Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Lucario is strongest when Aura Sphere stalls the pace just enough for a burst grab, Forward Air, or Back Air to matter, then Aura scaling turns the next exchange into a comeback threat. The more Byleth trades small hits at range, the more dangerous the endgame becomes.
The stable plan is to ignore the charge game, stop grounded entry with Forward Tilt, Forward Air, and Neutral Air at tipper range, and convert the launch into landing traps or edgeguards before high Aura starts deciding stocks. Keeping center-stage scrambles to a minimum matters more here than squeezing one extra projectile trade.
The table shows reliable shield punishes on Up Smash, Up B, Side B, Dash Attack, and Down Smash, with OOS Nair, Up B, Grab, and OOS Uair available whenever Lucario overcommits on a burst or panic option.
Neutral Air, Forward Air, and Back Air are still not the places to mash. It is safer to take the landing route or ledge route first than to swing into an Aura-powered reversal.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Byleth OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 5 | -16 | -15 | -14 |
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| Jab 2 | 5 | -18 | -18 | -17 |
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| Jab 3 | 9 | -23 | -22 | -21 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12/15 | -12 | -11 | -8 |
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| Up Tilt | 6 | -22/-21 | -20/-20 | -18/-17 |
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| Down Tilt | 7 | -9 | -7 | -5 |
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| Dash Attack | 7 | -28/-27 | -26/-24 | -22/-20 |
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| Forward Smash | 19 | -27/-25 | -24/-26 | -19/-21 |
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| Up Smash | 15/19 | -37/-38 | -34/-36 | -30/-31 |
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| Down Smash | 16 | -28 | -25 | -21 |
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| Neutral Air | 10/18 | -2/-2 | -1/-2 | 0/-1 |
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| Forward Air | 7 | -6 | -6 | -5 |
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| Back Air | 13 | -10/-10 | -9/-9 | -7/-7 |
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| Up Air | 10 | -10/-10 | -9/-10 | -7/-9 |
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| Down Air | 4/11 | -10/-9 | -9/-9 | -8/-8 |
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| Neutral B | 9 (+8) | -26 | -25 | -23 |
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| Side B | (9)24 | -24/-30 | -19/-27 | -10/-24 |
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| Up B | 46 | -23/-31 | -22/-31 | -19/-29 |
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| Down B | 5 (Start of Counter) | — | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 11 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Do not play extended Aura Sphere charge games; keep Lucario at Forward Tilt, Forward Air, and Neutral Air tipper range instead.
- After blocking Up Smash, Up B, Side B, Dash Attack, and Down Smash, answer immediately with OOS Nair, Up B, Grab, or OOS Uair.
- Do not mash after Neutral Air, Forward Air, or Back Air; take the landing route, escape route, or ledge route first.
- Finish stocks through landing traps and edgeguards before high Aura turns center-stage guesses into comeback kills.
Actions to Avoid
- Trading with Aura Sphere too often and feeding Lucario the exact Aura scaling you want to avoid.
- Mashing after every blocked Neutral Air, Forward Air, and Back Air and giving Lucario the Aura-powered reversal.
- Forcing extra center-stage kill guesses instead of cashing out the simpler landing trap or edgeguard.
- Chasing too deep offstage and giving up the tipper stage control you already earned.