Dr. Mario - Buffed
Dr. Mario’s side tilt is stronger and launches enemies further, his down tilt keeps the enemies in the damage animation for longer but has shorter launch distance. Dr. Mario’s neutral air is stronger and launches enemies further, while his down air has longer hit detection. Super Jump Punch now launches enemies further.
Young Link - Buffed
Young Link’s first hit in neutral attack is faster, his up air, up smash, and forward throw all launch enemies further, and his Aerial Grapple Hook comes out at a different angle, but has increased speed and keeps enemies in the damage animation for longer.
Zero Suit Samus - Nerfed
Zero Suit Samus might have received a bigger shield, but enemies now stay in the ground for less time when she connects with Flip Jump.
Toon Link - Buffed
Toon Link’s dash attack has less end lag, his down smash launches enemies further, his back air is faster, his down air is stronger and launches enemies further, and his midair grab has longer hit detection.
Palutena - Mixed
Palutena has received a mix of buffs and nerfs. Her up tilt is stronger and launches enemies further and her down smash launches enemies further, but her neutral air has less launch distance and the last attack has a shorter range, while her down throw launches enemies further, making it harder to fit into combos.
Captain Falcon, Duck Hunt, Mii Brawler, Incineroar- Minor Buffs
A few characters received small buffs in the patch. The first hit of Captain Falcon’s neutral attack connects more reliably into the second hit. Mii Brawler’s Suplex has an easier time connecting with the enemy. Duck Hunt Duo’s neutral attack keeps the enemy in the hitstun animation for longer. Incineroar now knocks enemies further back with a lariat or back body drop if they weren’t caught in one of its side specials.
Ryu & Ken - Buffed
Ryu’s heavy down tilt has had its angle adjusted to make it easier to perform combos, his down smash can be canceled out with a special move (but it now deals less damage against shields), Hadoken keeps the opponent in the shield animation for longer when struck, the Shakunetsu Hadoken connects more reliably, and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku is stronger, deals more knockback, and his pivoting leg is invulnerable when the move is used on the ground.
Ken received the same buffs as Ryu, with the exception of his Tatsumaki Senpukyaku connecting more reliably (instead of being stronger) and for the buffs pertaining to the Hadoken.
Cloud - Buffed
Cloud was second only to Bayonetta in terms of BS in the last Super Smash Bros. games, but he was weakened significantly in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Cloud has been buffed in the latest patch, as his dash attack launches enemies further, his Triple Buster has an easier time connecting, his up smash is faster and has better knockback with the tip of the sword, his Climhazzard grabs onto the edge faster, and his Limit meter fills up faster when charging.
Joker - Nerfed
Joker is considered to be one of the best characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but he has been taken down a few pegs in the latest patch. The range of Joker’s Gun attack has been reduced when using it as a down air, seriously curbing its off-stage usefulness, while Joker now loses more of his Rebellion Gauge when being struck if there are two or fewer characters in the battle.
Source: Nintendo
