Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Pikachu wants to block Pyra’s Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral Air, Neutral B, and Up B landing, then answer with OOS Nair (6f), OOS Uair (7f), OOS Bair (7f), Grab (10f), or Up Smash (10f) to start strings and push the heavier body toward the ledge.
In Pikachu vs Pyra, forcing approaches straight into the tip of Forward Tilt, Fair, and Bair usually loses on damage, so the stable plan is to use Pikachu’s small hurtbox and movement to create whiffs first and then turn those openings into landing traps and edgeguards.
The table shows that Pyra’s Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral Air, and Neutral B are all punishable by Pikachu’s fast out-of-shield options, and Up B landing is a major punish point as well, so shield discipline matters a great deal in this matchup.
At the same time, Pyra’s Fair, Bair, Blaze End, and Prominence Revolt make the ledge very dangerous, so Pikachu needs to keep center stage first, send Pyra offstage, and exploit the narrow recovery route instead of forcing reckless ledge scrambles.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Pikachu OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 3 | -14 |
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| Jab 2 | 5 | -23 |
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| Jab 3 | 5 | -24 |
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| Rapid Jab | 9/13/17… | — | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 6 | -25 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12 | -10/-9 |
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| Up Tilt | 11 | -19 |
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| Down Tilt | 9 | -11/-9 |
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| Dash Attack | 17 | -18 |
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| Forward Smash | 20 | -34 |
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| Up Smash | 15/17 | -47/-40 |
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| Down Smash | 12/18 | -26/-28/-20/-22 |
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| Neutral Air | 11 | -11/-11 |
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| Forward Air | 11 | -9 |
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| Back Air | 16 | -9 |
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| Up Air | 13 | -4 |
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| Down Air | 17 | -9/-9 |
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| Neutral B | 13/27/33—56/68/78/87/94 | -18 — -11 |
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| Side B | 14/16…74 | ** | ||
| Up B | 13/41 | -48 |
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| Down B | — | — | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 12 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 13 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Pikachu should not run directly into the tip of Pyra’s Forward Tilt, Fair, and Bair; use low profiling movement and Thunder Jolt to make those swings miss first.
- After blocking Pyra’s Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral Air, Neutral B, or Up B landing, Pikachu should immediately choose the reachable punish from OOS Nair (6f), OOS Uair (7f), OOS Bair (7f), Grab (10f), and Up Smash (10f).
- Pikachu should not settle for one grounded poke; convert into throw routes or aerial strings, carry Pyra offstage, and stack edgeguards against the weak horizontal recovery.
- At the ledge, Pikachu should stay patient at a height and distance that do not lose cleanly to Blaze End or Fair, then punish the next re-entry or landing.
Actions to Avoid
- Running straight into Pyra’s Forward Tilt, Fair, and Bair tipper space and accepting losing trades on Pyra’s terms.
- Blocking Pyra’s Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral Air, Neutral B, or Up B landing and still refusing to take the fast out-of-shield punish.
- Fishing only for raw Up Smash or Thunder late in the stock and giving Pyra center stage back for free.
- Repeating panic ledge jump or airdodge from the corner and making Pyra’s Fair, Bair, and Blaze End pressure easier to cover.