Lucas (SSB4)

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“	Lucas Comes Out of Nowhere!	”
—Introduction Tagline

Lucas in Super Smash Bros. 4
Universe	EarthBound
Other playable appearance	in Brawl
Availability	Downloadable
Final Smash	PK Starstorm

Lucas (リュカ, Lucas) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. 4 as the second downloadable character, released alongside Roy and Ryu on June 14th, 2015. He was confirmed to be a playable character during the Nintendo Direct presentation on April 1st, 2015.

Lucas uses the same voice clips from Brawl, in which he was voiced by Lani Minella, though some of his voice clips are slightly sped up.

Changes from Brawl

It's hard to determine whether Lucas was buffed or nerfed overall in the transition from Brawl to Smash 4 as he received a mix of buffs and nerfs. The most notable improvement being that his 10 extra frame grab release animation, which was one of his most significant flaws, has been removed. However, he can no longer use the Zap Jump or Magnet Pull, which were his two most pivotal techniques in Brawl, and his impressive damage racking ability has been nerfed. To compensate, however, his combo ability has been improved on many attacks (e.g. down throw, neutral air, up air) and many of his attacks are more reliable on technical offense (e.g. neutral air, down air, PK Thunder 2, etc.). In addition, his recovery has been buffed, with an increase in distance travelled by PK Thunder 2. Overall, Lucas has notably improved from his Brawl appearance and has become more balanced as a result.

Aesthetics

Like Ness, Lucas is slightly taller and thinner, with a smaller and more proportionate head. Lucas' colors are more vibrant; his shirt now has completely horizontal stripes, he has a more rosy blush and has lost the blue hue in his eyes.

• Like Ness, Lucas now uses updated sounds for PSI related attacks.
• Lucas now keeps both eyes open while performing PSI Magnet, while in Brawl, he kept one eye shut.

Attributes

• The extra 10 frames of Lucas' grab release have been removed, putting him in line with all other characters.
• Lucas' overall speed on the ground and in the air is faster.
• Lucas's double jump is slightly faster.
• Lucas can no longer use the Zap Jump or Magnet Pull, limiting his advanced player options.

Ground attacks

• Jab, dash attack (tip), forward tilt (close), up tilt, down tilt, and forward smash deal slightly less damage.
• Jab is slightly slower.
• Dash attack damage: 12% → 13%
• Down tilt has less hitstun.
• Up smash damage: 29% → ~29.3%

Aerial attacks

• Neutral aerial connects more reliably, and the final hit has more knockback. It also seems to have slightly reduced landing lag, making it a better combo starter.
• Neutral aerial only does five hits, has a longer duration, slightly slower startup and more hitlag.
• Neutral aerial has a different animation, with Lucas posing oddly throughout the move.
• Neutral, forward, down and back aerial deal less damage.
• Back air is stronger on all hitboxes.
• Down air connects more reliably and has a slightly stronger meteor.
• Up air is stronger and can now KO grounded opponents starting in the 140-150% range.
• Up aerial has a different animation, having a closer resemblance to Ness's up aerial.

Throws

• Lucas's tether, his Rope Snake, is much longer and doesn't immediately retract to his typical size. It has also gained a hitbox in midair, which does 4% damage.
• Pummel and down throw deal less damage.
• All throws are weaker (though still strong).
• Down throw has decreased endlag and drastically reduced knockback, which when combined with the removal of hitstun cancelling, grants Lucas an excellent combo starter, allowing him to chain into aerial attacks (except for back air) at percentages up to around 150% depending on weight, rage, staleness and DI.
• The significant decrease in knockback on down throw removes its ability to KO. Despite this nerf, however, it is still considered to be buffed due to its improved combo utility.
• Down throw aesthetically buries opponents during its execution.

Special moves

• PK Freeze takes longer to fully charge, now going lower than Lucas's body, similar to Ness's PK Flash. Because of this, PK Freeze no longer explodes when it touches the ground. Unlike PK Flash, using the move right before it hits the ground does not count as being fully charged.
• PK Thunder is larger, and PK Thunder 2 can be used again after hitting a wall (similar to Ness'). Its trapping abilities are also better and has a stronger final hit. In addition, PK Thunder 2 shoots slightly more distance.
• PK Thunder moves slightly faster. This makes it easier to recover if an opponent goes offstage attempting to gimp Lucas, but also makes situational mindgames slightly harder to play out.
• PK Thunder is now depicted with a purple color.
• PSI Magnet is now larger than in Brawl, where it was only centered around his hand.
• PK Starstorm now fires a thin, aimable line of meteors from the top-center of the stage (similar to Aura Storm). This leaves it with blind spots but deals more reliable damage when it does hit.

