Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
If Ike chases Slingshot and Lloid Rocket straight on, he gives Villager the exact whiff-punish and edgeguard game that this matchup wants, so the steadier plan is to vary the jump arc and take space in one swing with the tip of Nair and Back Air. The table shows that after blocking Villager’s Jab 1, Jab 2, Rapid Jab Finisher, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, and Down Smash, Ike can reliably answer with Grab (10f), OOS Bair (10f), OOS Nair (13f), and OOS Fair (14f), so even in a rough approach he can still punish the close-range escape buttons. At the same time, Villager’s aerials are mostly too safe to punish directly, and simply holding shield lets the projectile lane come back, so Ike has to retake initiative with disjointed aerials and landing traps rather than passive blocking. Ike should finish stocks by cornering Villager’s slow ground movement and covering Balloon Trip and ledge options with Back Air, Up Air, Up Smash, and Eruption instead of turning the game into a reckless offstage trade.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Ike OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 3 | -16 |
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| Jab 2 | 3 | -18 |
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| Rapid Jab | 3/8/12… | — | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 4/5 | -28 |
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| Forward Tilt | 8 | -16 |
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| Up Tilt | 7/22 | -34/-19 |
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| Down Tilt | 9 | -17/-18 |
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| Dash Attack | 9… | -22 |
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| Forward Smash | 25 | -4 |
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| Up Smash | 12… | -8 |
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| Down Smash | 9/29 | -35/-15 |
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| Neutral Air | 3 | -4/-5 |
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| Forward Air | 10 | -4 |
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| Back Air | 13 | -3 |
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| Up Air | 6 | -7/-8/-8 |
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| Down Air | 11 | -7/-8/-8 |
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| Neutral B | 8 (Start of projectile pocket) | ** | ||
| Side B | 52 | +27 |
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| Up B | ** | — | ||
| Down B | —, 5 | — | ||
| Grab | 14 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 16 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 17 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Ike should stop overchasing Slingshot and Lloid Rocket, and should use the tip of Nair and Back Air to take a full step of stage and drive Villager to the ledge.
- After Ike blocks Villager’s jab pressure, tilts, Dash Attack, or Down Smash, he should immediately punish with the option that reaches from Grab (10f), OOS Bair (10f), OOS Nair (13f), and OOS Fair (14f).
- Ike should not try to solve Villager’s aerial pressure with shield alone, and should instead use spaced Nair, Back Air, and landing traps to stop the projectile lane from being rebuilt.
- At kill percent, Ike should avoid chasing too far offstage and should cover Balloon Trip and ledge choices with Back Air, Up Air, Up Smash, and Eruption.
Actions to Avoid
- Running directly through Slingshot and Lloid Rocket and volunteering for the exact whiff punish and edgeguard that Villager wants.
- Blocking Villager’s Jab, Down Tilt, or Dash Attack and still failing to return a guaranteed punish.
- Freezing after blocked Neutral Air or Forward Air and allowing Villager to rebuild the projectile lane and tree setup.
- Chasing too deep offstage, getting reversed by Balloon Trip or Bowling Ball, and entering Ike’s weakest recovery situation by choice.