Sora of Kingdom Hearts has finally arrived in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and despite being the last fighter, he is very beginner-friendly. Unlike Kazuya, Sora's moves and combos are straightforward. He also has a remarkable recovery; potentially, the best recovery in the game if a player knows what they are doing. He also can chase down his foes in the air and safely "kill confirm" without worrying about falling off the stage.
However, he is also very lightweight, making him a glass cannon. On top of that, players who are used to the physics of Super Smash Bros. may struggle more than a novice because Sora is extremely floaty. His double-jump will send him soaring into the air, and it may be hard for some players to get used to, but overall his air combat is where he shines. His kit also has a few nuances that the average player most likely wouldn't pick up on but can be necessary knowledge for getting the most out of Sora.
Sora's bread and butter is his three-hit combo. He uses this in the air and on the ground, and it racks up damage. An easy way to get an opponent into this combo is to use Sora's down-tilt for popping them in the air, then jump and start the combo in the air with his neutral air attack or forward air attack. His neutral air will attack all around him but do a little less damage, while his forward air only attacks in front but deals slightly more damage. Reversely, if their percentage is low enough, a normal combo on an aerial opponent will work since Sora's keyblade can bring opponents back down from the air.
Although Sora excels in the air, being floaty makes him a sitting duck for potential attackers. When Sora is in the air, using his down aerial attack is an excellent way to get him back to the ground quickly. Sora will spin in a circle and damage opponents in his way as he'll fall straight to the ground. Sora can't cancel this move until the end of his spin, so be careful not to self-destruct off the stage while using it. Despite this risk, Sora's recovery is strong enough to recover from performing this move off the edge of a stage, assuming he hasn't fallen too far. He can use it to pursue opponents who are off the stage relatively safely as well. Use it to keep the opponent under pressure when they are trying to recover.
Sora's neutral special is his Magic, which cycles between Firaga, Thundaga and Blizzaga. Firaga is a good projectile to keep opponents pressured, while Thundaga, arguably Sora's greatest spell, does great damage, knockback and can be used to edge guard safely. Blizzaga does a fair amount of damage and freezes opponents. Although frozen opponents suffer less knockback, timing a smash attack with the moment they break out of their frozen state can do massive damage and has a good chance of knocking them out, but the timing is tricky.
Sora's up special is Aerial Sweep and is similar to other sword fighters like Link and Young Link, but it is also much more deadly. Sora spins around in a circle with his keyblade, lifting himself into the air. The best part about this move is its ability to KO opponents with relative ease. Catching an opponent at about 130% damage with this move nearly guarantees a KO. It is also easy to combo into, whether from his down-tilt or straight out of shielding. It can also be used when persuing aerial opponents and can knock them out by pulling them towards the top of the screen.
His side special is arguably his most important one. Sora's Sonic Blade is not only great for keeping pressure on his opponents, but Sora can use it for recovery as well. Sora will automatically lock onto opponents and attack them by using side special and holding the special button-down. Alternatively, pressing the side special without holding the button can let players use the control stick to direct Sora's movements in the air up to two more times after the move first activates. This attack can be used at the end of Aerial Sweep, making it an essential recovery tool. If trying to recover, make sure not to be holding the special button-down or else you may not be able to control Sora's flight properly.
Lastly, his down special is a counter which unsteadies an attacking enemy and strikes back with the power of their move and then some. Use this move to prevent an opponent from getting too comfortable when they are pushing the offensive. Counterattack can also deflect/power-up incoming projectiles; however, it doesn't reflect them at the opponent. This will only be useful in matches with more than two opponents or exploding projectiles like Sephiroth's Gigaflare.
Overall, Sora is the perfect final fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. He stands out enough from other fighters to warrant his inclusion in the game while being beginner-friendly, unlike some of the more technical DLC fighters Smash has received in the past. He won't be for everyone, but he is accessible enough that anyone can pick up Sora and have a good time.
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