Moveset

		Name	Damage	Description
Neutral attack			2%	Kicks with his right leg twice, then does a spinkick with his left.
			2%
			4%
Forward tilt			11% (sweetspot), 7.5% (sourspot)	Launches a small burst of PK energy that does more damage further from Lucas.
Up tilt			9.5%	Does a flipkick as his foot becomes surrounded by PK energy.
Down tilt			3%	Crouches and does a spinning kick. Weak, but fast and comboes into itself easily.
Dash attack			13% (sweetspot), 9% (sourspot)	Lunges forward, sending forth a burst of PK energy. Does more damage further away.
Forward smash			14%	Whacks nearby opponents with a stick.
Up smash			2% (hit 1), 19% (hit 2)	Releases a burst of PK energy from above his head. Slow, but Lucas's most powerful attack.
Down smash			17% (hit 1), 14% (hit 2), 11% (hit 3)	Fires three consecutive bursts of PK energy, each one with more range but less power than the last.
Neutral aerial			1% (hits 1-4), 4% (hit 5)	Spins around, releasing rapid bursts of PK energy.
Forward aerial			11.5% (sweetspot), 8% (sourspot)	Kicks, launching a burst of PK energy in front of himself.
Back aerial			12% (sweetspot), 9% (sourspot), 7% (late)	Kicks from behind, launching a burst of PK energy behind him. Can meteor smash.
Up aerial			13%	Headbutts.
Down aerial			3.5% (rapid hits), 5% (final hit)	Launches rapid bursts of PK energy below himself.
Grab			—	Sends his Rope Snake in front of him. Can be performed in midair as a tether.
Pummel			~1.2%	Headbutts the opponent. Can be done extremely rapidly.
Forward throw			10%	Uses telekenisis to launch the opponent in front of himself.
Back throw			10%	Telekenetically tosses the opponent behind him.
Up throw			10%	Telekenetically whirls the opponent around his head, then throws them straight up.
Down throw			6.5%	Telekenetically slams the opponent into the ground.
Floor attack (front)			7%	Gets up and kicks at opponents from either side.
Floor attack (back)			7%	Gets up and kicks at opponents from either side.
Floor attack (trip)			5%	Gets up and kicks back and forth.
Edge attack			7%	Climbs onto the stage and performs a low kick.
Neutral special	Default	PK Freeze	9%-22%	Releases a burst of blue PK energy that can freeze opponents. The direction of the burst's path can be controlled, and the attack can be made stronger by holding the special button.
	Custom 1	N/A
	Custom 2	N/A
Side special	Default	PK Fire	9%	Throws a projectile that turns into a burst of fire upon contact.
	Custom 1	N/A
	Custom 2	N/A
Up special	Default	PK Thunder	3% (projectile first hit), 1% (projectile rapid hits), ~3.2% (Lucas rapid hits), 10% (Lucas final hit)	Launches a small, purple projectile that can be directed into Lucas to launch him.
	Custom 1	N/A
	Custom 2	N/A
Down special	Default	PSI Magnet	8% (ending)	Creates a glowing orb in front of Lucas. Any projectiles it absorbs will heal him.
	Custom 1	N/A
	Custom 2	N/A
Final Smash		PK Starstorm	8%	Summons a column of falling stars. Can be angled at any time and can hit opponents multiple times.

Taunts

• Lucas trips, shakes his head, and gets back up.
• Lucas creates PSI sparks with his fingers, moving his arms in a sideways motion.
• Duster's Rope Snake taps him on the shoulder and has a brief conversation with Lucas, as Lucas shrugs towards it.

On-Screen Appearance

Rides in on a Mr. Saturn-style coffee table, then hops off. The table is based on the one that Lucas rides to Saturn Valley in Mother 3.

Alternate costumes

Trophy

While not playable at the release of the game, there has always been a trophy of Lucas in both versions; this trophy matches his appearance in Brawl. Upon his release, he additionally received two (three in the Wii U version) trophies that match the format of the other playable characters. The existing non-fighter one remains unchanged, as with the other downloadable characters.

Lucas (non-fighter)

Before adventuring, Lucas was a timid, cautious boy. His journey has made him a stronger person. Maybe he met someone to spend his life with... Hang on—we're moving way too fast! For now, remember that Lucas and Ness are favorites in the hearts of EarthBound fans.

Once upon a time, Lucas was a bit of a cry-baby. You might even say he was a wimp. But then, well...he had more than his fair share of rough times and toughened up a bit. Who knows what he's up to now? Whatever he's doing, his story - much like Ness's - lives on in the hearts of all Mother series fans.

: Mother 3

• 

  Non-fighter (Wii U)

• 

  Classic (3DS)

• 

  Alt. (3DS)

• 

  Classic (Wii U)

• 

  Alt. (Wii U)

• 

  PK Starstorm

Annoucement Video

<youtube>rJCf0f0DrJ4</youtube>

Gallery

• 

  Splash art.

• 

  On Coliseum.

• 

  Using PK Thunder.

• 

  Lucas's on-screen appearance.

• 

  Performing down taunt alongside Ness.

• 

  Using PK Fire with Ness.

• 

  Shaking his fists at the Wii Fit Trainer.

• 

  Healing himself.

• 

  Alternate costumes.

• 

  On Magicant with "Claus."

• 

  Taunting with Rope Snake.

Trivia

• Lucas is the only playable character in SSB4 to not have appeared in a non-Smash game released outside of Japan.
• The tagline used for Lucas is a reference to his home of Tazmily Village being located on the Nowhere Islands.
• Segments of Lucas's trailer reference certain elements in Mother 3.
  • One scene references endgame fight against the Masked Man, represented by Lucas's new gray costume holding a Beam Sword, and his standard costume wearing a Franklin Badge.
  • Another scene references Lucas with his twin brother Claus, and the family dog Boney (represented by a brown costume Duck Hunt).
• Because of his non-fighter trophy, Lucas is the only character who has both Brawl and SSB4 character models in the same game.