Nintendo’s ARMS, a unique spin to the fighting game formula, has enjoyed a steady competitive scene since launch.
If this game has piqued your interest in competing but you don’t know which fighters to start mastering, then you’re in luck.
We made a definitive list ranking the best fighters in the game. Let’s dive right in.
Table of ContentsShow
S-Tier
These fighters are the best in the game. They have the best movement options and defensive maneuvers that help succeed against any matchup.
| Fighter | Description |
| Min Min | Min Min has excellent movement coupled with the narrowest hitbox out of all fighters. On the offensive side, her dragon arm is always a problem for opponents. Her combination of speed and movement options allow her to take potshots at the enemy while keeping herself safe. Min Min is a snowball character, meaning that she performs better when in the lead, and worse when disadvantaged. Because of the speed of her movement, though, players often find themselves on the former. |
| Max Brass | When you play Max Brass, you automatically know that he’s a top tier fighter. He has strength, surprising speed, and the best defensive options in the game. On the rare occasion that Max falls behind, he can quickly catch up thanks to his ability to gain perma-charge at 20% and below health. On top of this, Max is an S-tier fighter because of how easy it is to play him. His super armor while charging is a beginner-friendly trait but can also be useful for pros in tight situations. |
| Dr. Coyle | Dr. Coyle is probably the most well-rounded fighter in this roster. Her levitation adds more movement options while in the air. Her extra arm allows for more versatility on offense. She’s extremely fast, which is a boon both on offense and defense. Dr. Coyle is a good choice for beginners who want to take the plunge into the competitive scene. She has a steeper learning curve than Min Min or Max Brass, but she’s one of the best fighters as well under the right hands. |
A-Tier
These are excellent fighters that have the potential to be in the top tier if you invest enough time in them. They have good matchups against the rest of the cast and only a few flaws.
| Fighter | Description |
| Springtron | Springtron rewards players who practice setting up his disabling EMP from a distance. He is slower than Spring Man, but his offensive setups are top-notch. Springtron has a high skill cap and ceiling – making him a perfect choice for those who are committed to learning a fighter who gets better the more you master him. |
| Ninjara | When ARMS came out, Ninjara was touted as the best fighter on the roster. He has quick movement and a deceptively effective teleport ability that can immediately transition into punishment for your opponent. Over time, the community has figured out ways of countering Ninjara so he isn’t as dominant as he was before. He remains one of the best fighters in the game, however, so feel free to learn and master him. |
| Twintelle | In the same mold as Min Min, Twintelle is an elusive and speedy fighter who has an amazing defensive quirk. She slows down attacks instead of deflecting them on defense. This will take some time getting used to, but your opponent will have a harder time adjusting to this. She can slow herself in the air as well, allowing for some unexpected setups on offense. Twintelle has a high skill cap, but the benefit of throwing your enemy off their rhythm is a proven advantage even in highly competitive tournaments. |
| Kid Cobra | Kid Cobra is a very strong fighter because his few weaknesses are not easy to exploit at all. It takes a skilled and experienced opponent to back a good Kid Cobra player into a corner. Kid Cobra has good size, speed, and jump maneuverability that perfectly set up his attacks from all ranges. He’s weird to play at first, but with a few hours under your belt, you’ll start seeing some wins come your way. |
B-Tier
These are your “middle-of-the-pack” fighters. They’re decent enough, but have a few flaws holding them back.
| Fighter | Description |
| Spring Man | Spring Man is as basic as characters can get in ARMS. “Basic” doesn’t mean weak, though. He is an overall solid fighter with quick movement and decent defensive options. Spring Man’s perma-charge is also good quality, allowing players to spam an opponent with minimal risk. Spring Man is a good fighter for beginners to start with, but he doesn’t shine as much in the competitive scene. His good qualities are far outclassed by other fighters like Springtron. |
| Mechanica | Mechanica is essentially a better version of Master Mummy, in a way. Her large hitbox and slow movement are detrimental when she’s backed into a corner. Her grabs aren’t that strong, but she makes up for this with the ability to charge while drifting. In highly competitive matches, movement makes all the difference. |
| Lola Pop | Lola Pop is a great fighter to use IF you know what you’re doing. That’s a big if because Lola’s moves, albeit strong, are very risky to pull off. If your enemy is aware of the decisions you make in-game, you’ll most likely get punished for whiffing one of Lola’s moves. It’s safe to say that Lola is for extremely skilled players who have developed plenty of game sense from fighting a ton of matches. Otherwise, try to avoid her if you’re a beginner. |
C-Tier
It will take significant effort on the player’s part to make these fighters dominate. Their strengths are not as impressive as others’ and their weaknesses are clear detriments to their win rate.
| Fighter | Description |
| Ribbon Girl | Ribbon Girl is a solid fighter. If you’ve been playing her, then you’re probably wondering why she placed lower on this list. The reason is that she doesn’t do as well against experienced players. If you and your opponent are just starting, Ribbon Girl will likely dominate the matchup. However, most players have already learned how to be patient and cautious against Ribbon Girl’s playstyle. This is a huge blow to her viability in competitive matches. Still, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with her toolkit. |
| Master Mummy | Master Mummy is a tad slow and his jumps have a certain jank to them, but he still has good qualities. He has the strongest grab in the game, which isn’t much in casual play, but a very big advantage in competitive matches. Not only does his grab deal a ton of damage, but it’s accurate as well because of its massive size. Master Mummy excels especially when putting pressure on opponents. All his attacks are a genuine threat and would throw anyone off their game if they start to panic. |
| Helix | Helix has a lot of good movement. He can dissolve into a puddle to go low or stretch into his tall form to gain height. He has an atrocious walk speed which is balanced by quick movement while in puddle mode (this is a timed instance though). The problem with Helix is experienced players will know exactly how to capitalize on his weaknesses. It doesn’t matter if you switch between puddle and tall mode. Both telegraph themselves quickly anyway. |
D-Tier
These fighters have glaring flaws that will give you a hard time, especially against good opponents. You can still make these fighters viable, but it will be an uphill battle.
| Fighter | Description |
| Byte and Barq | Byte is a powerhouse on offense. He has an additional companion, Barq, to share the heavy lifting in matches. This unique duo also opens the door for surprisingly effective combos. The problem with Byte and Barq is their horrible defensive options. When Barq is down (which is easy to do for the opponent), Byte doesn’t have many options left. This vulnerability has prevented most players from taking the time in mastering this duo. |
F-Tier
These are the worst fighters in the game right now. We don’t recommend starting with them as they can ruin your experience early on.
| Fighter | Description |
| Misango | Misango struggles a lot with the rest of the cast because of his inability to adapt to pressure situations. It’s easy to throw Misango of his rhythm if you just stick close and pepper him with a lot of blows. He has a few tools under his belt that could make a fight interesting (his spirit companions come to mind). Sadly, these quirks are not enough to elevate him higher on this list. |
