Editing Lucas (SSB4)

|availability = [[Downloadable content (SSB4)|Downloadable]]

|tier = C

}}

'''Lucas''' ({{ja|リュカ|Ryuka}}, ''Lucas'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''. Initially absent as a playable character, Lucas's return to the series was announced during a [[Nintendo Direct]] on April 1st, 2015.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMedqo8mLaQ Nintendo Direct 4.1.2015]</ref> He was then made available as [[Downloadable content (SSB4)|downloadable content]] on June 14th, 2015, alongside {{SSB4|Roy}} and {{SSB4|Ryu}}.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWM-SCjIuNg Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U - New Content Approaching 6.14.15]</ref> Lani Minella reprises her role as Lucas' voice actor; however, she does so via recycled voice clips from ''Brawl'', some of which have been slightly sped up.

==Attributes==

Like Ness, Lucas' special moveset boasts versatility in the form of PSI-based attacks, three of which are projectiles. [[PK Freeze]] can [[Frozen|freeze]] his opponents, has very minimal ending lag and is viable, yet situational, as an edgeguarding option. While his PK Fire does not repeatedly hit opponents and potentially trap them like Ness' PK Fire, Lucas' deals decent knockback and can be used to give Lucas some space as it also provides a minimal amount of recoil, both on the ground and in the air. [[PK Thunder]] does not disappear like Ness' PK Thunder when it hits opponents, but instead hits them multiple times alongside boasting tighter control, while [[PK Thunder 2]], grants Lucas farther distance. Lastly, [[PSI Magnet]] allows Lucas to deal with camping opponents that carry powerful, absorbable projectiles. However, its defensive utility also extends to Lucas' recovery, thanks to its ability to stall his descent. Unlike Ness', it also has offensive utility, thanks to it dealing damage and being a [[semi-spike]].

==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''==

However, Lucas has seen a plethora of nerfs as well with his direct changes outside of his shorter grab release animation nerfing him overall. He can no longer use the [[Zap Jump]] or the [[Magnet Pull]] exploits, which were his two most pivotal techniques in ''Brawl'', although the aforementioned buffs to PK Thunder 2 and Rope Snake can somewhat compensate for this off stage, at least in terms of recovery. In addition, many of his attacks have seen their damage, knockback and range reduced, while some of them have had their startup/ending lag increased. This is most notably seen with his aerials: his neutral, forward and up aerials lost their ability to auto-cancel in a short hop (although the landing lag of both is minimal), his down aerial has increased start-up lag and is no longer able to reliably set up for the infamous down tilt [[lock]], and his up aerial has notably less range while also being slower and having static, all of which significantly hinders his already poor approach and landing options. He additionally has a slightly harder time KOing because of various of his previous KO moves including his forward and up smashes as well as his forward tilt and down throw having reduced knockback (although down throw has KO setups to compensate) alongside the loss of his advanced techniques. He is also slower on the ground relative to the cast as he is one of the only returning veterans whose dash (and walk) speed was not increased. His falling speed and gravity are also the same being lower relative to the cast although this has both positives and negatives.

===Aesthetics===

*[[Forward tilt]]:

**{{nerf|Forward tilt has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 6-9 → 7-9).}}

**{{nerf|The sourspot deals less damage (9% → 7.5%) and has much lower knockback scaling (100 → 60), making it much weaker.}}

**{{nerf|The sourspot now takes priority over the sweetspot (ID# 2/3 → 0), making the move harder to sweetspot with.}}

**{{nerf|The second hit's late hit has a shorter duration (frames 10-17 → 11-14).}}

*[[Down tilt]]:

***{{nerf|However, this also removes their ability to [[lock]], making Lucas' down tilt lock setups more precise, as he now has to lock with the far hitbox. This is further exacerbated by down tilt's reduced damage and the new three hit lock limit.}}

**{{buff|The near hit now always launches opponents in the direction Lucas is facing, allowing it to lead more reliably into followups.}}

**{{nerf|Down tilt has increased hitlag (0.4x → 0.7x).}}

***{{nerf|Altogether, these changes combined with the changes to shields (mainly the homogenisation of shield hitlag based on attack hitlag) noticeably hinder the move's safety on shield, with the move no longer being completely safe on shield.}}

**{{nerf|The far hit no longer has a extra [[trip]] chance (40% → 0%). This prevents the far hit from tripping opponents right up until beyond [[Sudden Death]] percents, greatly hindering its followup potential.}}

*[[Dash attack]]:

**{{buff|Dash attack has less startup lag (frame 17 → 15), with its total duration subsequently reduced (FAF 42 → 40).}}

**{{buff|The sweetspot deals more damage (12% → 13%).}}

**{{change|Dash attack now always launches opponents in the direction Lucas is facing.}}

**{{change|Dash attack's hitboxes have swapped positions, with the sweetspot now being further away from Lucas than the sourspot, rather than the sweetspot being closer to him than the sourspot.}}

