Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
The matchup swings on whether Cloud gets time to show Limit in center stage or gets walked back to the ledge by Richter’s Axe, Holy Water, and Cross pattern.
Richter’s horizontal control is excellent, but his mobility and close-range pressure are much weaker, so Cloud should use shield walking, down tilt, tipper back air, and Limit threat to take space without jumping recklessly into the wall.
On shield, Forward Tilt loses to Up B (7f), and Neutral Air, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Side B, and landing Down Air all lose to Up B or OOS Nair, so Cloud does not need to challenge the safer Forward Air, Back Air, Up Air, or Neutral B immediately.
For kills, it is more reliable to hold the corner with Back Air, Down Tilt, Up Smash, and Limit specials than to chase deep offstage and expose Cloud’s own recovery to Holy Water and Axe.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Cloud OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 5 | -21 |
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| Jab 2 | 3 | -23 |
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| Rapid Jab | 9/12/15… | — | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 3 | -37 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12 | -8/-7 |
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| Up Tilt | 10 | -17 |
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| Down Tilt (1) | 7 | -31 |
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| Down Tilt (2) | 8 | -42/-28 |
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| Dash Attack | 10/13/16/19/22/24 | -26 |
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| Forward Smash | 24 | -28/-26 |
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| Up Smash | 16 | -27/-26 |
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| Down Smash | 14/20 | -33/-30/-27/-24 |
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| Neutral Air | 8… | -12/-11 |
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| Forward Air | 14 | -6/-5/-8 |
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| Back Air | 14 | -6/-5/-8 |
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| Up Air | 14 | -6/-5/-8 |
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| Down Air | 13 | -21/-23 |
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| Neutral B | 30 | -6 |
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| Side B | 19 | -15 |
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| Up B | 6/9/… | ** | ||
| Down B | 18 | ** | ||
| Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 13 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 14 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Cloud should show Limit charge in center stage, then advance with shield walking, down tilt, and tipper back air so Richter cannot keep one fixed Axe and Cross rhythm for free.
- After Cloud blocks Richter’s Forward Tilt, Neutral Air, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Side B, or landing Down Air, answer with Up B (7f) or OOS Nair (8f) and end the sequence immediately.
- When Richter’s Forward Air, Back Air, Up Air, or Neutral B touches shield, Cloud should not mash on the spot and instead track the retreat or landing path for the next sword swing.
- Once Richter is cornered, Cloud should stay just outside Holy Water coverage and layer Back Air, Down Tilt, Up Smash, or a Limit special over jump and neutral getup.
Actions to Avoid
- Jumping high over Axe or Cross without a read and giving Richter an easy anti-air with Forward Air, Up Air, or Up B.
- Mashing after blocked Forward Air, Back Air, Up Air, or Neutral B and getting pushed back out by Up B or a reset whip swing.
- Overchasing Richter offstage after winning the corner and letting Holy Water or Axe turn Cloud’s recovery weakness against him.
- Recovering without Limit at one repeated height and making Richter’s ledge trap timing around Holy Water and Axe too simple.