Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Isabelle shifts position with Neutral Air, Forward Air, and Back Air while splitting center stage and the ledge with Lloid Rocket and Fishing Rod. Zelda should punish the grounded commitments that matter most, especially Jab, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, and Forward Smash, with Up B (6f) and Up Smash once the swing is blocked or whiffed.
Neutral Air and Back Air are not the buttons to answer on instinct, so it is safer to read the landing point and drift first than to swing back immediately. Phantom Slash and Din’s Fire work best as movement checks that help Zelda hold a lane, not as autopilot projectile spam that lets Isabelle turn the pace into a trap game.
At the ledge, the goal is to keep center and cut off Balloon Trip routes before they reset the position, rather than overchasing offstage and giving up the stronger corner control.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Zelda OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab | 3 | -13 |
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| Forward Tilt | 8 | -19 |
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| Up Tilt | 6 | -15 |
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| Down Tilt | 9 | -10/-14 |
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| Dash Attack | 7 | -21 |
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| Forward Smash | 14 | -20 |
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| Up Smash | 9/14 | -12 |
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| Down Smash | 8/12 | -28/-25 |
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| Neutral Air | 5/8 | -2/-3 |
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| Forward Air | 10 | -6 — +4 |
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| Back Air | 13 | -4 — +5 |
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| Up Air | 6 | -5/-6 |
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| Down Air | 11 | -5/-6 |
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| Neutral B | 8 (Start of projectile pocket) | — | ||
| Side B | 21 | ** | ||
| Up B | ** | ** | ||
| Down B | 9/17/25/34/43/51 | ** | ||
| Grab | 14 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 15 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 17 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Punish Isabelle’s Jab, Forward Tilt, Up Tilt, Down Tilt, Dash Attack, and Forward Smash with Up B (6f) or Up Smash whenever the block or whiff is clear.
- Do not answer Neutral Air or Back Air on instinct; read the landing point and escape route first.
- Treat Phantom Slash and Din’s Fire as movement checks, then step in only after Isabelle has to commit.
- Keep the ledge trap after the send-off and cut off Balloon Trip before it becomes a reset.
Actions to Avoid
- Chasing Neutral Air, Forward Air, or Back Air and mashing back after the block.
- Running into Lloid Rocket and Fishing Rod while trying to clean up the trap layer too early.
- Overchasing Balloon Trip offstage and weakening your own return path.
- Throwing out Zelda’s setup and aerial pressure without first forcing Isabelle to move.