Hat and Mask, and Super Smash Bros.'s symbol for the Persona series.
This page explains in detail the interactions between the Persona and the Super Smash Bros. series.
Persona 5[]
September 15, 2016
Persona
Super Smash Bros.
In Persona 5, there is a small reference to the Super Smash Bros. series in the sixth palace. While reading the rules for the Battle Arena, Futaba compares them to the "Challenger Approaching" mechanic from a game called Super Bash Bros. This reference is also present in Persona 5 Royal.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]
April 18, 2019
Persona
Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features from the Persona series:
- 1 playable character (Joker)
- 1 stage (Mementos)
- 2 Mii Fighter costumes and 4 Mii Fighter hats
- 14 spirits (13 DLC, 1 added through update)
- 11 music tracks
Joker[]
The main protagonist of Persona 5, also known as Ren Amamiya, was made available as DLC as the only fighter to the spinoff series of Megami Tensei, Persona. The default appearance is based on his appearance as a Phantom Thief.
He enters the stage by dropping from the top of the screen, similar to how he enters most battles in Persona 5.
Joker himself is a character with very fast frome data who primarily attacks with his knifes, can wall-jump, and has smash attacks that reference the three-hit attack he used in Persona 5 (Down, Up, then Forward). He also possesses the unique ability, Rebellion Gauge. Joker's damage meter has a gauge similar to Little Mac's Power Meter and Cloud's Limit Gauge that fills up to unleash strong attacks. Unlike those two, it can increase all on its own, even though it increases faster when he or a teammate deals damage.
When the gauge is filled, he takes off his mask, red (or blue or yellow if on Mementos and a song from Persona 3 or 4 is played) light splashes around it, and summons his Persona, Arsène by saying "Arsène!" or "Persona!" While the gauge itself is unique to Smash Bros. and the game mechanic requires a certain amount of SP, it's theorized that the gauge is meant to invoke the feeling of awakening a Persona, which in Persona 5 came from finding resolve in the face of extreme hardship. Not only does Arsène boost attacks Joker already has, but also can also build on to some of the others. He also preforms a pose based on his official artwork for Persona 5 whenever Joker taunts. Arsène lasts for up to 30 seconds (or shorter if attacked when summoned) before saying "Return!" or "Enough."
Special attacks:
- Neutral Special - Gun / Gun Special: Joker fires a bullet from his gun, which is his primary fire-arm in Persona 5. Depending on if he holds his fire on the ground or in the air and if the player presses jump button or up, this can affect on if he fires straight forward, downward, or spun around. The acrobatic techniques reference his Down shot special he can learned from Confidant Shinya Oda. He can even perform something similar to a wave-dash if he fires his gun before landing, also known as a Gundash. If he uses it while Arsène is activated, the Gun Special has him fire three bullets with each one being stronger than the original, and a blue flash that resembles the color used to represent Personas.
- Side Special - Eiha / Eigaon: Joker snaps his fingers, and sends out Eiha, a small projectile with an explosive area of effect based on a Death skill that appeared since Revelations: Persona. An opponent hit by Eiha, the opponent takes damage overtime due to the curse effect. If Joker uses it while Arsène is activated, it changes into Eigaon, the most powerful single-target version of the Death skills. Even though Eigaon debuted in Persona 5, Arsène cannot normally learn the move, even though he knows Eiha. Instead, he inherits it from other Personas and can even use it in Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth. When firing Eiagon, the projectile is larger, hits multiple times, and can explode for a bigger hitbox.
- Up Special - Grappling Hook / Wings of Rebellion: Joker releases a grappling hook upwards angle. Similar to Ivysaur’s Vine Whip, the grappling hook is able to act as a tether recovery. Unlike Ivysaur, it can also grab items and pull opponents towards him. The grappling hook was only used in the title sequence of Persona 5 as of the release of the DLC. If Arsène is activated, he uses Wing of Rebellion, a completely different moveset where he flies upwards, even at an Angle (similar to Pit’s Power of Flight). While Wings of Rebellion is original to Smash Bros., it can reference Arsène‘s ability to fly or how he’s seen in the title sequence of the same game.
