Super Smash Bros. 4

Lucina (SSB4)

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This article is about Lucina's appearance in Super Smash Bros. 4. For the character in other contexts, see Lucina.
Lucina
in Super Smash Bros. 4
Lucina
FireEmblemSymbol.svg
Universe Fire Emblem
Availability Unlockable
Final Smash Critical Hit
Lucina (SSB4)
Lucina Wakes Her Blade?!
—Introduction Tagline

Lucina (ルキナ, Lucina) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. She was confirmed during a live stream alongside Captain Falcon and Robin on the official Smash Bros. website on July 14th, 2014, making her the only unlockable character to be revealed before the game's release. She is a moveset clone of Marth.

Lucina was originally planned as an alternate costume for Marth, but was given her own character slot later in development due to "the characteristics of their attacks" being different. She was one of three intended skins to be made separate in this way, with Dr. Mario and Dark Pit being the others.

Yū Kobayashi and Laura Bailey, the Japanese and English voice actors for Lucina in Fire Emblem Awakening, reprise their roles.

How To Unlock

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

  • Play 40 VS Matches.
  • Complete Classic Mode with Marth without using any continues.

Lucina must then be defeated on Arena Ferox.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

  • Clear Classic Mode on 5.5 Intensity or higher
  • Play 30 VS Matches.

Lucina then must be defeated on Coliseum.

Attributes and Differences from Marth

Lucina's Falchion lacks a specific sweetspot in her attacks compared to Marth's Falchion, as seen in their attack animations.

Lucina is a clone of Marth, meaning her moveset and animations are primarily based off of his. In a Miiverse post, Sakurai explains that "even a small difference in abilities" gives a character their own roster slot, citing Lucina as an example.[1] In her case, the most obvious difference between Lucina and Marth is that her sword does the same amount of damage no matter which part of it hits, while Marth deals higher damage, knockback and hitstun when hitting with his sword's tip. Additionally, all her attacks do more damage than Marth's sourspot attacks and comparably do less damage than Marth's sweetspotted attacks. As such, Lucina has one of the lowest learning curves in the game, but attaining greater skill with her yields little reward compared to Marth; she is generally considered a training character to help inexperienced players learn Marth's moveset, as her traits make Lucina's moveset a lower-risk, lower-reward version of Marth's.

Lucina inherits most of Marth's severe nerfs in the game, which prevents her from effectively finishing opponents early. This makes her much less of a threat in the neutral game, as opponents do not have to worry about losing positional advantage due to tippers. As a result, they can approach and corner her the same way as they can with Marth by slowly taking space with approaching and shielding until she is in a poor position. However, because her attacks deal solid knockback regardless of where her sword hits, she doesn't necessarily need to have good spacing to KO opponents at high percentages. Lucina is arguably slightly more effective at racking up damage and performing a rushdown playstyle due to her consistent damage output, but because she still lacks any safe ways to approach, this typically only applies successfully during low-level play. This means that the most effective way to play Lucina at high-level play is to adopt the same patient, read-heavy playstyle that Marth utilizes and, due to his tipper, is ultimately superior at. If that wasn't enough, Roy (while he is a semi-clone, he also has a moveset derived from Marth) further compounds Lucina's playstyle issues due to completely outclassing her in regards to rushdowns, punishing, approaching, and comboing. However, despite Lucina's clear disadvantages, she has found dedicated players nonetheless, with some high-level Smashers such as Nairo and Brolylegs choosing her over Marth or Roy. Additionally, Lucina has a very limited number of assets that are more effective than Marth's equivalents, most notably her up smash (which deals more damage and knockback than Marth's version).

