Lucas (SSB4): Difference between revisions

|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==

Despite his short stature and lack of a weapon outside of his forward smash, Lucas possesses good range courtesy of [[disjointed]] [[hitbox]]es. All of his smash attacks, nearly all of his aerial attacks and some of his ground attacks are disjointed, which can be further supplemented by his projectiles. In addition to their disjointed hitboxes, Lucas' smash attacks are among the strongest in the game. Like in ''Brawl'', his up smash is among the strongest up smashes in the game while also possessing both a large disjointed hitbox and the ability to KO as low as 54% when fully charged (or 70% for heavyweights). The first hit of his down smash is also one of the strongest in the game and is an intimidating edgeguarding option, while his forward smash has decent speed, good KO potential and can even [[Reflection|reflect]] projectiles.

Lucas also boasts a strong zoning game that is essential to his success. [[PK Fire]] and grab aerial are both powerful spacing tools with their own specific uses, the latter being able to lead into a grab or forward tilt. Lucas' combo game is also very strong. His down tilt is a good combo starter, as it can combo into itself, neutral attack, and most importantly, his grab. His neutral and forward aerials can combo into themselves at low percents, while the former can also do so into other aerials (except for his back aerial) at low percents.

However, Lucas does have his flaws. With his aforementioned sub-par mobility, fast characters such as {{SSB4|Zero Suit Samus}} and {{SSB4|Sonic}} can give Lucas a difficult time. Another problem is a predictable approach, reliance on his zoning tools (which can be overcome), and occasionally a lack of range in spite of his tether grab. Some of his moves require precision at times; his up aerial, whose hitbox is significantly smaller than it was in ''Brawl'', can miss large opponents like {{SSB4|Bowser}}. Another prominent example is his down smash, whose three hits are all mutually exclusive and thus gives opponents a perfect opportunity to punish Lucas if they manage to shield it. Lucas can also have problems scoring KOs despite his smash attacks' impressive strengths, as they mainly require effective reading and should be used wisely as a result. Although Lucas has a reliable tether recovery, [[PK Thunder#PK Thunder 2|his other method of recovery]] is also gimpable because of it having much slower priority than Ness, and it can be still be reflected or absorbed, most infamously by {{SSB4|Rosalina & Luma}}. Like his fellow DLC characters, Lucas does not have any custom moves, which limits him in tournaments that allow [[character customization]].

==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.

*[[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.}}

**{{nerf|Forward smash now uses two smaller extended hitboxes rather than four normal hitboxes (4.5u/4.5u/4.5u/4u → 3.7u/3.7u). This gives the move less range overall, both in front of and behind Lucas.}}

*[[Up smash]]:

**{{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.}}

**{{change|Neutral aerial now uses static hitboxes, and their position was not fully compensated (y offset: 0 → 5). This gives neutral aerial more range below and in front of Lucas, but less range above and behind him.}}

**{{change|The final hit has decreased base knockback (70 → 40) and launches opponents at a higher angle (361° → 60°) This grants its combo potential but hinders its KO potential.}}

**{{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 [[auto-cancel]]s later (frame 28 → 37), no longer doing so in a short hop, led alone almost straight after the hitboxes are no longer active. This noticeably hinders neutral aerial's approach potential and safety.}}

**{{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×).}}

*{{buff|All grabs have less startup lag with longer durations (frame 13 (standing)/16 (dash)/15 (pivot) → 12-19 (standing/pivot)/14-21(dash)).}}

*{{buff|Standing and dash grabs have much less ending lag (FAF 70 → 45 (standing), FAF 80 → 55 (dash)).}}

*[[Pummel]]:

**{{buff|Pummel has less ending lag (FAF 13 → 10).}}

***{{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.}}

==Update history==

'''{{GameIcon|ssb4}} [[1.1.0]]'''

|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.

|fairname=&nbsp;

|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.

|bairname=&nbsp;

|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.

|pummelname=&nbsp;

|pummeldmg=1.2%

|fthrowname=&nbsp;

|fthrowdmg=10%

|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.}}

===[[On-screen appearance]]===

|char=Lucas}}

===Tier placement and history===

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

{|style="margin:1em auto 1em auto;text-align:center"

|-

|-

|{{Head|Lucas|g=SSB4|s=50px}}

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.

**He is also the only DLC character with a tether grab.

**He is also the only character to be initially unplayable in the next installment but then regained playable status due to DLC.

**Coincidentally, both are ''Brawl'' newcomers.

*As Lucas' down throw technically does not [[bury]] opponents and instead forces them into a unique position, if the character being thrown flinches lightly, they will snap back to their original position. In {{forwiiu}}, the skirts of {{SSB4|Peach}}'s, {{SSB4|Zelda}}'s and [[Rosalina & Luma (SSB4)|Rosalina]]'s dresses cannot keep up with the velocity change and will stay up. This technical oversight leads to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIdHuVTJ7S4 odd results]. However, this oversight does not occur in {{for3ds}}.

**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.]

{{SSB4Characters}}