50. PALUTENA

Franchise / home series: Kid Icarus

Notable non-Smash games: Kid Icarus (1986); Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012)

Palutena joined the roster in Smash 4, expanding Kid Icarus representation and giving Pit’s goddess a fully playable form. Her inclusion heavily referenced the modernized characterization and humor from Kid Icarus: Uprising.

In Smash 4, Palutena was designed with multiple custom specials representing different divine powers, but her default moveset was relatively limited, making her tricky to optimize without customization. In Ultimate, she received a standardized kit with Explosive Flame, Auto Reticle, and Reflect Barrier/Counter, greatly improving her consistency and popularity.

Palutena’s long-range aerials, versatile specials, and teleport recovery make her a powerful mid-to-long-range fighter. Her Ultimate incarnation especially has been prominent in competitive play, embodying a refined, elegant, and control-oriented style that fits her status as a goddess overseeing the battlefield.