Ah the Fox matchup. Prior to the patch, we Kirby's generally agreed that it was even because even though Kirby could juggle Fox like crazy, his lack of safe and effective kill options meant that Fox would have the chance to use his speed to bring it back. Now with this 1.1.3 patch however, Kirby got both a speed buff which makes getting punishes easier and a proper kill throw in Up Throw that kills Fox on Final Destination at 132% with no DI. (Proper DI generally increases the survival % by about 10.) I think this has tipped the matchup back in Kirby's favor like it was in Brawl albiet not by a landslide. Kirby's damage racking ability means he can get Kirby has all the same strengths as before. His crouch significantly reduces the effectiveness of Fox's lasers, especially if he has a percent lead, and when Kirby's crouch Fox has to beware his speedy D-Tilt and Up Tilt, the latter of which is invincible. At 0%, Kirby's combos and strings can take Fox to as high as 74% if done right (on average though you'll probably end up with 35-50%). And if Fox has to Up B in a bad spot that's pretty much Kirby's invitation to D-Air spike him and Fox can't do as much to Kirby off stage due to his fall speed and Kirby's multiple jumps.
Of course Fox still has his blitzing his speed and side B to help him control and reset neutral when necessary, but Kirby cannot be rushed down. And now that Kirby can kill off a grab, he has to be even more careful when he's death percent than before, especially if he's on a stage with platforms which magnifies Up Throw's power. And while Kirby’s Up Throw can kill, none of Fox’s can nor do they properly set up into a kill move so Kirby’s shield is generally better in this matchup now.
For how Kirby should play it, Kirby should not force anything. Kirby should use his crouch to sneak in and find the opportunity to get a good juggle started on Fox. Up Tilt should almost be how your combo starts as Fox falls so fast that he’ll be able to hit the ground and shield before you can get any followups on him a 0%. Combos do start working at a 10-20% though. After Kirby gets his combo, he should abuse his crouch to force Fox to come in and get further punishes until Fox enters death percent. Kirby should do his best to keep his percent lead if he gets it as being able to crouch lasers means Fox can’t camp him to bring it back safely if he falls behind. D-Tilt and Up Tilt are your main options for stopping dash attacks and dash grabs. Up Tilt is especially good as it’s disjointed and sets up into Up Airs. If Fox tries jumping in with aerial, you might be able to snuff him with a well placed Up Tilt. Alternatively, if you think it’s safe, you can spot dodge, shield, or roll and punish accordingly. Keep in mind that might sometimes bluff when short hopping and can punish you if you make the wrong call. Kirby should refrain from using smash attacks unless he’s certain they’ll hit. Fox is fast with good frame data all around, including his own smash attacks and he’ll be more than happy to punish you if you whiff. And speaking of smashes, don’t ever bother trying D-Air -> D-Smash. Fox falls way too fast for the D-Smash to come out on time. As far as killing, Kirby has gimping and Up Throw. If Fox is at a height to side B to the ledge you probably won’t be able to cut him unless you get out a well timed D-Air or B-Air. N-Air can also work but the end lag makes it risky to use off stage. You can also go for a ledge trump B-Air if you read the ledge grab. If Fox is forced to Up B, he’s pretty much done if you’re on top of things. D-Air is prime way of ending him he has to Up B. You might have to D-Air him twice depending on positioning as Fire Fox’s hitboxes can prevent you from getting a solid it and it scales stages well. If you want to kill in neutral, Up Throw is your new go-to option. With the speed buff, getting grab shouldn’t be overwhelming difficult now provided you maintain a percent lead. Anticipate what he’ll do and grab accordingly. With optimal DI, FD height, and no rage, Fox will probably live to about 142% so study your situation and choose the right time to go for the Up Throw. The major things you have to watch out for at kill percent are Fox’s Up Air and Up Smash. Fox’s Dash Attack, Up Tilt, and Side B will setup into the Up Tilt at higher percent. Don’t know if there’s any true combo percents to beware. You also have to be weary of D-Air as it sets up in Up Smash. Lastly for Inhale, eh. I suppose you could take Fox’s lasers to tack on extra percent when the chance presents itself but you can’t use them freely has Fox has a reflector and too many careless shots will lead to a load of percent. Inhale can also be good for getting Fox off stage. I personally don’t copy Fox much but I tend to see top Kirby’s copy him surprisingly often so perhaps you can get use out of it.
