Editing Greatest of all time

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[[File:ssbmrank2017_4.png|thumb|Mew2King is often considered the greatest overall ''Smash Bros.'' player of all time.]]
'''Greatest of all time''', often shortened to '''GOAT''', is an informal title used by a fanbase to label a person considered the best ever to compete or participate in a particular field. The term is most widely used in professional sports; for example, {{iw|wikipedia|Muhammad Ali}} is widely considered the greatest boxer of all time. It can also be used in other competitive fields such as chess or esports; {{iw|wikipedia|Faker|gamer}} is largely seen as the greatest ''League of Legends'' player of all time.

The ''Super Smash Bros.'' series has been played competitively [[Tournament:Smash Bros. Fighting Battle: Smash Bros. Meijin Deciding Game|as early as 1999]] in its native Japan and since 2002 in western regions, and as the tournament scene has continued to develop, the communities for each game in the series have formed a consensus around one, or several, candidates considered the "greatest of all time" for their particular title.

There is no definitive criteria for what determines the greatest of all time, and GOAT debates can be hotly contested. Common criteria for judging include:
*Level of dominance over the rest of the competition during the player's peak performance.
*Number of first-place finishes at major or supermajor tournaments, as well as the prestige of the tournaments won. For example, prior to ''Smash''{{'}}s removal, {{Trn|EVO}} was widely considered to have the most prestige across all ''Smash'' titles.
*Longevity (length of time spent competing as a top player).
*Consistency as a top player; for example, how often the player lost to those ranked below them.
*Influence on the development of the [[metagame]] or the competitive scene.

==Across all ''Smash'' games==
{{Sm|Mew2King}} is widely considered the greatest player across all ''Smash'' titles due to his success in multiple ''Smash'' titles. Mew2King is recognized as the greatest ''Brawl'' player of all time, one of the greatest ''Melee'' players of all time, and a strong ''Project M'' and ''Smash 4'' player, having placed top eight at many major tournaments. Mew2King is well known for his enjoyment of every ''Smash'' title and is one of the only top players who has spent their career competing in multiple games at once; along with ''Melee'', he competed in ''Brawl'' from 2008-2014, ''Project M'' from 2014-2015, ''Smash 4'' from 2014-2018, and ''Ultimate'' from 2018 up until his hiatus from ''Melee'' in 2020. Mew2King is also perhaps the most recognized player across the entire competitive ''Super Smash Bros.'' scene.

The tournament series {{Trn|Supernova}}, formerly Super Smash Con, previously ran an exhibition event called "Smash Masters" in which players compete against each other across all official ''Smash'' titles in an attempt to determine the best overall ''Smash'' player. Mew2King won Smash Masters in 2016 and 2018, {{Sm|Wizzrobe}} won in 2017, and {{Sm|ZeRo}} won in 2019.

==In ''Super Smash Bros.''==
{{Sm|Isai}} is widely considered to be the greatest ''Smash 64'' player of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/fight-club-catching-a-beating-at-the-super-bowl-of-super-smash-bros/|title="Fight Club: Catching a Beating at the Super Bowl of ‘Super Smash Bros.’"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/1alllgm/in_what_world_is_superboomfan_not_the_goat_of/|title=Discussion and explanation on the smash 64 GOAT debate}}</ref> This is due to his extended longevity as a competitor and dominance over the ''Smash 64'' scene across all regions of the world (most famously showcased during his trip to Japan in 2006-2007), and most recently with his singles and doubles victory at [[Super Smash Con 2023]], with no other player close to being able to match his accomplishments.

==In ''Super Smash Bros. Melee''==
[[File:Armada Mango.png|thumb|250px|Armada (left) and Mango, two players often considered the greatest ''Melee'' players of all time.]]
''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' is perhaps the only ''Smash'' title with significant debate regarding its all time greatest player.

===Armada===
Many ''Melee'' players, commentators, and supporters consider {{Sm|Armada}}, one of the game's "[[Five Gods]]," to be the greatest ''Melee'' player of all time, due to his consistent level of dominance over all other competitors during his prime. Among Armada's major accomplishments include first place finishes at some of the most prestigious ''Melee'' supermajors; he won {{Trn|EVO 2015}} and {{Trn|EVO 2017}}, three {{Trn|GENESIS|series}} titles, two {{Trn|Apex}} titles, and four {{Trn|Smash Summit|series}}s in a row.

