Late last week, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai along with Nintendo announced that Steve and Alex from Mojang’s hit world-building/survival game Minecraft would become playable fighters. The pair will be featured as part of the second of two waves of Challenger packs, and be available to fight as and against in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch on 14 October 2020.
In an additional livestream hosted over the weekend, we received more details about the movesets of these characters, alternate skins and more. I encourage you to watch the full stream above. Otherwise, you can find a summary of their moves below.
Steve and Alex are different skins of the same fighter, and will be selectable alongside Minecraft baddies including Zombie and Enderman. Each of these characters, while they look different, possess the same set of moves:
The Basics
Like in Minecraft, players can hold down the attack button to walk while repeatedly swinging a sword, axe or pickaxe. These attacks have short range, but wide reach. These tools can also be used for abilities new to the Super Smash Bros. franchise: Mine, Craft and Create Block.
Mine
While battling, Steve and Alex can use their tools to dig into the ground or walls of each stage to extract materials. The materials found – dirt, wood, stone, iron, gold and diamond – will depend on the type of surface Steve and Alex dig into. Dig into the trees of Kongo Jungle, for example, and players will find an abundance of wood, while iron can be discovered on the Corneria stage.
Craft
After mining, players can then craft using the materials they collected. Steve and Alex’s tools have limited durability and can break, so crafting new tools is vital to maintaining an advantage on the battlefield. By standing in front of a crafting table, which will appear on the stage, players can use materials to craft these tools – the more valuable the material, the more powerful the tool.
Create Block
Another move that Steve and Alex can use is Create Block. By activating this ability, players will, well, create a block. These blocks can be stacked and strategically placed as defensive manoeuvres. Blocks also use materials, like crafting, so players will have to continue to mine to maintain their material supply.
Final Smash
Steve and Alex’s explosive Final Smash is called House of Boom. After destroying the Smash Ball, players will summon a giant piston, which sends opponents flying into the House of Boom. From there, the iconic Creepers from Minecraft will set off an explosion, dealing massive damage.
New Stage: Minecraft World
The stage included is Minecraft World, which consists of six different areas inspired by the original Minecraft game. The destructible areas randomly change for each match. When battling on this stage, players will experience a day and night cycle, with zombies and skeletons emerging at night to terrify players.
New Music Tracks: Minecraft Spin-Off Games
Since the music in Minecraft is meant to be soothing and relaxing to inspire creativity and building, the new music tracks selected for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are from more action-packed games in the Minecraft franchise, like Minecraft Earth and Minecraft Dungeons.
Steve and Alex will be available to players who purchase Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass Vol. 2 or who purchase Challenger Pack 7 separately for $7.80 AUD or local equivalent on Nintendo eShop. By purchasing Fighters Pass Vol. 2 for $39.00 AUD or local equivalent on Nintendo eShop, players will get access to Steve and Alex, along with previously released fighter Min Min from ARMS and four more yet-to-be-announced Challenger Packs as they release. Each pack includes one fighter, one stage and multiple music tracks.
