Editing Fighter number

As explained by [[Masahiro Sakurai]], the numbers order characters based on "the order in which they joined the series". They are ordered in the following way:

*''[[SSB]]'' (01-12): The [[starter character]]s are ordered by their placement on the character selection screen, which in turn is based on each character's first appearance (with {{SSBU|Mario}} and {{SSBU|Donkey Kong}} as the oldest and {{SSBU|Pikachu}} as the newest). The [[unlockable character]]s are similar, though they are sorted column-first rather than row-first as the starters are; as such, {{SSBU|Ness}} precedes {{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} despite being created later. This also matches their series debut order, explaining why Ness comes before Captain Falcon.

*''[[Melee]]'' (13-26): The starter characters are ordered by their first appearance on ''Melee''{{'}}s E3 2001 reveal trailer (based on which ones had their faces shown first, meaning that the {{SSBU|Ice Climbers}} and {{SSBU|Sheik}} come before {{SSBU|Zelda}}, whose hand appeared earlier in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfQ75gr2znA the trailer]) and by extension, in ''Melee''{{'}}s [[opening movie]]. Zelda was the only character on ''Melee''{{'}}s starting roster who wasn’t revealed to be playable at E3 2001, which could also be the reason why Zelda is placed after Sheik, despite both ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'' treating her as the primary character and Sheik as an alternate form. The unlockable characters are ordered by how many Vs. Mode matches are required to unlock them, and thus {{SSBU|Young Link}}, {{SSBU|Ganondorf}}, {{SSBU|Pichu}}, and {{SSBU|Mewtwo}}'s roles in the reveal trailer are ignored.

*''[[Brawl]]'' (27-44): The characters first revealed in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnpHmvGeE9o ''Brawl''{{'}}s original trailer] are first (in the order they were revealed), followed by the remaining newcomers in the order revealed on the [[Smash Bros. DOJO!! (SSBB)|official website]]. Notably, {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}} is not given a fighter number; instead, their three Pokémon ({{SSBU|Squirtle}}, {{SSBU|Ivysaur}}, and {{SSBU|Charizard}}) are numbered, ordered by their [[Pokémon Change|cycling order]].

*''[[SSB4]]'' (45-63) and ''[[Ultimate]]'' (64-82): The characters are ordered by when each newcomer was revealed. {{SSBU|Pyra}} and {{SSBU|Mythra}} are given separate numbers.

*[[Echo Fighters]] share their number with their "parent" in addition to an apostrophe (') stylistically referred to as "dash" in Japanese and Chinese or a superscript epsilon (^ε) in other languages, regardless of which game they joined in. For example, {{SSBU|Samus}}'s fighter number is 04, while {{SSBU|Dark Samus}}'s fighter number is 04^ε, despite Dark Samus making her playable debut in ''Ultimate''.

The fighter numbers are used to order characters on ''Ultimate''{{'}}s [[character selection screen]] and promotional material. The Mii Fighters are the only fighters whose placement on the selection screen does not correspond with their numbers, as they are instead shown as the last characters on the selection screen, likely due to their customizable nature. The only major in-game usage of the fighter numbers is that Echo Fighters, due to not having their own fighter number, can be optionally stacked onto the character they are based on in the character selection screens for [[Vs. Mode]], [[Special Smash]] (except for [[Smashdown]]), [[Tourney]], and Online modes (except for Quickplay). The only place that the fighter numbers are explicitly shown in-game is on the [[Move List]].

A similar system is used for ordering stages on ''Ultimate''{{'}}s selection screen, where all stages are ordered by when they first appeared in the series (with the exception of stages which debuted in and are shared between both versions of ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', which are mixed in with stages that debuted exclusively in {{forwiiu}}).

