In Super Smash Bros Ultimate, there are three main ways to unlock characters. You can unlock them by just spending time with the game, since new characters challenge you roughly every ten minutes or so. You can unlock them through challenges and miscellaneous modes, with Classic Mode alone having a long sequence of unlocks based on which character you’ve used and how many times you’ve beaten it.

And you can use World of Light to do so too. That’s because this adventure mode has battles against every fighter on the roster, and any you unlock there get added to the list you can select elsewhere.

However, the locations of these fighters can be hard to find to say the least. Add to this how poorly done most guides are (due to either being text/video only or simply lacking in information), and it can be a nightmare to find the last few you’re missing here.

So we’re here to fix that, with the only character guide you’ll ever need! Let’s get started!

The World of Light

Beginning with the first main map in the game, the World of Light. Here’s a picture showing where each one can be found in the main map:

As well as another set for every submap accessible from it. You’ll also find a few puzzle solutions too, in case you’re stuck finding Zapfish in the Power Plant or tracking down Rathalos in Forest Hill. Here are the maps needed there:

The Base:

Forest Hill:

Gourmet Race:

Kongo Jungle:

Molten Castle:

Power Plant:

Sky Temple:

Note that this has two sections, hence the two maps below.

Street Fighter/Airport:

Character Locations (text)

We’ve also got some text based information on their locations too, in case you prefer reading some descriptions over checking maps:

Bowser: Defeat Giga Bowser in Magma Castle

Defeat Giga Bowser in Magma Castle Captain Falcon: Find him on the F-Zero track, then defeat him in battle

Find him on the F-Zero track, then defeat him in battle Captain Olimar: Use a magic user to make the missing Mushroom appear (Kammy Koopa and Viridi seem to work here), then beat him in battle

Use a magic user to make the missing Mushroom appear (Kammy Koopa and Viridi seem to work here), then beat him in battle Diddy Kong: Complete the Kongo Jungle submap, and defeat him at the end (where the banana horde is)

Complete the Kongo Jungle submap, and defeat him at the end (where the banana horde is) Donkey Kong: Fight and defeat him in the jungle

Fight and defeat him in the jungle Dr Mario: Find and defeat him on a cloud near the centre of the map

Find and defeat him on a cloud near the centre of the map Duck Hunt Duo: Find and defeat them in the dark forest area

Find and defeat them in the dark forest area Falco: Defeat him in the space zone, accessible via Arwing

Defeat him in the space zone, accessible via Arwing Fox: You can find him just south of the lake shaped like a heart. Defeat him to unlock him, as per usual.

You can find him just south of the lake shaped like a heart. Defeat him to unlock him, as per usual. Ice Climbers: Defeat them at the bottom of the snowy peak area, where the dark forest meets the mountains.

Defeat them at the bottom of the snowy peak area, where the dark forest meets the mountains. Inkling: Find and defeat them in Lumiose City

Find and defeat them in Lumiose City Isabelle: Take Kapp’n’s bus to the dead end area to the top right of the second city on the map

Take Kapp’n’s bus to the dead end area to the top right of the second city on the map Jigglypuff: He’s between Lumiose City and the smaller town to the right, on top of a cliff.

He’s between Lumiose City and the smaller town to the right, on top of a cliff. King Dedede: Get 11 pieces of food in the Gourmet Race, then challenge him on the podium at the end

Get 11 pieces of food in the Gourmet Race, then challenge him on the podium at the end Kirby: You start the game as him.

You start the game as him. Link: To the south left of where you start, there’s a hilly area with a shop and a green pipe. Link can be found on top of the hill.

To the south left of where you start, there’s a hilly area with a shop and a green pipe. Link can be found on top of the hill. Little Mac: Complete the Power Plant to unlock the gates, then defeat him in the area behind a gate to the right of Lumiose City

Complete the Power Plant to unlock the gates, then defeat him in the area behind a gate to the right of Lumiose City Lucas: Find and defeat him in the small town to the left of the dark woods area.

Find and defeat him in the small town to the left of the dark woods area. Mario: Beat the first Spirit battle

Beat the first Spirit battle Marth: When you reach the crossroads, head left and defeat him in battle

When you reach the crossroads, head left and defeat him in battle Mega Man: Defeat the Spirit guarding his encounter just outside of the base submap

Defeat the Spirit guarding his encounter just outside of the base submap Mii Gunner: Defeat him on the Alola Islands to the south east of the map

Defeat him on the Alola Islands to the south east of the map Mii Swordfighter: Defeat him to the north of the city above the F-Zero track

Defeat him to the north of the city above the F-Zero track Mr Game & Watch: Find and defeat him in the Pac Maze area.

Find and defeat him in the Pac Maze area. Ness: Take the brown pipe to the cloud area based on Magicant, then defeat him on the path to the right.