As for what Fox should do, he should pretty much play it as he should before. Just even more carefully at death percent as Kirby can actually kill him off a grab now which is harder to punish that a whiffed Smash Attack. Generally, Fox should not rush in. If you allow Kirby to get an Up Tilt on you before putting any percent on him, you’ll pretty much be forced to approach as Kirby will simply crouch if you try lasers. That said, lasers aren’t completely useless. Kirby can’t crawl so you’ll probably be able to squeeze a few in here and there, and if you are able to prevent Kirby from getting a solid lead, you’ll be able to use them to rack up percent as he’s forced to come in. Be careful when pressuring Kirby’s shield. From the front, you want to be on point with your spacing as a shield grab at death percent now means a stock taken courtesy of Up Throw. The back might actually be riskier as Kirby’s B-Air comes out pretty fast.
Having glanced thread, I noticed some of you think Fox has the edge. I personally think this matchup lends to Kirby. This matchup gets very campy and it’s a true test of patience, but after this patch I think Kirby gets rewarded more for his patience now. And at the competitive level, MikeKirby has been able to consistently beat Larry Lurr’s Fox and this was before Kirby could kill off a grab effectively. And I am pretty sure this was the matchup at work because Larry Lurr beat Mike pretty handily with a pocket Mario. Granted, Fox is far from free, but I think Kirby does have an advantage now. I don’t feel comfortable tossing out a ratio though.
Sets of Interest:
Pre-1.1.3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CCw8yMAKG0 (Poyo vs. Snow)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeVtetE_IyU (Larry Lurr vs. Mike Kirby customs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Toe49Xn5jfc (Poyo vs. Feel Tension customs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjGBJ3-FAQ (MikeKirby vs Dugan)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMIdXKhNucg (Triple R vs. Dawn4thekaz)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpFngP4crqI (Prince Kirby vs/ Dawn4thekaz)
1.1.3
: If you catch him with up-tile on low percent, you'll get at least up to 4 or 5 if I'm right until he escapes. But also here's combo mix ups like back-air and up-air, depending on his di. If he decides to camp with lasers, crouch until he stops. Having Fox's ability may help, but not 100% entirely because of his reflector so its best to possibly set him up for space, combo maybe, or if you're near the ledge then get him off stage for gimps. Up-tile and up-smash for anti-air moves in case if he tries to land on you with aerials. Unless Fox, your throws can kill so make use of them with Up-throw, Back-throw, and maybe forward throw, but at much higher percents. Because of his falling speed, Its hard for Fox to escape Kirby's combos such as Forward-throw(up to 30% at least), Back throw(0 up to 10%), Forward-air auto cancel combo or grab, and down-air to anything, but quick depending on the di and position. Since you're light, you can escape his combos so use Kirby's di to your advantage and avoid letting him giving him more damage. I think Kirby has more Ko options than Fox along with rage even though Kirby is light; However, Fox is light as well so add pivot movement, bait out attacks, read, and punish a error. You got ledge punishes, Jabs, Forward-air, back-air, Final cutter, and Down-air for Ledge guarding and Edge guarding. Since Fox's Fire Fox has lot of start-up, it gets beaten by Down-air and even by back-air or trade for a stage spike, but go for a down-air mostly unless you can't get it depending on the timing and position. His side b if guessed can be beaten by back-air or even neutral air. Also, if he screws up on the end and has landing lag, then this is your chance to punish him.
