32. IKE

Franchise / home series: Fire Emblem

Notable non-Smash games: Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005); Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007)

Ike joined Smash in Brawl as the representative of the GameCube and Wii Fire Emblem titles. His stoic demeanor, massive sword Ragnell, and iconic line “I fight for my friends” quickly made him a fan favorite both within and beyond the Fire Emblem community.

In Smash, Ike is designed as a slow but immensely powerful swordsman. His neutral game revolves around long-reaching slashes and high-damage hits, with moves like Quick Draw, Aether, and Eruption emphasizing commitment and payoff. Unlike Marth and Roy, Ike doesn’t rely on precise sweetspots; instead, he delivers straightforward, heavy hits that can KO at relatively low percents.

Over the series, his design has been updated with Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn-inspired costumes, and his frame data has been tweaked to make him more competitive, particularly in Ultimate. Ike offers players a satisfying, straightforward power fantasy—a hero who may be slow but destroys opponents when he gets in.