Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
This matchup depends on whether Ganondorf can avoid sitting through Chrom’s stage control and landing traps, and instead use walk shield plus preemptive Nair, Bair, and Down Tilt to make Chrom commit on the ground first. Chrom’s sword speed and mobility are oppressive, and Neutral Air, Forward Air, Back Air, and Up Air are mostly safe on shield, so turtling in block alone still lets Jab, Up Tilt, and Up B take over the pace.
But as the table shows, Jab, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, all smash attacks, Neutral B, Side B, and Up B can be punished by Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), or Up B (14f). Chrom also fast-falls hard and has an extremely weak recovery, so one whiff punish or shield punish can go straight from ledge carry to a stock.
The win condition is not to drag out center-stage scrambles where Chrom’s speed stays in charge. Stop the approach once, convert with Nair, Down Tilt, or Grab into ledge pressure, then close early with Fair, Bair, Down Tilt, and Up B covering the return point of Soaring Slash.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Ganondorf OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab | 5 | -10 |
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| Forward Tilt | 8 | -15 |
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| Up Tilt | 6 | -22 |
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| Down Tilt | 7 | -5 |
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| Dash Attack | 13 | -21 |
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| Forward Smash | 13 | -28 |
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| Up Smash | 12/13/15/17/19/22 | -29 |
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| Down Smash | 6/21 | -47/-31 |
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| Neutral Air | 6/15 | -6/-6 |
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| Forward Air | 10 | -4 |
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| Back Air | 8 | -6 |
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| Up Air | 5 | -4 |
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| Down Air | 16 | -9/-9 |
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| Neutral B | 21-260 | -15—Shieldbreak |
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| Side B | 9 | -26/-16(air) |
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| Up B | 10/39/53/** | -29 |
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| Down B | 8 (Start of Counter) | — | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 11 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Mix walk shield and pullback steps so Jab, Forward Tilt, Dash Attack, or Side B comes out early, then take the guaranteed punish with Grab, OOS Nair, or Up B.
- After blocking Neutral Air, Forward Air, Back Air, or Up Air, do not force an in-place punish. Put Nair, Bair, or Up Tilt on the landing and drift path so the second touch is the one that matters.
- Once you land a hit, do not let Chrom’s fast fall help him escape. Favor landing traps and ledge carry from Down Tilt, Nair, and Grab instead of resetting to center.
- At the ledge, prioritize stage control over deep edgeguards, and cover jump, air dodge, and Soaring Slash with Fair, Bair, Down Tilt, and Up B.
- When Chrom gets above you, do not brawl upward out of panic. Exit the Up Tilt, Up Air, and Up B lane first, then force the next exchange back onto your timing.
Actions to Avoid
- Swinging after every blocked Neutral Air or Forward Air and giving Chrom instant landing into Jab, Up Tilt, or Up B.
- Leading with Warlock Punch, Wizard’s Foot, or raw smash attacks in center stage and donating space to sword whiff punishes.
- Chasing too deep after sending Chrom offstage and exposing Ganondorf’s weaker recovery first.
- Drifting straight upward when juggled and feeding Chrom’s vertical kill route through Up Air and Up B.
- Letting Jab, Forward Tilt, Dash Attack, Side B, or Up B go unpunished and allowing top-tier stage pressure to repeat.