Pokemon Expert (novice) Jacob here! This will be the first of many articles I am going to do. I am planning to analyze each character and maybe give you some tips to use this character competitively. The first character on my list is the”Mewtwo replacement” from Brawl, Lucario. Many people view Lucario as no more than a cheap substitute of a Pokemon that Nintendo threw in for popularity reasons, and they are right, at least he was in Brawl. But, Lucario has really grown as a character in Smash 4. Everything there were hoping to accomplish with Lucario has gotten better in Smash 4. Although, this does not make him one of the elite characters.
Lucario is a weak character… at first glance. Let’s start with the positive, Lucario can be a great defensive character, and has an excellent recovery. But, his killing power is not up to par with the better fighters, he does not combo very well, and his smash moves have a slow start up with minimal knockback. However, all of this is balanced with something Lucario alone has: the Aura system. The more of a beating Lucario takes, the more powerful he gets. Thus, Lucario is a weak character at the beginning of the match. As the fight goes on, and Lucario’s percentage goes up, ALL of his moves get more powerful. What was once a weak fighter turns into a complete wrecking machine. This can be a blessing and curse. It takes about 80% damage for Lucario to actually do some damage and if you can get the lead in a match, stock wise, than you are in a definite advantage. But if you cannot get ahead in the stocks and are playing catch up then you are in for a disappointment.
If you are still intrigued but Lucario, then here are a few guidelines. Until you have a strong aura, your gameplan should be defend and counter attack. Once you get above at least 70%, then you can go on the offensive. When the aura is strong, be quick and decisive with your moves. Spam a fully charged Aura Sphere (neutral B) and Force Palm (side B) like nobody’s business. Lucario thrives against characters that cannot kill at low percentages (Fox , Olimar, Sonic) because he can take a beating and get a strong aura. As you would expect, Lucario does not do well against powerhouses. (No aura no winning)
Lucario is definitely a niche character, perfect for someone who likes to play keep away and then punish their opponents late game. The once “cheap Mewtwo replacement” has come into his own and it is about time.
Combo Potential: B
Recovery: A+
Killing Power: D to A (depending on aura)
Overall: B
Published: Oct 24, 2014 12:17 pm