- Down Special - Rebel's Guard / Tetrakarn / Makarakarn: Joker performs a defensive pose that looks similar to when he performs when selecting a Persona skill. He uses Rebel's Guard to reduce the damage by 75% that adds a blue aura as its origins, but it does not lower how the gauge increases. Rebel's Guard is unique mechanic to Super Smash Bros. When Arsène is activated, the move is preformed depending if the opponent attacks with a physical attack or projectile (similar to Palutena’s Counter / Reflect Barrier. If hit by a physical attack, he uses Tetrakarn to counter at least 1.6 times the damage which can cover his entire body. If hit by a projectile, he uses Makarakarn to reflect at the same attack power multiplier as the previous, while reflecting back 1.9x the speed. Both Tetrakarn and Makarakarn are recurring support skills in the Megami Tensei franchise, where the former is used to block physical while the latter blocks magic attacks. While Arsène cannot learn either move normally, he can inherit them from other Personas via Skill Cards or Fusion.
- Final Smash - All-Out Attack: Joker will rush forward while exclaiming "Ravage them!" (いくぞ！, Let's go!), and any opponents hit during the initial rush will be placed in the attack. If he misses, Joker can go in the opposite direction to hit the opponent again. Afterwards, Joker along with three of his fellow Phantom Thieves (either alongside Ann Takamaki, Ryuji Sakamoto and Morgana or Makoto Niijima, Yusuke Kitagawa and Haru Okumura) in silhouetted form jump upwards, before a splash screen of all four of them appears. The four of them then rush the enemy at speeds that cause them to turn into blurs, while either Futaba Sakura or Morgana comment on the onslaught. When the attack finishes, Joker lands in front of the opponents and another splash screen appears with Joker fixing his glove while "The Show's Over" appears next to him. The Final Smash causes an instant K.O. on any character at least 100% in the damage meter. All-Out Attacks have been a staple since Persona 3 to have the entire party beat up every enemy after knocking them down, even though this version is from Persona 5. The Final Smash can also act as Joker's victory pose if the attack causes the match to end, with the Finishing Touch pose also appearing in his up taunt.
Other times when Joker wins, the screen transitions to the victory screen will showcase a puff of cartoony smoke with star decals, and ending screen will always result in Joker moving continuously to the left with the results background being dimmed down, replicating the victory screen from Persona 5. The other three victory poses will include Morgana (with one of them being in the Morganamobile) with one of the Phantom Thieves saying a line in place of the announcer. Morgana also appears in all three of his taunts, with Joker's down taunt referencing his artwork for Catherine: Full Body.
Joker's name in the Boxing Ring stage is "The Great Phantom Thief", which is a reference to him being the leader of the Phantom Thieves, the group of Persona Users in Persona 5.
The last two Joker alternate costumes place him in his Shujin Academy uniform from Persona 5. When wearing his school uniform, Joker takes off his glasses when summoning Arsène instead of his mask: File:SSBU Joker palette.png
- Black (default)
- Purple: Resembles the thematic color of Revelations: Persona.
- Blue: Based on the thematic color of Persona 3. Also resembles the color scheme shared by the Velvet Room attendants.
- Yellow: Based on the thematic color of Persona 4.
- Red: Based on the thematic color of Persona 5. It also resembles Arsène, the thematic color of Persona 2, and Tatsuya Suou's outfit from Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
- White: Resembles Goro Akechi, a temporary member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, in his Crow outfit. Only outfit to change Joker's hair color entirely.
- School
- School White: Resembles his summer uniform, through the buttons resemble those on the coat of Goro Akechi.
Joker's Classic Mode is called "Shadows" and has the opponent with dark costumes from each previous round except Round 6 to join Joker as an ally in the subsequent rounds while wearing light costumes. This is a reference to Joker negoitating with Shadows to recruit as Personas. There are also items and Assist Trophies that reference to Persona 5 like Kapp'n references the Morganamobile. Most of the stages also take place in Mementos (exception of Round 2). The fights are specifically:
- Round 1: vs. Mr. Game & Watch (x6). The background music is Last Surprise. This could be a reference to standard Shadow enemies.
- Round 2: vs. Giant Kirby (Black) in Kalos Pokémon League. The background music is Aria of the Soul. This is a reference to Black Frost while the stage is a reference to the Velvet Room in Persona series. Mr. Game & Watch (White) is an ally.
- Round 3: vs. Samus (Black) & Dark Samus (Black). The background music is Mass Destruction. Kirby (Blue) is an ally. The Kirby ally is a reference to Jack Frost while Samus and Dark Samus reference to the anti-shadow weapons from Persona 3 Aigis and Metis.
