Obviously the original 12 are mainstays, and so are the default characters from Melee (Bowser, Peach, Zelda/Sheik, and Ice Climbers), the default characters from Brawl (Diddy Kong, Pit, Metaknight, Dedede, Olimar, Pokemon Trainer, Ike, and Lucas), and the WTF characters (R.O.B. and Mr. Game & Watch) because of the patterns I've noticed from the past three games. The only characters who aren't safe are the unlockable characters, excluding the original 4 unlockables from 64. The characters I see getting axed are Wolf, for the lack of an official character model from the most recent game, Star Fox 64 3D, Lucario, for Mewtwo's comeback, Ganondorf, for the fact that Demise was his earliest incarnation and is more likely to be picked over Ghirahim or Impa to represent Skyward Sword, Toon Link, for his complete clone status, Snake, and Sonic (both being third-party characters). Even though I said the Pokemon Trainer will stay, but the question is, will they use Red again to represent the concept or use a different trainer and set of starters to share the same name? If the latter, then I really hope for the option to play as a female trainer, because that's been my life long dream after seeing Dawn's performance in the anime, and because Leaf wasn't canon to the series' timeline, hence why she wasn't shown as a gender option for Red in Brawl.