!data-sort-type="number"|Fighter Number!![[Fighter]]

|01||{{CharHead|Mario|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|02||{{CharHead|Donkey Kong|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|03||{{CharHead|Link|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|04||{{CharHead|Samus|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|{{SortKey|4.5}}04^ε||{{CharHead|Dark Samus|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|05||{{CharHead|Yoshi|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|06||{{CharHead|Kirby|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|07||{{CharHead|Fox|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|08||{{CharHead|Pikachu|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|09||{{CharHead|Luigi|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|10||{{CharHead|Ness|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|11||{{CharHead|Captain Falcon|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|12||{{CharHead|Jigglypuff|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|13||{{CharHead|Peach|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|{{SortKey|13.5}}13^ε||{{CharHead|Daisy|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|14||{{CharHead|Bowser|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|15||{{CharHead|Ice Climbers|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|16||{{CharHead|Sheik|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|17||{{CharHead|Zelda|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|18||{{CharHead|Dr. Mario|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|19||{{CharHead|Pichu|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|20||{{CharHead|Falco|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|21||{{CharHead|Marth|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|{{SortKey|21.5}}21^ε||{{CharHead|Lucina|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|22||{{CharHead|Young Link|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|23||{{CharHead|Ganondorf|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|24||{{CharHead|Mewtwo|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|25||{{CharHead|Roy|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|{{SortKey|25.5}}25^ε||{{CharHead|Chrom|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|26||{{CharHead|Mr. Game & Watch|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|27||{{CharHead|Meta Knight|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|28||{{CharHead|Pit|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|{{SortKey|28.5}}28^ε||{{CharHead|Dark Pit|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|29||{{CharHead|Zero Suit Samus|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|30||{{CharHead|Wario|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|31||{{CharHead|Snake|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|32||{{CharHead|Ike|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|33||{{CharHead|Squirtle|SSBU|hsize=20px}} ({{CharHead|Pokémon Trainer|SSBU|hsize=20px}})

|34||{{CharHead|Ivysaur|SSBU|hsize=20px}} ({{CharHead|Pokémon Trainer|SSBU|hsize=20px}})

|35||{{CharHead|Charizard|SSBU|hsize=20px}} ({{CharHead|Pokémon Trainer|SSBU|hsize=20px}})

|36||{{CharHead|Diddy Kong|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|37||{{CharHead|Lucas|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|38||{{CharHead|Sonic|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|39||{{CharHead|King Dedede|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|40||{{CharHead|Olimar|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|41||{{CharHead|Lucario|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|42||{{CharHead|R.O.B.|SSBU|hsize=20px|color=Grey}}

|43||{{CharHead|Toon Link|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|44||{{CharHead|Wolf|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|45||{{CharHead|Villager|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|46||{{CharHead|Mega Man|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|47||{{CharHead|Wii Fit Trainer|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|48||{{CharHead|Rosalina & Luma|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|49||{{CharHead|Little Mac|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|50||{{CharHead|Greninja|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|51||{{CharHead|Mii Brawler|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|52||{{CharHead|Mii Swordfighter|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|53||{{CharHead|Mii Gunner|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|54||{{CharHead|Palutena|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|55||{{CharHead|Pac-Man|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|56||{{CharHead|Robin|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|57||{{CharHead|Shulk|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|58||{{CharHead|Bowser Jr.|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|59||{{CharHead|Duck Hunt|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|60||{{CharHead|Ryu|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|{{SortKey|60.5}}60^ε||{{CharHead|Ken|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|61||{{CharHead|Cloud|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|62||{{CharHead|Corrin|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|63||{{CharHead|Bayonetta|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|64||{{CharHead|Inkling|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|65||{{CharHead|Ridley|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|66||{{CharHead|Simon|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|{{SortKey|66.5}}66^ε||{{CharHead|Richter|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|67||{{CharHead|King K. Rool|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|68||{{CharHead|Isabelle|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|69||{{CharHead|Incineroar|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|70||{{CharHead|Piranha Plant|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|71||{{CharHead|Joker|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|72||{{CharHead|Hero|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|73||{{CharHead|Banjo & Kazooie|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|74||{{CharHead|Terry|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

|75||{{CharHead|Byleth|SSBU|hsize=20px}}

[[File:Nintendo_Force_Issue_36_Back_Side.png|thumb|The order of the base roster fighters (without Ken and Incineroar, who were not revealed at the time) without Echo Fighters being placed next to their parent fighters.]]

