Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Pikachu can fight Squirtle on very even terms in the low-profile scramble, then use Thunder Jolt and Quick Attack to keep resetting the angle before Squirtle gets a clean extension.
But Pikachu still relies on ledgetraps and repeated reads to finish stocks, and his range is not overwhelming, so Squirtle can stay competitive by refusing to overcommit in the first neutral exchange.
Because of that, Squirtle should treat this matchup as a landing-read and route-control matchup first, not a race to win the first scramble outright.
The clearest shield-punish points are jab, forward tilt, up tilt, dash attack, the smash attacks, fair, bair, uair, dair, Neutral B, Up B, and Down B, where OOS Nair (7f), the 8f aerials, and Up B (9f) do most of the work.
By contrast, down tilt, Skull Bash, and shallower nair pressure are very safe, so forcing a direct punish there usually hands Pikachu the next reset.
Squirtle usually wins by reading where Thunder Jolt and Quick Attack end, then turning each small opening into ledgetrap pressure with water, bair, uair, and repeated corner control.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Squirtle OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab | 2 | -12/-13 |
| |
| Forward Tilt | 6 | -14/-15/-13 |
| |
| Up Tilt | 7 | -13 |
| |
| Down Tilt | 7 | -4 |
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| Dash Attack | 6 | -11 |
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| Forward Smash | 15 | -29 |
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| Up Smash | 10 | -24 |
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| Down Smash | 8/11/14/17/20/23 | -39 |
| |
| Neutral Air | 3/9/15/21 | -7 |
|
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| Forward Air | 11… | -10/-9 |
|
|
| Back Air | 4/8/12/16/20/24 | -12 |
| |
| Up Air | 4 | -11/-11 |
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| Down Air | 14 | -16 |
|
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| Neutral B | 19 | -20 |
| |
| Side B | 18/18 | -11 to -2 |
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| Up B | 15/29 | -33 |
| |
| Down B | 13/** | -26 |
| |
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 11 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 12 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Do not rush through every Thunder Jolt. Watch the option behind it and punish Pikachu’s follow-up position, not just the projectile itself.
- When you block jab, forward tilt, up tilt, dash attack, forward smash, up smash, down smash, fair, bair, uair, dair, Neutral B, Up B, or Down B, immediately choose between OOS Nair (7f), the 8f aerials, and Up B (9f).
- When you block down tilt, Skull Bash, or shallower nair, do not force the punish. Track the landing or Quick Attack endpoint instead.
- Once you win a hit, keep pushing to the ledge even if the combo is short. The corner matters more than squeezing one extra center-stage hit.
- Look for kills from ledge bair, Up B, up smash, uair, and long corner sequences rather than from raw center-stage callouts.
Actions to Avoid
- Jumping impatiently over every Thunder Jolt and giving Pikachu free anti-airs or air-to-airs.
- Trying to shield-punish every down tilt, Skull Bash, and shallow nair, then losing the next scramble immediately.
- Overchasing Quick Attack paths so hard that you give up your own stage position.
- Going too deep offstage and activating Pikachu’s edgeguard strength against you.
- Forcing desperate up smashes or big bairs in center when Pikachu still has too much room to reset.