Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
This matchup looks favorable only as long as Ivysaur keeps it at the right distance. Vine range and Razor Leaf can make Incineroar walk through a lot of losing space, but if Ivysaur drifts into point-blank scrambles, Alolan Whip, nair, up tilt, and Revenge can flip the stock count very quickly because Incineroar’s reward is so much higher up close.
The frame table gives Ivysaur clear punishment windows on many of the slow, heavy options. Jab 1-3, tilts, Dash Attack, smash attacks, Down Air, Neutral B, and Up B can all be punished by Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), or OOS Bair (10f), so those grounded and airborne commitments should not be allowed to pass for free.
Ivysaur should therefore play the matchup through spacing and sustained advantage rather than challenge contests. Stop the forward march with vines and Razor Leaf, meet the jump with Fair, Bair, or Uair, and then keep Incineroar above or offstage where his mobility becomes a real weakness.
For kills, spread the threat between Uair, Vine Whip, and offstage Dair instead of overfocusing on one hard read. When Revenge is active, slowing down and making Incineroar spend that timer is often worth more than forcing immediate damage.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Ivysaur OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 5 | -14 |
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| Jab 2 | 4 | -23 |
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| Jab 3 | 4 | -28 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12 | -12 |
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| Up Tilt | 6 | -19 |
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| Down Tilt | 9 | -11 |
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| Dash Attack | 8 | -21 |
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| Forward Smash | 16 | -22/-24 |
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| Up Smash | 13 | -23 |
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| Down Smash | 18 | -28 |
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| Neutral Air | 5 | -6/-8 |
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| Forward Air | 8 | -9/-9 |
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| Back Air | 7 | -7/-6 |
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| Up Air | 7 | -4 |
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| Down Air | 16 | -11/-11/-12 |
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| Neutral B | 5/15/23/37/50/56 | -65 |
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| Side B | 16 | — | ||
| Up B | 11/38 | -51 |
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| Down B | 3 (Start of Counter) | — | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 11 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 12 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Hold vine-tip spacing and Razor Leaf pressure so Incineroar has to overextend before he can threaten point-blank Alolan Whip.
- After blocking Incineroar’s Jab 1-3, tilts, Dash Attack, smash attacks, Dair, Neutral B, or Up B, punish with Grab (10f), OOS Nair (10f), or OOS Bair (10f).
- When Revenge is shown, stop feeding it with obvious projectiles or multi-hits. Grab, wait, or reposition until the buff is gone.
- Once Incineroar is launched, favor long Uair and edgeguard sequences over resetting for center-stage damage.
- Rotate kill threats between Uair, Vine Whip, and offstage Dair so Incineroar cannot sit on one defensive answer.
Actions to Avoid
- Taking repeated close-range scrambles straight into Alolan Whip and nair.
- Hitting directly into visible Revenge and letting the boosted punish decide the stock.
- Dropping guaranteed shield punishes on the slow grounded buttons and giving Incineroar another advance.
- Overchasing so hard offstage that Ivysaur gives up his own weak landing and recovery position.