27. META KNIGHT

Franchise / home series: Kirby

Notable non-Smash games: Kirby’s Adventure (1993); Kirby Super Star (1996); Kirby: Return to Dream Land (2011)

Meta Knight made his Smash debut in Brawl as a rival and anti-hero from the Kirby series. Known for his mysterious mask and airship, the Halberd, he brought a fast, sword-based fighting style that quickly redefined the game’s competitive landscape.

In Smash, Meta Knight is characterized by extremely fast attacks, multiple jumps, and strong recovery options. His signature moves—Mach Tornado, Shuttle Loop, and Drill Rush—allow for relentless pressure and edgeguarding. In Brawl, his dominance was so overwhelming that he is widely considered the strongest character in that game’s history, shaping entire tournament rulesets and matchup dynamics.

Subsequent games adjusted Meta Knight significantly, toning down his power while preserving his agile, multi-jump identity. Despite nerfs, he remains a combo-oriented, mobility-heavy swordsman with a dedicated fanbase, symbolizing both the potential and the balancing challenges of designing high-speed, multi-jump characters in Smash.