Introduction

We saw a few surprises in Day 1, but here, we’ll get into players with increasingly definitive records. Superregional players, people with positive Top 20 records, people with multiple big wins – all of that!

Without further ado…

#75 – Lui$

Change from 2017: NEW

Lui$ racked up small wins (a few regional, a few national) throughout most of 2018. However, his big break that put him into the Top 100 came at GameTyrant Expo, where he defeated Captain L, notable Utah PR, and Pandarian (who narrowly missed the Top 100) in order to win the event. This comes as the biggest event win a NorCal player managed in 2018.

#74 – Armando

Change from 2017: -9

Formerly known as Ac, Armando has been known as SoCal’s best Meta Knight ever since Ito and Tyrant’s activity waned. Having the torch passed to him, he managed a breakout 2017 that included a win on MKLeo.

In 2018, while never reaching quite that far, he defeated numerous top names and was one of the only American players to put up a solid performance at EVO Japan 2018. His greatest performance by far in 2018 was at Switchfest, where he unexpectedly managed to defeat Kameme, Cosmos, and Samsora in a row, only losing to Nairo and Larry Lurr.

#73 – Sonido

Change from 2017: NEW

The Southeast, especially Georgia, has remained one of the most underrated regions in Smash 4. Sonido, who’s traveled all along the Southeast and has been a top player in numerous states as a result, is one of their biggest threats.

Much of his presence here is to do with consistent attendance and good performances at various Southeastern regionals and monthlies, racking up numerous wins on notable PR players like Wrath, Salt One, HyperKirby, ScAtt, & more. He’s also managed to defeat Fatality.

#72 – Locus

Change from 2017: -32

Despite something of a tumble from his prime in 2017, Locus still is easily one of the Northwest’s prime threats, as shown by his ability to defeat Light, hold a rival record with fellow BC Smasher Captain L, and even (for whatever it’s worth) take a game off of Dabuz with his Zelda.

Locus’ greatest run appropriately came in his home country at Get On My Level 2018, where he defeated Charledaking, MVD, ESAM, and very nearly sent Larry Lurr packing in a close 5 game set.

#71 – Blank

Change from 2017: +66

Like Sonido, Blank’s in-region accomplishments place her solidly in the ranking. Supplemented by a solid bracket run at Super Smash Con 2018 that includes a win on Fatality, Blank also tore her way through Gainesville at super-regional GatorLAN Fall 2018.

#70 – Tea

Change from 2017: NEW

Mostly hidden away in Japan since 2016 & 2017, Tea broke out in explosive fashion at SoCal Regionals where he defeated a pile of Top 100 or near Top 100 players, losing only to Elegant twice. While the following MSM was not counted for the ranking, it should be noted that Tea also defeated Elegant twice at that event.

His greatest accomplishment by far was that he put up the best run ever done by a Pac-Man player in Smash 4 history, where he defeated Kameme, Abadango, Kuro, Lea, KEN, and Sigma in an extensive loser’s run before ending at 3rd, having only lost to Eim and Choco.

#69 – T

Change from 2017: +3

T retains his near-middle of the pack style ranking from 2017, representative of his swings in placements at events. While he’s held back by some poorer runs, he stacks up solid wins across the year with good attendance.

Consecutive wins got him his best run of the year, a 2nd at Umebura 31, and his overall record has him beating out top players like Yuzu and Choco. Despite no “3rd at Civil War”-type run, T ends Smash 4 as the game’s greatest Link, demonstrating his ability in-country more than ever before.

#68 – K9sbruce

Change from 2017: -11

Moving back to Arizona, the former SoCal Sheik & Diddy Kong player capped off his Smash 4 career with a few notable accomplishments. He holds a 2-0 record over Elegant, and a dominant record on Stroder, with a few presentable major runs – such as his early run at GENESIS 5.

#67 – Manny

Change from 2017: -47

Manny scoots in at 67th with a solid run at MomoCon that saw him taking sets over Raito and VoiD. In-region performances keep him above 70, as he won Southwest Florida superregional EagleCON.

