Lucario (SSB4): Difference between revisions

Lucario has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition from ''Brawl'' to ''SSB4''. The modifications to [[Aura]] both help and hinder Lucario, and make it much more of a "high-risk, high-reward" character. Lucario starts off with a lower Aura multiplier and it takes longer for Lucario to reach maximum Aura although Lucario is much stronger once it reaches maximum Aura and Aura charges up slightly faster. A number of its attacks have improved combo potentials with minimum to low Aura (although this is also due to the changes to [[hitstun canceling]]), but at the cost of their KO potential.  

Like Aura, Lucario itself has been buffed and nerfed both directly and indirectly. The changes to [[hitstun canceling]], make up and especially down throws combo starters with minimum to low Aura despite the former's higher knockback. By extension, up and down tilts have improved combo potential with minimum to low Aura. However, all of them barring up throw deal less damage. Lucario's recovery has noticeably improved as its air speed is significantly higher and [[Extreme Speed]] ihas received a hitbox, and its distance scales with Aura making it safer and travel more distance. However, it is still susceptible to punishment, either by overshooting it while at high to maximum Aura, or by failing to mitigate its noticeably higher ending lag via landing on solid ground. Lastly, Lucario's smash attacks have slightly longer ranges, but are noticeably laggier.

Lucario also received a number of useful buffs. Its KO potential has improved, both directly and indirectly: up and back aerials are more reliable KOing options, due to their higher damage and base knockback, while the changes to Aura combined with the [[rage]] mechanic supplements them and its other KOing options. Outside of this, Lucario's entire moveset is now affected by Aura; its mobility has been largely improved; and [[Double Team]] is stronger.  

However, Lucario has received some significant nerfs. One of the most prevalent nerfs Lucario received across its moveset is that many of its attacks have shorter hitbox durations hindering Lucario's spacing ability. A noticeable example of this is forward aerial where its duration was decreased from 14 frames to a mere 2 frames. Forward aerial also has an altered angle and significantly increased base knockback hindering its combo and edgeguarding potential (although the removal of hitstun canceling has allowed it to maintain its combo potential). Lucario's down aerial is also weaker and has a weaker stalling effect hindering its spacing potential. Lucario's falling speed has significantly increased which hinders its aerial game and makes it much more susceptible to combos combined with the removal of hitstun canceling. Lucario's endurance is also noticeably worse especially horizontally. Lucario's weight is slightly lower and its gravity is higher making it easier to KO horizontally. The removal of [[momentum canceling]] and the introduction of rage further reduce Lucario's endurance making it harder for Lucario to build up Aura despite its changes. Lucario's damage output without maximum Aura is also lower hindering Lucario's damage racking abilities unless it has full aura. Lastly, Lucario's jab is significantly laggier removing the strong [[jab cancel]]ing potential it used to have.

 

Overall, Lucario is a less well rounded character being more of a high risk, high reward character. Lucario has greater KO potential especially with high aura in exchange for having an overall worse moveset and reduced survivability which makes it harder for Lucario to survive long and build up Aura. The changes to ''Smash 4''{{'}}s mechanics benefit Lucario overall albeit not to the extent of some other returning veterans as Lucario did receive a couple of hindrances to the new mechanics. Lucario's strength overall relative to the cast remains similar and it has achieved respectable results in spite of its relatively small playerbase.

*{{buff|Aura has updated multipliers (0.7× → 0.66× (lowest), 1.4× → 1.7× (highest)) and percentage windows (0%-20% (minimum Aura)/21%-74% (low Aura) → 0%-69% (minimum to low Aura), 75%-169% → 70%-189% (average to high Aura), 170%+ → 190%+ (maximum Aura)). While Lucario is weaker with no Aura, Lucario builds up Aura faster and while it takes longer for Lucario to reach maximum Aura, Lucario is significantly stronger with maximum Aura. These changes improve Lucario's combo potential with minimum to low Aura, and improve its KO potential with average to maximum Aura. However, they hinder its KO potential with minimum to low Aura, and hinder its combo potential with high to maximum Aura.}}

*{{change|Lucario [[falling speed|falls]] much faster (1.2 → 1.68). This improves its vertical endurance, but makes it more susceptible to combos.}}

*{{nerf|[[Roll]]s have a shorter duration (frames 4-19 → 4-14) and have more ending lag (frame 28 → 30) going from among the best rolls in the game to slightly above average rolls.}}  

*{{nerf|[[Spotdodge]] has a shorter duration (frame 2-20 → 2-15) and has more ending lag (frame 26 → 27).}}

*{{buff|The newly-added [[rage]] stacks with the effects of aura further improving Lucario's KO potential with high Aura.}}

*{{nerf|Lucario's [[item throw]] is weaker (1 → 0.096). The removal of [[glide toss]]ing also hinders Lucario's approach with items.}}

