Which two Fire Emblem fighters in Melee were initially intended for Japan only?

The two Fire Emblem fighters in Melee initially intended for Japan only were Marth and Roy.

Marth and Roy were added to Super Smash Bros. Melee as representatives of Fire Emblem, a strategy-RPG series that had not yet been released internationally. Their inclusion was therefore designed primarily for Japanese players, who already recognized the characters from the franchise's earlier games and upcoming releases.

Marth came from the first Fire Emblem game, later known in the West as Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. Roy was associated with The Binding Blade, which launched in Japan in 2002. Melee itself arrived in Japan in 2001, before Roy's starring game was released, making his appearance especially early for international audiences.

Nintendo ultimately kept both characters in overseas versions of Melee. Their unfamiliarity did not prevent them from becoming memorable parts of the roster, and their presence helped introduce Western players to Fire Emblem. Later Smash games added other series fighters, including Ike, Robin, Lucina, Corrin, Chrom, and Byleth, but those pairs were not Melee's original Japan-only candidates.