- Round 4: vs. Meta Knight (Navy) in Battlefield form. The background music is Beneath the Mask. This is a reference to the masked shadows before they engage in combat. Dark Samus (Grey) is an ally.
- Round 5: vs. Link (Black), and Toon Link (Black), and Young Link (Black). The background music is Reach Out To The Truth. This is a reference to the Shadow Selves most prominent appearance in Persona 4. Meta Knight (White) is an ally.
- Round 6: vs. Giant Incineroar (Grey) in Ω Form. The background music is Rivers In the Desert. This is a reference to Shadow Shido's final form in Persona 5. Link (Grey) is an ally.
- Round 7: vs. Master Hand (and Crazy Hand if intensity is 7.0 or higher) in Ω Form. The background music is Our Beginning. The music and stage likely refer to the final boss of Persona 5, Yaldabaoth.
Mementos[]
Mementos is available as DLC for Challenger Pack 1 and only stage to represent Persona in the game, it's based on the dungeon in Persona 5 where the Phantom Thieves go to find Shadows, the game's enemies.
Mementos has one main platform with a slant in the middle with two pass-through platforms over the center and the left side. A third platform with a cracked screen occasionally appears on the right. There are also trains that appear from the background to below the stage that can damage players, with the most critical being from the front, as well as a triangular wall above or to the side of the players that can affect the launch trajectory of the players.
Aesthetic wise, the stage layout changes depending on whether Persona 3, 4 or 5 music is playing. This also affects the background color of Joker's victory pose if he wins in the stage (aside from his Final Smash) to match it. For Persona 3, the stage will be blue, the platforms incorporate clocks and triangular patterns, and the backdrop includes a full moon. For Persona 4, the stage will be yellow, the floors and background seats are not cracked, the platforms incorporate flowers and checkerboard patterns, and the backdrop includes rainbow-like streaks. For other music, the stage will be red with star designs and black-and-white half-tone motifs. The Morganamobile will drive across the stage and drop off two of the Phantom Thieves. These can be Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, or Haru Okumura. When players run through the stage, they'll splash purple ink-like liquid with each step.
When Hazards are turned off the floating platforms, trains, and walls are removed, though the Morganamobile and design change of the stage stays intact.
Mii Fighter costumes[]
The game features 4 DLC Persona themed hats, with two of them consisting of respective outfits for Mii Swordfighters. All of these outfits are part of Round 1 of Mii Fighter costumes. Characters without outfits are Morgana and Teddie, the non-human animal mascots of Persona 5 and 4 respectively. The characters with outfits are of Yu Narukami and Makoto Yuki, the protagonists of Persona 4 and 3 respectively.
Spirits[]
The game features 13 spirits from the Persona series after unlocking the first challenger pack, and update to Ver. 11.0.0 on March 4, 2021 added the spirit for Sophia, bringing the total up to 14. Most of those spirits have artwork from Persona 5 and are unlockable in Spirits mode through DLC Pack, where the player must win in a fight with specific conditions, simulating a fight against the spirit's character. Alternative unlock criteria are indicated when available. Most spirits can also be obtained as random rewards or by purchasing them from the in-game shop; this is only listed when it's the only way to unlock the spirit.
Fighter Spirits usually come in two alternative artworks, one based on artwork from the character's original series, and the artwork from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate itself; only the original series artwork is shown here.
| # | Name | Image | Origin | Spirit stats | Augmented fight / Unlock criteria | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1304 | Joker (Phantom Thief) |  |
Persona 5 | Fighter spirit | ||
| 1305 | Joker (Student) |  |
Persona 5 | Fighter spirit | ||
| 1306 | Phantom Thieves of Hearts |  |
Persona 5 | Support (★★★★) Item Autograb |
Vs: Joker; Pikachu (Pika-Libre); Captain Falcon (Black); Zero Suit Samus (Red); Chrom (Cyan); Sheik (Black) In: Mementos (Haru Okumura background, hazards off) Music: Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There •Item: DaybreakParts •The enemy will suddenly have a Final Smash when the enemy's at high damage |
•This spirit battle represents fighting against the Phantom Thieves of Hearts with the puppet fighters representing the Phantom Thieves appearing in the order that they are recruited in the original game.
