Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
This matchup gets rough if Palutena is allowed to loop mid range with neutral air, back air, Explosive Flame, and Auto Reticle. Dedede’s size and low mobility make long even neutral exchanges a losing deal, so do not stay in center-stage standoffs longer than necessary. The win condition is to stop using Gordo as a front-facing projectile war tool and instead place it at Palutena’s jump path, landing, and ledge options so you can pin her at the corner and cash out with back air, up tilt, and grab. Do not force your way through her projectiles. It is more stable to shield, use short hops to change your angle, and only take guaranteed punishes on dash attack or deep landings. Once Palutena is cornered, her horizontal air movement is easier to contain. Use Dedede’s multiple jumps and Gordo to narrow her post-teleport position and keep the ledge trap going.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | King Dedede OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 8 | -12 |
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| Rapid Jab | 4/7/10… | — | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 3 | -32 |
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| Forward Tilt | 14/24 | -28 |
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| Up Tilt | 8… | -27 |
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| Down Tilt | 14 | -17 |
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| Dash Attack | 6 | -23/-21 |
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| Forward Smash | 18 | -34/-36 |
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| Up Smash | 18 | -34/-37 |
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| Down Smash | 17 | -41/-42 |
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| Neutral Air | 5… | -10/-9 |
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| Forward Air | 9 | -5 |
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| Back Air | 8 | -5 |
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| Up Air | 10… | -12/-11 |
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| Down Air | 10 | -7 |
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| Neutral B | 24/30/36 | -24 |
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| Side B | 28/33/38/43/48/53/57 | -2 |
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| Up B | ** | — | ||
| Down B | 7 (Start of Counter/Reflect) | — | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 11 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- You are not spamming Gordo in front of Palutena and are instead using it to cover jump paths, landings, and ledge options
- You are not panicking upward against Auto Reticle and Explosive Flame, and you are taking space with shield and short hops
- You are taking guaranteed punishes on shielded dash attack, down tilt, up tilt, and Explosive Flame with grab or nair
- Once Palutena reaches the ledge, you are keeping the trap going with back air, up tilt, and Gordo instead of resetting to center
- You are using multiple jumps to stay above or ahead of teleport recovery and cover the next position instead of reacting late
Actions to Avoid
- Throwing Gordo straight at Palutena over and over and eating your own reflected or swatted projectile
- Jumping too high to avoid Explosive Flame and giving Palutena extra time to shark your landing with neutral air and up air
- Swinging with forward smash or other oversized hammer options in center stage first and getting whiff-punished by dash and aerial drift
- Chasing too far offstage and letting Palutena return with teleport while your own landing becomes the real target