Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Lucario wants to stop Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 with OOS Dair (7f), Grab (10f), OOS Fair (10f), and OOS Nair (13f), then force Squirtle back outside Forward Tilt and Neutral Air to keep stage control.
In Lucario vs Squirtle, the stable plan is to avoid playing directly into Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air and take the landing or ledge route before Squirtle can reset.
The table shows that Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 can be answered by Lucario’s OOS Dair (7f), Grab (10f), OOS Fair (10f), and OOS Nair (13f), so those overcommitments should be cashed out immediately.
For Lucario, Squirtle’s Forward 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 | Lucario OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 2 | -11 |
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| Jab 2 | 4 | -17 |
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| Jab 3 | 5 | -21 |
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| Forward Tilt | 5 | -6 |
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| Up Tilt | 5 | -8 |
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| Down Tilt | 8 | -12 |
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| Dash Attack | 8 | -16 |
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| Forward Smash | 20 | -19 |
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| Up Smash | 19/21 | -35 |
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| Down Smash | 18 | -13 |
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| Neutral Air | 4 | -4/-5 |
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| Forward Air | 5 | -3/-3 |
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| Back Air | 5… | -15 |
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| Up Air | 5 | -3 |
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| Down Air | 6… | -14/-13 |
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| Neutral B | 26 | — | ||
| Side B | 23 | -18 |
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| Up B | 9… | — | ||
| Down B | — | — | ||
| Grab | 6 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 8 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 9 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Lucario should not play directly into Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air; wait for Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 and answer with OOS Dair (7f), Grab (10f), OOS Fair (10f), and OOS Nair (13f).
- After Lucario blocks Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3, pick the reachable option from OOS Dair (7f), Grab (10f), OOS Fair (10f), and OOS Nair (13f) immediately.
- Lucario should not mash after Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air; take the landing route, escape route, or ledge route first.
- Lucario should finish stocks by breaking Squirtle’s landing and recovery routes so Forward Tilt and Neutral Air does not get more neutral reps.
Actions to Avoid
- Letting Squirtle start the exchange on Forward Tilt and Neutral Air terms and giving Lucario’s stage control away for free.
- Having Lucario block Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 but never answer with OOS Dair (7f), Grab (10f), OOS Fair (10f), and OOS Nair (13f).
- Sending Lucario too deep after Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air and letting the reset punish the chase back.
- Panicking at the ledge as Lucario and simplifying Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air-driven advantage sequence.