:D
Real talk... my thoughts and concerns/suggestions.
Don't OVER-BUFF Ganon, Dedede, Squirtle, or Zelda. I've seen/heard a lot of things about them being 'weak' or whatever, and it can be really easy to want to do something extravagant with them, but they're approaching somewhat of a critical mass of niche-style that could tip them over the edge REALLY easily if this is approached the wrong way.
Something as simple as reducing the landing-lag on Aerial Side-B's would allow Ganon to use them more liberally in Neutral and Resets, which already applies a great dynamic with his other tools being primarily aerials and WL > Grab/Tilts, and it's something that really hasn't sunk in with the popular Ganon meta-game yet, even as it is.
Anything more than little things like that, and he could easily go too far. Same with a lot of characters.
Don't OVER-NERF Ivysaur, or any of the other characters that are considered 'really' good by the public masses or mainstream players. The characters really aren't all that game-breaking, and something as simple as reverting Ivy's Razor Leaf into something else would easily change the general perspective of the character alone.
A few others that get a lot of attention (Mario, Wario, Fox, Falco, etc) have the same thing in common. They're not nearly as note-worthy as being good relative to the rest of the cast. They could be better enough with a distinction, but it's not game-breaking, and there's significant reason beyond them 'being good' that factors into this.
If anything, minor tweaks to a few of them aren't necessary, and it's the rest of the cast that would be beneficial to the game in regards to adjustments.
Only Actual Concerns.
- Lucario
The direction the mainstream Lucario meta-game is going, is not going to help him long-term. There's too much that players are getting away with now that simply won't work in time.
-Aerial > Down-B approaches and pokes in Neutral that are easily punishable and single tracked, that Lucario players do thinking it's safe, only because the meta-game isn't there yet.
-Pressure strings that can simply be CC > Buffer Rolled out of, leaving Lucario in significantly disadvantageous positions due to the end-lag on almost everything he can follow-up with.
-Landing hits when recovering/maneuvering by cancelling Up-B/whatever with Aura Charges, which are predictable, easy to punish, single tracked, and obviously self-destructive at that, but are still working today due to opponents not working it to their advantage yet. (seriously, stop getting hit by Lucario when he cancels Up-B > attacks, and start punishing him for free for it)
A lot of this stuff is mainstream meta-game related, and simply for the fact that it's very unique and niche to vs Lucario particularly, so naturally it should be 'behind' relatively. Though with all of this, I'm not sure the overall transition to reliance on DD Grab game, etc, will actually be enough to sustain him.
I'm not calling him out as 'bad' or in need of a buff, as it could be REALLY easy to over-buff him, but I'd like some insight on whether or not people have hope for this character long term AS HE IS. Taking the turn to lock-down Mario-style approaches and processes will clarify this greatly, by on the surface, can he actually do it?
Other thoughts: He's STEEL type, so some armor or some method of direct counter-measure could be cool and in-theme, given how he could use some form of taking hits and converting off of them.
An ever-so-slightly faster Down-B would add a lot, including for that common Attack > Down-B thing, as it wouldn't leave him so punish-able (seriously, you can WD-OOS > Grab or pressure Lucario if he F-air > Down-B's away from you, the start-up is too easy to see and react to).
- ROB
I just feel the tediousness of his Neutral game in regards to positioning and spacing is way beyond that of essentially every other character. He has to move a lot, and every maneuver is committing, which long-term is something that becomes easily abused by nature. It already takes a toll on him, and when he's really flushed out it will be better, but then the developing counter-meta-game is something he may not have an answer to.
Same with Lucario, I just don't know if he has it cut out for him long-term, and would love some insight on what hopes people have for him AS HE IS. His diversity and utility is awesome, and he doesn't really have a terrible position that crushes him, but does his ability to function match the rest of the characters of this nature?
Other thoughts: Aerial Side-B being angled every-so-slightly would greatly help with the precision positioning, but it still takes the same commitment, with keeps his flavor and just gives it more dynamics.
Let him get 1 Up-B back if he gets hit even off-stage?
Edit: Splleinging