**{{buff|Forward smash's reflector has less startup lag with a longer duration (frames 12-18 → 10-19).}}

**{{change|Forward smash produces a bat crack sound effect when it connects rather than a kicking sound.}}

*[[Up smash]]:

**{{change|Up smash's second hit's clean, early mid and mid hitboxes have been positioned higher (y offset: 10/16/23 → 14/19/25). This gives them more range above Lucas but less range below him.}}

**{{nerf|The second hit has smaller hitboxes (14u/13u/12u/10u/10u → 12u/11u/10u/8u/6.5u).}}

***{{nerf|When combined with the higher placement of the second hit's clean/early mid/mid hits, this means that the first hit can no longer reliably lead into the second hit against edge-hanging opponents.}}

**{{buff|Down smash has less ending lag (FAF 64 → 60).}}

**{{buff|The first hit has increased base knockback (40 → 43), slightly improving its KO potential.}}

**{{nerf|Down smash now has one hitbox which simply despawns and respawns with altered properties rather than having three separate hits. This means that the move can now only connect once, greatly reducing its maximum damage output (42% → 17%).}}

***{{nerf|This also makes the move easier for shielding opponents to intercept, as they can now run through the later hits if they shield the first hit.}}

**{{nerf|Neutral aerial has more startup (frame 5 → 7) and ending lag (FAF 40 → 45).}}

**{{nerf|Neutral aerial has a new more exaggerated animation. This new animation is much longer (44 frames → 71), increasing the amount of time Lucas cannot grab ledges after performing the move.}}

**{{nerf|Neutral aerial no longer has an initial auto-cancel window (frames 1-4 → 0).}}

**{{nerf|The loop hits are smaller (6u → 5.3u).}}

**{{nerf|The loop hits have an increased hitlag (0.5x → 1x) and [[Smash directional influence|SDI]] multiplier (1× → 2×).}}

**{{change|Up aerial now uses a static hitbox, rather than being attached to Lucas' head. The hitbox is positioned higher to compensate (y offset: 4 → 14).}}

***{{buff|This gives up aerial more vertical range overall, and gives it more consistent vertical range.}}

**{{nerf|Up aerial has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 5-9 → 7-9).}}

**{{nerf|Up aerial auto-cancels much later (frame 25 → 38), no longer doing so in a short hop.}}

***{{buff|This combined with the changes to [[hitstun canceling]]/DI greatly improves its combo potential. It can lead into devastating aerial/footstool combos at lower percents and at higher percents, it can lead into an up aerial for a KO.}}

***{{nerf|However, this also significantly hinders its KO potential, no longer being Lucas' strongest throw.}}

*[[Floor attack]]s:

**{{buff|Floor attacks have less startup lag (frame 19 (front)/20 (back) → 17).}}

**{{buff|Floor attacks deal more damage (6% → 7%) and shield damage (1 → 8) per hit, without full compensation on their knockback scaling (50 → 48).}}

**{{nerf|Floor attacks launch opponents at a higher angle (361° → 48°).}}

**{{nerf|Floor attacks now use one extended static hitbox rather than multiple normal hitboxes attached to Lucas' body, which covers less range.}}

*Front floor attack:

**{{buff|As with other edge attacks, edge attack no longer has set knockback (110 (set), 100 (scaling) → 90 (base)/20).}}

**{{change|Edge attack now deals consistent damage (8%/6% → 7%).}}

**{{nerf|Edge attack has less intangibility (frames 1-26 → 1-17), with Lucas no longer being intangible while the hitboxes are active.}}

**{{nerf|As with other edge attacks, edge attack now always launches opponents in the direction Lucas is facing, removing its ability to set up edgeguards.}}

***{{nerf|However, this does reduce uncharged PK Freeze's damage (10% → 9%).}}

**{{buff|PK Freeze is larger when it is created (0.3 → 0.45) and its size increases at a faster rate (1.45 → 1.6).}}

**{{buff|Lucas' gravity is lower when using PK Freeze (0.02 → 0.012), making it safer to use in the air.}}

**{{change|PK Freeze launches opponents at a higher angle (70° → 80°) and it has more base knockback, but less knockback scaling (50 (base), 40 (scaling) → 80/21).}}

**{{buff|PK Thunder 2 no longer decelerates in the air (0.071 → 0). This makes it cover more distance, as Lucas retains his momentum for much longer, despite its lower initial speed (4 → 2.5), improving its recovery potential.}}

***{{nerf|However, PK Thunder 2 now decelerates after hitting an opponent (0 → 0.071) slightly reducing its distance after hitting an opponent.}}