He was considered a candidate for the best player in the world from 2009 until his retirement from ''Melee'' in 2018. Armada was considered the best player in the world in 2011 and 2012, and ranked 1st on the 2015 and 2016 [[SSBMRank|SSBMRank lists]]. Additionally, he was ranked 2nd in [[SSBMRank 2013|2013]], [[SSBMRank 2014|2014]], [[SSBMRank 2017|2017]], and [[MPGR 2018|2018]], meaning that Armada never ranked below 2nd since 2011.

Supporters of Armada also point to his unrivaled level of consistency as a competitor; unlike the other Gods, who were known for occasionally losing to lower-ranked players, Armada was known for almost never dropping a set to players below his skill level. In addition, Armada holds positive set records against all other Gods. From 2009 to 2018, he never placed below 5th at a major, and lost only three sets to players ranked below the top six: two best of three sets to {{Sm|SilentSpectre}} and {{Sm|Swedish Delight}} (the former of which was later found out to be inadvertently played under a 0.9 [[launch rate]]), and one best of five set to {{Sm|Amsah}}. Armada was known as the largest roadblock in the path of many players' goals to achieve victory over all five of the Gods, such as {{Sm|Axe}} and {{Sm|Wobbles}}, the latter whom had defeated all other Gods. In addition, Armada achieved much of his dominance using almost entirely {{SSBM|Peach}}, a character considered less viable than other top tiers such as {{SSBM|Fox}}, and also while hailing from Sweden, in a continent with far fewer major tournaments and far weaker competition than North America.

===Mango===
A significant share of the ''Melee'' community, however, argues that {{Sm|Mango}}, another one of the "Five Gods", is the greatest ''Melee'' player of all time, due to his continued longevity as one of the best players, if not the best, throughout his career. His major accomplishments include back-to-back victories at {{Trn|EVO 2013}} and {{Trn|EVO 2014}}, matching Armada's record; four {{Trn|Supernova}} titles, four {{Trn|The Big House|series}} titles, and two {{Trn|Smash Summit|series}} titles.

Mango began his career as a top ten player in 2007, and has since remained as a top five player from 2008 to the present, aside from a period in 2010-2011 he spent [[sandbagging]] as Scorpion Master and in 2023, where he ranked 8th. He was considered one of the two best players in the world in 2008, and the undisputed best player in the world from 2009-2010, 2013-2014, and in 2021.

Mango has spent the longest time as a top ''Melee'' player by far, being considered one of the best in the world for 17 years. Supporters of Mango cite his greater longevity compared to Armada with his peaks being just as dominant, if not greater than, Armada's (for example, winning back-to-back EVOs which no other player has done). They also argue that he was able to achieve number one in the world using three different characters (Jigglypuff, Falco, and Fox), all with different playstyles. Mango is often seen as the most influential and recognizable ''Melee'' player, as he popularized a highly aggressive and read-based style of play with his space animals, which made him a fan favorite at tournaments; he is often regarded as the "protagonist" of ''Melee''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bignokh.com/2018/03/16/the-top-100-melee-players-of-all-time-the-final-five|title="The Top 100 Melee Players of All-Time: The Final Five"}}</ref> Mango is commonly nicknamed "the GOAT" or "ManGOAT," even by players who consider Armada the greatest of all time.

Both Armada and Mango have publicly commented on the GOAT debate. Armada has referred to himself as the GOAT on [[Twitter]] multiple times since 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ArmadaUGS/status/1077337302773444608|title=Armada's GOAT tweet (2018)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ArmadaUGS/status/1136024842766114818|title=Armada's GOAT tweet (2019)}}</ref> In October 2020, Armada and Mango both replied to a Tweet posted by {{Sm|Tafokints}} discussing the GOAT of ''Melee''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/tafokints/status/1318238704570310656|title=Tafokints' tweet}}</ref> Armada replied to the Tweet first, arguing in favor of his GOAT status, citing his winning record over the rest of the top six, better placements at events the two both attended and having never placed below 5th at any tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ArmadaUGS/status/1318244958835527683|title=Armada's tweet #1}}</ref> Mango argued that Armada was only ranked number one for two years (2015 and 2016), and even then, Mango boasted a winning record over him in 2016. He argued that his performance was superior to Armada's before 2012 and that his consistent performance did not necessarily translate into dominance,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/C9Mang0/status/1318251406428499973|title=Mango's tweet #2}}</ref> suggesting that he could have been declared the undisputed GOAT if he chose to retire in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/C9Mang0/status/1318264769825054721|title=Mango's tweet #3}}</ref> He also added, "At the end of the day it's dumb to discuss whos{{sic}} the goat when we're only halfway thru the movie... There's so much more melee{{sic}} to be played."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/C9Mang0/status/1318253166161399809|title=Mango's tweet #4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/fgc/news/armada-or-mang0-super-smash-bros-melee-community-debates-best-player-ever|title="Armada or Mang0: Super Smash Bros. Melee community debates best player ever"}}</ref>