*{{nerf|Neutral attack's first and last hits deal less damage (3% → 2.5% (hit 1), 5% → 3% (hit 3)) and the knockback scaling on the final hit was not fully compensated (110 → 120). The first two hits also have significantly increased ending lag (frame 21 → 34 (hit 1), frame 23 → 38 (hit 2)) drastically hindering their [[jab cancel]]ing potential.}}

*{{nerf|Forward tilt deals less damage (5% → 4% (hit 1), (6% (body)/8% (arm) → 6%) (hit 2)), has a shorter duration (frames 12-18 → 12-16) and has more ending lag (frame 30 → 33).}}

*{{change|Up tilt no longer deals consistent damage (6% → 6% (foot)/5% (leg)), and deals less knockback (33/38/43 (base)/130 (growth) → 45/45/50 (base)/110 (growth)). These changes significantly improve its combo potential with minimum to low Aura at low to medium percentages, and its juggling potential with average to high Aura at high percentages but hinders its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|Up tilt has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 5-15 → 6-13).}}

*{{change|Down tilt deals less damage (7% → 5%) and knockback (28 (base), 130 (scaling) → 37/110), improving its combo potential with minimum to low Aura at low percentages but hindering its damage racking and KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|Down tilt has a shorter duration (frames 9-15 → 9-12).}}

*{{nerf|Lucario has a new dash attack, a flying kick. Compared to the previous dash attack, it deals less damage (10% (clean)/7% (late) → 8%/6%), and has a shorter duration (frames 7-18 → 7-15) and more ending lag (frame 35 → 42).}}

*{{buff|Dash attack has more knockback scaling (50 → 75) and better range compared to the previous dash attack, making it stronger in spite of its lower damage output. The late hit also has increased knockback (45 (base), 30 (scaling) → 70/75 Unlike the previous dash attack, it is affected by Aura making it stronger when Lucario is at higher percents.}}

*{{nerf|Forward and down smash have increased ending lag (frame 43 → 55 (forward), frame 50 → 55 (down)).}}

*{{nerf|Sourspotted forward smash deals less damage (14% → 13%). Forward smash also has a significantly shorter duration (frames 22-30 → 22-25), and can no longer hit opponents behind Lucario.}}

*{{buff|Up smash has received an additional hitbox that deals 4% and launches grounded opponents at 100°, decreasing its startup lag (frame 19 → 15) and slightly improving its horizontal range. The main hit also deals more knockback (32 (base), 95 (scaling) (clean), 28/100 (late) → 32/103).}}

*{{nerf|Up smash has a much shorter duration (frames 19-42 → 15-23).}}

*{{change|Neutral aerial deals less damage (11% (clean)/7% (late) → 8%/6%). This improves its combo potential with minimum to low Aura at low percentages, but hinders its spacing, edgeguarding and KO potential.}}

*{{buff|Neutral aerial has decreased ending lag (frame 68 → 43).}}

*{{change|Forward aerial deals 1% more damage (5% → 6%), and deals much higher knockback (28 (base, 100 (scaling) → 80/70). It also has an altered angle (50° → 64°). The removal of hitstun canceling allows forward aerial to maintain its combo potential despite its higher knockback. Altogether, these changes improve its combo potential at low percentages but hinder its combo potential at higher percentages.}}

*{{nerf|Forward aerial has a much shorter duration (frames 7-20 → 7-8) significantly hindering its spacing potential.}}

*{{buff|Back aerial deals more damage (12% (clean)/9% (late) → 15%) no longer having a weaker late hit and has increased base knockback (12 (clean)/7(late) → 30), significantly improving its KO potential.}}

*{{nerf|Up aerial has a shorter duration (frames 10-21 → 10-11 (clean), 12-15 (late)) and it auto-cancels later (frame 27 → 29). The introduction of a late hit makes it harder to utilise up aerial as a KO move.}}  

*{{buff|Standing and dash grabs has decreased ending lag (frame 30 → 29 (standing), frame 40 → 36 (dash)).}}

*{{nerf|Pivot grab have more ending lag (frame 30 → 34).}}

*{{nerf|Forward throw deals 2% less damage (10% → 8%) and has decreased knockback scaling (65 → 55), hindering its spacing potential.}}

*{{nerf|Back throw has decreased knockback (60 (base), 65 (scaling) → 50/60).}}

*{{nerf|Down throw deals 3% less damage (10% → 7%), and its knockback scaling was not fully compensated (25 → 30).}}

*{{buff|Force Palm's blast is larger especially with high Aura, and the throw has increased knockback (40 (base), 83 (scaling) → 66/86).}}

*{{buff|[[Double Team]] has a longer duration (frames 5-35 → 5-39) increased power and range.}}