Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Ike vs Luigi is decided by whether Ike can avoid point-blank shield scrambles long enough to keep tagging Luigi with sword range, because once Luigi lands grab, Neutral Air, Dash Attack, or Up B, the damage and kill swing starts immediately.
Luigi still has weak range and poor air mobility, and the table shows that Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, smash attacks, Neutral B, Side B, Up B (1), and Down B can all be punished hard by Ike’s Grab (10f) or OOS Bair (10f), so reckless ground entries are very stoppable.
At the same time, Down Tilt, Neutral Air, Back Air, Up Air, and Down Air are not strong immediate punish spots for Ike, and if Ike leaves poorly spaced Forward Airs or front-facing landings on shield, Luigi can flip the exchange with Up B or grab starters.
The winning plan is to stay outside grab range with walking, fade-backs, and cross-up short-hop Neutral Air, keep the juggle and ledge sequence running, and then cash out on Luigi’s narrow Side B and Up B recovery routes with Fair, Bair, or ledge Down Tilt.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Ike OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 2 | -13 |
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| Jab 2 | 3 | -12 |
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| Jab 3 | 6 | -19 |
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| Forward Tilt | 5 | -18 |
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| Up Tilt | 5 | -15 |
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| Down Tilt | 5 | -2 |
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| Dash Attack | 4/8/12/16/25 | -17 |
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| Forward Smash | 12 | -18 |
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| Up Smash | 9 | -20 |
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| Down Smash | 6/14 | -20/-12 |
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| Neutral Air | 3 | -3/-5 |
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| Forward Air | 7 | -9 |
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| Back Air | 6 | -5/-6 |
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| Up Air | 5 | -2/-4 |
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| Down Air | 10 | -8/-8 |
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| Z Air | 14 | -2 |
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| Neutral B | 17 | -17 |
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| Side B | 22 | -23 to -13/-10 |
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| Up B (1) | 8 | -79/-99 |
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| Up B (2) | 6 | ** | ||
| Down B | 10…/40 | -40 |
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| Grab | 14 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 16 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 17 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Use walking, fade-backs, and cross-up short-hop Neutral Air so Luigi does not get a clean point-blank grab or Dash Attack lane, and keep Forward Air and Back Air either tippered or drifted away from Luigi’s front-side shield.
- After blocking Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, smash attacks, Neutral B, Side B, Up B (1), or Down B, answer immediately with Grab (10f) or OOS Bair (10f) and end Luigi’s close-range turn on the spot.
- After blocking Down Tilt, Neutral Air, Back Air, Up Air, or Down Air, do not mash. Track the retreat or landing and take the second touch with Down Tilt, Neutral Air, or Up Air instead.
- Once Luigi is airborne, keep him from escaping horizontally, walk under the landing, and cover the ledge with Fair, Bair, and ledge Down Tilt so Side B and Up B start-ups stay under threat.
Actions to Avoid
- Sitting in shield at point-blank range and letting Luigi run the grab versus Up B threat for free.
- Hitting Forward Air, Back Air, or Down Air too deep on Luigi’s shield and giving 6f Up B or fast aerial punishes a clean answer.
- Jumping high over Fireball too often and getting clipped from underneath by Neutral Air or Dash Attack into Luigi’s combo game.
- Chasing too far offstage, crossing past Luigi’s recovery path, and letting the scramble around Side B or Cyclone turn into pressure on Ike’s own linear recovery.