Mastering Team Battles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Online

The key to enjoying team battles online in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is through the Battle Arenas. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t have a direct matchmaking feature for online teams. You’ll need to create or join a Battle Arena with your friends. Once in the Arena, you can battle individually or attempt to coordinate teams with your friends during matches. The game randomizes team assignments, so it requires communication and persistence to get the desired team matchups consistently.

Setting Up Your Arena for Team Play

The Battle Arena system is your gateway to online team play. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Nintendo Switch Online Subscription: First and foremost, ensure you and your friends have an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. This is required to access online features in most Switch games.

2. Friend Connections: Make sure you’re friends on the Nintendo Switch with the players you want to team up with. You can add friends using their friend code.

3. Creating an Arena:

   • From the main menu of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, navigate to “Online.”
   • Select “Battle Arenas.”
   • Choose “Create Arena.”
   • Here, you can customize your Arena with various settings. Set a Name, a Ruleset, and the maximum number of players. You can set to prioritize “Team Attack ON” to add the friendly fire element to the team battles.

4. Inviting Friends:

   • After creating the Arena, your friends can join it through the “Join Arena” option.
   • They can find your Arena under the “Friends’ Arenas” tab.

Navigating Team Selection in Battle Arenas

Once inside the Arena, the process gets a bit trickier because Super Smash Bros. Ultimate doesn’t have a dedicated team selection screen for online Arenas.

1. Individual Battles: Initially, the game will likely set up individual free-for-all matches. Play these as warm-ups while coordinating with your friends.

2. Coordinating Teams: This is where communication is key. Use voice chat (via the Nintendo Switch Online app or a third-party service like Discord) to decide who will be on which team.

3. Matchmaking Challenges: The game randomly assigns players to teams (red and blue). After each match, you’ll need to manually try to pair up with your teammate(s) again. This might involve some players intentionally losing to cycle through the team assignments until you get the desired team. This takes patience and understanding from everyone involved.

4. Understanding Limitations: Be aware that the lack of dedicated team selection is a significant limitation. There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to consistently play on the same team with your friends, especially with a full Arena.

Optimizing Your Team Battle Experience

Here are a few tips to make your online team battles more enjoyable:

• Clear Communication: Use voice chat or a text chat app to communicate strategies, coordinate team selection attempts, and manage expectations.
• Patience is Key: Understand that getting the right team matchups can take time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen immediately.
• House Rules: Establish house rules within your group to make the process smoother. For example, you could agree that the player with the lowest GSP (Global Smash Power) intentionally loses to cycle through team assignments.
• Experiment with Rulesets: Try different rulesets to find what works best for your team. Consider settings like “Team Attack ON” for a more strategic experience.
• Learn about the Game: Understanding the game is important. The Games Learning Society is a great place to start for information on game-based learning and the educational aspects of gaming. You can find more on their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Team Battles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Online

1. Can I play 2v2 online with random players in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

No, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate doesn’t offer a dedicated 2v2 matchmaking mode with random players. The closest option is the “Quickplay” mode, which can sometimes match you with other players who are also queuing as a team of two, but it’s not guaranteed.

2. Is there a way to guarantee I’m on the same team as my friend every match in an online Arena?

Unfortunately, no. The game randomizes team assignments after each match, and there is no way to lock players into specific teams within Battle Arenas.

3. What does “Team Attack ON” mean?

“Team Attack ON” means that friendly fire is enabled. You and your teammate(s) can damage each other, adding a layer of strategy to team battles.

4. Can I create a 3v3 or 4v4 team battle in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online?

No, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate only supports 2v2 team battles online within Battle Arenas.

5. Can I play on the same team with my friend against CPUs in an online Arena?

No, Battle Arenas are designed for player-versus-player matches. You cannot add CPU players to fill out teams in online Arenas.

6. What’s the best way to communicate with my teammates during online team battles?

Voice chat is highly recommended. You can use the Nintendo Switch Online app or a third-party service like Discord. Text chat can also work, but it’s less efficient during fast-paced gameplay.

7. Can I spectate online team battles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Yes, you can spectate matches within Battle Arenas. This is useful for learning strategies or simply watching your friends play.

8. Does GSP (Global Smash Power) affect team battles in online Arenas?

No, GSP is not used in Battle Arenas. Arenas are designed for casual or competitive play with your own rulesets, independent of the game’s ranking system.

9. Can I use custom stages in online team battles?

Yes, you can use custom stages that you’ve created in Battle Arenas. This adds a lot of variety and personalization to your matches.

10. Can two players on the same Nintendo Switch play on the same team online?

Yes, two players can play together on the same Switch in Battle Arenas, teaming up against other players online.

11. What happens if a player disconnects during an online team battle?

If a player disconnects, the match will typically end, and the remaining players will return to the Arena lobby. There’s no built-in system to replace a disconnected player with a CPU.

12. Can I play team battles in “Quickplay” mode?

Yes, but it’s not a dedicated team mode. You might occasionally get matched with another team of two, but it’s not a reliable way to play team battles consistently.

13. Are there any tournaments that focus on online team battles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Yes, although they might not be officially supported by Nintendo. Check community websites, forums, and Discord servers dedicated to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for information on online team tournaments.

14. How do I improve my teamwork skills in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

Practice and communication are essential. Play regularly with your teammate(s), discuss strategies, and learn each other’s playstyles. Watch professional team battles to get ideas and inspiration.

15. Is Nintendo likely to add a dedicated team selection feature to Battle Arenas in a future update?

There is no guarantee, but the community has consistently requested improved team battle functionality. It’s possible that Nintendo will address this in a future update, but there’s no official confirmation.

By following these steps and using the provided tips, you can maximize your enjoyment of team battles in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate online, even with the current limitations. Remember that communication, patience, and a good attitude are key to having a great time with your friends! The GamesLearningSociety.org also has relevant learning experiences about online collaboration and gaming, which applies to this online team battling experience.