•The Daybreak Part items references the name of the game's OVA adaption, The Dark Breakers. It also likely references Sinful Shell, a skill which is used to defeat the final boss Yaldabaoth at the very end of the game. |
| 1307 | Igor |  |
Persona 5 | Support (★★★) Chance of Double Final Smash |
Vs: Robin; Giant Ridley (Blue) In: Kalos Pokémon League (hazards off) Music: Aria of the Soul •Item: Assist Trophy •Defeat the main fighter to win |
•The three Ridley minion fighters likely represent the residents of the Velvet Room that assist him; the only game in the series that features three assistants is Persona 2.
•The stage and music references the Velvet Room, of which Igor is the proprietor. |
| 1308 | Caroline & Justine |  |
Persona 5 | Support (★★★) Black Hole Equipped |
Vs: Ice Climbers (Blue) In: Kalos Pokémon League (hazards off) Music: Aria of the Soul •Rule: You take serious damage after a little while •Timed battle (1:00) |
|
| 1309 | Morgana |  |
Persona 5 | Primary (★★★) [Grab] Sword Attack ↑ |
Vs: Pikachu (Pika-Libre); Giant Incineroar (White) In: Mementos (hazards off) Music: Last Surprise •Hazard: Heavy Wind •Defeat the main fighter to win |
The grey Incineroar minion fighter represents Zorro, Morgana's Persona who is depicted as a grey knight with an upper body bulk. The battle conditions references Zorro's wind-based powers. |
| 1310 | Ryuji Sakamoto |  |
Persona 5 | Primary (★★) [Shield] Battering Items Power ↑ |
Vs: Captain Falcon (Black); Giant Mii Gunner (Moveset 121?, Pirate Hat, Steampunk Getup, Black Outfit Color, No Voice) ) In: Luigi's Mansion(Battlefield form) Music: Last Surprise •Rule: Defeat the main fighter to win •The enemy starts the battle with a Home-Run Bat |
The Giant Mii Gunner minion fighter's costume represents Ryuji's Persona, Captain Kidd, who is depicted as a giant pirate captain.
•The stage references the exterior of Suguru Kamoshida's Palace, where Joker and Ryuji first awaken their Personas. |
| 1311 | Ann Takamaki |  |
Persona 5 | Primary (★★) [Attack] Fire Attack ↑ |
Vs: Zero Suit Samus (Red); Giant Peach (Red) In: Castle Siege (Throne Room) Music: Last Surprise •Item: Fire Flower •Defeat the main fighter to win |
•The red Giant Peach minion fighter represents Ann's Persona, Carmen, who is depicted wearing a red ball gown. The minion fighter starts off with a Fire Flower, referencing both Carmen's fire-based powers and floral design.
•The stage references the interior of Kamoshida's Palace where Ann first awakens her Persona. |
| 1312 | Yusuke Kitagawa |  |
Persona 5 | Primary (★) [Grab] | Vs: Chrom (Cyan); Giant King Dedede (Cyan) In: Suzaku Castle (Battlefield form) Music: Last Surprise •Assist Trophy Enemies (Vince) •Defeat the main fighter to win |
•The cyan King Dedede minion fighter represents Yusuke's Persona, Goemon, who is also known for using powerful physical attacks. The minion fighter also references both King Dedede and Goemon being depicted wearing robes.
•The stage references how Yusuke's teacher, Ichiryusai Madarame utilizes traditional Japanese imagery in his design and palace. |
| 1313 | Makoto Niijima |  |
Persona 5 | Support (★) Fist Attack ↑ |
Vs: Sheik (Black); Giant Clear Wario (Green) In: Dracula's Castle (Ω form) Music: Last Surprise •Rule: Defeat the main fighter to win |
•The Giant Clear Wario minion fighter's frequent use of Wario Bike shows only Wario's giant motorcycle, referencing Makoto's Persona, Johanna, which takes the form of an animate motorcycle.
•The stage references Junya Kaneshiro'sPalace, where Makoto awakens her Persona and joins the Phantom Thieves. The stage also likely references Makoto's fear of ghosts. |
| 1314 | Futaba Sakura |  |
Persona 5 | Support (★) Critical-Health Attack ↑ |
Vs: Inkling In: Mushroomy Kingdom (Battlefield form) Music: Beneath the Mask •Item Tidal Wave (Boss Galaga) •Assist Trophy Enemies (Wily Capsule) |
•The stage references desert setting of Futaba's palace, with stage's Battlefield form's main platform resembles an upside-down pyramid, referencing the palace taking the form of a pyramid.