**{{buff|The loop hits now consistently use the autolink angle (365°/361° → 365°), making them connect more reliably.}}

**{{buff|The loop hits now always launch opponents in the direction Lucas is facing, making them more consistent.}}

**{{change|PSI Magnet's animation has slightly changed. Lucas now keeps both eyes open during it, instead of closing one of them.}}

**{{nerf|PSI Magnet deals less damage when released (9% → 8%).}}

**{{nerf|PSI Magnet grants much less forwards momentum in the air (3 → 1). This essentially removes Lucas' [[Magnet Pull]], greatly hindering PSI Magnet's utility (and PK Fire's utility by extension).}}

**{{nerf|PSI Magnet now swirls absorbed projectiles for a moment, creating a slight delay before Lucas can actually be healed.}}

|nocustoms=y

|neutralcount=3

|neutral1dmg=2.5%

|neutral2dmg=2%

|neutral3dmg=4%

|neutraldesc=A right-legged roundhouse kick, followed by a right-legged hook kick, followed by a left-legged reverse roundhouse kick. The last hit has slightly more range. Hits first on frame 2 and can combo into a dash attack at low to medium percents.

|ftiltdmg=11% (sweetspot), 7.5% (sourspot)

|ftiltdesc=A palm thrust that emits a small blast of PSI energy from his hand. It can be angled and has a [[Hitbox|disjointed hitbox]], although its sweetspot is located inside of the blast. This move's sourspot can [[lock]] opponents at low percents.

|utiltdmg=1.5% (hit 1), 8% (clean hit 2), 5% (late hit 2)

|utiltdesc=Telekinetically tilts himself upside down to perform a vertical thrust kick that emits a blast of PSI energy from his foot. It can combo into itself, a neutral aerial or an up aerial at low to medium percents.

|dtiltdmg=3%

|dtiltdesc=A legsweep. Although weak, it is fast and reliable for either racking up damage or chaining into itself, a neutral attack or a grab. Hits on frame 3, making it tied with {{SSB4|Ness}}, {{SSB4|Little Mac}}, {{SSB4|R.O.B.}}, and {{SSB4|Meta Knight}}'s down tilts for being the fastest down tilt in the game. The edge of down tilt can [[lock]] opponents at low to medium percents.

|dashdmg=13% (sweetspot), 9% (sourspot)

|dashdesc=A dashing palm thrust that emits a blast of PSI energy from his hand. Has noticeable start-up and deals more damage the farther the opponent is from Lucas.

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|14}} (base), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|15}} (tip), 1.5× (reflected projectiles)

|fsmashdesc=Swings a {{s|wikibound|stick}} in front of himself. The stick's tip deals slightly more damage and knockback, while the move overall functions very similarly to Ness' forward smash, including the ability to [[reflection|reflect]] projectiles. Compared to Ness' version, it has less start-up and ending lag, but deals less damage, knockback and has a lower damage multiplier when reflecting projectiles.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|2}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|19}}, {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|18}}, {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|16}}, {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|14}}, or {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|12}} (clean to late hit 2)

|usmashdesc=Emits a large blast of PSI energy above his head. Despite in-game tips saying it is the most powerful up smash in the game and can attack opponents hanging on the edge, neither of these tips are true; it is only the fifth strongest up smash in the game, and completely whiffs most edge-hanging characters unless their head pokes above the edge. It is a "high-risk, high-reward" attack; it has an extreme amount of ending lag, which makes it very punishable if missed, but it is strong enough to KO at 80% when uncharged and at 54% when fully charged. It also has other positives, as it renders Lucas invincible on frames 1-4, grants intangibility to his head on frames 15-29 and has a very large hitbox, making it a good anti-air attack if used correctly. It appears to be based on {{s|wikibound|PK Love}}, Lucas' signature PSI attack from ''{{s|wikibound|Mother 3}}''.

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|17}} (clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|14}} (mid), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|11}} (late)

|dsmashdesc=Aims his arm diagonally downward and emits three consecutive blasts of PSI energy towards the ground while holding his hand in a finger gun gesture. With each blast, its range increases at the expense of damage and knockback. It is one of the strongest down smashes in the game when clean, as it is able to KO as low as 60% near the edge depending on the opponent's weight and DI. If it is timed well, it can also catch recovering opponents before they grab the edge. Has a bit of start-up lag, but low ending lag. Despite seemingly being composed of three distinct hits, it can only strike an opponent once due to how its single hitbox is coded, making it somewhat unsafe on shield.

|nairdmg=2% (hits 1-4), 4% (hit 5)

|nairdesc=Tumbles while emitting blasts of PSI energy around his torso. Each hit has numerous [[freeze frame]]s and it has good combo potential, despite being susceptible to SDI.

