Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Link wants to stop Lucas’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 with Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f), then force Lucas back outside Down Tilt and Forward Air to keep stage control.
In Link vs Lucas, the stable plan is to avoid playing directly into Lucas’s Down Tilt and Forward Air and take the landing or ledge route before Lucas can reset.
The table shows that Lucas’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 can be answered by Link’s Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f), so those overcommitments should be cashed out immediately.
For Link, Lucas’s Down Tilt and Forward 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 | Link OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 2 | -13 |
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| Jab 2 | 3 | -13 |
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| Jab 3 | 6 | -19 |
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| Forward Tilt | 7 | -10/-8 |
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| Up Tilt | 4/7 | -18 |
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| Down Tilt | 3 | -6 |
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| Dash Attack | 13 | -15/-12 |
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| Forward Smash | 14 | -21 |
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| Up Smash | 28/30 | -54 |
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| Down Smash | 20/29/39 | -12 |
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| Neutral Air | 7…/26 | -10/-9 |
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| Forward Air | 9 | -3/-2 |
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| Back Air | 15 | -5/-4/-6 |
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| Up Air | 7 | -3 |
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| Down Air | 10/18/26/34 | -14/-13 |
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| Z Air | 9 | -2 |
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| Neutral B | 40-92 | -14 to -5 |
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| Side B | 21 | -24 |
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| Up B (1) | 20 | — | ||
| Up B (2) | 1/4/6/8/10/12/14/17/20/23/26/29 | -21 |
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| Down B | 19 (7 is start of absorb) | +0 |
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| Grab | 12 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 14 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 15 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Link should not play directly into Lucas’s Down Tilt and Forward Air; wait for Lucas’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 and answer with Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f).
- After Link blocks Lucas’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3, pick the reachable option from Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f) immediately.
- Link should not mash after Lucas’s Down Tilt and Forward Air; take the landing route, escape route, or ledge route first.
- Link should finish stocks by breaking Lucas’s landing and recovery routes so Down Tilt and Forward Air does not get more neutral reps.
Actions to Avoid
- Letting Lucas start the exchange on Down Tilt and Forward Air terms and giving Link’s stage control away for free.
- Having Link block Lucas’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 but never answer with Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f).
- Sending Link too deep after Lucas’s Down Tilt and Forward Air and letting the reset punish the chase back.
- Panicking at the ledge as Link and simplifying Lucas’s Down Tilt and Forward Air-driven advantage sequence.