Who are the absolute best Super Smash Bros. Melee players in the world?
Let’s dive into the top-tier talent that continues to amaze us with their skill and strategy.
15. Aklo (Good)
Aklo hails from New York and is currently considered the best player in the state. Ever since Sixx’s hiatus from the game, Aklo has also been considered the best active Link player in the world. Otherwise, he reps Fox in both Melee and Smash Ultimate.
Why is Aklo such a remarkable player?
Aklo is known for his versatile recovery mixups, tech-chasing, and solid defense. He first grabbed attention when he was invited to Smash Summit 11 and beat Axe who was the #5 player in the world at the time.
Aklo’s best characters:
- Fox
- Link
Major tournament achievements:
- Wavelength 2024 - 2nd ($992)
- Riptide 2024 - 3rd ($1,352.25)
- Gridiron Gateway 2024 - 2nd ($508)
Aklo Highlights:
https://youtu.be/QbYPBGU_XR4?si=x1YOKR647OEd-U14&t=303
Twitter link:
@NotAklo
14. Salt (Good)
Salt is the #1 player in the state of Texas and is regarded as the second-best Captain Falcon player behind Wizzrobe (who you’ll find further down the list). Salt plays for Tourney Locator, a Dallas-based eSports group, signing on in January of 2023.
What makes Salt stand out?
Salt can claim wins in tournaments over respectable opponents like Axe, SluG, and Magi. Online, though, it gets even better, defeating players like Hungrybox, Cody Schwaub, and ChuDat.
Aklo’s best characters:
- Captain Falcon
- Falco
Major tournament achievements:
- Patchwork 2024 - 2nd ($1,090)
- Let’s Go Springfield 5 - 1st ($584)
- Low Tide City - 8th ($82.80)
Salt Hightlights:
https://youtu.be/rNbJFl01-YM?si=07W6gOF3Gb2XgwgZ&t=265
Twitter link:
@SaltSSB
13. Axe (Good)
Axe is a long-time staple in the Arizona Melee community. Axe’s claim to fame is undoubtedly proving to the world how capable of a character Pikachu is. He’s been signed by multiple eSports organizations, beginning with Mortality eSports and transitioning into Tempo Storm in 2015.
How has Axe made a name for himself?
Pikachu used to fall under the mid-low tier of Melee character tier lists. Axe has single-handedly raised that ranking up to a solid mid-high tier. Axe is not only the best Pikachu player of all time, but is currently also considered the best Young Link player.
Axe’s best characters:
- Pikachu
- Fox
- Young Link
Major Tournament Achievements:
- Low Tide City 2024 - 3rd ($414)
- Tipped Off 15: Connected - 7th ($192.38)
- Smash Summit 8 - 1st ($10,580.50)
Axe highlights:
https://youtu.be/bj7IX18ccdY?si=lWqHSm09g17o6q6y&t=7
Twitter link:
@TempoAxe
12. Spark (Good)
Spark is a California native and the first on the list to rep Shiek as his main (having no secondaries). He isn’t currently sponsored but has been a member of four eSports organizations in the past.
What makes Spark so formidable?
Spark is an undisputedly impressive player, being ranked #1 in both Arizona and central California. He has also moved up 12 spots from his global ranking in 2023 and has taken games off of Mang0, aMSa, and Fiction
Spark’s best characters:
- Shiek
Major tournament achievements:
- Riptide 2024 - 5th ($450.75)
- Eggdog Invitational - 13th ($124.70)
- Supernova 2024 - 7th ($135.75)
Spark highlights:
https://youtu.be/ojfTq2Ut7nU?si=XVTYZQQibY8-H0Hl&t=125
Twitter link:
@Sparkmelee
11. Joshman (Good)
Formerly known as Sora, Joshman is the only Australian player on the list, but is currently living in Southern California. He’s also one of only three Melee players sponsored by Moist eSports.
Why is Joshman so impressive?
Of Joshman’s last five major tournaments (from Tipped Off to Wavelength), all of them have had more than 170 entrants, with one up to 905. Joshman has placed in the top 3% of players in every single one of them.
Joshman’s best characters:
- Fox
- Shiek
Major tournament achievements:
- Wavelength 2024 - 7th ($124)
- Supernova 2024 - 5th ($271.50)
- Phantom 2024 - 1st ($1,195.08)
Joshman highlights:
https://youtu.be/I-23qMxijGI?si=VDs5DvUtQoKYMgHo&t=404
Twitter link:
@LilTrickshot
10. Trif (Excellent)
Trif is another entry to the list solely representing their home country, Spain, and the only entry from Europe at large. He’s currently considered the best Peach player in the world, slingshotting into that spot after the retirement of longtime player Armada.