Although originally considered one of the worst characters in SSB4 competitive play, Lucina has been steadily improved since update 1.0.6, as she has received a multitude of buffs (some of which are shared with Marth) in subsequent updates. As these buffs further improve her damage output by decreasing the ending lag of several combo-oriented moves and increasing the damage and knockback of many of her standard attacks, her punishes are slightly stronger than they were initially. However, they do not bring her or Marth close to the level of strength that Marth had in Melee or in Brawl, as they do not address Lucina's disadvantages with her neutral game, and any competitive disadvantages from Lucina's lack of tippers have not been adequately mitigated. This ultimately leaves Lucina almost completely outclassed by Marth and Roy, although she is now considered to be among the middle to low-tier due to the numerous buffs she received via game updates.

Aesthetics

  • Change Lucina's weapon is the the Parallel Falchion from Fire Emblem: Awakening, a variant of the Falchion.
  • Change Lucina's Falchion trail is a full white blur compared to Marth's, which is a translucent blue blur with an accentuated tip. This is an aesthetic detail which shows players that Lucina's sword does equal damage throughout.
  • Change Lucina's on-screen appearance is slightly different, where she removes her mask.
  • Change Lucina's taunts and victory poses are different from Marth's. Unlike Marth, she is dubbed in English for non-Japanese versions of SSB4, and has unique victory quotes against Marth and Ike.

Attributes

  • Change Lucina is slightly shorter than Marth, giving her a smaller hurtbox. As a result, her range is also shorter than his, exacerbating Lucina's range issues.
  • Change Unlike Marth, her Falchion does not have a tipper hitbox (except during her down aerial), meaning every part of the blade will deal equal damage and knockback. Her attacks deal more damage and knockback than the sourspot hitboxes of Marth's attacks and less damage and knockback than the tipper hitboxes of Marth's attacks.
  • Change Lucina does not have any hitlag modifiers on her attacks.
  • Change Lucina's dashing animation looks quicker than Marth's, but they both run at the exact same speed regardless.

Ground attacks

  • Buff Lucina's up tilt deals increased damage to opponents behind her.
  • Change Lucina's up tilt keeps her in place, whereas Marth's version makes him take a step forward.

Special moves

  • Change Lucina's Shield Breaker animation is much more exaggerated than Marth's.
  • Change Lucina may shout when performing Dolphin Slash, whereas Marth does not vocalize when performing it.
  • Change Lucina performs a different pose during her Counter. She additionally may say "My turn!" or "You're mine!" when it triggers, whereas Marth merely grunts whenever his triggers.

Update History

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS 1.0.4

  • Nerf First hit of jab has severely weakened knockback.

Super Smash Bros. 4 1.0.6

  • Buff Forward aerial damage: 8.075% → ~8.575%
  • Buff Down tilt damage: 8.075% → ~8.575%
  • Buff Forward smash damage: 14.725% → ~15.275%
  • Buff Down smash (second hit) damage: 13.775% → ~14.275%
  • Buff Shield Breaker damage: 8.075% → ~8.575%
  • Buff Shield Breaker (full charge) damage: 21.85% → ~22.85%
  • Buff Jab hit 1 IASA: Frame 29 → Frame 26
  • Buff Forward tilt IASA: Frame 39 → Frame 35
  • Buff Dancing Blade hit 1 IASA: Frame 45 → Frame 42
  • Buff Dancing Blade combos more consistently.

Super Smash Bros. 4 1.0.8

  • Buff Jab improved; both hits link more reliably as the transition is faster and the first hit now produces vertical-based knockback, while the second deals increased knockback. The first hit also now has followup potential outside of transiting to the second hit.
    • Nerf Due to the angle change of Jab 1, the move can no longer jab lock.
  • Nerf First hit of jab deal 1% less damage.
  • Buff All hitboxes of up tilt now deal vertical knockback, with improved base knockback, making it a better KO move. It additionally has 3 less frames of ending lag.
  • Buff Neutral aerial has 3 less frames of landing lag.
  • Buff Dolphin Slash has slightly improved knockback scaling.
  • Change Dolphin Slash and Crescent Slash deal slightly more hitlag.
  • Change Lucina can possibly say one of two lines when using Counter: "My turn!" or "You're mine!"
  • Change Lucina may shout sometimes when using Dolphin Slash.

