Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
If you only spend the match batting away Trick Shot can and Wild Gunman from long range, Duck Hunt gets repeated setup time and Dark Pit’s slower air drift becomes much easier to pin down.
Dark Pit can break that pattern by using the arrow’s speed and pushback to interrupt can control and horizontal movement, then dashing in to start pressure with Nair, Grab, and Down Tilt before Duck Hunt rebuilds the wall.
Duck Hunt is not especially strong at escaping point-blank pressure, and shallow aerials like Back Air or landing Forward Air can be challenged on shield with Up Smash or OOS Nair, so it is important to pressure the body instead of only the projectiles.
For kills, deep offstage chases are less stable than ledge sequences that layer arrows, Fair, and Bair to cover the Up B landing point and the next can setup at the same time.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Dark Pit OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 4 | -18 |
| |
| Jab 2 | 5 | -19 |
| |
| Jab 3 | 6 | -21 |
| |
| Rapid Jab | 5/7/9/… | — | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 5 | -36 |
| |
| Forward Tilt | 8 | -15 |
| |
| Up Tilt | 7 | -13 |
|
|
| Down Tilt | 6 | -13 |
|
|
| Dash Attack | 10 | -23 |
| |
| Forward Smash | 17/23/29 | -30 |
| |
| Up Smash | 12/20/28 | -22 |
| |
| Down Smash | 12/20/28 | -24 |
| |
| Neutral Air | 6 | -5/-7 |
|
|
| Forward Air | 7 | -5/-6/-6 |
|
|
| Back Air | 7 | -9/-10 |
|
|
| Up Air | 6/12/20 | -9/-8 |
|
|
| Down Air | 14/20 | -12/-11 |
|
|
| Neutral B | 1 / 16 / 1—2 | — | ||
| Side B | 17 | — | ||
| Up B | — | — | ||
| Down B | — | — | ||
| Grab | 6 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 9 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 10 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Do not chase the can for its own sake; fire arrows into can resets and Wild Gunman startup so center stage stays yours.
- Once arrows stop Duck Hunt’s low movement or retreat, run in and touch the body with Nair, Down Tilt, and Grab.
- Punish shielded Back Air, Up Air, and shallow Forward Air with Up Smash or OOS Nair whenever Duck Hunt lands too close.
- At the ledge, use arrows to push back early Up B routes, then split ledge getup and landing with Fair and Bair.
- Finish stocks by extending ledge pressure until both recovery routes and setup time are squeezed out, instead of fishing for one big hit in center.
Actions to Avoid
- Do not stay at long range just to break the can and hand Duck Hunt more time to rebuild the setup.
- Do not try to jump over every layer at once, because Fair, Uair, the returning can, and Clay Shooting will catch your landing.
- Do not chase too deep offstage right after winning neutral, or Gunman and the can lane will break your edgeguard shape.
- Do not overcommit to large swings like Side B or Dair at point-blank advantage and let dodge or can activation give the turn back.