Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Shulk should not keep shielding directly in front of Sephiroth’s Forward Tilt, Forward Air, and Flare line. It is more stable to use Speed to slip past the tipper spacing and start juggling from Nair, Fair, or Down Tilt once he reaches the sword body.
The table shows that Sephiroth’s Jab 1-3, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, Side B, Up B, and failed Down B can all be answered by Shulk’s Grab (10f) or Up B (10f), so those close-range checks and big swings need to be cashed out every time.
Sephiroth’s Forward Tilt and Forward Air still leave almost no direct punish on shield, and One-Winged Angel raises his mobility and kill threat, so walking and Speed-based whiff punishes matter more here than holding shield and waiting.
For stocks, Shulk is better off squeezing the recovery route from ledge with Forward Tilt, Fair, and Up B, using Smash to turn one punish or ledge trap into the kill, and using Shield to lower the risk from Shadow Flare or charged Flare setups.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Shulk OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 5 | -19 [-19] |
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| Jab 2 | 5 | -25 [-24] |
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| Jab 3 | 7 | -23 [-22] |
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| Forward Tilt | 14 | -15/-11/-14 [-13/-8/-12] |
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| Up Tilt | 10/13 | -32/-21/-19/-18 [-31/-18/-16/-14] |
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| Down Tilt | 9 | -25 |
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| Dash Attack | 14 | -20(-22) [-16(-19)] |
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| Forward Smash | 24 | -33/-29/-32 [-31/-26/-30] |
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| Up Smash | 23 | (-29/-31 front)/(-23/-25/-24 back) [(-26/-29/-30)/(-21/-23/-25)] |
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| Down Smash (1) | 21 | -20/-22 [-17/-20] |
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| Down Smash (2) | 21 | -24 [-22] |
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| Neutral Air | 9 | -5 [-4] |
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| Forward Air | 13 | -10 [-9] |
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| Back Air | 15 | -11 [-10] |
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| Up Air | 16 | -17 [-17] |
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| Down Air | 19 | Normal: -27 [-25] | Landing: -19 [-18] |
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| Neutral B | 41 | -28 |
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| Side B | 16—42 | -17 — -15 |
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| Up B (1) | 25 | -27 [-26] |
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| Up B (2) | 36 | -63 — -61/-47 [-62 — -60/-45] |
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| Down B (1) | 38 | -25 [-25] |
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| Down B (2) | 7 | ** | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 11 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Use base movement and Speed to avoid living at Sephiroth’s Forward Tilt and Forward Air tipper range, then start the juggle from Nair, Fair, or Down Tilt once you break inside the blade.
- After Shulk blocks Sephiroth’s Jab 1-3, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, Side B, Up B, or failed Down B, answer first with Grab (10f) or Up B (10f).
- When Shadow Flare is attached or One-Winged Angel is active, do not force Buster or Smash trades; switch to Shield when needed and reset the landing or ledge guess before re-engaging.
- At kill percent, stay disciplined around the ledge, narrow Sephiroth’s recovery route with Forward Tilt, Fair, and Up B, and let Smash turn that one opening into the stock.
Actions to Avoid
- Letting Shulk shield Sephiroth’s Forward Tilt and Forward Air at tip range over and over, losing stage without ever getting a real punish.
- Blocking Sephiroth’s Jab 1-3, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, Neutral B, Side B, Up B, or failed Down B as Shulk and still giving up the Grab (10f) or Up B (10f) punish.
- Trying to brawl through Shadow Flare or One-Winged Angel in Buster or Smash and widening Sephiroth’s kill routes at the ledge.
- Chasing too deep under the stage and turning a clean ledge trap into a guess against Octaslash or Scintilla.