Do You Need Both Joy-Cons for Smash?
The question of whether you need both Joy-Cons for Super Smash Bros. on your Nintendo Switch console has puzzled many gamers. The short answer is yes, but there are a few ways to play Smash with one Joy-Con per player, or even eight players total.
Smash-Proof Setup with One Joy-Con per Player
- For two to four players, you can use two Joy-Cons, either by attaching both to your Nintendo Switch and playing each other, or by assigning one Joy-Con to each player.
- For up to eight players, you can use more Joy-Cons, combining them into teams or swapping them during the match.
- Using the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, you can play four-player matches by attaching both controllers to each player, with each Joy-Con playing a different fighter.
Multiplayer Matches with Both Joy-Cons
When playing with friends, the ideal way to set up your matches is by using two players per Switch console to ensure you have enough buttons and pads to control multiple fighters on screen. Using two controllers, you’ll have an even split with each fighter controlling two-thirds of your console’s strength.
For more players than controllers available, you may need to adapt your controller setup using the Party Mode function, which pairs two consoles for a free-for-all fight. Assign one fighter to each of eight players.
Smash-Party Modes
Different fighting game platforms handle group events differently:
- Versus mode: This format allows single players to use one or both Joy-Con controllers depending on the party size you’ve chosen and the rules of the host.
- Smash mode: For larger-scale battles involving up to four players in teams, with each group consisting of their own respective players.
When playing two players per player, keep in mind to adjust accordingly by setting number of available fighters to that of console (1 & 3).