How has Trif taken the spotlight?
He surprised everyone when he placed 9th at his first major national tournament after no one really knew who he was. In fact, as of writing this, he hasn’t fallen below 9th place in his last three tournaments, and placed in the top 1% at Genesis X.
Trif’s best characters:
- Peach
- Marth
Major tournament achievements:
- Eggdog Invitational - 9th ($249.00)
- Get On My Level X - 9th ($0)
- Genesis X - 9th ($0)
Trif highlights:
https://youtu.be/pJj-_Afr5Bg?si=cMsdqaPFN46WoYuV&t=242
Twitter link:
@TrifSmash
9. Soonsay (Excellent)
Soonsay is our first entry hailing from Canada and is ranked #1 in the province of Calgary and Alberta. He currently plays for Luminosity Gaming, repping Fox as his only character.
Why should Soonsay demand your attention?
Of everyone on this list, Soonsay has shot up the most since the last power rankings were released climbing 14 whole spots from his previous rank to being in the top 10. He’s known for his flashy and highly optimized punish game, something that we tend to see in all the most prolific Melee players.
Soonsay’s best characters:
- Fox
Major tournament achievements:
- Get On My Level X - 3rd ($848.49)
- Pat’s House 4 - 5th ($207.23)
- Eggdog Scramble 2 - 2nd ($306.29)
Soonsay highlights:
https://youtu.be/WoONDRZXfjk?si=_TuGCB_vkbj88WxW&t=237
Twitter link:
@s00nsay
8. Wizzrobe (Excellent)
Wizzrobe, often referred to as “Wizzy,” has shown his prowess across every installment of Super Smash Bros. but is best known for his success in Melee. He’s been competing since 2012 as a Captain Falcon main and is widely regarded as the best Captain Falcon player of all time.
What makes Wizzrobe such a big name?
Wizzrobe’s tournament participation is immense and consistently impressive. Out of the last 50 tournaments he’s participated in (over about 6 years), he has placed in the top 10 45 times, nearly 10 of which were all 1st place.
Wizzrobe’s best characters:
- Captain Falcon
Major tournament achievements:
- CEO 2024 - 1st ($790)
- Genesis X - 7th ($463.20)
- Riptide 2023 - 2nd ($4,770 prize pool)
Wizzrobe highlights:
https://youtu.be/z3tszc6qkjc?si=FdEz5fJ3VhgxRdRh&t=263
Twitter link:
@Wizzrobe
7. Moky (Excellent)
Moky is the world’s highest-ranking player from Canada and is the #1 ranked player in Ontario. He spent three years with Even Matchup Gaming but left to join Moist eSports in 2021, inspiring stream chatters to chant “I’M MOKING” whenever his matches are broadcast.
Why does Moky deserve the 7 spot?
While Moky may not have a lot of 1st-places under his belt, he has placed at 5th or better in 12 of his last 18 tournaments, almost all of which had more than 300 entrants. We also know he’s capable of doing even better considering he used to be ranked 4th in the world.
Moky’s best characters:
- Fox
Major tournament achievements:
- Wavelength 2024 - 7th ($124)
- Get On My Level X - 5th ($282.83)
- Tipped Off 15: Connected - 7th ($192.38)
Moky highlights:
https://youtu.be/Ri3cRIM7V90?si=Oivd95BYAZphuzuP&t=478
Twitter link:
@moky_dokie
6. Hungrybox (Excellent)
Hungrybox is an Argentinian Smasher residing in Florida. He, like Axe, is known for proving to the world how strong an underestimated Pokemon character can be, piloting Jigglypuff through to his success. He’s also among the most successful Smash streamers with over 500,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Why is Hungrybox such a big deal?
From 2017 to 2019, he was the #1 ranked in the world. He’s the first on our list to have been inducted into the ranks of an exclusive group the community refers to as “the Smash Gods,” players who have at some point demonstrated an indisputable dominance over the scene for an extended period.
Hungrybox’s best characters:
- Jigglypuff
Major tournament achievements:
- Wavelength 2024 - 3rd ($744)
- Combo Breaker 2024 - 1st ($827.40)
- CEO 2024 - 2nd ($316)
Hungrybox highlights:
https://youtu.be/aKCi2jjEgdI?si=qpp6PrrnZpe1cGsF&t=89
Twitter link:
@LiquidHbox
5. Jmook (Best)
Jmook is a Shiek player who has been on the scene for a decade. It has only been in the last two years, however, that he’s made such an impact. During this brief time, he has signed on to play for gaming organization FlyQuest.
What makes Jmook’s sudden rise unignorable?