[[File:UltimateNorthAmericanBackCase.jpg|thumb|The back of ''Ultimate''{{'}}s North American physical case, with many fighters misplaced.]]

*Coincidentally, {{SSBU|Greninja}} and {{SSBU|Inkling}} have the same fighter numbers as their respective costume numbers in ''{{s|mariowiki|Super Mario Maker}}''.

*Had Echo Fighters been numbered normally (i.e. not grouped with their base fighters), they could be placed accordingly:

**{{SSBU|Dark Pit}} would have been either between {{SSBU|Palutena}} and {{SSBU|Pac-Man}} or between {{SSBU|Shulk}} and {{SSBU|Bowser Jr.}} Although he was officially revealed after the launch of {{for3ds}}, his status as a playable character was teased directly after the reveal of Palutena.

**{{SSBU|Lucina}} would have been between Pac-Man and {{SSBU|Robin}}.

**{{SSBU|Daisy}} would have been between Inkling and {{SSBU|Ridley}}.

**{{SSBU|Richter}}'s position would have been unchanged, as he was revealed directly after his base fighter {{SSBU|Simon}} and before Chrom, making him the only Echo Fighter with this trait.

**{{SSBU|Chrom}} and {{SSBU|Dark Samus}} would have been between Richter and {{SSBU|King K. Rool}}, with Dark Samus listed after Chrom.

**{{SSBU|Ken}} would have been between {{SSBU|Isabelle}} and {{SSBU|Incineroar}}.

**If Echo Fighters had been numbered normally, the final number would have been 89 instead of 82.

*Oddly, on the back of the North American physical case of ''Ultimate'', several fighters are misplaced from their fighter number order:

**{{SSBU|Luigi}} is between {{SSBU|Jigglypuff}} and {{SSBU|Peach}}, rather than between {{SSBU|Pikachu}} and {{SSBU|Ness}}.

**{{SSBU|Zelda}} is between {{SSBU|Young Link}} and {{SSBU|Ganondorf}}, rather than between {{SSBU|Sheik}} and {{SSBU|Dr. Mario}}.

**{{SSBU|Roy}} is between {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}} and {{SSBU|Diddy Kong}}, rather than between {{SSBU|Mewtwo}} and Chrom.

**{{SSBU|Ike}} is between {{SSBU|Wii Fit Trainer}} and {{SSBU|Rosalina & Luma}}, rather than between {{SSBU|Snake}} and Pokémon Trainer.

**{{SSBU|Toon Link}} is between Ken and {{SSBU|Bayonetta}}, rather than between {{SSBU|R.O.B.}} and {{SSBU|Wolf}}.

**Palutena is between Ridley and {{SSBU|Corrin}}, rather than between the {{SSBU|Mii Fighter}}s and Pac-Man.

**{{SSBU|Cloud}} is between Corrin and Simon, rather than between Ken and Corrin.

*The [[Super Smash Bros. 4 Official Site]] and the character lineup that replaces the [[opening movie]] in {{for3ds}} order the starting characters in a similar way. The major exceptions are that Zelda is ordered before Sheik in ''SSB4'', the third-party characters and Miis are ordered after everyone else, and on the website Lucina (the only unlockable character who was revealed before launch) is ordered after Robin despite being revealed first. The lineup in ''for 3DS'' similarly orders the unlockable characters by their debuts, though with {{SSB4|Duck Hunt}} before {{SSB4|Bowser Jr.}} and the three clones ordered after the other unlockables.

*Although the amount of fighter numbers and the amount of playable characters differ due to Echo Fighters not counting for fighter numbers and transformation characters counting for multiple, competitively speaking the amount of characters counted on the [[tier list]] is identical to fighter numbers, despite the different criteria. Lucina, Chrom, and Ken are counted as separate characters due to their significant differences, adding three, while counting Pokémon Trainer and Pyra/Mythra as one slot each subtracts the three from Lucina, Chrom, and Ken.

**Additionally, by sheer coincidence, Rosalina & Luma's fighter number and tier list position in the first ''Ultimate'' tier list are the same number.