Technical changelist 1.0.8

Super Smash Bros. 4 1.1.0

  • Buff All hits of neutral aerial deal 1% more damage.
  • Buff Up tilt damage increased (6.65%/7.125% → 7.6%~/8.1%~) (early/late).
  • Buff Up tilt's ending lag is reduced by 3 frames.
  • Buff Forward, up, and back aerials have 2 less frames of landing lag.
  • Buff Down aerial landing lag has 4 less frames of landing lag.
  • Buff All variations of Dolphin Slash have 3 less frames of landing lag.
  • Buff All variations of Shield Breaker have 2 less frames of ending lag.
  • Buff Dancing Blade's first, second and third strikes have 5 more frames of input window duration.

Technical changelist 1.1.0

Moveset

Generally, the damage dealt by Lucina's attacks is close to the weighted average of each of the hitboxes of Marth's attacks, based on the sizes of the sweetspot and sourspot hitboxes. Moves of Marth's without a tipper are generally unchanged.

  Name Damage Description
Neutral attack   3.325% Swings the Parallel Falchion twice.
4.75%
Forward tilt   10.85% A fast forward leaning Falchion swipe upward.
Up tilt   7.6% (early), 8.1% (behind) Swings Parallel Falchion in a large arc above her head, with a large hitbox that can hit enemies behind her. Does more damage when hitting an enemy behind her.
Down tilt   8.575% A quick crouching Falchion poke.
Dash attack   9.975% A quick upward sweeping diagonal slash with the Parallel Falchion.
Forward smash   15.275% Rotates body counter-clockwise with a strong arc-like one-handed swing from her head to the ground.
Up smash   3% (ground), 14.25% (blade) A quick, direct upward thrust. The weak grounded hit can knock nearby opponents into the main attack.
Down smash   9.5% (hit 1), 14.275% (hit 2) Sweeps Falchion on the ground toward the front outward then toward the back inward.
Neutral aerial   3.325% (hit 1), 7.6% (hit 2) Two horizontal slashes around herself via in inward slash followed into a full 360 outward spin.
Forward aerial   8.575% Does a forward vertical slash (up to down).
Back aerial   9.975% Slashes the Parallel Falchion from bottom to top behind her in an inward swipe. Has the interesting property of turning Lucina around, changing facing direction.
Up aerial   9.975% A forward to back upward Falchion slash in a delayed somersault.
Down aerial   11.4% (non-meteor), 13.3% (meteor) A forward to back downward outward slash with the Parallel Falchion. If struck at the tip in the middle at the swinging arc, it sends opponents downwards, meteor smashing powerfully. High ending and landing lag.
Grab   Grabs the enemy with her left hand.
Pummel   2% Knees the enemy.
Forward throw   4% Grabs and pushes forward, tripping with her leg.
Back throw   4% Trips the enemy over her leg. Similar to her down throw.
Up throw   4% Powerful upward throw with one arm.
Down throw   5% Hooks her arm and drags the opponent to the floor, sending the opponent backwards.
Forward roll
Back roll
Spot dodge
Air dodge
Techs
Floor attack (front)
Floor getups (front)
  7%
Floor attack (back)
Floor getups (back)
  7%
Floor attack (trip)
Floor getups (trip)
