Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Dr. Mario can build his way in behind pills and convert Down Tilt, Neutral Air, Up B, and Down B into heavy damage or early kills, so Pikachu loses hard if the game stays in repeated point-blank scrambles.
The tradeoff is that Dr. Mario’s movement and recovery distance are both clearly weaker, so Pikachu can take control just by forcing an early jump or shield with Thunder Jolt and small ground movement, then beating the landing or ledge route.
Out of shield, Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Down Tilt, Forward Tilt, Dash Attack, Side B, and Neutral B are all easy points for OOS Nair (6f), OOS Bair (7f), OOS Uair (7f), and Grab (10f), which means Dr. Mario’s rougher entries should be punished immediately.
For stocks, it is more stable to keep sending Dr. Mario back offstage and keep the short recovery under pressure than to force one big grounded callout, while staying outside the immediate reversal range of Up B and Down B.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Pikachu OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 2 | -13 |
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| Jab 2 | 2 | -16 |
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| Jab 3 | 3 | -25 |
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| Forward Tilt | 5 | -12 |
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| Up Tilt | 5 | -17 |
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| Down Tilt | 5 | -14/-16 |
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| Dash Attack | 6 | -12 |
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| Forward Smash | 15 | -18/-20 |
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| Up Smash | 9 | -19 |
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| Down Smash | 5/14 | -30/-19 |
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| Neutral Air | 3 | -4/-3 |
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| Forward Air | 16 | -11/-12 |
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| Back Air | 6 | -5/-6 |
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| Up Air | 4 | -4 |
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| Down Air | 14 | -8 |
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| Neutral B | 17 | -23 |
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| Side B | 12 | -15 |
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| Up B | 3 | — | ||
| Down B | 10/14/18/22/26/30/40 | -30 |
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| Grab | 6 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 9 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 10 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Use Thunder Jolt and small walk adjustments to stop Dr. Mario from advancing behind pills, then collect the landing with Nair, Bair, or Grab after the forced jump or shield.
- After blocking Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Down Tilt, Forward Tilt, Dash Attack, Side B, or Neutral B, answer immediately with the reachable option from OOS Nair (6f), OOS Bair (7f), OOS Uair (7f), and Grab (10f) so the close-range reset never starts for free.
- Since Neutral Air, Back Air, and Up Air are harder to punish directly on shield, disengage from the first swing and punish the next landing instead of forcing a scramble in place.
- Once Dr. Mario is offstage, cover the recovery route from both above and the side with Quick Attack mobility plus Bair, Fair, and Thunder, and pre-cover the space where Down B adds horizontal drift.
- At kill percent, respect the immediate reversal range of Up B and Down B and keep taking ledge and landing reads instead of overchasing head-on.
Actions to Avoid
- Trying to dash under every pill on reaction and walking directly into Dr. Mario’s Down Tilt, Neutral Air, and Grab range.
- Blocking Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Down Tilt, Forward Tilt, Dash Attack, Side B, or Neutral B but still giving Dr. Mario enough time to reset pills or scrambles.
- Swinging immediately after blocked Neutral Air, Back Air, or Up Air and getting clipped by the 3f Up B or Down B reversal.
- Edgeguarding from directly in front of Dr. Mario’s Up B or Down B and trading in a way that lets Pikachu’s low weight become the bigger risk.