Smash 4 has officially hit the books, and we can now officially look back on everything our players have accomplished in it. Here's the PR Panel (Cyrrona, Dewey, Duwang, Gyromight, Shinkou, and Slow Dancer) list of the top 15 players of all time in WWA Smash 4, with accompanying graphics by @CeegeArts. Some of these calls were quite close--we've had plenty of great talent crop up in our region over the past four years. That said, though, I'm personally super proud of how far everyone has come. Can't wait to see the whole region out and motivated again soon. :)
15. Milky
New Kid on the Block
Even though he didn’t start attending tournaments until Smash 4’s final half-year, Mikey “Milky” George's disorienting Bayonetta mix-ups and consistently strong showings left a mark. We may see less of him in the future, though—he has a child on the way, and he’ll need all the Witch Time he can get.
14. TrueMain
Blood Phoenix Oil
Known by many tags, Alexander “TrueMain” Entrikin is distinguished by his aggressive Sonic play and quirky assortment of counterpicks. Though best recognized as an Oregon slayer, he’s no stranger to great Washington wins, all of which led to several fine PR showings. If he ever returns to the sticks, prepare yourself for a wild [spring] ride.
13. Felix
Banana Brawler
Though he’s been on fewer official PRs than anyone else on this list, Daniel “Felix” Lizarraga was the clear #2 behind Cacogen throughout WWA Smash 4’s undocumented first year. His proficiency with Brawl Diddy Kong led him on plenty of deep runs at regionals. He may have bowed out while the game was still young, but his time here made a lasting impression.
12. Duwang
Ace Trainer
After shucking his early tag, Lambad, and pushing himself hard over the years, Rey “Duwang” Ticehurst ends Smash 4 Lambetter than ever. His hot-and-cold style of Mario closes out Smash 4 with sets on some of our region’s finest. Given the great strides he’s made in the game’s final year, we have no doubts he’ll keep on leveling up in Ultimate.
11. DAMN.
Distant Thunder
Ramiro “DAMN.” Acosta, the player formerly known as Thundercat, is a man of few words—he prefers to let Ryu’s fists do the talking. Though he’s drifted in and out of the scene several times over the game’s lifespan, his high-profile regional wins and frequent presence around the center of PR prove he’ll always be someone to watch out for in bracket. Period.
10. Disorient
Waifu Warrior
The definitive #3 of early WWA Smash 4 and a fierce competitor well into the game’s midpoint, Deche “Disorient” Black and his femme fatales pose threats in any bracket they enter. His fluid playstyle keeps opponents on their toes and other characters off the ground. While most of his practice these days comes from Wi-Fi, we could see a grand return to the big stage soon.
9. Pyreeze
Southern Spark
Vincent “Pyreeze” Du Pont is the man who put SoWA on the map and one of the fiercest Samus players around. Known for his aggressive use of Down Air and commitment to the lab, Pyreeze started strong in WWA and finished stronger. While his work has taken him away to Germany for the foreseeable future, we know he’ll shake things up no matter where—or what—he plays.
8. Locke
Upper Class
Between his distinctive laughter and bold, punishing playstyle, Timothy “Locke” Locke has been a hallmark of—and a bracket threat in—the WWA Smash 4 scene for over three straight years. A student of Smash, Locke excels at playing mind games with opponents and netting early KOs with the Blue Bomber’s risky Mega Upper. I also hear Lucario’s gotten buffed in Ultimate, so we may even get a taste of the aura down the road.
7. Magister
Knockout Artist
While Rommell “Magister” Snell has enjoyed commendable peaks and wins in WWA for years, his “poster matches” at majors made himself a national name as both an illustrator and a Smasher. Whether he’s playing Villager or Charizard, Magister excels at laying traps for opponents and punishing any attempt at escape. We can’t wait to see what crafty gameplans he’ll draw up in the new generation.
6. Shinkou
Timeless
Taylor “Shinkou” Dickinson is a veteran of the WWA Smash 4 scene and the game series as a whole. In fact, he’s appeared in every official WWA Smash 4 ranking to date, a feat matched only by Konga. Shinkou’s shown high peaks, proficiency with several characters, and an uncanny knack for adapting to the metagame over the years. His experience and oppressive playstyle have already made him a threat in two Smash titles, and we’re expecting to see a third added soon.
5. Pandarian
Stairway to Heaven
Eric “Pandarian” Lund is one of our community’s greatest testaments to practice and persistence. While he started competing before Smash 4’s midpoint, he didn’t break PR until 2017. Even from there, it took serious grinding over many seasons to reach his peak—and as #1 on our region’s final Smash 4 PR, it’s definitely a peak to be proud of. Pandarian’s already grown more than almost anyone over the course of the game, and he’s still just 15 years old. If this ladder-climber keeps it up, the sky sure seems like the limit in Ultimate.
4. Pokepen
Master of All Trades
Ash “Pokepen” Duchesneau is known for many things. One of the most prominent is his lethal Bayonetta, which he used to skyrocket to #1 in WWA on his third PR outing. Another is his nearly unparalleled proficiency with most of the game’s roster. Pokepen has a talent for finding and exploiting characters’ best tools, and that’s one of the reasons why he’s been in the top 5 every season he’s been on PR. His versatility and determination (prime example: busing for hours to nearly every local around the region) suggest a bright future for him in Smash.
3. KOSSismoss
Captain Kook
When he moved back to Washington from NorCal in 2016, Kenton-Orion “KOSSismoss” Sink made quite the splash with his unconventional character and even less conventional playstyle. His Mr. Game & Watch simply does what it wants to do, regardless of patterns or percentages. KOSSismoss’s fearlessness and impeccable timing led him to #1 on WWA PR his first season here and to plenty of regional accolades afterward. We’re not sure if he plans to stay in the Flat Zone in Ultimate, but we know he’ll be able to make just about anyone feel distinctively “him.”
2. Cacogen
Sleeping Giant
You wouldn’t guess it from watching him nap at events, but Braedon “Cacogen” Phillips was the original sleeping giant lording over the entire Pacific Northwest for the game’s first two years—he even made #46 on the first-ever PGR. His Sheik is surgical, notorious for its safety and its precision, and its rare appearances in the later half of WWA’s Smash 4 lifespan have shown it to be surprisingly rust-resistant as well. Cacogen’s dominance was a major motivator behind our region’s collective leveling up, and we’re hoping he returns to help set the standard again in Ultimate.
1. Konga
Ding Dong Dynasty
He’s the leader of the bunch. You know him well. And he’s finally back to ring your bell.
Calib “Konga” Byers is, in his own words, Donkey Kong personified. He’s well known in and out of Washington for his staunch character loyalty and near-flawless execution of percent-specific kills on the entire cast. With wins over some of the game’s very best players, appearances on both PGRv4 and PGR 100, and more than a few regional events under his belt, Konga’s left an impressive trail of stocks behind him in his climb to the top. Regardless of how strong the DK crew ends up in Ultimate, you can expect plenty more polished performances from him in years to come.