Lucas (SSB4): Difference between revisions

Lucas' attributes remain largely unchanged since ''Brawl''. He is a [[Weight|middleweight]] that has a very slow [[walking]] speed, slightly below average [[dash]]ing speed, average [[gravity]], above average [[air speed]], and below average [[falling speed]]. However, his air speed and [[fast fall]]ing speed have become faster since ''Brawl'', both of which somewhat improve his aerial mobility. While Lucas' mobility speed is rather unimpressive, his attack speed compensates for it; notable examples include his neutral attack, which comes out on frame 2, and his down tilt, which comes out on frame 3 and is tied with {{SSB4|Ness}}, {{SSB4|Little Mac}}, {{SSB4|R.O.B.}}, and {{SSB4|Meta Knight}}'s down tilts for being the fastest down tilt in the game. As a result, Lucas' attacks are useful for damage racking and initiating combos, while several of his ground attacks are safe in many situations due to their minimal ending lag.

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.

However, Lucas greatest strength is his grab game. Despite having the shortest-ranged tether grab in the game, his [[Rope Snake]] has the lowest amount of ending lag among all tether grabs and respectable range, while he also possesses arguably the strongest set of throws in the game. Lucas' up and back throws are among the most powerful of their kind in the game, making them two of his best KOing options. His forward throw is tied with {{SSB4|Bowser}}'s for the strongest of its kind, although it is significantly weaker as a KOing option in comparison to his up and back throws. His down throw benefits significantly from both its considerably reduced knockback and the changes to hitstun canceling, both of which have re-purposed it into a reliable combo starter that can be followed up with his neutral and forward aerials from 0% up until high percents (even up to the early 90% range for neutral aerial), while its combo into up aerial is a confirmed KO set-up until 100%. While these changes have removed his down throw's KO potential, this is completely mitigated due to his up and back throws' aforementioned power. Lastly, his pummel is tied with Ness, {{SSB4|Kirby}} and {{SSB4|Fox}}'s as the third fastest in the game, which makes it ideal for quick damage racking before a throw.

Like Ness, Lucas' special moveset boasts versatility in the form of PSI-based attacks, three of which are projectiles. [[PK Freeze]] can [[Frozen|freeze]] his opponents, has very minimal ending lag and is viable, yet situational, as an edgeguarding option. While his PK Fire does not repeatedly hit opponents and potentially trap them like Ness' PK Fire, Lucas' deals decent knockback and can be used to give Lucas some space as it also provides a minimal amount of recoil, both on the ground and in the air. [[PK Thunder]] does not disappear like Ness' PK Thunder when it hits opponents, but instead hits them multiple times alongside boasting tighter control, while [[PK Thunder 2]], grants Lucas farther distance. Lastly, [[PSI Magnet]] allows Lucas to deal with camping opponents that carry powerful, absorbable projectiles. However, its defensive utility also extends to Lucas' recovery, thanks to its ability to stall his descent. Unlike Ness', it also has offensive utility, thanks to it dealing damage and being a [[semi-spike]].

*{{buff|Neutral attack's first and second hits deal less damage (3% (both) → 2.5% (hit 1)/2% (hit 2)). Their mid and far hitboxes also now launch at 66°/87° and 70°/88°, respectively. Altogether, these changes improve its [[jab cancel]]ing potential.}}

*{{buff|Down tilt's close hitbox now launches at 76°, improving its combo potential.}}

*{{nerf|Due to consisting of five hits instead of eight, neutral aerial deals 5% less damage (17% → 12%). Additionally, it has increased start-up (frame 5 → 7) and ending lag (frame 40 → 45). Lastly, its [[Smash directional influence|SDI]] multiplier has increased (1× → 2×).}}

*{{buff|Up aerial now launches at 80°. This improves its KO potential in spite of its knockback remaining unchanged.}}

*{{change|Up aerial has increased [[Freeze frame|hitlag]] (1× → 1.1×). This makes it safer on shield, but easier to DI.}}

*{{nerf|PSI Magnet deals 1% less damage (9% → 8%) and only the center of the orb deals damage, whereas the entire orb dealt damage in ''Brawl''. Its healing multiplier has also decreased (2.5× → 1.2×). Altogether, these changes hinder its utility. Additionally, PSI Magnet also now swirls healing projectiles for a moment, creating a slight delay before Lucas can actually be healed. Lastly, it has received a blind spot directly behind Lucas, hindering its safety.}}

*{{buff|All grabs' ending lag decreased|frame 56 (standing)/frame 66 (dash/pivot)|51/61.}}

