Tips for my Lucas please.

[M3tr01D]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVrI6X2Pfq0 Lucas Vs Bowser

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miqtRVHh4yg Lucas Vs Marth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aa6-pofMEP8 Lucas Vs Pikachu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChM9RLN8Ttc Lucas vs Pikachu #2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpCtA8MZ580 Lucas vs Marth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfR4ja9aF9k Lucas vs Marth #2


Tips and comments would be much appreciated. If you're just going to post saying "You suck" and not give a reason, please don't waste your time. This was my first day playing and it was in a cash tournament. Feel free to say I suck if you think that is the case, but at least say why.

 

[Sinistar]

Less PK Fire people are going to eventually learn how to avoid that when you do it.
Work on the air games, I see almost little neutral airs or fairs.


PK Thunder mindgames are needed.

You seem a little jumpy move wise honestly.


Your main problem is letting your opponent Smash you whenever your falling. You do almost nothing when your falling and that just leaves you open. Try to fast fall or jump.

Up Smash if an opponents recovery goes over your head.

 

[ShortAssassin]

I disagree with the PK Fire statement. I think that his overall use of it is fairly good actually.

 

[.kR0]

Always spam short hop PKfire.
ALWAYS.

 

[Kuronekokun]

Long Post Warning!

My laptop decided to shut down so I lost everything I had typed out previously

~~~~~~~~ General Tips ~~~~~~~~

I see lots of SH Fair / Forward momentum PK Fire (good, but the opponents will see the pattern after a bit... have to keep changing it).

I haven't tested these, but I just came up with the ideas:

1) - only works if opponent falls towards you after being hit with PK Fire... I think.
SH PK Fire forward -> dash forward while they're stunned / in the air for a second, spot dodge as they're landing and follow up with a SH Nair or something.
2) - Dash attack when they don't expect it... er, okay, these aren't the best ideas... I did the video section first so my concentration's a bit fried

I think you would benefit from practicing these things in general:
- Spot dodging
- Air Dodging
- Coming up with new patterns
- PK Thunder
- PSI Magnet
- Spacing
- Edge Guarding

(seems like a long list, but don't be discouraged. Once you're conscious of these while you play you should be able to start seeing improvement within 5~10 matches easily -- as long as you put in the effort to break the old habits and work towards these.)

~~~~~ Examples from Videos ~~~~~

"Metroid (Lucas) vs Itakio (Marth) 2"

PK Fire too close / punished.
0:48, 1:07, 2:14,
2:59 - If you had spot dodged instead of using PK Fire, you probably could have made a hit.
(2:20 shows a nice backwards SH PK Fire Waveland... do more of that!)

Drop from a platform with an aerial.
1:35 - I think Nair / Fair > Dair in that situation. A lot less landing lag = easier to chain attacks / attempt a grab / spot dodge.

Air dodge.
1:39 - A well timed Air dodge would have gotten you back onto the stage.
3:03 - Don't stop to use PK Thunder if you don't need to during recovery, as an air dodge probably would have worked there.

Edge guarding.
2:00 - You used PK Freeze, but instead try to latch onto the edge as Marth is working on his recovery, and when he uses up+B, use the invincibility frames from rolling onto the stage to avoid damage + edge guard. (not 100% sure it would work... I'm thinking of Melee days).
2:01 - Instead of rolling back from the edge as Marth starts to get on, try staying where you are and spot dodge -> attack with a faster move.

Spot Dodging.
3:12 - If you had spot dodged instead of shield, you likely could have hit.

Metroid (Lucas) vs Jaydo (Pikachu) 1

I don't have much experience against Pikachu, so I'm not sure if it's possible to spot dodge Fair / Dsmash and such... if not, disregard part of this.

2:20 - Spot dodge the Fair, hit before he goes into Dsmash.
3:02 - spot dodge the close range head butt -> send a PK Fire / dash attack or something after Pika.
3:08 - another chance to spot dodge.
There were opportunities to air dodge as well, but I'm not going to point them out.

