Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Roy can punish a lot once Byleth is forced into contact. Jab 1-3, tilts, Dash Attack, smash attacks, Neutral Air, Up Air, Down Air, Side B, and grounded Up B all leave windows for OOS Uair (8f), OOS Nair (9f), Up B (9f), Grab (10f), OOS Bair (11f), and Up Smash (12f).
The problem is getting there cleanly. Byleth’s Fair, Bair, Forward Tilt, Neutral B, and Down B control the outer lane very well, so if Roy keeps challenging from sword-tip distance with predictable jumps or premature Side B, the matchup turns into losing trades and getting pushed to the ledge.
Roy should use dashes, walking, and shield stops to make those long pokes miss, then enter with Nair, Uair, Jab, or Grab rather than swinging first with a large commitment. Once Roy is inside, the real reward comes from extending into juggles and ledge pressure, not from backing off after a single hit.
For kills, ledge trapping and landing traps are more reliable than forcing center-stage hard reads. Keep Byleth’s Up B reversal and tether recovery in mind, finish with Bair, Up Smash, Forward Tilt, or Up B onstage, and avoid overchasing offstage when Roy already has the positional advantage.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Roy OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 4 | -15 |
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| Jab 2 | 4 | -17 |
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| Jab 3 | 5 | -22 |
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| Rapid Jab | 11 | ** | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 6 | -40 |
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| Forward Tilt | 8 | -15 |
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| Up Tilt | 9 | -15 |
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| Down Tilt | 13 | -14 |
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| Dash Attack | 9 | -26/-23 |
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| Forward Smash | 23 | -31/-27 || -32/-28 || -32/-28 |
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| Up Smash | 13 | -22 |
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| Down Smash | 19/29 | -40/-30 |
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| Neutral Air | 6… | -11/-11/-9 |
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| Forward Air | 12 | -7/-6 |
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| Back Air | 13 | -9/-8 |
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| Up Air | 10… | -12/-11 |
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| Down Air | 22 | -21 |
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| Neutral B | 45/114 | -8/-21 |
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| Side B | Ground: 20 || Air: 21 | Ground: -20/-34 || Air: -16/-35 |
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| Up B | 9(ground) || 10(air) | -35(ground) || **(air) |
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| Down B | 62 | ** | ||
| Grab | 6 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 11 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- After shielding Byleth’s Jab 1-3, tilts, Dash Attack, smash attacks, Neutral Air, Up Air, Down Air, Side B, or grounded Up B, punish with OOS Uair (8f), OOS Nair (9f), Up B (9f), Grab (10f), OOS Bair (11f), or Up Smash (12f).
- Do not contest the outer spacing with forced Side B or predictable jumps. Use walking, dashing, and shield stops to make the long hitboxes miss first.
- Once Roy gets inside, extend with Jab, Nair, Uair, and Grab into juggling or ledge pressure instead of resetting neutral too early.
- Respect tether recovery and Up B reversals, and cash out the stock onstage with Bair, Up Smash, Forward Tilt, or Up B.
Actions to Avoid
- Staying at tipper distance and repeatedly accepting Byleth’s Fair, Bair, and Forward Tilt pressure.
- Forcing your way in with big commitments like raw Side B into prepared long-range hitboxes.
- Letting Byleth escape after finally getting a close-range opening instead of continuing the sequence.
- Overchasing offstage and giving up stage control to Byleth’s Up B reversal or tether mix.