Cheats & Secrets

Cheats & Secrets Guide for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Important Note: No Traditional Cheat Codes

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate does not include any traditional cheat codes (e.g., button combos, debug menus, or developer commands). The game has no built-in cheats for invincibility, unlimited health, or unlocking everything instantly. All content must be earned through normal gameplay or via the in-game shop.

However, the game is filled with hidden content, unlockable fighters, secret stages, Easter eggs, and developer-intended secrets. This guide covers everything you need to discover them.

---

Hidden Fighters – Full Unlock Guide

There are 89 total fighters (including DLC). The base game has 74 unique fighters plus 7 Echo Fighters. All characters except the starting 8 must be unlocked. Below are the two methods to unlock fighters:

Method 1: Classic Mode Finishes

• Complete a Classic Mode run with any character. After credits, a challenger approaches notification triggers a battle against an unowned fighter. Win to unlock them.


• The unlock order is random but pulled from a fixed pool. You can unlock all base fighters this way (~20-30 min per unlock).




Method 2: Versus Mode Matches



• Play Versus Mode matches (any rules, any stage). Every 10 minutes of cumulative playtime (or every 5 if you have two controllers) a new challenger appears. The timer resets after each encounter.


• You can also unlock by playing through World of Light or other modes.

Full Unlock List (Base Game)

Pro Tip: To speed up unlocks, set up a 1-stock match with a Bob-omb and let it explode immediately. This counts as a match and progresses the timer.

---

Hidden Stages – Secret & Unlockable Stages

There are 103 stages in total (base + DLC). Some stages are hidden or have alternate forms:

• Final Destination: Unlocked by default as a separate stage, but also appears as the Omega form for every stage.


• Battlefield: Similar, unlocked by default as a separate stage.


• Big Battlefield: Unlocked by playing all stages? Actually it's available from the start? No, Big Battlefield is unlocked from the start. Correction: Big Battlefield is available immediately.


• Hidden stages: Most stages are unlocked by playing Classic Mode, World of Light, or Spirit Board. There are no secret stage unlock codes.




Stage Builder Secrets



• In Stage Builder, you can create custom stages. No hidden unlockable terrain, but there are hidden icons for terrain (e.g., Smash Ball, Heart).


• Use L, R, A, B, X, Y, +, - on the Stage Builder title screen to unlock a secret message? False. No such code exists.


---



Secret Modes & Hidden Menus





Sound Test



• Go to Games & More → Vault → Sounds. All music tracks are unlocked by playing. There is no secret code to unlock them all instantly.




Secret Music Tracks



• Some tracks are tied to specific challenges. For example, the Dragon Quest tracks require defeating certain spirits in World of Light.




World of Light – Hidden Areas & Bonus Battles



• The World of Light map has several hidden paths that only appear after completing certain objectives:

- Duck Hunt Zone: In the Light Realm, there's a path blocked by a ? mark. Defeat the Duck Hunt spirit with a specific condition (e.g., only using projectiles) to open it.
- Dracula's Castle: The Dark Realm has a hidden path to the CastleVania area. Defeat all spirits in the Dark Realm to unlock it.
- Mega Man – Wily Castle: In the Light Realm, a hidden path leads to a Mega Man spirit gauntlet. Use a character with certain abilities.



Tips for World of Light Secrets



• Check every node for branching paths after clearing a region.


• Use the Spirit Board to acquire key spirits that unlock blocked paths (e.g., the Lakitu spirit allows you to cross gaps).


---



Easter Eggs & Developer-Intended Secrets





Character-Specific Easter Eggs



• Taunts with Hidden Effects: Some characters have taunts that trigger small interactions:

- Kazuya (Tekken): His down taunt has a chance to heal 10%.
- Ryu & Ken: Holding a direction while taunting changes the taunt (e.g., Ryu's downward taunt becomes a meditative pose that heals 1% per second).

• Snake's Codec Calls: On Shadow Moses Island, pressing down on the D-Pad (or using a command input?) triggers a codec call with Colonel Campbell. This works only in certain modes? Actually it's a taunt? Wait, Snake has a custom taunt that triggers a codec call. Press Down Taunt (hold down on the control stick + taunt button) to hear a random codec conversation.