His lower placement in spite of his accomplishments is largely a result of a lack of attendance, as Manny openly expressed disinterest with travelling far to events in 2018 due to where the metagame had shifted to.

#66 – 6WX

Change from 2017: -22

6WX’s runs in 2018 were largely regional, limiting his ranking capacity. Nonetheless, despite negative records vs. Bayonetta in a year where she was heavily prominent, 6WX took sets off of cream-of-the-crop players like Dabuz and Cosmos at regional events.

Living in PA, his proximity to powerful regions like Tristate and New England further gave him the opportunity to take sets off of Marss, as well as Tristate depth players like Mr E, Jakal, and Shoyo James.

#65 – Blacktwins

Change from 2017: +19

Living in Ontario has a few benefits for this ranking, as seen with THUNDER’s unexpectedly high placement. Here, Blacktwins’ proximity to Upstate New York gave him opportunities to beat both Mistake and SDX, two very valuable players in 2018’s ranking.

Mid-range placements at majors and regional performances against top PR in Ontario and Upstate New York give him a boost from last year’s ranking, as do notable wins on higher ranked players like Ally and Yeti.

#64 – Rags

Change from 2017: NEW

Based on 2018 and 2019, Rags may simply be an early sign of MDVA’s transitioning into a dangerous region. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, the MDVA Meta Knight came out swinging at Glitch 4, taking out Ralphie and Captain Zack.

Despite a bloodbath set vs. Elegant at Smash N’ Splash 4 being most-remembered out of his presence at the event, he notably defeated Midnight, Raito, Ally, and Cosmos in order to get into that very Top 8. This gave him more than enough to rank deep in the Top 100.

#63 – Masashi

Change from 2017: NEW

Masashi is no stranger to Smash. In fact, people documenting early Melee history understand him to have been one of the best players in that game early in Melee’s lifetime.

Masashi, having been with the scene for nearly two decades, put up impressive wins and runs in 2018, notably taking sets off of several notable Kanto and Kansai players and squeaking out a win at Kansai superregional Sumabato 26.

#62 – Ralphie

Change from 2017: NEW

Tristate’s premier Cloud main made waves in 2018 starting with a loser’s run at Xanadu: End of an Era that saw him taking the MDVA superregional. Despite mostly limited runs at majors, he also placed 9th at Super Smash Con 2018, defeating Ally and United Kingdom threat MagiMagi (who narrowly missed the Top 100.)

He trades with the Northeast in two cases, having a dominant record on Sinji, but conversely having an abysmal record vs. Light. This gives him no Top 20 wins, though wins on numerous East Coast notables across regional events are more than enough to keep him afloat.

#61 – Dark Wizzy

Change from 2017: +34

Japan’s hefty presence on the ranking proves you don’t need supermajor runs to place on the ranking, but Wizzy uniquely shows that even some American players can manage it too.

Wizzy’s runs at East Coast and nearby Midwest events netted him a large quantity of valuable wins, including 4 unique top 20 wins and a dominant record over Marss. Adding wins on several Tristate depth players and Light, Dark Wizzy has started to show his true potential many believed he had from regionally-inclined runs we saw in 2017.

#60 – takera

Change from 2017: +76

Japan’s greatest Ryu takera is one of, if not the most, improved players from a prior year. Climbing nearly 80 placements, Takera’s run at Umebura 32 and high placement at EVO give him high marks. His Umebura run included hits on players like Tsu, T, Shuton, and Shky.

Beyond that, his location in Kanto & high attendance gave him endless opportunities to take sets off of strong players, giving him a great record overall that additionally includes wins on Komorikiri & Abadango.

#59 – tsu

Change from 2017: -25

Tsu was one of 2017’s biggest breakout players, and his drop is likely a result of lacking U.S. attendance. Despite that, he holds a 2-0 record over Larry Lurr in one of his characters’ worst matchups. This came from Tokaigi, the only international-level event Tsu attended besides EVO Japan.

