Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
King Dedede wants to stop Pikachu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt with Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), OOS Uair (13f), and OOS Fair (16f), then force Pikachu back outside Down Tilt and Neutral Air to keep stage control.
In King Dedede vs Pikachu, the stable plan is to avoid playing directly into Pikachu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air and take the landing or ledge route before Pikachu can reset.
The table shows that Pikachu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt can be answered by King Dedede’s Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), OOS Uair (13f), and OOS Fair (16f), so those overcommitments should be cashed out immediately.
For King Dedede, Pikachu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air are still hard to hit immediately out of shield, so reading the landing spot or ledge route matters more than forcing an early swing.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | King Dedede OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab | 2 | -12/-13 |
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| Forward Tilt | 6 | -14/-15/-13 |
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| Up Tilt | 7 | -13 |
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| Down Tilt | 7 | -4 |
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| Dash Attack | 6 | -11 |
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| Forward Smash | 15 | -29 |
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| Up Smash | 10 | -24 |
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| Down Smash | 8/11/14/17/20/23 | -39 |
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| Neutral Air | 3/9/15/21 | -7 |
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| Forward Air | 11… | -10/-9 |
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| Back Air | 4/8/12/16/20/24 | -12 |
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| Up Air | 4 | -11/-11 |
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| Down Air | 14 | -16 |
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| Neutral B | 19 | -20 |
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| Side B | 18/18 | -11 to -2 |
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| Up B | 15/29 | -33 |
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| Down B | 13/** | -26 |
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| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 11 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 12 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- King Dedede should not play directly into Pikachu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air; wait for Pikachu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt and answer with Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), OOS Uair (13f), and OOS Fair (16f).
- After King Dedede blocks Pikachu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt, pick the reachable option from Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), OOS Uair (13f), and OOS Fair (16f) immediately.
- King Dedede should not mash after Pikachu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air; take the landing route, escape route, or ledge route first.
- King Dedede should finish stocks by breaking Pikachu’s landing and recovery routes so Down Tilt and Neutral Air does not get more neutral reps.
Actions to Avoid
- Letting Pikachu start the exchange on Down Tilt and Neutral Air terms and giving King Dedede’s stage control away for free.
- Having King Dedede block Pikachu’s Jab, Forward Tilt, and Up Tilt but never answer with Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), OOS Uair (13f), and OOS Fair (16f).
- Sending King Dedede too deep after Pikachu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air and letting the reset punish the chase back.
- Panicking at the ledge as King Dedede and simplifying Pikachu’s Down Tilt and Neutral Air-driven advantage sequence.