• Palutena's Guidance: On Palutena's Temple stage, Pit can trigger guidance by using his down taunt. The conversation changes based on the opponent. This works in any mode.




Stage Hidden Interactions



• Great Plateau Tower (Zelda Breath of the Wild): If you destroy the ancient pillars, a Guardian appears and shoots lasers.


• WarioWare, Inc.: Every 10 seconds, a microgame appears. Completing it gives a buff. If you fail, you take damage. The microgame is random.


• Fourside (EarthBound): The UFO can abduct the stage. After enough time, the stage disappears and returns after a while. Nothing secret beyond that.


• Mario Galaxy: The stage rotates slowly. There's a hidden Shine Sprite that appears if you stand on a certain planet for 30 seconds. It heals 50%.


• Dracula's Castle: The stage transitions between four rooms. In the Final Room, Dracula appears as a background hazard, attacking with fireballs.




Amiibo Secrets



• Scanning an amiibo (any compatible figure) into the game unlocks a spirit version of that character (if they are not a fighter). For example, scanning a Sans amiibo (from Undertale) gives a spirit. This is intended.


• Training with amiibo: The more you train an amiibo, the more it learns your playstyle. There is no hidden code to max its level instantly.




Challenger Approaching – Rematch



• If you lose to a challenger (unlock battle), they disappear. To get a rematch, go to Games & More → Vault → Challenger's Approach. This menu appears after you've lost at least one unlock battle. It allows you to fight any previously missed challenger. This is a developer-intended feature, not a cheat.


---



Exploit-Safe Secrets (Legitimate Hidden Content)





8-Player Smash Unlock



• 8-Player Smash is available from the start. No secret needed.




Stage Morph Mode



• Hidden in settings: Go to Rules → Advanced → Stage Morph. Choose two stages and they morph mid-battle. This is not a cheat, just an option.




Squad Strike (3v3 or 5v5)



• Available from the start. No secret.




Custom Balance Options



• In the Rules menu, you can enable Handicap (auto-handicap for win/loss streaks) or Custom Balance (adjust damage ratio per character). Hidden in the sense that many players miss it.




Training Mode Advanced Controls



• In Training, hold L or R while selecting a fighter to access a hidden CPU level beyond 9? No, that's false. The maximum is 9. However, holding ZR during training pauses the game and lets you frame-advance.


---



Developer Messages & Secrets





The “Smash 64” Easter Egg



• On the Peach's Castle stage (64 version), if you stand on the left platform and taunt exactly 64 times? No, that's an urban legend. There is no such code.




Star Reset Code



• In the Classic Mode result screen, if you get a certain number of points, you get a star. There is no code to increase stars.




Sound Test – Secret Track



• The music track “Lifelight” is not hidden. All tracks are listed. No secret track exists.




Mii Costume Secrets



• Some Mii Costumes are only obtained by completing specific challenges. For example, the Sans costume (Undertale) is unlocked by playing as Mii Brawler and winning a match? Actually, it's a DLC purchase. No hidden code.


---



Summary of What DOES NOT Exist



• No button combos for infinite health, moon jump, one-hit KO, or unlock all characters.


• No secret menu like a debug mode (without modding).


• No hidden playable characters beyond the official roster (e.g., no Goku, Waluigi, etc.).


• No cheat devices (e.g., Action Replay) are supported on Switch.

---

Legitimate Hidden Content Worth Mentioning

---

Final Tips for Finding Secrets

1. Always check the Vault after unlocking fighters or spirits for new content.
2. Complete challenges (in Games & More → Vault → Challenges) to unlock rewards like music, spirits, and Mii costumes. Some challenges are hidden until you meet specific conditions (e.g., “Win 100 matches as Mario”).
3. Use the Spirit Board religiously; some spirits are only available during special events.
4. Update your game – Most hidden content is present from launch; updates added new spirits and balance changes but no cheat codes.
5. Avoid false rumors – Many online sources claim cheat codes like “Hold L+R+Start on menu to unlock everything.” These are fake. The game’s security prevents such hacks.

Remember: The joy of Smash Ultimate is in the journey, not instant gratification. Happy hunting!