Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
This matchup gets much harder for Meta Knight if Lucario is allowed to slow the game down with Aura Sphere and movement until aura-enhanced Bair, Uair, and Up Throw start deciding the stock race.
Meta Knight does better by forcing close range first, chaining Lucario upward with Nair, Fair, Up Tilt, and air chase pressure, and stripping away the ledge and top-platform escape routes before aura gets too much time to matter. Lucario’s Jab 1-3, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, and Up B are all punishable on block by Up B (7f), Up Smash (8f), or OOS Nair (9f), so those overextensions should be cashed out every time.
By contrast, Lucario’s Down Tilt, Neutral Air, and Forward Air are poor same-spot shield-punish targets for Meta Knight. If the punish is not real, Meta Knight should track the landing or drift route instead of swinging in place and letting aura counterplay start.
The win condition is to take Lucario’s stock before aura snowballs by stacking juggles, ledge traps, and early edge pressure. Chasing recklessly into counter hits or recovery scrambles is much less stable than repeatedly resetting advantage from center stage.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Meta Knight OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 5 | -16 | -15 | -14 |
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| Jab 2 | 5 | -18 | -18 | -17 |
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| Jab 3 | 9 | -23 | -22 | -21 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12/15 | -12 | -11 | -8 |
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| Up Tilt | 6 | -22/-21 | -20/-20 | -18/-17 |
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| Down Tilt | 7 | -9 | -7 | -5 |
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| Dash Attack | 7 | -28/-27 | -26/-24 | -22/-20 |
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| Forward Smash | 19 | -27/-25 | -24/-26 | -19/-21 |
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| Up Smash | 15/19 | -37/-38 | -34/-36 | -30/-31 |
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| Down Smash | 16 | -28 | -25 | -21 |
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| Neutral Air | 10/18 | -2/-2 | -1/-2 | 0/-1 |
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| Forward Air | 7 | -6 | -6 | -5 |
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| Back Air | 13 | -10/-10 | -9/-9 | -7/-7 |
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| Up Air | 10 | -10/-10 | -9/-10 | -7/-9 |
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| Down Air | 4/11 | -10/-9 | -9/-9 | -8/-8 |
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| Neutral B | 9 (+8) | -26 | -25 | -23 |
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| Side B | (9)24 | -24/-30 | -19/-27 | -10/-24 |
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| Up B | 46 | -23/-31 | -22/-31 | -19/-29 |
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| Down B | 5 (Start of Counter) | — | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 11 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Meta Knight should not wait in center stage for too long; start juggle sequences off Nair, Fair, and Up Tilt before Lucario gets a long aura game.
- After Meta Knight blocks Lucario’s Jab 1-3, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, or Up B, take the reachable punish immediately with Up B (7f), Up Smash (8f), or OOS Nair (9f).
- Meta Knight should not force a same-spot punish into Lucario’s Down Tilt, Neutral Air, or Forward Air; chase the landing route or drift route instead.
- Meta Knight should aim to close stocks through juggles and ledge pressure so Lucario’s aura comeback windows stay short.
Actions to Avoid
- Letting Lucario keep space for Aura Sphere and turning the match into a long aura-based neutral.
- Blocking Lucario’s Jab 1-3, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, or Up B and then failing to take the punish Meta Knight actually has.
- Swinging in place after Lucario’s Down Tilt, Neutral Air, or Forward Air and getting hit by the aura-backed whiff punish.
- Forcing deep chases for the kill and losing Meta Knight’s stock to counter hits or Lucario’s recovery scramble.