Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai has detailed more information on Pyra, Mythra, and upcoming Mii Fighter costumes.
As previously reported, Pyra is the Aegis in Xenoblade Chronicles 2; a legendary Blade. Blades are living weapons who are joined to a person, granting them their weapon and powers in battle. For those familiar with the plot of Xenoblade Chronicles 2; Pyra is also able to turn into another being called Mythra. While Pyra uses fire based attacks, Mythra uses light-based ones.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed during the announcement that Pyra and Mythra are censored. While only Mythra had her legs and cleavage covered in her Spirit image, now Pyra also has tights to cover up the legs seen between her skirt and thigh-high boots.
It is likely both Pyra and Mythra were censored as their bare legs and cleavage would raise the game’s Everyone 10+age rating after its launch, along with other regions. Sakurai only stated today that Pyra’s new design came after a lot of trial and error.
The Down B special changes between the two; much like Zelda and Shiek in Melee. Pyra is a more power-focused character with more reach, while Mythra is faster and can jump a little higher. Mythra also has access to Foresight. When players dodge as Mythra, they have a brief period afterward were instead of taking damage, they take much less, and slightly slow foes.
While both characters have the same basic attacks, they have slightly different properties. Pyra’s attacks tend to deal single, heavy-hitting slow attacks; while Mythra deals quicker and multiple hit attacks. Both characters have a down-air meteor smash.
Pyra’s neutral special is Flame Nova, making her blade spin around her while on fire. It can be charged for more power, and can be charged while jumping. This charge cannot be stored however. Mythra’s neutral special is Lightning Buster, creating a flurry of wipes in front of her. Charging it increases its range.
The side special for Pyra is Blazing End, throwing her weapon in a spinning inferno before it returns to her. She can even more around while the blade is out of her hand. Mythra’s is Photon Edge, a warping strike where she dashes forward while slashing wildly.
Pyra’s up special is Prominence Revolt. While a recovery move, Pyra deals an upwards slash, before crashing back down and impaling the ground. Mythra has Ray of Punishment, making her leap into the air before shooting a ball of light at a downward angle. Hitting the special button over and over will shoot 5 smaller shots in a fan instead (Chroma Dust).
Pyra’s Final Smash is Burning Sword, while Mythra’s is Sacred Arrow. Both involve Rex attacking the foe with a slash, before following up with the attack.
Sakurai explains that getting Rex to fight alongside Pyra/Mythra (much like how the Ice Climbers are two characters) was too complex, and would have made the character one of the most complex in the game. Rex does appear when the character taunts however.
The characters’ stage is the Cloud Sea of Alrest, riding on the back of the titan Gramps, Though he is dwarfed by the other Titans and their nations in the background. The other main characters will also appear in the background of the stage itself.
Gramps can also move his head, and may turn it at just the right (or wrong) time. However, elements on Rex’s house will speed up, giving you a warning.
Along with Songs from the Gaur Plain stage, 16 tracks are added, including three new arrangements. This means a total of 27 across the Xenoblade Chronicles series. By default, the stages will only play music from their own game, but this can be changed in the My Music settings.
A special DLC Spirit Board will also be added. While the game already has spirits for Rex, Nia, Tora, Poppi alpha, Morag, and Zeke; more characters have been added. Those existing Spirits will now use Xenoblade Chronicles II music when battled, and Poppi alpha now has her own challenge. The Rex spirit can also transform when raised to level 99 now, granting him his Master Driver form.
New spirits include Jin, Malos, Lora, Amalthus, Pneuma. The latter did not even have official artwork until that game’s main character designer (Masatsugu Saito) and Monolithsoft produced it for Smash Bros.
As with similar presentations, Mii Fighter costumes were detailed. The Round 9 costumes include three based off the Monster Hunter series. While there is Hunter Equipment and Rathalos Equipment for Swordfighters, there is also a Felyne hat for any class of Mii Fighter. The costumes also include Athur from Ghosts n’ Goblins for Swordfighters.
You can find the Mr Sakurai Presents Pyra/Mythra presentation below.
Pyra/Mythra and Mii Fighter Costumes Round 9 launch March 4th, and will also be part of the Fighters Pass Vol. 2 along side Min Min from ARMS, Steve from Minecraft, and Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now for Nintendo Switch. In case you missed it, you can find our thorough review for the game here (we highly recommend it!)