|fairdesc=A flying kick that emits a blast of PSI energy from his foot. It is is fast and disjointed, making it a good off-stage option and one of Lucas' better spacing options. Its sweetspot deals the most knockback and can KO at high percents. This move's sourspot can [[lock]] opponents at early percents.

|bairdmg= 12% (sweetspot), 9% (sourspot), 7% (late)

|bairdesc=A backflip kick that emits a trail of PSI energy from his foot. It can [[meteor smash]] at the tip of his foot and has disjointed reach, with its weakest hitbox being at the tip. The last hitbox of this move can [[lock]] opponents at early percents.

|uairdmg=13%

|uairdesc=An upward headbutt. Its hitbox has become smaller since ''Brawl'' and is now static and misleading, but it deals respectable high damage and knockback, which make it a viable KOing option near the upper blast line.

|dairdmg=3.5% (hits 1-3), 5% (hit 4)

|dairdesc=An alternating series of [[Stomp (archetype)|stomps]], with each stomp emitting a small blast of PSI energy from his feet. Like his back aerial, it is disjointed and has a meteor smash hitbox below himself on the fourth and last hit. The move itself is also difficult to fully land on smaller grounded opponents, such as {{SSB4|Pikachu}} and {{SSB4|Kirby}}. The last hitbox of this move can [[lock]] opponents at low percents.

|zairdmg=4% (clean), 2.8% (late)

|zairdesc=Unfurls {{s|wikibound|Duster}}'s {{s|wikibound|Rope Snake}} in front of himself. It can damage opponents and act as a [[tether recovery]].

|grabdesc=Unfurls Duster's Rope Snake in front of himself. His standing grab is deceptively fast, although his pivot grab is very slow.

|pummeldmg=1.2%

|fthrowdmg=10%

|fthrowdesc=Telekinetically throws the opponent in front of himself. Among the strongest forward throws in the game, behind {{SSB4|Bowser}}'s and {{SSB4|Wario}}'s. It KOs around 100%-160% near the edge, depending on the opponent's weight and DI.

|bthrowdmg=10%

|bthrowdesc=Telekinetically throws the opponent behind himself. It is his strongest throw and the third strongest back throw in the game, being surpassed only by Ness and {{SSB4|Villager}}'s, respectively. It can KO even super heavyweights at 158% near the edge without [[rage]].

|uthrowdmg=10%

|uthrowdesc=Telekinetically whirls the opponent around his head, then throws them directly overhead. The third strongest up throw in the game, being surpassed only by {{SSB4|Mewtwo}} and {{SSB4|Charizard}}'s, as it KOs around 120%-180% depending on the opponent's weight and DI.

|dthrowdmg=6.5%

|dthrowdesc=Telekinetically slams the opponent into the ground head first. Lucas' primary combo starter, as it can lead into all of his aerials at a wide range of percentages, depending on DI. His up aerial specifically becomes a viable KO combo after this move. Although the opponent appears [[Bury|buried]], this is merely aesthetic.

|fsdmg=8% (per hit)

|fsdesc=Summons [[wikibound:PK Starstorm|a shower of falling stars]] to repeatedly hit the opponent. The stars that descend in a column from the top-center of the stage and can be angled in a fanning motion throughout its duration.}}

===[[Announcer]] call===

<gallery>

Lucas English Announcer SSB4-SSBU.wav|English/Japanese/Chinese

|char=Lucas}}

===Most historically significant players===

<!--This character has a ten player limit for this section. Before adding and/or removing a player, read these guidelines: https://www.ssbwiki.com/SmashWiki:Notability#%22Most_historically_significant_players%22_guidelines -->

===Tier placement and history===

==[[Alternate costume (SSB4)#Lucas|Alternate costumes]]==

SSB4 Lucas SplashArt.jpg|Lucas' splash art.

Lucas amiibo.png|Lucas' [[amiibo]].

Lucas SSB4 Screen-1.jpg|Using his forward aerial.

Lucas SSB4 Screen-2.jpg|Using [[PK Thunder]] against {{SSB4|Falco}}.

</gallery>

*A few aspects regarding Lucas' status in ''SSB4'' tied in to a number of significant dates for the ''EarthBound'' series:

**He was confirmed in the same month that his origin game, ''{{s|wikibound|Mother 3}}'', was first released.

**Additionally he has [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH1ggUXJaAs unused behavior] for his PK Thunder that functions just like Ness' PK Thunder.

*According to an interview with Sakurai, Lucas' alternate costumes were all chosen by [https://sourcegaming.info/2016/02/23/nintendo-dream-interview-with-sakurai-part-2/ one of the game's designers.]

==References==