Byleth joined Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s roster on January 28, 2020. Considering that Byleth was the eighth Fire Emblem rep in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the announcement of the character’s addition on January 16, 2020 wasn’t exactly met with critical acclaim from the Smash community, but they would eventually warm up to the inclusion.
This fighter actually made their debut appearance in Fire Emblem: Three Houses when it was released on July 26, 2019. In terms of when each character made their debut video game appearance, this technically makes Byleth the newest character that’s playable in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Considering how much development time a character typically needs, Masahiro Sakurai was actually permitted to play an early prototype version of Fire Emblem: Three Houses before it was released so that he could prepare for Byleth’s inclusion as a DLC fighter.
This presented a tricky problem as only he was allowed to see and play this prototype, which made conveying what he wanted Byleth to do in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to the rest of the development team to be quite the challenge.
Despite the difficulties of developing such a character and the initial lukewarm reception, Byleth would eventually become popular within the Smash community. Byleth has even become one of the main characters for one of the best players in the world, LG|MkLeo.
As one might imagine, it can also be quite tricky for cosplayers to depict Byleth. This is especially true for the female version of Byleth.
Needless to say, we were impressed upon seeing Aelynn000’s Instagram page where she has cosplayed as Byleth on multiple occasions. One such version is based on how Byleth appears in Fire Emblem Heroes as the “Fell Star’s Duo” unit.
During the events of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Byleth was often referred to as the “Fell Star” by certain antagonists due to the character’s connection with Sothis, the goddess of that Fire Emblem’s world. Considering that Rhea also has a certain connection to Sothis, it makes sense that the two paired together would be the Fell Star’s Duo.
Though Byleth is seen in a black bikini while holding instruments, she clearly isn’t defenseless. A dagger can be observed at her waist and she is known to be a practitioner of magic.
Check out Aelynn000’s cosplay of Fell Star’s Duo Byleth below:
While Byleth has never officially appeared in a bunny outfit, the idea of this actually being a thing has become quite popular. It works especially well when Byleth is donning her usual stoic expression.
Check out Aelynn000’s cosplay of bunny Byleth below:
Finally, there’s Byleth in her default attire. Although it should be noted that Byleth’s hair color has changed from dark green to a minty green. Considering what happens in the story of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, this is actually the more powerful version of Byleth.
Though players can choose Byleth with minty green hair in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by choosing costume 8 (costume 7 for male Byleth), this actually has no impact on gameplay. Of course, its addition serves as a bit of a spoiler, which is something the Super Smash Bros. series is already known to do for other games.
Check out Aelynn000’s default Byleth cosplay below: