SSBMRank 2025: The Top Ten
Melee Stats is proud to present SSBMRank 2025, the eleventh iteration of Melee’s annual year-end Top 100. This year’s rankings reflect the dedication and character of our competitors and the scene at large. We hope you’ll join us in honoring those players and moments that have come to define Melee in 2025.
We polled 23 community figures to rate each ballot-eligible player based on their performances throughout 2025. These panelists span a wide range: top players, tournament organizers, writers, analysts, and more. Each panelist rated each player with a value between 1 and 120, and then each player’s rating was aggregated to a single value based on their distribution of votes.
#10: lloD | Rating: 92.95
Once Arjun “lloD” Malhotra makes up his mind, he is immovable in conviction and unstoppable in pursuit. This stubbornness — determination? — is his most admirable and most annoying trait. I say this not just as a fellow competitor who has crossed lloD’s bracket path, but as his older brother trying to keep him in check. He is a pain in an argument; he concedes no ground and has comprehensively thought through his positions, even if the logic only makes sense to him. He often neglects the basics in favor of making the impossible look effortless (lloD is responsible for hyper-floats, sub-floats, and slap dashes entering the vernacular). But maybe he’s right and I, his ever-steadfast coach, am wrong; it doesn’t matter, because all lloD needs is to make up his mind for things to lock into place.
Don’t mistake this obdurate determination for single-mindedness; lloD’s constantly thinking through multiple threads. This puts him at risk of over-complication, but it also means he’s prepared for the edge cases. Put it all together and you have a Peach distinct from the crowd. Can any other floaty make Hungrybox look like he’s playing a losing matchup, or put Zain on the back foot with grounded movement?
lloD remains obstinate no matter the endeavor. It’s no secret that he’s training as a doctor doctor (white coat medical practitioner + Ph.D candidate = “doctor doctor”), one more area which he pushes to the extreme. Now, after a year of “inactivity,” lloD makes his first-ever appearance in the Top 10 for the year-end rankings. I expect lloD to continue squeezing in Melee practice between rounds in the operating room, and I know he will continue to forge his legacy as one of the best to ever do it. Because — much to the frustration of his opponents (and sometimes his brother) — when lloD’s mind is made up, there’s nothing that can stop him.
-Rishi “lloD’s Big Bro” Malhotra
#9: Wizzrobe | Rating: 93.57
In his seminal text The Critique of Pure Reason, Immanuel Kant proposed that the reality we see is inseparably connected with our prior experience and intuition. This theory, known as transcendental idealism, argues that the absolute truth (noumena) is entirely inaccessible; and we as a species are doomed to chase representational sensory phenomena of an unperceivable truth.
In spite of this, no matter who or when you ask, they will tell you that Wizzrobe’s Captain Falcon is the truth.
For the greater half of his life, Justin “Wizzrobe” Hallet has been searching for a measurable ideal only able to be accomplished via a dimension crafted within the limitations of the human senses called 20GX; the year Falcon reigns supreme. Wizzy and his mentors developed this theory and produced a “path [they] believe Falcons should strive for.”
Since then, Wizzrobe has pursued the Platonic ideal of Captain Falcon in lieu of the stomp knee and moonwalk shaped shadows on the wall, the phenomena that plague his contemporary Falcon mains, and by doing so he established a style that was not only timeless but prophetic.
Wizzrobe is still showing that whatever new challenges the Melee scene throws at him, he will contend them unflinchingly in his pursuit of Captain Falcon’s noumenal truth. This dedication was on full display at Get on My Level: Forever, where he placed 4th with wins over Cody, moky, and a suite of other contenders in Chem, Aura, and RapMonster. Couple that with a 3rd place at Genesis X2, and Wizzrobe seems to be reaching a terminal velocity not seen since we were swimming it up in Wisconsin Dells. So when will 20GX come? Who is to say. One thing we know from experience is that even if Wizzrobe makes us wait a little, it’s always worth it.
-trinity meleesadposts
#8: SDJ | Rating: 94.49
Let’s get it out of the way: it is insane to see two Jigglypuff mains in the Top 10. This hasn’t happened since 2008, before the SSBMRank even existed! So how did SDJ accomplish what so many Puffs couldn’t?
First, SDJ makes fewer mistakes. Puff may not break wrists, but she does come with her own brand of risks. One overreach can throw a whole set — Hungrybox has historically managed that risk better than any other Puff by a wide margin. SDJ brings it pretty close.
Second, SDJ doesn’t chase ghosts; they do not imitate Hbox nor reach for the days of Mang0 and The King. They are emphatically their own floaty animal. They forward air in neutral, hold center, shift drift patterns, go for grab resets on tech chases, in ways that no other Puff does. They’ve been rewarded for their distinctions too, with a regional win (Fast Fall$ 2025) and an insane list of names — Trif, lloD, aMSa, Axe, moky, Aklo, and (write this one down) Cody Schwab. Oh, they also gave Hbox his first major loss in the Puff ditto in over a decade.
