Yoshi

Lore & Background

In the world of Mario, Yoshi first appeared as a friendly green dinosaur who could swallow enemies, lay eggs, and ride alongside the mustachioed plumber through colorful overworlds. Over the years he has been joined by a family of siblings in red, blue, yellow, pink, and other hues, each with the same eager grin and appetite for foes. He is as much a symbol of Nintendo's playful, family-friendly identity as he is a character in his own right.

When the Smash Bros. series set out to gather Nintendo's greatest icons into one arena, Yoshi was an obvious inclusion. His design translates naturally into a fighter: the tongue becomes a long-range grab tool, the stomp becomes a powerful aerial, the shell becomes a spinning special, and the eggs become versatile projectiles. He carries the same warm, bouncy energy into every match, whether he's juggling a rival with tongue wraps or hurling an egg across the stage in a wide arc.

Across the Smash games, Yoshi has remained a consistent presence, evolving his moveset slightly with each entry but always keeping his core identity intact. He is the fighter who reminds players that Smash Bros. is as much about fun and character as it is about competitive precision. His wide grin and expressive eyes make him one of the most beloved faces in the entire roster.

In Their Own Story

The sun was just cresting over Mushroom Kingdom's rolling green hills when Yoshi stretched his long neck and yawned, a soft rumble rolling through his chest. He spotted a stray star fruit half-buried in the dirt near the path and hopped over with a cheerful bounce, swallowing it whole. His belly gurgled happily.

A few miles east, the great stone arena—where the world's fighters gathered—was already buzzing with energy. Yoshi could feel the vibration in his feet, the distant roar of a crowd he couldn't see. He adjusted the small wooden egg he'd been carrying in his mouth, set it gently on a flat rock, and cracked his knuckles. Well, he cracked his claws. Same idea.

"Alright," he said to no one in particular, his big eyes sparkling. "Let's see who's got the longest tongue today."

He took a running start, leaped over a low fence, and landed with a satisfying thud that sent a puff of dust spiraling into the warm afternoon air. The shell was tucked under his arm, ready to spin. The eggs were in his belly, ready to throw. And somewhere across the arena, an opponent was about to learn exactly how far a dinosaur's reach could be.

Reader's Guide

FIGHTER DOSSIER: YOSHI Source Franchise: Yoshi / Super Mario (Nintendo) Unlock Method: Available as a default or randomly unlocked fighter depending on the Smash title; in Smash Ultimate he can be unlocked via Random battles, VS mode, or the Smash Ball system.

NEUTRAL ATTACKS Forward: A quick forward kick followed by a back kick, finishing with an upward kick. The combo is fast and safe, making it a reliable option for approaching and punishing.

SPECIALS Neutral Special – Egg: Yoshi throws an egg in a forward arc. The egg travels a considerable distance and can be angled slightly up or down. It deals moderate damage and is useful for spacing and edge-guarding. Side Special – Shell: Yoshi tucks his head and spins forward in a tight ball. The shell can be angled up or down, making it a versatile short-range recovery and approach tool. It also has a slight forward momentum. Up Special – Egg: Yoshi throws an egg upward in a wide arc. This provides solid vertical recovery and can be angled for horizontal distance, making it one of his primary recovery options. Down Special – Egg: Yoshi throws an egg forward at a lower trajectory. Useful for hitting opponents at stage level or as a quick projectile option.

AERIALS Forward Aerial: A headbutt that extends forward, dealing good damage at close range. Back Aerial: A stomping kick aimed backward, useful for hitting opponents behind or below. Up Aerial: A jumping kick that launches opponents upward. Down Aerial: A stomping attack directed downward, effective for hitting opponents below or for quick recovery.

SMASHES Forward Smash: A powerful tongue lunge that extends well beyond his normal range, dealing heavy damage and strong knockback. Up Smash: An overhead kick that launches opponents upward. Down Smash: A stomp that sends opponents in both directions.

GRABS & THROWS Grab: Yoshi extends his long tongue, giving him one of the longest grab ranges on the roster. This makes him excellent at initiating combos and catching opponents who try to retreat. Forward Throw: A tongue wrap that hurls the opponent forward. Back Throw: A tongue toss that sends the opponent behind him. Up Throw: A tongue lift that launches the opponent overhead. Down Throw: A tongue slam that slams the opponent to the ground.

ALTERNATE COSTUMES Yoshi's alternate costumes are color variants of his classic design: the default green, along with red, blue, yellow, pink, and other palette swaps. Each variant changes his skin, shell, and egg colors while keeping the same moveset.

UNIQUE MECHANICS & QUIRKS Item Carrying: Yoshi can pick up and carry one item on his back, making him one of the few fighters who can transport items across the stage. This is a significant tactical advantage in item-based modes. Tongue Range: His grab and forward smash both benefit from his extended tongue, giving him reach that most midweights lack. Egg Versatility: With multiple egg-based specials, Yoshi has several projectile options at different angles and ranges, allowing him to control space in varied ways. Recovery: His up-special egg provides decent recovery, and the shell can be used for short, angled recovery. However, his recovery is generally considered average and can be pressured by fast opponents. Combo Properties: The long tongue grab into throw combos is a staple of his offense. His stomp aerial and headbutt aerial also set up follow-up options for extended combos.

Did You Know?

• Yoshi has been a playable fighter in every mainline Super Smash Bros. game since the original 1999 release on the Nintendo 64, making him one of the longest-tenured characters on the roster.
• In Smash Bros., Yoshi is one of the very few fighters who can carry an item on his back, giving him a unique tactical role in item-based multiplayer modes.
• Yoshi's tongue-based grab gives him one of the longest grab ranges among midweight characters, making him a natural combo starter.
• In the broader Mario franchise, Yoshi first appeared in Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, where he could swallow enemies and lay eggs.