Take the brown pipe to the cloud area based on Magicant, then defeat him on the path to the right. Pac-Man: Fight and defeat him to the left area with the giant mushrooms

Fight and defeat him to the left area with the giant mushrooms Peach: Activate all the switches in Magma Castle, then find and defeat her near the top right of the map

Activate all the switches in Magma Castle, then find and defeat her near the top right of the map Pichu: Defeat him in the Power Plant

Defeat him in the Power Plant Pikachu: Ride the currents downstream in the centre of the map, then defeat him in battle on the island you land on

Ride the currents downstream in the centre of the map, then defeat him in battle on the island you land on Pit: At the end of the temple submap

At the end of the temple submap Pokémon Trainer: You can find him just south of the entrance to the Kongo Jungle submap, right to the south east of the Pac Maze area. Defeat him to unlock him (and open the path northwards)

You can find him just south of the entrance to the Kongo Jungle submap, right to the south east of the Pac Maze area. Defeat him to unlock him (and open the path northwards) Ryu: Complete the Street Fighter map accessible via the airport, then beat him in battle

Complete the Street Fighter map accessible via the airport, then beat him in battle Samus: Defeat her outside the Pac Maze to the right of the map

Defeat her outside the Pac Maze to the right of the map Sheik: At the crossroads, head north and defeat him in battle

At the crossroads, head north and defeat him in battle Shulk: Defeat him on the rocky mountain to the right of the map

Defeat him on the rocky mountain to the right of the map Simon: Fight and defeat him in the temple submap. You can find him on the left side of the first portion.

Fight and defeat him in the temple submap. You can find him on the left side of the first portion. Snake: Unlock the 5th gate in the base submap, then head to the far top left of the area

Unlock the 5th gate in the base submap, then head to the far top left of the area Toon Link: Find and defeat him in Forest Hill, accessed via the Alola Islands at the bottom right of the map

Find and defeat him in Forest Hill, accessed via the Alola Islands at the bottom right of the map Villager: When you reach the crossroads, head right and defeat him in battle

When you reach the crossroads, head right and defeat him in battle Yoshi: Follow the mountain path out to the right of Lumiose City. You’ll find him there.

Follow the mountain path out to the right of Lumiose City. You’ll find him there. Zero Suit Samus: Defeat her at Death Mountain, to the far right of the map

FAQS

Finally, here are some quick FAQs for the issues that stumped us in our run-through:

1. How can I open the gate to Little Mac?

By completing the Power Plant submap. However, you don’t do that by merely defeating Pichu (like we thought you would), but by clearing the final battle with the Great Zapfish spirit. This will open all the red gates on the overworld and pave the way to the Little Mac fight.

2. What spirit do I need to reach the airport and unlock Ryu?

You need Kapp’n. You can find him at the spot marked on the map below:

3. Hell, what submaps are there in this world anyway?

There are the following submaps:

The Base (Metal Gear themed, contains fight against Galleom)

Molten Castle (Mario themed, contains fight with Giga Bowser)

Kongo Jungle (Donkey Kong themed, eventually lets you unlock Diddy Kong)

Airport/World Map (Street Fighter themed, has battle against Ryu)

Forest Hill (Loosely based on Monster Hunter, contains Rathalos as a boss)

Sky Temple (Kid Icarus themed, lets you get Simon and Pit)

Power Plant (Splatoon themed, has Pichu. Beating it unlocks red gates)

Gourmet Race (has King Dedede at the end, obviously Kirby themed)

4. How do I unlock King Dedede in the Gourmet Race map?

You need to get 11 food items. This is done by following the path below:

Go up at the start Then go up again for a pear Cross the blocks at the top Go down the next path for a bowl of soup Continue straight for a cola Head down the next path for a baguette Head right and collect what looks like tea Before going down the next path for a salad Go straight back up the next path Then up the next path for a loaf of bread Continue right for an apple Head up the next fork in the road for a kebab Continue right for a roast chicken Before getting the grapes just prior to the finish line

Do that, and you should get enough food to fight King Dedede. If you’re still stuck, well here’s the map again. Go down the path marked in red:

5. What path do I need to use to reach Mr Game & Watch in the Pac Maze area?

From the left entrance:

Head straight, then down to a fork in the road Take the right side teleport Head straight down to the next teleport

That should put you in front of Mr Game & Watch (though you’ll need to beat Nikki’s spirit first)

That wraps up the first part of the game anyway. Onto the Dark Realm!

The Dark Realm

Cause as we all know, this game doesn’t stop once you beat Galeem. Instead, Dharkon takes over and sends you here, complete with more fighters to collect and bosses to defeat. What, you thought you’d only unlock half the roster before the final boss? Oh please.

So here’s a map of the main area showing the character locales here:

As well as for the submaps:

Dracula’s Castle:

The Sacred Land:

Mysterious Dimension:

Character Locations

Plus, here are all character locations in text form.