Editing Lucas (PM)

{{ArticleIcons|pm=y|p+=y}}

|name = Lucas

|image = {{tabber|title1=Classic (PM)|content1=[[File:Lucas SSBB.jpg|250px]]|title2=Classic (P+)|content2=[[File:PPlus Lucas.png|250px]]|title3=Masked Man (PM)|content3=[[File:PMLucasAlt.png|250px]]|title4=Masked Man (P+)|content4=[[File:PPlus Masked Man Lucas.png|250px]]|title5=Smash 2 Lucas (P+)|content5=[[File:PPlus Smash 2 Lucas.png|250px]]}}

|mod = Project M

|base = SSBB

|altcostume = {{s|wikibound|Masked Man}} Lucas, ''[[Gameplay modification|Smash 2]]'' Lucas (''[[Project+]]'')

'''Lucas''' is a playable character in the ''[[Brawl]]'' mod ''[[Project M]]''. He has been given new options and moves in his recreation from ''Brawl'' to ''Project M''.  

 

Lucas ranks 15th out of 41 on the [[Project M#Tier list|official]] [[tier list]], near the bottom of the A- tier, a substantial improvement over his 30th out of 38 placement in ''Brawl''. In ''Project+'', Lucas is ranked 17th in the {{h2|Project+|tier list}}, in the A tier.

In ''Project M'', Lucas boasts excellent mobility with fast, low commitment neutral tools, versatile combo tools, and insanely powerful smash attacks. His out-of-shield game also grants Lucas good neutral or punishing options, such as his down aerial. His recovery, while risky, is extremely versatile and can travel long distances very quickly using his double jump (which can be cancelled into an aerial or airdodge), z-tether, a fall-decelerator in PSI Magnet which can also be jump cancelled similarly to Fox's Reflector, and his Thunder-looping. PSI Magnet also lets him deal with camping by absorbing energy projectiles, and to help with this he can also access his new neutral special {{s|wikibound|Offense Up}}. This move increases the power of his already devastating smash attacks, especially useful as it increases the size of his up smash alongside its power.

His ledge options are serviceable, such as stalling with PK Thunder,  gaining back his invincibility with a z-tether, threaten at close range with a ledge-hop PSI Magnet, and make use of his passable ledgedash. He also has access to one of the most technically difficult techniques in the game in the "snekdash", which if the demands are met can make some of Lucas' ledge options completely invincible. PK Freeze is a decent projectile that can lead into multiple followups, one of these followups being his extremely dangerous [[DACUS]], which can make it unsafe to be above Lucas and can finish off combos from entire stages. He additionally has ease in hit-and-run combat courtesy of his extremely fast mobility on the ground. To a lesser extent, his double-jump cancelled aerials and b-reverses also give him long-distance mobility. Lucas has excellent shield pressure due to his DJC-aerials, powerful up throw that ignores weight, long wavedash, and jump-cancelled PSI Magnet. All of these build onto his greatest strength: his combo ability. His versatile options across the board, ability to traverse whole stages very quickly, and very early KO moves make it not unreasonable for Lucas to bring someone from 0% to a KO.

However, Lucas also has weaknesses. His subpar tech roll and bad combo weight make it easy to punish and fatally chain Lucas if he makes a mistake. He also has short range and poor edgeguarding abilities, which slightly dampen his stellar combo ability and can make it difficult to secure a KO. His unique double jump also gives him trouble against platform camping, as he can't quickly punish his opponent for doing so. His ability to start combos is also slightly weakened by his tether grab, which doesn't have great range by the standards of tethers but is still rather slow.  

 

Overall, Lucas is a character who can make it very difficult for opponents who have bad out of shield options or moves that are less safe on whiff. His power additionally gives him an upper hand against characters who would otherwise survive longer at early percents. However, he has a hard time dealing with characters who can easily out-range or gimp him and have good tech-chasing options or chaingrabs. Overall, Lucas has significantly better matchups than he did in ''Brawl'', and that has led to above average tournament results and representation.

