Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Cloud can swing the momentum back with back air and up B, but his jab, tilts, dash attack, and forward smash all have clear punish windows, so Fox’s speed gives him many chances to seize the first move.
If Fox only waits behind Blaster, he gives up Limit management, so after showing projectiles he needs to move immediately and keep Cloud’s charge time short.
For kills, it is more stable to force Limit out at the ledge first and then connect back air and up smash than to gamble on a center-stage up smash.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Fox OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 4 | -21 |
| |
| Jab 2 | 5 | -24 |
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| Jab 3 | 6 | -27 |
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| Forward Tilt | 9 | -16 |
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| Up Tilt | 6 | -18 |
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| Down Tilt | 7 | -26 |
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| Dash Attack | 9 | -26 |
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| Forward Smash | 19/24/28 | -29/-30 |
| |
| Up Smash | 12 | -24 |
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| Down Smash | 8/21 | -38/-20 |
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| Neutral Air | 5 | -5 |
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| Forward Air | 18 | -6/-6/-7 |
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| Back Air | 11 | -3 |
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| Up Air | 8 | -5/-5 |
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| Down Air | 11 | -11/-12 |
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| Neutral B | 18(18) | -25(-33) |
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| Side B | 10 | -25 |
| |
| Up B | 7/10 | ** | ||
| Down B (1) | — | — | ||
| Down B (2) | 12 (ground) // 14 (air) | -70/-71 |
| |
| Grab | 9 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 12 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 13 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Do not just sit on Blaster; pair it with real movement so Limit timer keeps shrinking.
- Take landing space first with back air and up smash and do not let Cloud retreat for free.
- At the ledge, make him spend Limit first and control the route back to center stage as well.
Actions to Avoid
- Do not swing into Limit-backed back air or up B without a read, because the reversal is immediate.
- Do not trade projectiles from far away and give him free time to charge.
- Do not overchase offstage and eat the up B turnaround instead.