After dominating Genesis 9, he earned the distinction of being the first solo-Shiek player to win a “supermajor” in Melee history, and did so by beating Zain, Moky, and Cody Schwab. In 2022 he took the record for the highest placing debut from being unranked and shooting straight into 3rd best in the world.
Jmook’s best characters:
- Shiek
Major tournament achievements:
- Genesis 9 - 1st ($7,518)
- CEO 2024 - 4th ($110.60)
- Get On My Level - 2nd ($1131.31)
Jmook highlights:
https://youtu.be/FkixmzIKO54?si=ACoD_jWkK6dBNsGo&t=118
Twitter link:
@jakedirado
4. aMSa (Best)
Based on how, thus far, the best players have tended to gravitate toward the best characters, aMSa gives us the most stark counter-example yet. He’s the 4th best player in the world playing Yoshi, who is considered a worse character than every other character played from this list. He’s also the only Japanese player not only in the top 15, but in the top 50 compiled by Melee Stats as well.
What makes aMSa so uniquely talented?
It should largely speak for itself that a character that is conventionally considered mediocre must be played by an exceptionally talented player to place as highly as aMSa does. If that weren’t enough, it’s relevant to know that out of aMSa’s last 38 tournaments, he has taken 1st place in 16 of them.
aMSa’s best characters:
- Yoshi
Major tournament achievements:
- Eggdog Invitational - 2nd ($2,182.25)
- The Off-Season 2 - 1st ($10,150)
- Battle of BC 5 - 2nd ($1,196.60)
aMSa highlights:
https://youtu.be/E4bYbcN2Ngg?si=u9sKMY-qAywtCe6B&t=46
Twitter link:
@aMSaRedYoshi
3. Mang0 (Best)
“The Kid,” “The Buster,” “Scorpion Master,” Mang0 is probably the most recognizable player name on the list to anyone who has even vaguely been involved in the Smash scene because his success has spanned generations of players. This makes for lots of fun trivia about him, such as being both the youngest and oldest player to win a major Melee tournament (16 and 32 ½ respectively) and being only one of two players to win a major in three different decades.
What makes Mang0 such a legend?
He is the highest ranked of the five “Smash Gods” to still be on the list and has only ever fallen out of the world’s top 10 best players once in the last eleven years. He debuted at #1 in Melee’s first global power ranking and is still strong enough to grab 3rd all this time later. You truly cannot sleep on The Kid.
Mang0’s best characters:
- Falco
- Fox
- Captain Falcon
- Marth
Major tournament achievements:
- Supernova 2024 - 1st ($4,072.50)
- Smash Summit 14 - 1st ($15,930)
- Smash Summit 11 - 1st ($46, 611.60)
Mang0 highlights:
https://youtu.be/CVPia6OCgq8?si=yMSeBBqikKfey6Cj&t=253
Twitter link:
@C9Mang0
2. Cody Schwab (Best)
Our highest-ranking player from New York, Cody (formerly “iBDW”) is considered the best Fox player in the world. He originally began competing in 2015 purely out of curiosity to see how far he could make it, and he began dominating once he started practicing regularly online. He even has this list’s record for the longest 1st place streak (nine times in 2023).
How is Cody almost the best player in the world?
He’d very recently been deposed from the #1 spot in the summer of this year. In 2023, he and Zain had had very close results, so they were challenged to a first-to-10 match to determine who would be declared the best in the world and Cody took it 10-7. He’s also been in the world’s top 4 for the last 3 years in a row.
Cody’s best characters:
- Fox
- Shiek
Major tournament achievements:
- Eggdog Invitational - 1st ($4,364.50)
- Gridiron Gateway 2024 - 1st ($1,016)
- The Big House 11 - ($3,639.60)
Cody highlights:
https://youtu.be/_G5Qnc6Kk6s?si=ur_PyEshMoYkTEsi&t=867
Twitter link:
@iBDWSSBM
1. Zain (Best)
Zain is a Virginian player best known for his incredible punish game against the so-called “space animals” (Fox and Falco) that are so prevalent in the Melee scene. He began finding his stride during and after the COVID-19 pandemic with Mang0 as his primary rival. He’s currently signed by Moist eSports.
What makes Zain better than everyone else?
Zain has been ranked best in the world in four of the last five power rankings. He can also claim more 1st place wins in 2024 tournaments than everyone else here. Need I say more?
Zain’s best characters:
- Marth
- Fox
- Roy
Major tournament achievements:
- Wavelength 2024 - 1st ($1,984)
- Riptide 2024 - 1st ($3,606)
- Get On My Level X - 1st ($2,403.68)
Zain highlights:
https://youtu.be/R6jX806I74s?si=Cw9t0p9dFcZ9k0dz&t=11
Twitter link:
@ZainNaghmi