Lucas was heavily buffed from ''Brawl'' to ''Project M''. His ground mobility has been improved with his dashing speed increased and the ability to [[wavedash]], and overall the power of his attacks have been increased. One of his biggest buffs is the removal of the extra 10 grab-release frames that plagued him in ''Brawl'', as such he is no longer as vulnerable to [[grab release]] follow-ups. Lucas has been given many new options to combo and KO opponents on-stage, such as his new [[neutral attack]] and [[up tilt]] being reliable combo starters. His new neutral special, Offense Up, replaces his almost non-competitivly viable PK Freeze. When charged it signifficantly increases the damage, knockback, and range of his smash attacks giving him more viable KOing options. PK Freeze has been moved to his side special replacing PK Fire, however the physics are more akin to PK Fire. PK Freeze gives him a better approach due to being executed faster, especially in the air, and having more hitlag and reduced knockback to give him better follow-ups. PK Thunder has less startup and now corners tighter, making it much safer to use for a [[recovery]] and also allowing him to use it in tighters areas. PSI Magnet is now a useful combo technique as it can now be

 

The changes to ''Project M''{{'}}s engine also benefit Lucas: Lucas now has a much better approach thanks to a long [[wavedash]] due to his lower traction. Directional air dodges now provide him with an extra form of [[recovery]] besides PK Thunder. Additionally, Lucas can now DACUS, which has the longest distance in the game and, combined with Offense Up, provides him with a dangerous finisher.

 

However, Lucas has received some nerfs. The main nerfs he received were to the range of his PSI attacks and recovery. Lucas has lost many of the advanced techniques he had with his side special: Unlike PK Fire, PK Freeze does not push Lucas backwards, which removed his ability to perform the [[Magnet Pull]] technique thus removing its use for recovery, along with the removal of [[Zap Jump]]. While PK Thunder has been made safer, it now travels a much shorter distance making his recovery worse. PSI Magnet's absorbing hitbox is smaller now, and it no longer turns Lucas around to absorb projectiles that are behind him. Lucas's endurance is much worse now as he is now the 8th lightest character in the game. Without the use of Offense Up, his smash attacks have reduced range and power thus reducing their KO potential. Overall it is more difficult to land the sweetspot for some attacks, such as forward tilt and forward aerial.

 

Overall Lucas's buffs outweigh his nerfs and his matchups and performance is significantly better than it was in ''Brawl''. His tournament representation has generally been much better than it was in ''Brawl''. While previously a low-mid tier in ''Brawl'', he is now considered a high tier character (15 out of 41).

*{{buff|When using Lucas's up [[taunt]], holding the input will actually make him [[trip]], giving him the option to roll or [[floor attack]], allowing situational [[mindgame]]s.}}

*{{change|Lucas has a new taunt based on the Osohe Dance performed by {{s|wikibound|Wess}} in ''Mother 3''. It can be access by quickly tapping down taunt and the A button at the same time.}}

*{{buff|Lucas now has the option to [[double jump cancel]] with the same mechanics as {{PM|Ness}}, making his combo game even more deadly.}}

*{{buff|Lucas's additional lag from a grounded [[grab release]] has been removed; he is no longer vulnerable to grounded grab release followups or infinites. He is also less vulnerable to air release followups due to the changes to the grab release mechanics.}}

*{{nerf|Lucas' air speed is slower (1.05 → 1.0)}}

*{{buff|Lucas has a new neutral attack, he creates a spark of PSI in one hand, and then spins around and creates a spark of PSI in the same hand. It is better combo opener than his old neutral attack.}}

*{{nerf|Forward tilt deals less knockback hindering its KO potential. It also has less range and the sourspot now takes priority over the sweetspot making the sweetspot harder to land.}}

*{{buff|[[Up tilt]] is now a flash kick in an arc-like fashion in front of him, which has slightly more range in front of Lucas and it has much more utility than his previous up tilt, and it can easily lead-up into combos or a [[down aerial]].}}

*{{nerf|Up tilt has less vertical range.}}

*{{change|[[Down tilt]] pushes back the opponent, resetting the close quarters situation into neutral. It can lead into grab or ftilt if the opponent doesn't react in time.}}

*{{change|Weak dash attack has increased knockback and sends opponents at a different angle (75° → 361°). This improves its KO potential but hinders its combo ability.}}

*{{nerf|Dash attack deals less damage (12% (clean), 10% (sourspot) → 10%/7%). The sweetspot also has less KO potential and has less active frames (6 frames → 3).}}

*{{buff|[[Up smash]] has decreased startup (frame 28 → 21) and ending lag (IASA 99 → 76). Lucas' improved DACUS also makes it a significantly stronger approach option.}}

