Dr. Mario Matchup (Luigi)

Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)

Dr. Mario has safe neutral air, back air, and up air, plus very high close-range damage, but his jab strings, tilts, down tilt, dash attack, and forward smash are all punishable after shield, so Luigi gets a huge turn once he stays patient.
Using Fireball to disrupt the pill rhythm and only going in with grab or neutral air when Dr. Mario stops moving makes it much easier to exploit Luigi’s mobility advantage in close-range combat.
For kills, it is more stable to route through offstage edgeguarding and ledge grab pressure than to bet everything on a single center-stage up B read.

Full Move Frame Quick Reference

Win Condition Checklist

• Do not jump at pills immediately; walk forward behind shield and Fireball to create a useful grab angle.
• After blocking jab strings, tilts, down tilt, or dash attack, answer with grab or a reversals that covers up B range, then carry him to the ledge.
• Against safe neutral air and back air, do not force a punish; instead, set up a two-way check on landing and post-landing movement.

Actions to Avoid

• Rushing into close range and layering aerials on shield, which hands over up B or down B reversals.
• Chasing his weak horizontal recovery every time and getting the position reversed by back air or pills.
• Fixating on a center-stage up B kill and giving up the ongoing damage and ledge pressure that your matchup wants.