In addition to holding the strongest record vs. the Top 20 we’ve seen yet, he placed top 8 at Umebura 32 and has wins on most of top level Japan.

#58 – yeti

Change from 2017: NEW

Minnesota’s best, yeti, made himself known very late in the scene at The Big House 8, where he swept Blacktwins, BestNess, VoiD, Salem, and DarkShad in bracket with a combination of Toon Link & Mega Man. This netted him 4th, one of the highest American major placements seen on the ranking so far.

While that run was critical for his near-50th placement, he was also supplemented further by strong, late-game regional runs.

#57 – Zenyou

Change from 2017: -6

Despite Mario having a perceived loss of luster, Zenyou continued to strike in 2018 with an oft-forgotten but highly noteworthy win on Nairo at EVO. While this represents his peak win, he also has a winning record v.s Larry among the events used, and has wins on most of SoCal and its vast depth.

#56 – Maister

Change from 2017: NEW

One of the biggest surprises in 2018, Maister had an incredible start to the year. Unseeded, he proceeded to go without any game losses until Top 32, taking out Mistake along the way. Even after a 0-3 loss to Salem, he still defeated Fatality in losers and managed to take a game off of Nairo.

With an in-region Bayonetta to play against, Maister seemed generally proficient at the match-up despite his unlikely character choice. He has a positive record on Chag and Tyroy, has a win on Lima, and at the very least took a game off of Tweek at The Big House 8.

#55 – yuzu

Change from 2017: NEW

Yuzu’s success at EVO often goes unremembered, but he defeated ANTi at that particular event, better representing Japan’s depth at a supermajor. He, like every Japanese player by this point on the list, has a large quantity of wins on Japan’s upper echelon that further support the Rosalina’s high placement.

#54 – Umeki

Change from 2017: NEW

Umeki’s consistent attendance and sometimes solid run at Japanese events net him an unexpectedly high ranking. His slow & steady rack-up of wins really shows here, with wins on Kirihara, Shuton, Raito, HIKARU, Zackray, & more that didn’t fit on his player card.

His Smash 4 career ended on an upside, placing 9th at the game’s final major, Umebura Smash 4 Final, where he beat Shuton, Fuji, and HIKARU consecutively.

#53 – Kome

Change from 2017: +34

Kansai’s elite Shulk proved himself once again in 2018, continuing to hold the line vs. Cloud, a match-up he is notably proficient at. He won a superregional – Sumabato 2018 – and despite few sets vs. top 20 players, he nonetheless fought and won against people just outside of that title.

Kome ends Smash 4 as the game’s best Shulk, a not often played character that many had written off by 2016. Between him and Nicko, who was less active (though almost made the Top 100 due to a run at Port Priority 4ever) we’ve seen this character flourish in two of the hardest parts of the world.

#52 – Shogun

Change from 2017: NEW

While he has a “NEW” tag, Shogun’s been around a very long time. He made inroads years ago at Brawl events as Japan’s best Snake (a title relevant to the ongoing Ultimate metagame) but in Smash 4 he made his name as a strong Fox player.

Like several of his peers at this point in the ranking, his lack of data vs. the Top 20 is really made up for my an expanse of notable wins. For Shogun, possibly the most active player in his country during 2018, attendance undoubtedly gave him many opportunities to take the sets he needed to place 52nd.

#51 – Javi

Change from 2017: -6

I first noted Javi as a hidden boss contender in the first post on OrionRank 2016; since then, he’s gone on to accomplish numerous things, ranging from wins on MKLeo, nearly beating ZeRo, and generally holding steadfast as one of Mexico’s very best.

In his two brief runs in the U.S., he managed wins on Larry Lurr, T, and Yeti, and in-country he defeated MKLeo and holds positive records over CDMX peers Chag & Maister. This was enough to get him to nearly match his ranking from a more nationally active 2017.

Outro – Day 2

That’s it for today! Tomorrow, we’re see some big surprises, featuring some notable drop-offs and more notable players on the come-up after 2018’s chaotic metagame.