TL;DR: This prompt turns any fictional character into a fully realized Super Smash Bros. fighter, complete with frame data, mechanics, and taunts.
I have always loved the speculation cycles before a new Smash Bros. game releases. The community debates over whether Geno, Waluigi, or Master Chief deserve a spot are legendary. That is why I was thrilled to find this workflow by u/Early-Score-6883. The author built a rigorous, multi-stage prompt that does not just list moves: it designs a balanced, competitive character from the ground up.
⚙️ Why This Prompt Works
This is not a simple “write a list” request. The creator uses a few smart engineering tricks here:
- Context Injection: The optional first step forces the AI to research the character first. This prevents generic outputs for obscure characters and ensures the moveset is lore-accurate.
- Step-by-Step Control: By forcing the AI to “Stop after Step X,” the prompt manages the token limit and keeps the quality high. The AI focuses on one aspect (mechanics, moves, aesthetics) at a time rather than rushing to the end.
- Negative Constraints: The author explicitly forbids “RNG mechanics” or “camp-heavy identity.” This ensures the result feels like a fair, competitive fighter rather than a broken boss character.
🛠️ Use Cases
- Modding Resources: If you create mods for Rivals of Aether or Smash, this generates a solid design document to start coding from.
- Fan Debates: Finally settle how Goku or SpongeBob would actually play in a platform fighter with concrete mechanics.
- Creative Writing: Use the dialogue section to capture a character’s voice for fan fiction or scripts.
📝 The Prompt
(Optional Setup Phase)
Find and open the official fan wiki page for the character (character) from (source). Prioritize well-maintained wiki sites such as Fandom, Miraheze, or Wikidot. Before proceeding, confirm that the page is specifically about this (source) character and not another subject with the same name. Provide the exact URL of the page you used.
From that page and any existing related page, extract and summarize the following information: fighting style, powers/abilities, equipment, weaknesses, attacks/techniques, personality/narrative role, and physical appearance. In your summaries, clearly cite or quote key details from the source.
Use this sourced information to update or overwrite your existing knowledge about (character), as it will be referenced later when I ask you to create a Smash Bros. character moveset.
(Main Prompt)
Create a competitive, fully fleshed-out Super Smash Bros. character moveset for (character), drawing strictly from canon material in (source). Prioritize competitive balance and traditional Smash design philosophy over pure canon accuracy.
Important format rule:
Complete only ONE step per response. After finishing a step, stop. Wait for the user to request the next step before continuing.
Step 1 – Design Framework
Define the mechanical and thematic design philosophy for (character) as a Smash character. Clearly establish:
- Core playstyle archetype (rushdown, zoner, bait-and-punish, trapper, etc.)
- Mechanical identity (what makes them unique within Smash without breaking genre norms)
- Canon-derived ability translation (how non-combat traits convert into mechanics)
- Equipment sources (what items/tools are canon-justified)
- Explicit weaknesses (frame data, weight class, recovery flaws, range gaps, etc.)
- Risk/reward philosophy
- Player skill expression (how thoughtful play is rewarded, how autopilot play is punished)
These goals must guide all later design decisions. Avoid vague statements. Be mechanically specific.
Stop after Step 1.
Step 2 – Complete Moveset
Provide a full competitive moveset with detailed mechanical descriptions.
Include:
- Attributes (weight compared to an existing Smash character, fall speed comparison, walk speed comparison, run speed comparison, air speed comparison, jump height comparison)
- Jab (all hits)
- Forward tilt
- Up tilt
- Down tilt
- Dash attack
- Forward smash
- Up smash
- Down smash
- Neutral air
- Forward air
- Back air
- Up air
- Down air
- Grab
- Pummel
- Forward throw
- Back throw
- Up throw
- Down throw
- Floor attacks
- Ledge attack
- Neutral special
- Side special
- Up special
- Down special
- Final Smash
Design constraints:
- No RNG mechanics
- No stage modification or structure spawning
- No comeback mechanics
- No frame-one hitboxes
- No move should be universally safe or dominant
- No flowchart or autopilot combo loops
- No camp-heavy identity
- Must include at least one reliable kill option
- Kit must feel like a traditional Smash character while still feeling unique
- Character must not feel like a boss or a different game system
The Final Smash may ignore competitive constraints.
Stop after Step 2.
Step 3 – Aesthetic Design
Describe:
- CSS portrait
- Stage entrance animation
- Idle animation
- Walk animation
- Run animation
- Jumping animation
- Three taunts
- Crowd cheer
- All victory poses
- All alternate costumes (with detailed visual description and canon justification)
- Kirby hat and copied ability
- Boxing Ring title
- Reveal trailer tagline
Keep aesthetics consistent with Smash tone while preserving authenticity.
Stop after Step 3.
Step 4 – Dialogue
Write:
- 3 Character Select Screen quotes
- 5 quotes for picking up an offensive item
- 5 quotes for picking up a defensive item
- 5 quotes for using a healing item
- 5 quotes for using a Pokeball or Assist Trophy
- 15 quotes for successfully KO’ing an opponent (generic only)
- 15 respawn quotes (generic only)
- Script for Snake’s codec conversation
- Script for Palutena’s Guidance
Each quote must be unmistakably specific to (character), using their established voice, cadence, vocabulary, and emotional tone from (source). References to concrete elements from canon (such as a named character, signature phrase, recurring setting, defining event, personal conflict, or thematic motif) are appreciated, but it’s not required for every line. Avoid generic fighting game phrases like “Round two,” “I’m back,” or “Let’s go.” Vary sentence length and rhythm. Quotes should sound like natural spoken dialogue, not slogans. If a quote could plausibly be said by another character from a different franchise, rewrite it to be more specific.
🔄 Variations
- Change the Game: Swap “Super Smash Bros.” for “Street Fighter 6” or “Tekken 8” in the prompt. You will need to adjust the specific move names (like removing “Final Smash” and adding “Super Art”), but the logic holds up.
- Boss Mode: The original poster included constraints to keep the character balanced. Remove the “No boss feel” constraint and ask the AI to design an overpowered raid boss version of the character instead.
Check out the original Reddit discussion for more ideas.
Prompt to design a Smash Bros. moveset for almost any fictional character.
by u/Early-Score-6883 in ChatGPTPromptGenius