Classic Mode (SSBU)

Classic Mode (, Survival Smash) is a single-player (optionally 2 players) mode in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Each character now has their own predetermined set of opponents and stages to face in this mode. A unique name is given to each character's path, and there may be special rules or conditions: for example, 's path references Street Fighter II by using only Ω forms and Stamina mode alongside the fighters most closely representing the characters of Street Fighter II. It is different from the Classic Mode versions found in the two versions of SSB4, shown by the return to the style of Classic Mode that was in Melee and Brawl. Just like in, Classic Mode can also be challenged by two players. When playing with two players, the route will always be based on Player 1's character. 1v1 battles (aside from Terry and Kazuya’s Classic Mode) become 2v2 battles with two of the same opponent (if there is originally only one), one in an alternate costume. If P2 chooses the same costume as an opponent, the opponent will not switch to another costume unless they chose the same character as P1.

Similar to the Classic Modes for the previous entries, players can select an intensity level, indicated by the position of the lengthy mural. The highest allowed starting intensity is 5.0, and it will increase slightly, depending on how well the player does, after each victory, to a maximum of 9.9. Each successful round moves the intensity up by a minimum of 0.1 depending on performance. Winning in fast times or with great dominance awards a "Nice Play!" label for the stage, and an intensity boost ranging from 0.6 to 1.4, depending also on how far along the player is in the game. Otherwise, the game's default intensity boost goes between 0.2 and 0.6, lower scores being awarded to long battles with more damage taken. The layout consists of seven stages plus a bonus stage. Unlike previous entries, the opponent in the last stage is not always Master Hand or Crazy Hand; each fighter has a different encounter at the end. Scores are also present in Classic Mode, which is displayed alongside the player's Global Smash Power.

Players only have one stock, unlike previous installments. To continue, the player can either spend which lowers the intensity by 0.7 points, or use a Classic Ticket to keep the current intensity. Upon continuing, the match will start from where the player left off. Using a continue at any point during the run will stop the intensity from rising to 9.9, making the maximum possible intensity 9.8 for the rest of the run. However, it will not degrade a run already at intensity 9.9 if a ticket is used then. Continuing causes the player's score to go down. When playing with two players, the round does not fail until both players' stocks are lost.

Classic Tickets can be obtained through clearing Classic Mode or from the shop. They may also be used before starting a Classic Mode game to increase the rewards given out when finishing the mode. On a new save file, the player starts with 5 Classic Tickets.

After clearing Classic Mode the player will be able to play a minigame over the Credits and, at the end of said minigame, see a congratulations screen; the music for the minigame and the image at the end are themed to each character. Clearing Classic Mode with a character grants their fighter spirit, much like trophies from previous games.

Regular stage
Regular stages include Smash 1v1, 2v2, and Free-For-All battles where all enemy fighters must be defeated to proceed. Some variations include Giant Battles, where at least one opponent is giant, Metal Battles, where at least one opponent is metal, and Multi-Man Battles, where eight or less enemies are fought three at a time. When playing with two players, the 1v1 battles are replaced with 2v1v1 battles against two copies of the same opponent, and any allies granted by the match are overwritten by the co-op player.

Bonus Stage


This is a challenge in the style of, but rather than having a standard time limit, the player must run from a black hole that consumes the stage behind them. Glowing orbs are scattered throughout the side-scrolling area which increases the player's score, some behind breakable blocks and bomb blocks that encourage the player to go out of their way as the void closes in. Some scattered physics objects impede progress in a similar manner to Trophy Rush. At the end of the stage, a cannon blasts the player into a portal that ends the Bonus Game. Every fighter goes through this bonus game stage at some point during their classic mode. Every fighter goes through the exact same stage with no differences.

Boss
Most fighters face a predetermined boss fight at the end of their route. The player must deplete the boss's HP in order to defeat them. The most common boss is Master Hand on, with Crazy Hand joining if the fight is entered at intensity 7.0 or above, similarly to previous games. Several characters replace Master Hand and Crazy Hand with either Rathalos, Dracula, Giga Bowser, Marx, Galleom or Ganon, and certain others may feature Crazy Hand with Master Hand regardless of intensity, feature Master Hand only with no possibility of an appearance from Crazy Hand, reverse Crazy Hand and Master Hand's roles, or be on an Ω form of another stage. Additionally, there are a few instances where another fighter is part of the final round: After defeating Bowser, Ganondorf or Mewtwo in the boss round, the player is given a Maxim Tomato.
 * Both and  fight  in their final rounds before fighting Giga Bowser.
 * Both and  fight  in their final rounds before fighting Master Hand (with no possibility of an appearance from Crazy Hand, regardless of the difficulty).
 * fights Giant Donkey Kong, and does not fight a traditional boss at all in its route.
 * Bowser fights Rathalos in his penultimate round, but his final round is against Mario, then Metal Mario.
 * fights in her final round before fighting Ganon.
 * fights Galleom in his penultimate round, but his final round is against, then Mewtwo.
 * fights a giant, and does not fight a traditional boss at all in her route.
 * fights Rathalos in his fourth round, but fights in his blue costume and then a Giant Charizard in its purple costume for his final round.
 * fights, , and another Terry in his final round, and does not fight a traditional boss at all in his route.
 * fights a giant and two tiny Endermen, and does not fight a traditional boss at all in his route.
 * fights only bosses in his route, culminating with Master Hand and Crazy Hand.
 * fights another Kazuya followed by a Metal Kazuya in his final round, and does not fight a traditional boss at all in his route.

Unlocking criteria
All eight of the starter characters from the original Smash Bros. and Ultimate have their own character unlock trees, each with eight characters to unlock (except for Pikachu, who has seven). Completing Classic Mode with any character in a given tree will challenge the player to a Challenger Approaching duel for the next available character from the start of their tree down, as indicated in the table-chart below. For example, beating Classic Mode with will then trigger the fight to unlock. If Bowser's Challenger Approaching duel has been previously attempted (via a timed encounter or a previous Classic Mode completion) or if he has already been unlocked through World of Light, 's duel would be issued next. When playing with two players, Player 1 will participate in the duel, and their fighter is used to determine whose duel will be issued.

When all the characters in a tree are unlocked, completing Classic Mode with those characters will unlock the next available character in Mario's path, then Donkey Kong's, and so on. Completing Classic Mode with downloadable fighters would also unlock fighters in this order, as these characters are not assigned an unlock tree.

The Challenger Approaching duels are the same as those issued on a timed basis; this is simply another way to trigger them.

Notably, all clones, semi-clones, and pseudo-clones except for, , and are in the same tree as the character they are based on.

Trivia

 * Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's Classic Mode is the only Classic Mode in which:
 * A Continue does not restart an ongoing match.
 * The difficulty rating can increase during the run depending on your performance.
 * Boss fights show a health bar for the bosses instead of percentages or stamina counts.
 * Not every fighter can be selected (due to s being absent from this mode).
 * ,, and are the only characters to face  and  on a stage other than.
 * faces the highest number of distinct fighters in his Classic Mode route, with a total of 21.
 * is the most common opponent for Classic Mode routes, appearing in 23 different routes.
 * Conversely, outside of DLC characters, is the least common opponent, appearing as an opponent in only three routes.
 * Norfair appears in more Classic Mode routes than any other stage (appearing in 14 different routes and being the stage for 15 rounds). However, Boxing Ring is the most common stage to fight opponents on (being the stage for 21 rounds while appearing in 13 different routes).
 * On the difficulty selection banner, which features every fighter in the base game, female is featured instead of male Corrin, despite the latter being the default in Smash.