*{{nerf|[[Up smash]] has drastically less range (14u/13u/12u/10u/10u → 5u/9u/5u/10u) and has a shorter duration (28-53 → 21-32). It also no longer has a grounded hitbox slightly reducing the move's maximum damage output (2%-19%/18%/16%/14%/12% → 20%/16%)). It also has slightly less knockback growth (85 → 84).}}

*{{buff|[[Down smash]] has more active frames for each hit (3 frames (all) → 6 (hit 1), 5 (hit 2)) and has much less ending lag (IASA 65 → 38/55); its second hit is now optional, performed by pressing the attack button again. This allows Lucas to perform a quick smash attack in with a single hit, or [[punish]] [[crouch cancel]]ers and [[pressure]] shields with a double hit, while before Lucas was forced to stay in place for a long time due to the attack's long duration.}}  

*{{nerf|Down smash can only hit two times instead of three greatly reducing the move's maximum damage output (42% → 31%). Down smash also has much smaller hitboxes (10u/12u/14u → 6u/6u) which can no longer hit behind him.}}

*{{buff|[[Forward aerial]] has less startup (frame 9 → 5) and ending lag (IASA 42 → 33).}}

*{{nerf|Clean sourspot of forward aerial deals less damage (10% → 8%). The sweetspot is also much harder to land.}}

*{{buff|[[Back aerial]] does much more damage (9%/12%/10%/7% → 12%/15%) and has increased knockback growth (80/90/60 → 100/80) making it a much stronger KO move, and is slightly easier to sweetspot and [[spike]]s, these changes make it a more reliable offstage finisher and edgeguarding option.}}

*{{nerf|Back aerial has less range and more landing lag (15 frames → 20).}}

*{{buff|[[Up aerial]] has much less ending lag (IASA 42 → 28).}}

*{{nerf|Up aerial deals less damage (13% → 10%) making it a weaker vertical KO move despite it's increased base knockback (10 → 20). It also has more landing lag (12 frames → 15).}}

*{{buff|Up aerial's decreased knockback improves it's juggling potential especially when coupled with it's decreased ending lag.}}  

*{{buff|[[Down aerial]] now only hits three times allowing to connect more reliably, It also no longer changes Lucas's momentum, is much faster, has a strong downwards trajectory on the third hit, and links into subsequent hits more fluidly. It also has less landing lag (28 frames → 18). These changes make it have more utility in combos, either as a starter or finisher.}}

*{{nerf|Down aerial has less range and deals less damage due to only having 3 hits (20% → 15%).}}

*{{buff|[[Grab aerial]] now has a damaging hitbox which deals 8%, and is also generally better for recovering, as it can be used after an [[air dodge]] and ignores [[edge-hog]]gers due to ''Project M''{{'}}s new tether recovery mechanics. This significantly improves zair's utility as both an offensive and recovery option.}}

*{{nerf|Grab aerial no longer auto-cancels on landing now having 15 frames of landing lag. It also now leaves him [[helpless]].}}

*{{buff|All [[grab]]s are faster (frame 13 (standing), frame 16 (dash), frame 15 (pivot) → frame 11/15/13), and have longer durations (1 frame (all) → 4 frames (standing/pivot), 8 frames (dash)) and standing grab has less endlag (frame 70 → 58).}}

*{{buff|Lucas's new up throw deals more damage (10% → 12%) and has higher KO potential.}}

*{{change|Forward throw has less knockback, which improves its combo utility but hinders its KO ability.}}

*{{change|Down throw has greatly decreased knockback scaling (100 → 50). This removes its KO potential but it has much more combo potential due to the changes the ''PM''{{'}}s mechanics.}}

*{{buff|Lucas' [[neutral special]], [[PK Freeze]] is replaced with a new special move, [[wikibound:Offense Up|Offense Up]] (a move that Lucas can actually perform in ''Mother 3''), a charging move with storable charge similar to [[Giant Punch]] or [[Needle Storm]], that increases the power of Lucas's smash attacks and stays active as long as Lucas connects said boosted attacks. This new addition over the generally competitively non-viable PK Freeze is considered a buff as it can allow stronger Lucas players to gain many quick and efficient KOs.}}

*{{change|[[PK Freeze]] is now moved to side special, replacing [[PK Fire]], but functions the same as the latter. Neither Lucas' neutral or side specials have a voice clip anymore.}}