  5%
Edge attack
Edge getups
  7%
Neutral special Default Shield Breaker 8.575% (uncharged), 23% (fully charged) Lucina charges up the Parallel Falchion over her head before powerfully thrusting it forward. As the name implies, this attack deals high amounts of shield damage.
Custom 1 Storm Thrust 3.8% (uncharged), 10.45% (fully charged) A blast of wind is produced from the Falchion's tip that pushes back foes. The stab itself is weaker, but the pushing strength of the tornado increases with its charge.
Custom 2 Dashing Assault 5.7%/4.75%/2.85% (ground uncharged early/mid/late), 6.65%/5.7%/3.8% (air uncharged early/mid/late), 15.2%/12.35%/8.55% (ground fully charged early/mid/late), 16.15%/13.3%/9.5% (air fully charged early/mid/late) Lucina performs a lunging thrust with the Parallel Falchion. Deals less damage, but propels her forward.
Side special Default Dancing Blade 3.325% (parts 1-2), 4.275% (part 3 up/side), 3.325% (part 3 down), 6.65% (part 4 up), 5.7% (part 4 side), 2% (part 4 down hits 1-4), 4.75% (part 4 hit 5) A sequence of Parallel Falchion slashes with several variations based on control stick tilts. The finishing blow is one of three options: a skyward slice(control stick up), a strong slash(control stick neutral or control stick to the side), or a flurry of low stabs(control stick down). Same colors as Marth. Like Marth the first hit stalls while midair.
Custom 1 Effortless Blade 2.375% (parts 1-3), 4.275% (part 4) Lucina slashes with less effort, making the hits easier to link, but can only use the side option.
Custom 2 Heavy Blade 7.6% (part 1), 9.5% (part 2), 10.45% (part 3), 13.3% (part 4 up), 14.25% (part 4 side), 2.09% (part 4 down hits 1-4), 11.4% (part 4 down hit 5) Lucina swings the Parallel Falchion with more force, making the hits harder to link but stronger.
Up special Default Dolphin Slash 11% (clean), 7% (late blade), 6% (late body) Lucina performs a rapid jumping slash that can be reversed.
Custom 1 Crescent Slash 7% (clean), 12% (late blade), 6% (late body) A lower Dolphin Slash that gains more horizontal distance, but less vertical distance.
Custom 2 Dolphin Jump 0% Lucina leaps into the air without her blade. She jumps higher, but deals no damage in this custom move.
Down special Default Counter 1.2x (min 8%) Blocks and retaliates against incoming attacks. The strength of the attack blocked influences the strength of the counterattack. Same startup and duration for this, Easy Counter and Iai Counter are the same as Marth.
Custom 1 Easy Counter 0.7x (min 4%) Lucina holds her stance longer, and strikes with less power. Has decreased damage scaling, but has a wider trigger window.
Custom 2 Iai Counter 1.3x (min 6%) Lucina dashes behind the foe and slashes them at blinding speed. Deals more damage, knocks opponents backwards, and activates faster. However, it has a narrower trigger window. Has an electric effect.
Final Smash Critical Hit 60% Lucina lunges in one direction, attacking the first opponent. Immense knockback, enough to one-hit KO any character. Press the button again to stop.

