Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Mewtwo should treat Shadow Ball less as a pure zoning answer and more as pressure that forces Link to reveal jump timing, shield timing, or bomb pulls before Link settles into Arrow and Boomerang control.
The table shows that after blocking Link’s Jab 1, Jab 2, Forward Tilt, Down Tilt, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, and Down B (2), Mewtwo can answer with Up Smash (9f), Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), and OOS Fair (10f), so Link’s grounded commitments can be taxed immediately.
At the same time, Link’s Neutral Air, Forward Air, Back Air, Up Air, and Side B are mostly safe on block, so forcing an immediate swing into the sword wall is less reliable than taking the landing spot, drift path, or bomb pickup route first.
Mewtwo should finish stocks by exploiting Link’s weak raw recovery and low combo escape, carrying juggle advantage to the ledge and covering both Spin Attack and bomb recovery without overchasing past Teleport’s return window.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Mewtwo OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 7 | -12 |
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| Jab 2 | 5 | -16 |
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| Jab 3 | 6 | -23 |
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| Forward Tilt | 15 | -12 |
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| Up Tilt | 8 | -16 |
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| Down Tilt | 10 | -11 |
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| Dash Attack | 20 | -19 |
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| Forward Smash (1) | 17 | -27/-23/** |
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| Forward Smash (2) | 10 | -41 |
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| Up Smash | 10/25/41 | -28 |
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| Down Smash | 12/24 | (-31/-32/??)/(-23/-23/??) |
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| Neutral Air | 7 | -1/-3 |
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| Forward Air | 16/24 | -7/-7 |
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| Back Air | 6/15 | -3/-3 |
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| Up Air | 11 | -8/-9 |
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| Down Air | 14 | Bounce: ** | Fast Fall: -13/-13 |
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| Neutral B | 16-52 | -21 to -15 |
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| Side B | 27 | -7/-9 |
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| Up B (1) | 7 | -56 |
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| Up B (2) | 8/16/22/31/47 | — | ||
| Down B (1) | — | — | ||
| Down B (2) | 12 | -19 |
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| Grab | 6 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 9 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 10 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Mewtwo should not stop after throwing Shadow Ball; advance on Link’s jump, shield, and bomb pull timing so Link cannot comfortably rebuild midrange control.
- After Mewtwo blocks Link’s Jab 1, Jab 2, Forward Tilt, Down Tilt, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, or Down B (2), immediately choose the reachable answer from Up Smash (9f), Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), and OOS Fair (10f).
- Mewtwo should not force a mash punish after blocking Link’s Neutral Air, Forward Air, Back Air, Up Air, or Side B; claim the landing spot, retreat line, or bomb pickup route first.
- Once Mewtwo launches Link, carry the juggle to the ledge and narrow the recovery with Fair, Bair, Uair, and ledge trapping while watching for both Spin Attack and bomb recovery.
Actions to Avoid
- Charging Shadow Ball in a flat rhythm from the ground and giving Link free time to shield, shoot Arrow, or layer Boomerang first.
- Letting Link’s jabs, tilts, Neutral B, or Down B (2) go unpunished after shield and removing Mewtwo’s main close-range deterrent.
- Swinging immediately after every blocked Neutral Air or Forward Air and getting clipped by Link’s lingering hitboxes and sword range.
- Chasing Link’s recovery so deep that Spin Attack or bomb explosions reverse the position before Mewtwo can return safely with Teleport.