For years, Puff haters have dreaded the day another Puff main would prove how terrifying this character could be; but it’s the Puff fans who are feasting, because SDJ didn’t do it by out-camping Hgod. SDJ did it by showing that, as with all the top tiers, many styles of Puff can thrive.
-Austin “Plyff” Ryan
#7: Jmook | Rating: 95.60
Jake “Jmook” DiRado has marked his year with plenty of accomplishments: Top 4 finishes at three different majors, one of the highest attendance records in the Top 10, and a clean sheet against every Peach and Falcon in the world. But what makes Jmook special isn’t expressed by what you see on spreadsheets; it’s what you see in motion. Tune into any of the hundreds of events he attends and you’ll witness him execute one of the most beautiful zero-to-deaths you’ve ever seen against the best players in the world. It seems that every time he picks up a controller, you’re about to witness magic.
But it’s important to realize that Jmook wasn’t gifted his ingenuity overnight. He crafted it by grinding unassuming drills, drills as simple as “Stand > Walk > Stand > Turn;” over and over again, until movement became as simple as breathing. It’s easy to watch Jmook play and believe you lack his talent. In reality, it’s his maturity you lack instead.
Jmook’s records are admittedly not infallible, but the path to the top may be closer for him than for any other player trailing behind the Top 2. Not only is Jmook one of four players to have a win against every member of the Top 10, he is one of only two players — and the only who doesn’t play Donkey Kong — with a winning record on Zain. Jmook might look far from the throne, but he’s capable of skipping all the way to first. Just don’t blink. You might miss it.
-Glenn “KayB” Kim
#6: Axe | Rating: 95.85
At the end of last year, doomscrollers were alarmed by a post from Axe: the all too familiar “my future with Melee” twitlonger. Pavlov’d Melee fans assumed this would spell his retirement. After all, the field is getting tougher and tougher, and he’s one of only three players who have been on every SSBMRank since its inception. His legacy and legend is all but set. Instead it could easily be summarized as: I’m all in.
To reach the heights Axe has seen in Melee requires sacrifice, faith, dedication and a bit of gambling. Axe staked his life on Pikachu, practicing as much as possible each day, all with the goal of returning to his status as a Top 8 mainstay. Faced with the challenge of revolutionizing Pikachu a third time over with no peers to emulate, he endured Melee’s field of freshly crowned top level Jigglypuffs, Peaches and Terminator Foxes. He manifested his goals into reality, scarcely missing a Top 8, and secured wins that made the world feel like it did before we knew what Palantir was. His runs at Full House 2025 and Battle of BC 7 show his work ethic stands the test of time; his tear-jerking win versus Hungrybox at Riptide 2025 (his first win since MLG Anaheim in 2014) provided that the Arizona Phoenix not only has the ability to return, but to be reborn.
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How can we truly understand the depth of Axe’s desire? What pushes someone to reach the pinnacle of competition, and then to accept the challenge of self destruction and reinvention each time the field gets ahead of him? His intense dedication, constant smile, and loyalty to Pikachu show that it’s as simple as unconditional love.
-trinity meleesadposts
#5: moky | Rating: 96.95
In 2024, Kurtis “moky” Pratt broke new ground by making history as the first Canadian player to win a major at Don’t Park On The Grass 2024. In 2025, he only kept adding more to his list of achievements as one of the greatest players in the game today, nabbing his third consecutive placing in the Top 10 in one of the most competitive eras in the game’s history.
Attending ten large-scale tournaments throughout the year, moky demonstrated a high-degree of consistency, making eight Top 16 appearances at said events. 2025 also brought on another new change for the Ontario Fox main, and his teammate, Zain, with their previous sponsor, Moist Esports, merging with Shopify Rebellion. Speaking of grandmaster grinders, going into the year, Zain held a 17–0 all-time set record over moky in a wholly one-sided rivalry. At Full House 2025, however, moky finally got himself on the board against his nemesis by besting him in the Swiss portion of the bracket. This victory was one of many highlights in his run to second place, punctuated with stellar wins over Salt, Axe and Hungrybox.
With another thrilling year over, moky continues to push himself. After proving once and for all that he does have what it takes to defeat Zain, there’s no telling just how far he can climb.
-“Hank” Strandberg
#4: Joshman | Rating: 97.61
His friends and family (his fans) are prouder than ever, but there’s something melancholy about watching Joshua “Joshman” Lyras play this year. Take Nouns Bowl 2025, where he dispassionately crushed Aklo, Cody Schwab, Jmook, and Nicki on winners side. At 10pm, Josh says, his “brain turns to jello,” so the win goes to Cody on his second health bar. Before jello-time, Josh is a stronger player than he’s ever been. So why is he acting a lot like your favorite coworker after putting in his two weeks notice?
Here’s your 52-week notice: Josh plans to leave Burgerland at the end of 2026. He’s returning to his beloved Australia to start a family and pursue a real career, probably one where he’s not allowed to tell evil gamers they’re subhuman trash: as a therapist. Everyone who’s met Josh sees the vision. Josh is always attentive to the emotional states of the people around him, what level of biting banter or support he can provide. When you hang out with him long enough, you learn to just say what you’re feeling right away.
