So, I've been trying to test more and more BBrawl matchups at smashfests; no one I've been testing with plays Lucas, and I secondary Ness, so... why not? Lucas was already one of my better (top ten?) characters, but I knew I would need to step up my game with him if I wanted serious matchup data. After learning him more, I found that I was doing as well with Lucas as my usual secondaries, and was really enjoying playing as him.
For those who don't know, I should back up and explain: BBrawl is an unofficial patch for Brawl created by me and Amazing Ampharos that changes damage and knockback on moves (not timing or hitbox size!) specifically to balance matchups. Lucas's changes are as follows:
The main think that gets me when playing Lucas in BBrawl instead of normal Brawl is the massively changed risk-reward ratio. Before I could nair into a jab combo and do maybe 14%-16% total; not bad, but I normally get blocked and punished almost two-thirds of the time. Now I do a nair to d-tilt to jab combo and do about 24% consistently; I still get blocked the same amount of time, but I really don't care if most characters are getting grabs on me if I'm doing 25% for roughly every two grabs they land.
The other different mentality is the dair tweak. I worked out the final version of it after testing about a dozen different ones and talking to Galeon, and it works well. It's harder to SDI out of, knocks down at lower %s, and knocks down more softly at high %s to allow followups. In my play I've actually been using FHFF'd dairs at low percents when it doesn't knockdown, and immediately grabbing instead of the usual followups. It isn't as strong as the d-tilt to f-smash, but I can pretty much always land it and the combo is still doing 35% total since both Lucas throws and pummel are great.
The only other BBrawl thing I have to comment on is the PK fire damage increase. Doing 3% more total makes people really stress out about it more for some reason... I've noticed people being more aggressive and less patient at range. I also use it SLIGHTLY more at close range... with the extra damage it does now, it's pretty much worth it in most mathcups if there is a 50% chance you are going to hit them.
As far as non BBrawl-related things go, I obviously don't have anything too interesting to say since better Lucas players than me have blazed that trail. I am curious though, how much is PSI Magnet used as a KO tool among Lucas mains? I use it to KO at around 110% or so by mixing it in with SH nairs and fair; I maybe land one every 3-4 matches.
If any of you guys have played BBrawl, any thoughts on Lucas's matchups?
For those who don't know, I should back up and explain: BBrawl is an unofficial patch for Brawl created by me and Amazing Ampharos that changes damage and knockback on moves (not timing or hitbox size!) specifically to balance matchups. Lucas's changes are as follows:
(I highlighted the more important changes. Also, grab-release toomfoolery is gone.)
Jab 3 damage (4%) -> (6%)
Up tilt damage (8%) -> (9%), knockback (105/40) -> (95/37)
Down tilt knockback (22/6) -> (0/34), angle (0) -> (315)
Back aerial early hit damage (9%) -> (11%)
Back aerial sweetspot damage (12%) -> (18%), knockback (90/30) -> (75/60)
Back aerial sourspot damage (10%) -> (12%)
Back aerial late hit damage (7%) -> (9%)
Down aerial lower main hits damage (5%) -> (4%), knockback (10/50) -> (0/60)
Down aerial upper main hits damage (5%) -> (4%), knockback (100/0) -> (0/35)
Down aerial final sweetspot damage (5%) -> (8%), knockback (110/10) -> (45/40)
Down aerial final sourspot angle (-) -> (270)
Up throw damage (10%) -> (11%), knockback (65/80) -> (62/80)
Pk Freeze knockback (40/50) -> (15/70), angle (70) -> (0)
Pk Fire hit damage (3%) -> (4%)
Pk Fire sweetspot (6%) -> (8%)
Pk Fire sourspot (4%) -> (6%)
Spotdodge speed doubled on frame 19 (New total duration: 22 frames)
The main think that gets me when playing Lucas in BBrawl instead of normal Brawl is the massively changed risk-reward ratio. Before I could nair into a jab combo and do maybe 14%-16% total; not bad, but I normally get blocked and punished almost two-thirds of the time. Now I do a nair to d-tilt to jab combo and do about 24% consistently; I still get blocked the same amount of time, but I really don't care if most characters are getting grabs on me if I'm doing 25% for roughly every two grabs they land.
The other different mentality is the dair tweak. I worked out the final version of it after testing about a dozen different ones and talking to Galeon, and it works well. It's harder to SDI out of, knocks down at lower %s, and knocks down more softly at high %s to allow followups. In my play I've actually been using FHFF'd dairs at low percents when it doesn't knockdown, and immediately grabbing instead of the usual followups. It isn't as strong as the d-tilt to f-smash, but I can pretty much always land it and the combo is still doing 35% total since both Lucas throws and pummel are great.
The only other BBrawl thing I have to comment on is the PK fire damage increase. Doing 3% more total makes people really stress out about it more for some reason... I've noticed people being more aggressive and less patient at range. I also use it SLIGHTLY more at close range... with the extra damage it does now, it's pretty much worth it in most mathcups if there is a 50% chance you are going to hit them.
As far as non BBrawl-related things go, I obviously don't have anything too interesting to say since better Lucas players than me have blazed that trail. I am curious though, how much is PSI Magnet used as a KO tool among Lucas mains? I use it to KO at around 110% or so by mixing it in with SH nairs and fair; I maybe land one every 3-4 matches.
If any of you guys have played BBrawl, any thoughts on Lucas's matchups?