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|14}} (base), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSB4|15}} (tip), 1.5× (reflected projectiles)

|nsdefdesc=Emits a [[wikibound:PK Freeze|snowflake-shaped blast of PSI energy]] from his head that [[Frozen|freezes]] opponents. The direction of the blast's path can be controlled, it can be made stronger by holding the special button and it can be concluded at a deceptively fast speed. However, it renders Lucas [[helpless]] if used in the air.

|ssdefdesc=Thrusts both of his hands forward to release a [[wikibound:PK Fire|lightning bolt-shaped PSI projectile]] from his hands. Unlike Ness' PK Fire, Lucas' version results in a brief, fiery explosion of PSI energy that launches the opponent backward, rather than a long-lasting pillar of fiery PSI energy. It is further differentiated from Ness' version in that it flies straight ahead regardless of whether it is used on the ground or in the air, as well as causing a minimal amount of recoil both on the ground and in the air, making it more effective as a spacing tool than Ness' PK Fire.

|usdefdesc=Emits a [[wikibound:PK Thunder|streaming, electrical PSI projectile]] from his head. Like Ness' PK Thunder, it can be directed into Lucas to launch him at a high speed. Unlike Ness' version, it does not disappear after hitting an opponent and instead hits multiple times, giving it damage racking potential. This effect also applies PK Thunder 2, with Lucas hitting an opponent multiple times upon colliding with them.

|dsdefdmg=8% (ending), heals 2.5× the damage of absorbed projectiles

|dsdefdesc=Thrusts his arm forward to emit a [[wikibound:PSI Magnet|glowing orb of PSI energy]] around his outstretched hand. Any energy-based projectiles it absorbs will heal him, although it no longer absorbs energy projectiles that are launched directly at his back like it did in ''Brawl''. Unlike Ness' PSI Magnet, Lucas' version can be used offensively, due to it dealing damage and [[semi-spike]] knockback to opponents inside of it when it dissipates.

|desc-down=Positions his right hand up to his forehead and grunts while generating small bursts of PSI energy from his index and middle fingers, then swings his hand downward to emit a trail of PSI energy.}}

|desc-1=With his back toward the screen, Lucas crouches while poking at something on the ground with a large stick. After the camera zooms in, he then turns his head around to face the screen and says "Huh?" while briefly sporting a surprised expression.

|desc-2=Forcefully pulls one of the {{s|wikibound|Seven Needles}} out of the ground, sending it flying off-screen while Lucas looks toward the screen.

*{{Sm|Mekos|USA}} - Placed 13th at [[Momocon 2016]] and [[Glitch 2]]. He has wins over {{Sm|Nairo}}, {{Sm|Saj}}, and {{Sm|Scatt}}.

*{{Sm|Taiheita|Japan}} - Placed 17th in singles play at [[Super Smash Con 2016]] and 1st in [[doubles]] play at Super Smash Con 2016. Ranked 49th on the [[Panda Global Rankings]] v2, and 15th on the [[JAPAN Power Rankings]]. He has wins over {{Sm|Abadango}}, {{Sm|Marss}}, {{Sm|9B}}, {{Sm|Kameme}}, {{Sm|T}}, {{Sm|Earth}}, {{Sm|Edge}}, {{Sm|Ranai}}, and {{Sm|ikep}}.

*{{Sm|Kodystri|USA}} - Formerly ranked 8th on the [[Georgia Power Rankings]] before switching to {{SSB4|Rosalina & Luma}}. He has wins over {{Sm|Pink Fresh}}, {{Sm|ScAtt}}, and {{Sm|NickRiddle}}.

During his release, Lucas was considered to have improved from Brawl due to the changes to the game physics benefitting him. However, it would very soon become clear Lucas had lost more than what he lost in ''Brawl'', and would go on to be considered among his previous game's placement. Following the buffs to his attacks, as well as decent tournament representation and results (the latter point being largely due to {{Sm|Taiheita}}), he would be ranked 36th in the first [[tier list]], as a low-tier character. However, players would prove that Lucas' buffs had indeed benefitted him a lot and that he was now a capable character with reliable combo potential and KO power. Due to receiving notable results from Taiheita in 17th place at [[Super Smash Con 2016]], Lucas rose up in the second tier list to 33rd, officially putting him in the mid-tier.

He would then see a very slight rise to 32nd on the third and current tier list. While not having as much tournament representation as other mid-tiered characters, his results have been good enough to secure his current placement. Despite this, Lucas' current placement is debatable; although it is unknown whether he will rise or fall in the current metagame because of his current results not being as strong in America as they are in Japan, {{Sm|ZeRo}}, one of the best ''SSB4'' players in the world, views Lucas as a high-tier character.