===Hungrybox===
Beyond these two, {{Sm|Hungrybox}} is commonly brought up as the closest player in GOAT conversations to Armada and Mango. Hungrybox has been considered a top five player from 2009 until 2023, remaining a staple of the top 10 afterward, and was considered the best player in the world from 2017 to 2019, the longest consecutive period post-MLG. Additionally, he holds the record for the most major wins overall, at 38; these victories include his win at {{Trn|EVO 2016}}, which stood as the [[List of largest Smash tournaments|largest ''Melee'' tournament of all time at that time]] and remains the second largest event in the game's history. His {{SSBM|Jigglypuff}} has been responsible for major developments in the ''Melee'' metagame; his dominance caused many to start seeing Jigglypuff as potentially the best character in the game, and many players, most notably Armada, developed secondary characters specifically in an attempt to counter him. On top of this, Hungrybox has also maintained an unparalleled level of consistency at major tournaments, possessing a streak of finishing in the top 8 of every major he attended for nearly 10 years. However, Hungrybox's reign as a consistent tournament winner has been relatively short compared to that of Mango or Armada, and his lowest level of play has also been below them: from {{Trn|Apex 2010}} to {{Trn|Paragon Orlando 2015}}, he went nearly five years without placing 1st at a major title, and he failed to win both {{Trn|EVO}} tournaments during his 2017-2019 reign. It is often theorized that Hungrybox could become the greatest of all time if he continued to dominate the ''Melee'' scene after several more years of competition. As such, although conversations died down during Hungrybox's struggle to win a major after {{Trn|Riptide 2022}}, they were revitalized after his victory at {{Trn|GENESIS X2}} in early 2025. Following the tournament, Mango (who had coincidentally been eliminated by Hungrybox) tweeted "[Hungrybox's] determination to win for this long is insane...Hbox #2 all time imo".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/C9Mang0/status/1891299366679216585|title=Mango's tweet about Hungrybox}}</ref>

===Other players===
In the past, both {{Sm|Ken}} and {{Sm|Mew2King}} were also in consideration for greatest ''Melee'' player of all time, though with significantly less support than the other three. Ken, known also by his nickname "The King of Smash", was considered the undisputed best player of the early [[Super Smash Bros. Melee in competitive play|MLG era]], and was a candidate for best player in the world from 2003 to 2007. During his prime, Ken was considered the best player by a significant margin, winning nearly every event he entered, including {{Trn|EVO World 2007}} and two [[Major League Gaming]] championships, and dominated competitive ''Melee'' to a degree far greater than Armada or Mango did during their peaks. However, it is generally agreed that Ken's short longevity at the top diminishes his claim at the GOAT. In addition, players pointed out to how Ken's dominance took place in a less advanced era of ''Melee'', and that the overall level of competition has greatly improved since his retirement, as evidenced by his failure to place top eight at majors during his return to ''Smash'' from 2013-2016. As such, as the metagame continued to progress without him, Ken eventually fell out of the GOAT conversation.

Mew2King had spent more time than any other player at the top of competition before his effective retirement from Melee in 2019. He was considered top 6 player in the world for 13 years straight, longer than anyone else, from 2006 all the way to 2018, while also being ranked in the top 10 in 2019. In 2007, Mew2King was widely considered the best ''Melee'' player in the world, being the only player that year to win more than one major tournament. Mew2King remained as a contender to win major tournaments in the following years, winning several major tournaments from 2013-2014 and 2016-2018, including {{Trn|The Big House 3}}, {{Trn|Shine 2016}}, and {{Trn|Smash Summit 6}}. He has largely been credited for advancing the Marth and Sheik metagame to where they are nowadays, being the best Marth player in the world from 2007-2013 and 2015-2018, and the best Sheik player from 2008-2017. However, Mew2King has since failed to replicate his success since 2007, as after getting challenged by Mango for the #1 spot in 2008, Mew2King has never been considered top 2 in the world since, peaking at #3 on the 2013 SSBMRank. He has also spent the shortest time out of everyone as the best player in the world, only from 2007 to arguably 2008. As such, similar to Ken, support for Mew2King as the ''Melee'' GOAT eventually diminished, especially as he retired from competitive-''Melee'' in the post-pandemic metagame.