Taunts

  • Up Taunt: Spins the Parallel Falchion and holds it in a similar way that looks like her character artwork, saying "Come at me!". (かかってきなさい, Come at me, if you would.)
  • Side Taunt: Turns around while resheathing the Parallel Falchion saying "I cannot lose!". (負けられませんから, I won't lose.)
  • Down Taunt: Puts her mask on when she disguised as Marth in Fire Emblem: Awakening, then removes it.

Idle Poses

  • Holds her hand to her chest and takes a breath.
  • Brushes her hair out of her face.

On Screen Appearance

Warps onto the stage using warp magic with a twirl and then removes her mask.

Victory Fanfare

This victory theme is a small orchestral cover from the title theme of the first Fire Emblem game, which has since become the main theme of the series. It is shared with Marth, Ike, Robin, and Roy.

Victory Poses

  • Points the Parallel Falchion upward, then poses, saying "Father... I won.".
    • If she beats Ike, there is a chance she will instead say "And they call you the Radiant Hero?".
  • Swings the Parallel Falchion, then poses in her artwork pose, saying "The future is not written!".
  • Sheaths the Parallel Falchion, saying "You'll never defeat me!".
    • If she beats Marth, there is a chance she will instead say "This is the Hero-King?".

In competitive play

Official Custom Moveset Project

Character Custom sets available
Lucina (SSB4) Lucina 3113 3123 1123 3133 1133
3121 1121 3111 1131 3131

Notable players

Reveal trailer

<youtube>N9ytrX0wweA</youtube>

Alternate costumes

Lucina Palette (SSB4).png
Lucina (SSB4) Lucina (SSB4) Lucina (SSB4) Lucina (SSB4) Lucina (SSB4) Lucina (SSB4) Lucina (SSB4) Lucina (SSB4)

Trophies

Lucina
Ntsc Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DSChrom's daughter and the future Princess of Ylisse. When she arrives from a doomed future seeking to prevent it from ever happening, she goes by the name Marth before her identity is revealed. She fights much like her adopted namesake, but more than just the tip of her sword is powerful.
Ntsc Super Smash Bros. for Wii UChrom's daughter and the future Princess of Ylisse. When she arrives from a doomed future seeking to prevent it from ever happening, she goes by the name Marth before her identity is revealed. She fights much like her adopted namesake, but her entire blade is equally powerful instead of having a more powerful tip.
Pal Daughter of Chrom and future Princess of Ylisse. When she comes from the future to prevent a terrible future from unfolding, she goes by the name of Marth, but only until her true identity comes to light. She is a very similar fighter to Marth, except it doesn't actually matter which part of her sword she strikes with.
3DS: Fire Emblem: Awakening (02/2013)
Lucina (Alt.)
Ntsc Lucina's moves are much like Marth's, but there are subtle differences. With Marth, you need to try to hit with the tip of his sword, but Lucina's sword is equally powerful all along the blade. Her Shield Breaker move lets her attack opponents and break their shields at the same time. Charge it fully to shatter shields in one hit.
Pal Lucina's moves are much like Marth's, but there are subtle differences. With Marth, you need to try to hit with the tip of his sword, but with Lucina, it doesn't matter, making her easier to use. Her Shield Breaker move lets her damage opponents and break their shields at the same time. Charge it fully to shatter shields in one hit.
3DS: Fire Emblem: Awakening (02/2013)
Critical Hit (Lucina)
Ntsc In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high before dashing swiftly forward to deliver a deadly blow to whomever she makes contact with first. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take out foes in a single hit. Just make sure you don't dash off the stage when you use it in midair!
Pal In Lucina's Final Smash, she raises her sword high, then dashes swiftly forwards to deliver a deadly blow to whoever stands in her way. Even if their damage is low, this strike is powerful enough to take them out in a single hit. Just be careful not to dash off the stage if you use it in mid-air!

In Event Matches

Solo Events

Co-op Events

Gallery

Trivia

  • Lucina is the only clone in the entire series whose special and custom special moves all share the same names with the character she is a clone of, Marth.
    • In the Japanese version, two of Lucina's custom moves have different names: "Dashing Assault" is called "Assault Dash", and "Effortless Blade" is named "Easy Combination".
  • Robin and Lucina are the only Fire Emblem characters to originate from the same game, being Fire Emblem: Awakening.
  • Lucina's Super Smash Bros. 4 official art is posed identically to official art of her disguised as Marth from Fire Emblem Awakening. Lucina also uses this pose for her Counter, a victory pose, and a taunt.
  • Lucina is the only unlockable character in both games who was officially revealed prior to the release of Super Smash Bros. 4 and the only unlockable to appear in the opening movie in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
  • Lucina's in-game model bears the Mark of Naga in her left eye, which Sakurai states is so small that players "probably have no chance they'll be able to see it in the game".
    • Interestingly, the Mark of Naga is absent in her artwork as well as her amiibo.
  • Lucina is the only clone in Super Smash Bros. 4 to not be the exact same character as the one they are a clone of, as well as the only one to have a different voice actor.
  • Lucina and Dr. Mario are the only fighters that players are not forced to play as in any single-player Event Matches.

References