Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Pikachu can make this matchup manageable by using a tiny hurtbox, Thunder Jolt, quick ground movement, and Quick Attack angles to spoil Kazuya’s crouch dash entries before the brawler ever gets the one touch he wants.
Kazuya’s Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, the 10-hit jab sequence, forward tilt, up tilt, down tilt, dash attack, up smash, and Up B are all punishable on shield by OOS Nair (6f), OOS Uair (7f), OOS Bair (7f), Grab (10f), and Up Smash (10f), so forced pressure can be turned back if Pikachu blocks in time.
The danger is that any close-range guess can explode into huge damage or an early stock, and trying to challenge Kazuya’s strongest grounded burst options head-on, especially Electric Wind God Fist pressure, is a losing proposition.
Pikachu wins by avoiding prolonged point-blank exchanges, turning whiffs into corner carry, and repeatedly edgeguarding or ledgetrapping Kazuya instead of gambling on direct ground kills against a heavy character.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Pikachu OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 (1) | 6 | -11 |
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| Jab 1 (2) | 29 | Unblockable | ||
| Jab 2 | 7 | -15 |
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| Jab 3 | 7 | -20 |
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| Jab (1) | 10 | -25 |
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| Jab (2) | 12 | -23 |
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| Jab (3) | 23 | -24 |
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| Jab (4) | 15 | -24 |
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| Jab (5) | 18 | -25 |
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| Jab (6) | 16 | -26 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12 | -17 |
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| Up Tilt | 9/24 | -14/-18 |
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| Down Tilt | 16 | -15 |
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| Dash Attack | 15 | -19 |
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| Forward Smash | 25 | -16/-13 |
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| Up Smash | 12 | -22 |
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| Down Smash | 17 | -16 |
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| Up B | 5+15 | -22 |
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Win Condition Checklist
- Pikachu should use Thunder Jolt, walk movement, and low-profile spacing to make Kazuya’s crouch dash approach miss before it reaches close range.
- Pikachu should punish Kazuya’s Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, 10-hit jab sequence, forward tilt, up tilt, down tilt, dash attack, up smash, and Up B on shield with OOS Nair (6f), OOS Uair (7f), OOS Bair (7f), or Up Smash (10f).
- Pikachu should prioritize juggling and offstage pressure after every launch so Kazuya gets fewer chances to restart grounded offense.
- Pikachu should stay patient in kill percent and keep carrying Kazuya to the ledge instead of forcing a raw on-stage finisher.
Actions to Avoid
- Pikachu should not agree to repeated point-blank scrambles where one lost guess can decide the stock.
- Pikachu should not swing directly into Kazuya’s strongest grounded burst options and create a contest on Kazuya’s terms.
- Pikachu should not miss obvious shield punishes and let dangerous pressure reset for free.
- Pikachu should not skip edgeguard sequences just because Kazuya is heavy and hard to kill on stage.