Lucas (SSBB): Difference between revisions

'''Lucas''' ({{ja|リュカ|Ryuka}}, ''Lucas'') is a playable character  and newcomer in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', becoming the second fighter from the ''EarthBound'' series. He is the main character of ''[[Mother 3]]'', the Japan-only sequel to ''{{b|EarthBound|game}}''. Lucas' [[special move]]s are similar to {{SSBB|Ness}}', but his physical attacks are mostly all completely different. He relies on his PSI powers far more than Ness, using them for all but his forward smash, up aerial, down tilt, and standard combo attacks. Lucas is voiced by Lani Minella, who also voices {{SSBB|Pit}}.

Lucas ranks 30th on the [[tier list]] at the very bottom of Lower-Mid tier and the lowest rank of the newcomers. Lucas possesses above average speed and mobility, as well as some of the most powerful smash attacks in ''Brawl'' with fast start-up (forward smash) or very large disjointed hitboxes (up and down smashes), powerful throws with great KO potential, a decent zoning option in PK Fire, a great and versatile recovery with several options, fast attacks, and multiple attacks that can setup additional blows effectively. However, Lucas possesses an unremarkable aerial game with some problematic aerial moves (such as B-air) or aerials that are just inferior compared to what other characters possess, a nearly useless projectile with little utility in PK Freeze, a lack of reliable KO moves outside his smash attacks and throws (limiting his versatility in being able to finish off an opponent), and a rather poor [[grab]] game outside of KO'ing, possessing a low reaching [[tether]] grab (relative to his peers like Olimar) and lacking any effective setup throws outside of low percents. His most major flaw though, which is often cited as the reason for his low tier placement, is the 10 additional frames of [[lag]] he suffers when [[grab release]]d on the ground, similar to the character he is a pseudo-clone of, {{SSBB|Ness}}. This makes him vulnerable to grab release followups from nearly every character, as well as a 0-death grab release and an [[infinite]] grab release from {{SSBB|Marth}}, and {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}} respectively. Overall, Lucas has generally poor [[matchup]]s (with four especially terrible due to serious grab release issues from Marth, {{SSBB|Snake}}, Donkey Kong, and {{SSBB|Sheik}}, giving him several hard {{b|counter|matchup}}s, while being even with the lower-tiered {{SSBB|Bowser}} due to the aforementioned problem), and poor [[tournament]] results.

His smash attacks are extremely strong; his up smash can be charged for massive damage and vertical knockback, as well as having a gigantic hitbox, his forward smash is a strong and reasonably quick smash attack that also reflects projectiles (like Ness's forward smash), and his down smash is also among the strongest and can hit three times, but has some of startup lag. Two of his smash attacks (up smash and down smash) tend to have enough ending lag to be easily punished in most situations, leaving him using only his forward smash for easy on-stage kills, which becomes too predictable for KO use. However, his down-smash is among the highest damaging in the game, alongside {{SSBB|Ice Climbers}}, but all three hits would only typically connect if the opponent has some form of knockback resistance. If an opponent is on the platform in [[Smashville]] and is vulnerable, the up smash makes a very easy and quick KO.

Two of his special moves, [[PK Freeze]] and [[PK Thunder]], can be controlled. This means that these attacks both leave Lucas very vulnerable because he cannot move or attack when controlling these projectiles, except for using the projectiles themselves to defend him. PK Thunder is Lucas’s main recovery move. If it hits Lucas, it will shoot him in an angle depending on which part of Lucas's body which it hits, and will deal a large amount of damage if most or all of its hits connect. It also deals reasonable knockback, but is a bad approach. PK Thunder normally goes through enemies and objects, but it can still be interrupted by certain attacks, hurting recovery. PK Freeze can be controlled from side to side and can freeze opponents. It also does a good amount of damage if "charged". However, it is extremely predictable and avoidable against skilled players, does not freeze opponents for very long, has weak knockback, and the vertical nature of the latter all limit its use, and make it an incredibly ineffective projectile. His side special, [[PK Fire]], is a single hit move that pushes Lucas back a little, making it great for [[Wavebouncing]]. It can also be used to [[Zap Jump]], which gives Lucas’s recovery a substantial boost. His down special, [[PSI Magnet]], can absorb energy based projectiles, such as [[Ray Gun]] bullets, [[Fire Breath]] and even [[Pikachu]]'s {{b|Thunder|Pokémon}}, and if it used right after PK Fire, can push him back even further (a technique called the [[Magnet Pull]]), giving him a great horizontal recovery. His grab range is great and is far longer than many characters' range since it is a tether, but it is quite laggy if it misses. However, his [[Pivot Grab]] has much less lag. His throws are also powerful with good KO potential (relative to other throws), most notably his down throw (though up throw KOs soon after and comes out faster, and back throw can be dangerous if the opponent is too slow to react). In addition, his second jump is the 3rd highest in the game, falling a little shy of Ness, who is exceeded by Yoshi. As stated above, the jump can be significantly lengthened by performing a PK Fire one frame after a midair jump has been inputted.

Lucas's aerial game is essentially average at best. His neutral aerial can be an effective comboing and damage-racking move, but it can be SDI'd out of fairly easily. His forward aerial is fast and can chain into itself repeatedly, but lacks range. His back aerial very strongly [[meteor smash]]es if sweetspotted, but it has very little utility if sourspotted, making it a rather situational move. His up aerial has decent coverage and deals powerful vertical knockback, but has considerable ending lag and short range. Lastly, his down aerial deals high damage and is also capable of meteor smashing, but its low power prohibits it from being very useful outside of setting up at low percents and [[gimp]]ing characters with poor vertical recoveries.

Lucas is known for having a good lock setup; if a grounded opponent is hit with the last two hits of his down aerial, it becomes incredibly hard to [[tech]] the last hit. This allows for a quick down tilt lock, and then a finisher, which is often an immediate forward smash, the most common. Up and down smashes also work, and all of them are guaranteed if performed correctly. However, the forward smash is easier and has almost no risk of failure. This adds to Lucas's limited reliable KO possibilities.

Overall, Lucas benefits from a high double-jump, some of the strongest smash attacks in the game, long range grabs and strong throws, the best pummel (damage-wise), a good recovery move in PK Thunder 2 (which, when used correctly, gives good recovery distance and a very versatile angle of recovery), and advanced techniques such as Magnet Pull, Zap Jump, Z-Air Jump, [[Wave zap]] and Thundersliding. However, being a victim of 0-death grab releasing by {{SSBB|Marth}} is a major flaw in his game (not to mention {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}}'s infinite). He, like Ness, suffers from 10 additional frames of lag when he escapes from grabs, enough to be dash re-grabbed by many characters (although the timing is strict) or open for certain attacks (some, but not many, characters can easily followup with a strong attack, especially Marth, Donkey Kong, and {{SSBB|Wario}}, among others). He is fairly floaty, and two of his smash attacks are slow. However, he has a hard to [[gimp]] recovery, since his PK Thunder can travel through opponents and requires less space. He also has many more options, including [[Zap Jump]], [[Magnet Pull]], and Z-air or Z-air jump (done by buffering a jump after an aerial's lag time, then air dodging as soon as possible and using Z-air immediately after).