Lucas (SSB4): Difference between revisions

In the transition from ''Brawl'' to ''Smash 4'', Lucas was mostly nerfed but has been given a few buffs to compensate. The most notable improvements being that his 10 extra frame grab release animation (which was one of his most significant flaws (shared with {{SSB4|Ness}})) has been removed. His recovery has been considerably buffed, with an increase in distance traveled by PK Thunder 2, as well as his Tether recovery gaining more range and a new hitbox that deals damage. He has also seen indirect buffs from the nerfing of characters who [[Counter (matchup)|hard countered]] him in ''Brawl'', such as {{SSB4|Marth}}. This generally results in him being better relative to the rest of the cast.

However, he can no longer use the Zap Jump or Magnet Pull, which were his two most pivotal techniques in ''Brawl''. Many of his attacks deal less damage, have reduced range and increased cool down; his aerials can no longer auto cancel in a short hop which significantly hurts his already poor approach and landing options. He additionally has a harder time KO'ing because of his forward smash, up smash, forward air, neutral air and down throw having reduced knockback.

Lucas has received minor buffs in patch 1.1.0, most notably the cool down reductions on all his grabs and subtle range improvements in forward and down tilt (though they still do not match up to his range in ''Brawl'').

*{{buff|The extra 10 frames of Lucas' grab release have been removed, putting him in line with all other characters.}}

*{{nerf|Lucas can no longer use the [[Zap Jump]] or Magnet Pull, limiting his advanced player options.}}

*{{buff|[[Neutral attack]] connects reliably.}}

*{{nerf|Sourspotted dash attack deals less damage (10% → 9%) with slightly decreased knockback.}}

*{{buff|[[Up tilt]] has less cool down (IASA frame 40 → 37).}}

*{{buff|[[Down tilt]]'s close-up hitbox has a vertical trajectory which gives it better combo potential at high percent.}}

*{{nerf|[[Up smash]] is weaker (50 base/85 growth → 48/77)}}, no longer being the strongest up smash in the game. It additionally has reduced hitbox sizes (14/13/12/10/10 units → 12/11/10/8/6.5).

*{{nerf|[[Forward smash]] is weaker (base knockback 60 → 50) while also requiring to hit a sweetspot at the tip of the stick. It also has less active frames.}}

*{{nerf|[[Down smash]] has reduced range due to smaller hitbox sizes (10/12/14 units → 8/9.8/12).}}

*{{buff|Down smash first hit has slightly more base knockback (40 → 43).}}

*{{nerf|Neutral, forward and up aerial no longer auto cancel in a short hop due to drastically increased auto cancel timings, significantly hindering Lucas's approach and spacing options.}}

*{{change|Neutral aerial has a different animation, with Lucas posing oddly throughout the move.}}

*{{buff|[[Neutral aerial]] connects reliably with the final hit sending opponents at 60 degrees above Lucas, making it an effective combo starter with its reduced base knockback (70 → 40). It also has less landing lag (18 → 13 frames).}}

*{{nerf|[[Forward aerial]] has a smaller hitbox (5.5 units → 5) and reduced active frames for the late hit (6 frames → 2 frames).}}

*{{buff|[[Back aerial]]'s non meteor smash sweetspot deals more damage (10% → 12%) which notably increases its knockback.}}

*{{nerf|[[Up aerial]] has increased start-up (frame 5 → 7), fewer active frames (6 frames → 3 frames) and a much smaller hitbox (7 units → 5.2) that is no longer attached to Lucas's head animation, making the range static and misleading.}}

*{{buff|Up aerial sends at 80 degrees which helps it KO earlier despite the same knockback values.}}

*{{nerf|[[Down aerial]] has increased start-up (frame 4 → 10) which hurts its reliability against smaller grounded targets. It also has a significantly higher auto cancel timing (frame 35 → 48).}}

*{{buff|[[Rope Snake]] covers much more distance as a [[tether]] and now has a hitbox which deals up to 4% damage with horizontal knockback and very low landing lag.}}