*{{buff|PK Freeze inflicts more hitlag and less knockback, giving Lucas better follow-ups out of the move.}}

*{{nerf|Unlike PK Fire, PK Freeze does not push Lucas backwards, making it less useful for recovering and removing his [[Magnet Pull]] technique.}}

*{{nerf|Cliff jump height slightly reduced.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral air now uses weight dependent set knockback on linking hits and is slightly more SDIable.}}

*{{buff|Up air has normal hitlag, and now has a sweetspot that uses the new light element effect.}}

*{{buff|Down tilt animation angled slightly lower to shield poke better, also removed the sparkle graphic.}}

*{{change|Neutral air animation has a more centered axis of rotation about Lucas's body and uses stationary hitboxes for more consistent coverage. Multi-hit trajectories are now location dependent and generate the proper amount of [[hitstun]] for their knockback.}}

*{{bugfix|Up throw hitboxes now cannot be clanked, fixing a bug that would have him freeze up similar to Diddy's up throw.}}

*{{buff|Lucas's upper body cannot be hit during tether reel-in.}}

*{{bugfix|Ledge roll 100+ works properly on edges with steep slopes like Yoshi's Island: Brawl.}}

*{{buff|Up taunt makes Lucas behave as if he actually tripped if held.}}

| rowspan=2 | || 3% || rowspan=2 | Lucas throws out one hand creating a spark of PSI energy, then spins and throws out the same hand, creating another spark of PSI energy. The second hit moves Lucas a small distance forward. The third hit from ''Brawl'' still exitsts within Lucas' files although it has lost almost all frames of its animation (as of version 3.6) and it was altered in various ways suggesting that at some point, the developers intended Lucas to regain his ''Brawl'' neutral attack combo.

| || 11% (sweetspot), 9% (sourspot) || Lucas does a strong palm thrust that launches a small burst of PSI energy. This move can be angled up or down.

| || 10% (clean), 7% (late) || Lucas slides forward, shooting out a burst of PSI energy from his hand. Can combo into many different aerials and is a good burst option since it propels him forward a bit.

| || Normal: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|16}}<br/>Offensive Up: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|24}} || Lucas attacks nearby foes by swinging his stick (energy sword when using the Masked Man costume) horizontally forward. The tip of the stick launches enemies at a more horizontal angle and does more knockback. Can [[reflect]] [[projectiles]]. This move can be angled up or down. This move becomes very strong in Offense Up for how fast it is, killing reliably at the edge at 90%.

| || Normal: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|20}} (clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|16}} (late)<br/>Offensive Up: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|30}} (clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|24}} (late) || Lucas releases a small burst of PSI that erupts above his head. It has slow start-up and leaves horrid lag afterwards, rendering it very easily punished. It is however compensated by its large knockback and range, which is even stronger through Offense Up. When fully charged, it can KO at 62%, and when fully charged through Offense Up, it can KO as early as 45%. This Up Smash slides the furthest in the game with [[DACUS]].

| rowspan=2 | || Normal: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|17}}<br/>Offensive Up: {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|26}} || rowspan=2 | Lucas points at the ground and shoots a burst of PSI energy in front of his feet. It's possible for Lucas to unleash a second burst by pressing the attack button right after the first. It is unlikely that both hits will connect on the same enemy. Extremely strong with Offense Up, killing as early as 70% at the ledge. Unlike Up Smash however, the hitbox does not get much larger for the move.

| || 2% (hits 1-4), 6% (hit 5), 4% (landing) || Lucas spins in a gyro pattern with PSI energy around him, with the last hit having decent knockback, as well as having a good landing hitbox.

| || Clean: 12% (sweetspot), 8% (sourspot)<br/>Late: 8% (sweetspot), 7% (sourspot) || Lucas kicks one foot forward, launching a burst of PSI energy. Can even be linked into itself or even into a down aerial for a Ken combo. It is disjointed so it is a good tool to use to approach and pressure with.

| || 10% || Does a quick headbutt that deals low knockback. Has a small amount of ending lag and is a great combo starter/extender.

| || &mdash; || Lucas sends Duster's Rope Snake forward to grab nearby enemies. Has good range but noticeable ending lag if it misses.

| || 10% || Lucas telekinetically tosses the opponent behind him. Can KO at high percent, especially as a mixup if the opponent is expecting to DI behind for Down throw.  