Metroid (Lucas) vs Itakio (Bowser) 1

Air dodge.
1:45, 3:07

Edge Guard. (spot dodge + hit back)
1:54, 3:16

PK Fire too close / punished.
3:03

Metroid (Lucas) vs Jaydo (Pikachu) 2

0:12 - You can tell right away that Pika's going for the Fair -> Dsmash combo that he spammed from the other match. spot dodge the Fair and hit back (if possible).
1:28 - Pika had low %, so a SH Nair could have been better in my opinion.
2:25 - PK Fire too close.
3:19 - Air dodge.
3:27 - Don't trip
I've also heard that DI'ing down during Pika's Dsmash helps keep the knock back horizontal when you're sent flying.

Metroid (Lucas) vs iCraq (Marth) 1

PK Fire too close / Punished.
0:14, 0:17, 0:35,

Air dodge.
1:19

It looked like you weren't really sure how to handle the stage's design (shorter length, platform in the middle)combined with Marth's speed / range.

~~~~~ Closing ~~~~~

I know all of the things I mentioned are much easier said than done (especially when analyzing game play from videos), and you're honestly probably a better Smasher than me, so I guess I'd take all of this with a grain of salt if I were you, since I might not know what I'm talking about in parts of it compared to others. (see: Smash n00b title / post count :embarrass)

~~~~ *Edit* ~~~~

Nair is awesome, seriously.
But PK Freeze isn't, so, you know, stop it
Tether recovery might be a good thing to learn how to use as well - more mind game options.

 

[Platanos]

Well, I only had time to watch one of the videos.

With that being said, the one I watched (the first Marth one) was, all-around, very good. The only suggestion I have would be to try and become more comfortable with your aerials. From what I saw, you weren't using aerials too often. Your use of PK Fire was outstanding, and with practice, you'll be able to dominate with PK Thunder.

 

[M3tr01D]

Thanks for the replies everyone

To Sinister, it doesn't really bother me if the PK fire is avoided or not, it is mostly just to serve as a distraction, hitting them with the move is just an added bonus. If there is always fire being used it is an effective way to stay on the offensive while keeping your distance if needed.

Your use of PK Fire was outstanding, and with practice, you'll be able to dominate with PK Thunder.

So, do you mean that I should start using the Thunder more aggressively instead of just a comeback move?

 

[tehSANDMAN]

Lol I can't advise because I don't have brawl , but... did anyone else notice what the hell happened at around 2:13 in the bowser match O_o?!

Does Lucas just have a decent ducking animation at the beginning of his upsmash? I was pretty sure you could grab during super armor.

 

[Percon]

2:00 - You used PK Freeze, but instead try to latch onto the edge as Marth is working on his recovery, and when he uses up+B, use the invincibility frames from rolling onto the stage to avoid damage + edge guard. (not 100% sure it would work... I'm thinking of Melee days).

Nope, doesn't work, rolling doesn't count as being on the edge anymore.

What DOES work is grabbing the edge at the last possible moment and letting those invincibility frames protect you as you ledgehog.

 

[Eternal phoenix Fire]

I can't give you that much advise due to my "limited" access to the game, but one thing you should use is the Nair.

-High priority
-SH Nair is great out of shield
-Practically his best aerial

Good luck.

 

[M3tr01D]

Alright thanks for the help guys, I think I have enough to work on now the next time I get to play the game.

 

[Mikezor]

Pretty good. You mixed up your approaches/attacks well in some of those matches.

1. Less PK Fire when you are so close to the enemy, I noticed it especially during the Marth matches.

2. Try not to use down air when landing, as it has horrific lag.

3. More neutral air.

4. Don't use PK Freeze unless it is very well thought out, but of course this was friendlies so whatever.

5. Try not to spam down tilt, I would say a max of three uses is good. Down tilt -> grab also works well.

 

[M3tr01D]

4. Don't use PK Freeze unless it is very well thought out, but of course this was friendlies so whatever.

These were tourney matches I wasn't really sure what I should edge guard with, so sometimes I chose that.