The 2025 season for Super Smash Bros. Melee and Ultimate has reached its midpoint at Supernova 2025, with surprising upsets and dominant performances reshaping the competitive landscape.
Following major tournaments including GENESIS X2, Get On My Level: Forever, and S Factor 12, the mid-year rankings showcase significant movement in both scenes. The SSBMRank Summer 2025 and LumiRank assessments reflect a year of exciting competition, with Japan rising to dominance in Ultimate while Shopify Rebellion seemingly does the same in Melee.
These mid-season standings capture tournament performances through July, offering insight into which players have momentum heading into the year’s final stretch.
Top Melee Players in 2025 (So Far)
The Melee competitive scene continues to evolve with a blend of longtime veterans and rising stars battling for supremacy.
moky

Kurtis ‘moky’ Pratt lands at fifth, maintaining his reputation as Melee’s top unpredictable threat. The Shopify Rebellion Fox main knows how to make every match look effortless — whether dismantling top opponents or committing game-ending blunders.
Nobody knows when or how moky will strike. His second-place finish at Full House 2025 proved he can compete with anyone, though his 17th-place finishes at Battle of BC 7 and Tipped Off 16: Safari show the volatility that keeps both fans and opponents guessing.
Joshman

Fourth place belongs to Josh ‘Joshman’ Man, marking his entry into the rare echelon of top five non-North American players in Melee history. His tournament circuit included victories at Smash Camp 2025 and COMBO BREAKER 2025, with the latter showcasing his ability to dominate a strong bracket.
Consistent top-eight finishes across nine tournaments, including fifth at Get On My Level: Forever and second at Nouns Bowl 2025, prove his ascension isn’t slowing down.
Hungrybox

Juan ‘Hungrybox’ DeBiedma holds third. It’s been nearly a decade since the reign of the Five Gods, yet improbably, Hungrybox continues to float near the top, just like his signature Jigglypuff.
The longtime Team Liquid player captured first at GENESIS X2, ending his major drought, followed with a CEO 2025 victory. Third place at Battle of BC 7 and Full House 2025 kept him in contention throughout the season, though a surprising 33rd at Tipped Off 16: Safari was his worst performance ever in a major.
At 32 years old, Hungrybox continues defying expectations about longevity in competitive Melee.
Zain

Zain Naghmi maintains second place despite competing in fewer events than his rivals. The Marth main’s selective tournament attendance hasn’t diminished his impact, with victories at The Hungry Games, Battle of BC 7, and Get On My Level: Forever.
His ninth-place finish at Nouns Bowl 2025 stands as his only placement outside the top eight this year. When competing, Zain demonstrates the consistency and grit that has defined his career since debuting on the rankings in 2016.
The grind may not be constant, but Zain’s ability to continue delivering top performances remains unmatched.
Cody Schwab

Cody Schwab once again claims the number one spot, cementing his status through a remarkable tournament run. The Fox main secured victories at eight events including Beak Bonk 2025, Nouns Bowl 2025, Full House 2025, Tipped Off 16: Safari, Let’s Drink The Pool, and S Factor 12.
His doubles dominance with Jmook has been equally impressive, taking first at GENESIS X2, Altitude Sickness 2, Battle of BC 7, and Nouns Bowl 2025. Fifth-place finishes at GENESIS X2 and Get On My Level: Forever represent his only stumbles in an otherwise flawless campaign.
It has been a neck-and-neck battle between him and Zain, and the rest of the year is sure to be an exciting duel at the top.
Top Ultimate Players of 2025 (So Far)
Ultimate’s competitive hierarchy continues shifting as Japanese players dominate international events while Western competitors try to catch up.
Sparg0

Mexico’s Edgar ‘Sparg0’ Valdez rounds out the top five as the only non-Japanese player. The FaZe Clan member’s three-headed monster of Piranha Plant, Pyra/Mythra, and Cloud has been devastating, with victories at S Factor 12, Blink Respawn 2025, Get On My Level: Forever, 95 Kings of Fields #5, and Luminosity Makes BIG Moves 2025.
His runs often featured comeback victories, including grand finals wins at Blink Respawn and Get On My Level. However, a 33rd-48th placement at Kagaribi#13 after losing to MkLeo highlighted remaining vulnerabilities, as well as a 17th-24th finish at GENESIS X2.
Despite these setbacks, Sparg0’s ability to win across with multiple characters keeps him firmly in the top five conversation.
Miya

Japan’s ‘Miya‘ sits fourth, bringing Mr. Game & Watch to the forefront of Ultimate’s meta after players like Maister paved the way. The 2D character has proven explosive at full potential, with Miya demonstrating this through victories at DELTA #11, Uzès Symphonic Gaming Festival, The Game Expo 2025, and Sumabato SP55.
The 33rd-48th placement at LVL UP EXPO 2025 after losing to Marss showed vulnerability to unfamiliar matchups, and international events like Supernova and Riptide have proven challenging, but wins against an entourage of top players demonstrate his world-class potential. While he has fallen a bit from his peak last year, he has the versatility and consistency to rise back to the top.
Hurt

‘Hurt‘ jumps to third place following his GENESIS X2 championship run. The Snake specialist’s aggressive style has proven effective across regions, including victories at Kyokkan#9 and KOWLOON #14.
His runner-up finish at Luminosity Makes BIG Moves 2025 came after falling to Sparg0 in grand finals. Inconsistency remains an issue with a 33rd-48th placement at DELTA #11 after losing to Shion and 13th-16th at S Factor 12 against MkLeo’s Joker. The ninth-12th finish at Battle of BC 7 also disappointed. However, his ability to peak at majors and defeat players the very best keeps him among the world’s elite.
acola

Mashita ‘acola’ Hayato holds second place, continuing to shape Ultimate’s meta despite increasing counterplay to his Steve. Often seen as the final boss — if you can beat him, you can beat anybody — acola has forced the entire community to adapt to his playstyle.
Victories at Kagaribi#13 and Maesuma’TOP #1 demonstrate his domestic dominance, while the GENESIS X2 runner-up finish proved his international threat remains. The 33rd-48th placement at LVL UP EXPO 2025, falling to Skinny the Pooh’s Mario, marked a significant upset that shocked viewers. His fifth-sixth at Battle of BC 7 after losing to Ouch!? further suggests international competition presents unique challenges. However, acola has remained a top player for a reason, and there is no reason to believe he will not find ways to adjust.
Doramigi

Japan’s ‘Doramigi‘ claims the top spot, his Min Min proving nearly unstoppable across the tournament circuit. The LVL UP EXPO 2025 victory demonstrated his ability to defeat North America’s best, taking down Onin in grand finals.
First-place finishes at Sumabato SP59, defeating Hurt’s Snake, showcased complete control of his character’s spacing. Second-place runs at both Sumabato SP55 and Maesuma’TOP #1 — the latter featuring an incredible bracket reset against acola before ultimately falling — prove his consistency against home’s best. At just 15 years old, it’s anyone’s guess how high he will soar.
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