''Melee'' GOAT conversations remain highly debated to this day. The [[Top 100 Melee Players of All Time]] is a project by Smash History creators {{Sm|Edwin Budding}} and {{Sm|Pikachu942}}, which subjectively ranked the 100 greatest ''Melee'' players throughout the history of the game. Pikachu942 has released annual updates to the ranking, and its lists are often cited in GOAT debates. The first edition, published in 2018, ranked Armada as the greatest player of all time, with Mango in second, {{Sm|Ken}} in third, and Hungrybox in fourth. A 2019 update moved Hungrybox up to third, ahead of Ken. The ranking was again updated in 2020, and Hungrybox was again moved up to second, ahead of Mango. The 2021, and so far current, edition moved Mango over Armada, leaving the current top 4 as Mango, Armada, Hungrybox, and Ken in that order.

==In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''==
{{Sm|Mew2King}} is widely considered to be the greatest ''Brawl'' player of all time. Mew2King was by far the most dominant player from 2008-2011, placing first or second at nearly every event he attended. Although his tournament results slumped from 2012 to 2014, he was still considered a threat to win any major tournament, and few other players were able to match his earlier levels of dominance at that time. Many of ''Brawl''{{'}}s most memorable sets featured Mew2King being upset by other players, including against {{Sm|Ally}}, {{Sm|OCEAN}}, and {{Sm|Salem}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W9szoHvp0k|title="Top 5 Craziest Matches in Super Smash Bros Brawl"}}</ref>

==In ''Super Smash Bros. 4''==
{{Sm|ZeRo}} is widely considered to be the greatest ''Smash 4'' player of all time. From 2014 to 2017, ZeRo placed first at nearly every tournament he entered, including a 56-tournament winning streak from 2014 to 2015. Taking a set off of ZeRo was often considered one of the highlights of a ''Smash 4'' player's career. Although ZeRo retired from entering ''Smash 4'' tournaments in 2018, no other player was able to match ZeRo's level of dominance and consistency before the end of the game's competitive life, leaving his claim as the ''Smash 4'' GOAT undisputed. 

The [[PGR 100]] was the game's final global ranking, which ranked the top 100 ''Smash 4'' players across the game's lifespan. ZeRo ranked first, followed by {{Sm|Nairo}} in second and {{Sm|MkLeo}} in third.

==In ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''==
Though the game is still ongoing, {{Sm|MkLeo}} is widely considered the greatest ''Ultimate'' player of all time due to his longtime dominance on the scene, ranking first from 2019 to 2022 and having a streak of finishing top 2 at every offline event he attended from {{Trn|MomoCon 2019}} to the {{Trn|Smash World Tour 2021 Championships}} in 2021. He also possesses the most supermajor wins out of any other player (17), and for the longest time had the most major wins overall until {{Sm|Miya|p=Honshu}} won {{Trn|Sumabato SP 55}} on January 19th, 2025.

[[Top 100 Ultimate Players of All Time|A list]] released by [[SchuStats]] in 2025 algorithmically ranked the all-time top 10,000 players in ''Ultimate'''s history up to that point. MkLeo ranked first with 57.43 points, almost 17 points ahead of the runner-up, {{Sm|acola}} (at 40.48 points).

==In ''Project M''==
{{Sm|ThundeRzReiGN}} is generally considered to be the greatest ''Project M'' player of all time, due to both his dominance and consistent level of play, placing first at nearly every tournament he entered from 2016 to 2019, and stands as the only ''Project M'' player to have been ranked #1 in two consecutive [[PMRank]] lists, and additionally won two of the game's largest events; {{Trn|The Bigger Balc}}, and {{Trn|The Even Bigger Balc}}. As such, he was ranked 1st on the [[Project M/+ All Time Top 100]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://bignokh.com/2018/03/16/the-top-100-melee-players-of-all-time-the-final-five/ Top 100 Melee Players of All Time (2018)]
*[https://pikachu942.blog/2019/02/14/all-time-melee-top-100-one-year-later/ All-Time Melee Top 100: One Year Later]
*[https://pikachu942.blog/2020/03/31/all-time-melee-top-100-another-year/ All-Time Melee Top 100: Another Year]
*[https://www.pgstats.com/articles/the-melee-stats-top-100-the-top-10| The Melee Stats Top 100 (2021)]
*[https://www.schustats.com/all_time All-Time Smash Ultimate Rankings Top 10k (2025)]

{{General competitive smash history}}

[[Category:Competitive play]]
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