| || 1% (hits 1-4), 8% (throw) || Lucas telekinetically whirls the opponent around his head, then throws them straight up. Has very high KO potential. Kill % based on fall speed, not weight.

| || 7% || Lucas telekinetically slams the opponent down, then launches them upwards. Hard behind DI will limit Lucas's followups, especially if sent offstage.

| || 50% || Performs the Osohe Dance performed by Wess from ''Mother 3''. Lasts for an incredibly long duration (over 1000 frames), but whenever the dance is successfully performed without any interruption, the ending pose produces a shockwave that deals a ton of damage, shocking opponents with paralysis before launching them, being capable on landing a [[one-hit KO]] on any character, regardless of damage.

| {{s|wikibound|Offense Up}} || 10% (spark) || When the special button is held, Lucas begins channeling psychic power, complete with a weak [[wind]] effect that pushes nearby foes. After a few seconds, Lucas's hands glow with power and the next smash attack that he performs deals greater damage, shield damage, and knockback. While Offense Up is charged, Lucas can also press the special button to produce an spark-like attack around himself that can damage foes with little to no startup. Hitting with a smash attack or the spark will allow Lucas to keep the charge, whereas missing will deplete the charge. The spark attack can be combo’d into, but it has an extremely small hitbox, so precision is required.

| [[PK Thunder]] || 10% (PK Thunder head), 1% (PK Thunder tail)<br/>PK Thunder 2: 8% (hit 1), 3% (hits 2-7), 8% (hit 8) || Lucas generates a ball of lightning which can be directed with the [[control stick]]/d-pad. Like Ness's PK Thunder, it can be directed into Lucas to launch him. Unlike Ness's version, however, it does not fizzle out after hitting a foe and instead causes repeated damage. The latter also applies to his PK Thunder 2. As such, using PK Thunder will result in Lucas not being able to move or defend, because the control stick/d-pad is used to aim the projectile. This move can also be used to interrupt recoveries.

| [[PSI Magnet]] || 2% (loop), 6% (release), heals 1x the damage of absorbed projectiles || Lucas holds out his hand and creates a small electrical field in front of him that absorbs any energy projectiles shot against him, healing Lucas's by the damage the projectile would have normally dealt. As an attack, it does a small amount of damage to enemies that make contact with the orb, and deals more damage and launches them behind Lucas when he releases it. When used in the air, it halts Lucas's falling speed, similar to Fox's reflector from ''Brawl'', but will do so less often after each repeated use. This move is a key tool in all phases of the game, as it is one of his only reliable methods of approaching, starting a combo, pressuring shields, mixing up landings, stalling recovery, and baiting out options.

===Most historically significant players===

 

*{{sm|Shadowhawke|USA}} - The best active Lucas main. Ranked #26 on [[PMRank 2023]], won {{Trn|Shine Out of Shield}}.

*{{sm|Av|USA}} - Formerly a solo Lucas main, now a Kirby main with Lucas as a secondary. Ranked #27 on [[PMRank 2023]].

*{{sm|grealy|USA}} - Ranked #33 on [[PMRank 2023]].

*{{Sm|Hyperflame|USA}} - The first Lucas player to win a major in the history of ''Project M'', doing so at [[Blacklisted 3]], and his 7th ranking on the [[2017 PMRank]] is the highest a Lucas player ever ranked on PMRank.

*{{Sm|Narq|USA}} - Ranked #36 on [[PMRank 2023]].

*{{Sm|Star (Illinois)|USA}} - Ranked #41 on [[PMRank 2023]].

|colspan=7|[[File:Lucas Palette (PM).png|frame|center|Lucas's alternate costumes in PM]]

|[[File:LucasHeadSSBB.png]]

|[[File:LucasHeadOrangeSSBB.png]]

|[[File:LucasHeadRedSSBB.png]]

|[[File:LucasHeadBlueSSBB.png]]

|[[File:LucasHeadGreenSSBB.png]]

|[[File:LucasHeadPurpleSSBB.png]]

|[[File:LucasHeadMaskedManPM.png]]

[[File:LucasoldBairPM.png|thumb|200px|Lucas's back aerial in previous versions of ''Project M''.]]

*Lucas holds the record for the longest Smash Taunt in ''Project M'' and ''Project+'', exceeding 1,000 frames.