How to Start an 8-Player Smash Battle (Super Smash Bros. Wii U)

Wii U

In this article, you'll learn how to start an 8-player Smash Battle.

In order to play a Smash Battle with 5 or more players, players 5-8 will first need to sync their controller to the system. This can only be done from within the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U game.
Up to seven Wii U Pro Controllers and/or Wii Remote Controllers can be paired with the console.
To use a GameCube controller, you will need a GameCube Controller Adapter for Wii U. One adapter will allow you to connect up to four GameCube controllers, and by using two adapters you can connect a maximum of eight GameCube controllers simultaneously.
Although you can use Super Smash Bros. for Wii U to pair seven controllers to your system, these controllers will only be usable while playing 8-Player Smash. Once you exit this mode, controllers 5-7 will become unusable until you play this mode again.

Complete these steps

Start Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and at the Main Menu, select Smash and press the A Button.
Select 8-Player Smash and press the A Button.
At the character-selection screen, players 1-4 will press the A button on the controller they wish to use to activate it and select a character.
- Players 2-4 will need to sync their controllers.
Players 5-8 will need to sync their controllers one at a time from the character-selection screen:
- Press the SYNC Button on the Wii U console. Nothing will display on screen after pressing this button, but you will still be able to pair the controller.
- Press the SYNC Button on the controller you wish to use.
- The Power LED on the controller will light up and remain solid when the pairing is complete. At which point, press any button to activate it for use in the game and select a character.
- Repeat the above steps for each remaining controller.
Once all players have joined and chosen a character, one player will need to press the +Button and select a stage and press the A Button to begin the Smash Battle.