Lucas (SSB4): Difference between revisions

:{{cquote|''Lucas Comes Out of Nowhere!''|cite=Introduction Tagline}}

Lucas is ranked 28th/29th out of 54 on the [[tier list]], tied with {{SSB4|Ness}} at the bottom of the C tier. This is a significant improvement over Lucas' lower-mid tier placement in ''Brawl'', where he was ranked 30th out of 38 and is his best placement in the series. Like Ness, Lucas is no longer plagued by 10 extra [[grab release]] frames and early [[hitstun canceling]], which were major detriments to his endurance and combo game, respectively. Aside from those gameplay changes, Lucas retains his fast attack speed, disjointed [[hitbox]]es, useful [[projectile]]s, and impressive combo game.

However, Lucas' overall damage output, knockback, and range were all reduced. When coupled with the loss of several of his more advanced techniques from ''Brawl'', it is questionable whether his buffs or nerfs are more prevalent. Lucas also retains his slow ground mobility and average frame data, giving him a lackluster [[neutral game]], poor approach options, and a [[recovery]] that is occasionally susceptible to [[gimp]]s and [[edgeguarding]]. While his throw game is powerful, his grab is one of the slowest in the game. Finally, Lucas' lack of landing options allows characters with disjointed ranges (such as {{SSB4|Marth}} and {{SSB4|Cloud}}) to give him a hard time landing.

Initially, Lucas was poorly regarded when he was first released, but the buffs he received from game updates have allowed him to achieve decent results. This has been most evident with the efforts of {{Sm|Taiheita}}, who has many notable placings, such as 17th in singles and 1st in doubles with Lucas at [[Super Smash Con 2016]], along with several high placings at [[Sumabato]] and [[Umebura]] tournaments. Towards the end of ''Smash 4''{{'}}s competitive life, however, Lucas's declining results in regionals and Japan, Taiheita's retirement, and Japanese Ness players earning results in Japan that have surpassed Lucas's achievements, such as 17th at [[EVO Japan 2018]] and 17th at [[The Big House 7]] being credited to {{Sm|Gackt}} and {{Sm|taranito}} respectively, led some Smashers to question whether Lucas should retain his position or not.

Lucas' attributes remain largely unchanged since ''Brawl''. He is a [[Weight|middleweight]] who 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 and [[fast fall]]ing speeds 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's 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.

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.

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]].

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]].

Altogether, Lucas' pros slightly outweigh his cons. He has an excellent damage-racking game along with some good approach options, though his approach in general is predictable and can be faulty at times. He can also have a hard time KOing opponents outside of edgeguarding, and he is not as effective when his zoning tools can be nullified. While Lucas' initial tournament representation was poor like most of his fellow DLC characters, it has improved over time after he received buffs in game updates, to the point that he currently has both average representation and results, both of which are fair improvements from how he fared in ''Brawl''.