04. SAMUS

Franchise / home series: Metroid

Notable non-Smash games: Super Metroid (1994); Metroid Prime (2002); Metroid Dread (2021)

Samus Aran has been a staple of the Smash roster since the very first game, representing the Metroid series and its sci-fi, bounty-hunter atmosphere. As one of Nintendo’s earliest female protagonists, she’s regularly highlighted in crossover art and story content, typically portrayed as a stoic, heavily armored warrior who battles from range.

In Smash, Samus is built around her Power Suit and high-tech weapons. Her signature moves include Charge Shot, Missiles, Screw Attack, and Bombs, giving her a zoning-focused playstyle that pressures opponents from a distance and punishes unsafe approaches. Across the series, her gameplay has emphasized projectile control and defensive play, although later titles have smoothed out her mobility and combo routes to make her more versatile.

Her design has received incremental upgrades to reflect newer Metroid titles, with more detailed armor, energy effects, and animations. Although her competitive strength has fluctuated between games, Samus remains the defining long-range, charge-shot character in Smash, faithfully carrying over the feeling of entering battles equipped with advanced Chozo tech and a full arsenal of ranged options.