With so many characters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, there are some that get overlooked, unfortunately. One that should definitely not be overlooked is Lucas. We were super excited to hear that Lucas would be back in this latest entry of Super Smash Bros.
The good news is not only is he back, but he's even better than he was in his last appearance. There are some slight changes from his past version such as his PK fire being more explosive which in our opinion is a good thing. At times, I do miss the Nes-like PK fire at times which sort of traps you for a few seconds, but on the whole I rather the extra explosion and launch power. It comes in handy, especially on the flat boards.
This guide is based on personal experience, so if there are some strategies that go against the current "meta" forgive me, but do let me know what I could change. It's based solely on personal success. Now enough with my disclaimer lets get to the nitty-gritty.
One thing that annoys me about some Lucas players is it seems like, at times, they rely on gimmicky tactics such as spamming the PK thunder, PF fire, or even just playing stay-away and absorbing any and every projectile while conserving damage until being forced to fight. All that is completely whack and gives Lucas unnecessary flack just because of individual's stupid gameplay. Don't get me wrong, those moves are all essential on their own, but nobody should be a one-trick pony.
Similarly to Samus, our preference is to play him as a bit of a zoner, but I'm definitely more aggressive hand-to-hand with Lucas than I am Samus. I think Lucas has a great skill set and his smash attacks are some of the best in the game in my opinion. They all have an aggressive launch rate, especially his Up Smash the move is amazing and will launch foes off at a high rate. It's also great for people who use down A or down B dive attacks such as Yoshi, Bowser, or Ridley. They'll think they have the advantage while flying down to deliver a blow, but jokes on them when you pop that up smash and send em flying off the screen. It has a large hitbox too with some good upward range.
Honestly, all of his smash attacks are very good but don't sleep on his quick A attacks and dash A attacks. For a little kid, he packs a punch. Whether it be his magic or his fist he can do some good damage quick. He's also on the lighter side, but nowhere near the lightest and in my experience usually doesn't get launched until well over a 100% damage.
For Lucas, this is his PK Freeze. I'll be honest I don't use this too much only because I feel it leaves the user extremely vulnerable for something that has a low chance of actually hitting the mark. I do like to use it on the edges from time to time because it can be a pain to recover from. This is probably the one thing I wish they didn't change from Nes' moveset. I wish Lucas had the green explosion which is really powerful, but that's up for debate. I've talked to many people who prefer the freeze. Just preference I guess.
Ah, the fabled PK fire. We touched upon it earlier in the guide, but it is a very important move for all Lucas lovers. There's honestly not a lot to it. It's a horizontal projectile that will slightly burn, and launch your opponent away from you. It's really good if you want to keep distance from your opponent. It's essential for controlling players who overuse their dash. No joke I've played people that attempt to engage using the dash A literally every chance they get. I get it, it's good, but if you're going to do the same thing over and over next time you try against my Lucas expect a fireball to the face. The great thing is it isn't blocked by many moves at all. Even someone like Meta Knight with a great dash move, it is easily beat with a little PF fire. It comes in handy.
Lucas' or Nes' Up + B is probably the most unique Up +B's there is in the game. Most characters have a second jump or something, but Lucas has PK Thunder. I think it's the most versatile move in the game. You can direct it anywhere with really good range. Some people only use it for long range, but if you get comfortable enough you can make it into a super annoying short to mid-range move as well. Muscle memory comes into play when you do it enough, but my suggestion is practice with it as much as you can it can really be frustrating to deal with. Also, don't be the guy that just spams it from the corner of the map. No one likes that guy.
A good ole' absorb. While it's wildly unimpressive, it does serve a good role. If you're good with it you can eat up projectiles while recovering your health along the way. I don't see a ton of opportunity to throw it out often, but when you get a pesky ranged fighter it definitely comes in handy. The good thing is that it's not a timing type of move you can hold it as long as you want. It's definitely a situational type of move.
He's well rounded for sure, but he definitely has the projectile edge in most fights if not all. Lucas quick and light with enough power to get people off the map. I think his recovery is extremely good too. It might seem daunting at first to get a hang of the Up + B, but once you get it it'll be game-changing. That move can be difficult to pull off and leave you vulnerable. On some maps with holes or drops with walls on both sides, it can be impossible to pull off just an FYI. The nuances of this moves are worthy of your time.
Also, some dashers like Cloud or Inkling can be a royal pain but try to rely on the PK fire and a dash move of your own to keep them at bay.
Good luck getting Global Smash Power aka GSP up! Hit us up on Twitter @gaminginsweats if you want to show off your new found skills.