Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Lucario wants to slow neutral with Aura Sphere and movement, then cash out high Aura with Forward Air, Back Air, and grab routes, so Villager gets into real danger if the match drifts into long even scrambles.
This matchup is different because Villager can erase Aura Sphere with Pocket, and the table also shows that Lucario’s Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Forward Smash, Up Smash, Down Smash, Back Air, Up Air, Down Air, Neutral B, Side B, and Up B can all be punished by OOS Nair (6f), OOS Uair (9f), Grab (10f), or Up Smash (12f).
That makes the stable plan to use Slingshot, Lloid Rocket, and Pocket to break Lucario’s front-facing rhythm, build the lead first, and refuse to mash after safer moves like Neutral Air, Forward Air, and Down Tilt unless the second landing route is covered.
For kills, Villager should rely more on Bowling Ball, Up Smash, Up Air, and ledge recovery reads, because giving Lucario more time and more trades only makes the comeback factor stronger.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Villager OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 5 | -16 | -15 | -14 |
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| Jab 2 | 5 | -18 | -18 | -17 |
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| Jab 3 | 9 | -23 | -22 | -21 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12/15 | -12 | -11 | -8 |
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| Up Tilt | 6 | -22/-21 | -20/-20 | -18/-17 |
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| Down Tilt | 7 | -9 | -7 | -5 |
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| Dash Attack | 7 | -28/-27 | -26/-24 | -22/-20 |
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| Forward Smash | 19 | -27/-25 | -24/-26 | -19/-21 |
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| Up Smash | 15/19 | -37/-38 | -34/-36 | -30/-31 |
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| Down Smash | 16 | -28 | -25 | -21 |
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| Neutral Air | 10/18 | -2/-2 | -1/-2 | 0/-1 |
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| Forward Air | 7 | -6 | -6 | -5 |
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| Back Air | 13 | -10/-10 | -9/-9 | -7/-7 |
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| Up Air | 10 | -10/-10 | -9/-10 | -7/-9 |
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| Down Air | 4/11 | -10/-9 | -9/-9 | -8/-8 |
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| Neutral B | 9 (+8) | -26 | -25 | -23 |
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| Side B | (9)24 | -24/-30 | -19/-27 | -10/-24 |
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| Up B | 46 | -23/-31 | -22/-31 | -19/-29 |
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| Down B | 5 (Start of Counter) | — | ||
| Grab | 7 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 11 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Use Pocket on Aura Sphere and force Lucario to approach through Slingshot and Lloid Rocket instead of letting the charge game control midrange.
- After blocking Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Forward Smash, Up Smash, Down Smash, Back Air, Up Air, Down Air, Neutral B, Side B, or Up B, punish immediately with the reachable option from OOS Nair (6f), OOS Uair (9f), Grab (10f), and Up Smash (12f).
- Do not mash after blocked Neutral Air, Forward Air, or Down Tilt; cover the landing route and retreat path with Slingshot, Up Air, and corner pressure for the second beat.
- End the stock early with Bowling Ball, Up Smash, Up Air, or recovery reads so Lucario never gets to stabilize at dangerous Aura.
Actions to Avoid
- Letting Lucario charge Aura Sphere for free and never using Pocket to break the midrange rhythm.
- Blocking Jab 1, Jab 2, Jab 3, Up Tilt, Dash Attack, Forward Smash, Up Smash, Down Smash, Back Air, Up Air, Down Air, Neutral B, Side B, or Up B and still missing the punish window.
- Swinging immediately after blocked Neutral Air or Forward Air and getting pulled back into Lucario’s height-adjusted pressure or grab reset.
- Taking needless close-range trades once Villager already has the lead and feeding high Aura comeback power.