He feels no pressure to go out with a bang. Maybe he’ll finally win a major, maybe he won’t. Maybe he’ll get that Zain win, maybe he won’t. When he’s told people he’s leaving, they go silent, and sad. Joshman reassures his friends. “It’s just the natural end to an awesome part of my life.”
What is he gonna miss the most? A long pause. “Probably the high fructose corn syrup, if I had to pick anything.”
-Jackzilla
#3: Hungrybox | Rating: 98.43
You’d think Juan “Hungrybox” Debiedma has it all: a content empire he’s built, a global fanbase at his feet, and a newfound love that made the road feel like home. But Hungrybox does not pour every ounce of his soul into competition for mere clout or passing fame. Hungrybox, more than anything else, wants to win.
It was a promise he made to himself long before anyone cared, back when he was just a kid with stubborn belief and a dream too big for the room. In the two decades since, Hbox has gritted his teeth and chased every goal with relentless conviction, determined to prove every single doubter wrong. Since 2022, Zain loomed over him like an untouchable giant, and the gospel claimed that Hungrybox was solved. That is, until Full House 2025, when Hbox finally slayed Goliath. It had been three grueling years since Riptide 2022, the last time since Hbox won a supermajor. So many nonbelievers swore that he’d never touch the summit again. But you know how Genesis X2 grand finals ended.
He’s up four stocks to two on Dream Land, match point versus Trif. The game is not even remotely close to finished; and yet, the tears start spilling down his face. Some in the audience laugh and smile at what they perceive as panache theatrics, until the realization seeps in: it’s completely genuine. In that instant, the work, the pain, the almosts, the refusal to give up flood back all at once. For a brief moment, for the first time in god knows how long, the Hgod vanishes. Under the spotlight, the crowd sees that kid from the documentary again. The one who dared to dream big. The theater goes dark, and suddenly, the only thing left in the room is the truth.
Juan’s a winner again.
-Justin “DarkGenex” Cohen
#2: Cody Schwab | Rating: 99.21
The bank Cody Schwab pays his mortgage to doesn’t know that he’s extremely good at video games. He is the dream-run ender, he spawns with five stocks, he’s the Fox main we were warned about — and when you interview him after a victory, he’ll tell you he hasn’t even played at his peak yet, or shown how far Fox can be pushed.
People constantly try to turn him into a character, or something other than what he is — but Cody Schwab lives in the real world. When Cody talks about money, burnout, or the emotional cost of competition, he speaks plainly. There’s no escapism in watching him.
In the real world we pay rent, we have mortgages, we have spreadsheets we build with partners to evaluate how much we can spend on groceries. There’s a leak in the basement, family members who need us, dogs that need sitters. There’s only so many times you can ask your monied friends for favors, risk a subgoal for the next tournament just to come home with a few hundred dollars. For anyone wanting stability, to start a family, or personal growth, Melee is a fraught business.
Our most successful streamers, Hungrybox, moky, and Zain, have the privilege of sponsors and styles that have carried them to stability. Cody’s sponsors vanished from the face of the earth as soon as they signed him. The potential of developer-supported games like 2XKO is the last hope for Cody as a professional gamer. If that doesn’t work out, there is a near guarantee: whatever he does choose, he will be one of the best in the world to do it.
-Jackzilla
#1: Zain | Rating: 100.00
Melee’s always been mythologized into eras: times where either a singular player, or groups of gods, have steered the very essence of the game through what they’ve wrought with their controllers. Since Shine 2018, when he joined the select few who have ever won a major, Zain Naghmi has woven his name through the game’s tapestry at every level, making post-Covid The Zain Era.
Call it the Zain-Cody-Mang0 tier. The Zain-Cody tier. The Zain-Cody-Hungrybox tier. It doesn’t matter; the Big Dog’s got top billing in every iteration, and for good reason — he’s got winning records on the entire field, won five majors for the year, and somehow keeps pushing the content game on the side. (Have you heard the Suck Tuah song? It’s disgusting how much of an earworm it is.) We can all forgive a bit of Bowser poisoning for his first finish outside of Top 8 in six years. After slipping to #2 for the Summer 2025 rank, however, it became clear that his work was cut out for him; Zain wouldn’t place below third (with Marth) at another major for the rest of the year. The 26-character grandmaster challenge, the suck-a-thon, and a 7–4 record over Cody Schwab — only Zain could get it done all in one year. You cannot deny his consistency, you cannot deny his charm, and you cannot deny that Zain is, without a doubt, #1 in the world again.
-Stude
The SSBMRank 2025 Team
Director: Brendan “GimmeDatWheat” Malone
Editing Lead: Zane “epengu” Bhansali
Data Lead: Eryk “Ambisinister” Banatt
Graphics Lead: Nick “DarkDragoon” Konstantino
Community Lead: Justin “DarkGenex” Cohen
Check out start.gg/SSBMRank for the full list.
