Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
This matchup becomes bad for Lucario when he tries to match Zero Suit Samus in open-footed movement before aura has real bite. Zero Suit Samus is faster, cleaner in scramble exits, and better at turning one opening into a long landing trap, so Lucario needs the game to slow down rather than trying to outrun her directly.
Lucario should show Aura Sphere to narrow the approach lane, then use pullback Fair, Dair, and Grab to hit the grounded stop instead of chasing the airborne drift. If he jumps first into Nair or Flip Jump movement, he usually gives Zero Suit Samus exactly the kind of escape-and-juggle sequence she wants.
The frame table shows Jab 1-3, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, every smash attack, Fair, Dair, Neutral B, and Side B are punishable on shield through OOS Dair (7f), Grab (10f), and OOS Fair (10f). By contrast, Nair, Bair, Uair, Zair, and Down B do not stop cleanly enough for consistent immediate punishes, so Lucario should track the next landing or drift destination instead.
Kills are more repeatable from high-aura Aura Sphere, ledge Bair, Up Throw, and landing-trap Uair than from forcing early brawls. The practical goal is to stay alive, make Zero Suit Samus actually stop on shield, and let aura turn later touches into meaningful stock pressure.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Lucario OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 1 | -19 |
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| Jab 2 | 2 | -20 |
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| Jab 3 | 3 | -27 |
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| Forward Tilt | 6 | -15/-14 |
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| Up Tilt | 3/9 | -36/-29 |
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| Down Tilt | 8 | -13 |
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| Dash Attack | 7 | -36 |
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| Forward Smash | 13/26 | -30 |
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| Up Smash | 10/14/17/20/23/26/28 | -17 |
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| Down Smash | 20 | -15/-16 |
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| Neutral Air | 10 | -4 |
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| Forward Air | 6/13 | -7/-7 |
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| Back Air | 8 | -6/-5 |
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| Up Air | 6 | -2 |
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| Down Air | 14 | -17 |
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| Z Air | 9 | -2 |
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| Neutral B | 21—43 | -20 to -18 |
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| Side B | 22/24/26/28/31 | -15 |
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| Up B | 6… | — | ||
| Down B | — | ** | ||
| Grab | 15 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 17 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 18 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Use Aura Sphere to narrow the run-in angle, then hit the grounded stop with pullback Fair, Dair, and Grab instead of chasing the first airborne retreat.
- After blocking Jab 1-3, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, any smash attack, Fair, Dair, Neutral B, or Side B, take the listed punish with OOS Dair (7f), Grab (10f), or OOS Fair (10f).
- Do not force immediate shield punishes on Nair, Bair, Uair, Zair, or Down B. Track the landing and post-Flip destination, then hit the second beat.
- Build kills through high-aura Aura Sphere, ledge Bair, Up Throw, and landing-trap Uair instead of rushing early all-in reads.
- Value survival at low percent so aura gets time to matter rather than trying to win back the pace immediately.
Actions to Avoid
- Chasing Zero Suit Samus head-on in the open and giving away Lucario’s weakest phase before aura develops.
- Autopiloting out-of-shield punishes on Nair, Bair, Uair, Zair, or Down B when those moves have not actually stopped.
- Treating aura as permission to take reckless damage and getting pushed straight to kill percent.
- Swinging early kill moves at low aura instead of preserving the safer punish-and-ledge cycle.