•Her difference in music compared to most other Phantom Theives (whose music is Last Surprise) is a reference to how she doesn’t participate in a fight. |
| 1315 | Haru Okumura |  |
Persona 5 | Primary (★) [Attack] | Vs: Villager (Pink); Giant Daisy (Purple) In: Tomodachi Life (Ω form) Music: Last Surprise •Item Tidal Wave •Defeat the main fighter to win |
•The Giant Daisy minion fighter represents Haru's Persona, Milady, who is depicted as a brash, faceless woman wearing a ball gown. The puppet fighter starts off with a Super Scope, referencing Milady's usage of gun-based attacks.
•The stage, Food item (Salads), and the Villager puppet fighter's frequent use of Timber references Haru's hobby as a gardener. The stage also references Haru's garden on the rooftop of Shujin Academy |
| 1316 | Goro Akechi |  |
Persona 5 | Support (★★) Item Gravitation |
Vs: Marth (White); Giant Pit (Blue) In: Fourside (Battlefield form) Music: Rivers In the Desert •Hazard: Left Is Right, Right Is Left •Defeat the main fighter to win |
•The white Giant Pit minion fighter represents Akechi's Persona, Robin Hood, who is also an archer with a mostly white color scheme.
•The stage references Sae Niijima's Palace, a large casino which Akechi works with the Phantom Thieves to infiltrate. |
| 1466 | Sophia |  |
Persona 5 Strikers | Primary (★★★) [Neutral] | Vs: Ness (White); Metal R.O.B. (Grey (East Asian version) / Tan (Other versions)) In: New Pork City (Battlefield form) / Mementos (Battlefield form) Music: Light Plane (Vocal Mix) (for 3DS / Wii U) / Last Surprise •Rule: Defeat the main fighter to win |
•The multiple Metal R.O.B.s spamming neutral specials references Pithos, a being that functions similar to a Persona for Sofia, and can come apart to shoot lasers.
•Without Joker's DLC, the stage specifically references the Shibuya Jail, a more theme park like version EMMA created from Alice Hiragi's subconscious and is where Sophia is found, while the music references Sophia's theme, "The AI and the Heart". |
Music tracks[]
After purchasing Challenger Pack 1, the game introduces 11 Persona tracks. All of these tracks can be played in Mementos. Update to Ver. 8.1.0 on August 4, 2020 allowed any of these tracks to be played on Battlefield, Small Battlefield, Big Battlefield, and Final Destination stages.
Joker also gets three new victory fanfares. They are the victory themes for Persona 3-5. The themes for Persona 3 and Persona 4 come when the stage music is from one of those respective games to correspond with it. However, they're unavailable in the Sound Test and are therefore not listed here.
- Last Surprise: Taken directly from the main battle theme of Persona 5.
- Beneath the Mask: This theme is an arrangement of a song from Persona 5. It originally played when exploring Tokyo, the main setting of the game, at night; an instrumental version plays during the day. For the Ultimate remix, the song's tempo is significantly increased while keeping the same instrumentation; a string section is also added, giving it a more lively and energetic tone overall.
- Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There: Taken directly from the opening theme of Persona 5.
- Rivers in the Desert: Taken directly from the boss theme for the fights against Shadow Masayoshi Shido, the Holy Grail, and Caroline and Justine in Persona 5.
- Our Beginning: Taken directly from the second phase of the final boss theme from Persona 5.
- Reach Out To The Truth: Taken directly from the main battle theme of Persona 4.
- I’ll Face Myself: An arrangement of the theme of the same name from Persona 4. This particular remix keeps the guitar-focused approach of the boss battle version of the song, but uses the piano instrumentation and overall structure from the "Acceptance" version of the theme.
- Time To Make History: Taken directly from the main battle theme of Persona 4 Golden.
- Mass Destruction: Taken directly from the main battle theme of Persona 3.
- Battle Hymn of the Soul: Taken directly from the penultimate boss theme of Persona 3.
- Aria of the Soul: This song is an arrangement of the recurring Velvet Room theme that appears throughout the series, debuting in the original Revelations: Persona. The Ultimate remix takes the "acid jazz" approach of Persona 5's soundtrack, introducing bass and electric guitar along with a drumkit.
