ChatGPT Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
If Cloud agrees to trade grounded buttons, Little Mac gets to weaponize Down Tilt, Dash Attack, and armor-backed smashes before the sword spacing can matter.
The matchup gets much cleaner when Blade Beam and walk shield interrupt the horizontal dash first, then Fair or Bair force Mac to jump, recover, or defend from a worse axis.
The table shows that Neutral B (2), Side B (1), Side B (2), Rapid Jab Finisher, and Up Smash give Cloud dependable retaliation with Up B, OOS Nair, Grab, and OOS Uair, but the bigger payoff is the line you take afterward toward ledge.
Once KO Punch is available, patience matters more than damage. Burn time with movement, keep center, and only cash in when the recovery or airborne escape becomes committal.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Cloud OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 1 | -12 |
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| Jab 2 | 1 | -12 |
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| Jab 3 | 4 | -19 |
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| Rapid Jab | 4/6/8… | — | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 5 | -25 |
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| Forward Tilt | 4/12 | -17 |
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| Up Tilt | 4 | -18 |
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| Down Tilt | 3 | -14 |
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| Dash Attack | 7 | -16 |
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| Forward Smash | 14/14/15 | -16/-16/-13 |
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| Up Smash | 10 | -23 |
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| Down Smash | 10/17 | -23/-16 |
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| Neutral Air | 2 | -8 |
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| Forward Air | 10 | -10 |
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| Back Air | 11 | -13 |
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| Up Air | 5 | -10 |
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| Down Air | 7 | -15/-15 |
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| Neutral B (1) | 4(+32) | -34 to -19 |
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| Neutral B (2) | 123 | -82 |
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| Side B (1) | 8/25 | -39 to -36 |
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| Side B (2) | 8/25 | -32 to -31 |
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| Up B | 3… | ** | ||
| Down B | 5 (Start of Counter) | — | ||
| Grab | 9 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 13 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 14 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Keep your feet moving with walk-backs and short hops so Mac has to swing from just outside his best Down Tilt spacing.
- After blocking Neutral B (2), Side B (1), Side B (2), Rapid Jab Finisher, or Up Smash, choose the punish that shoves him to ledge instead of the one that barely adds more damage in center.
- With Limit on deck, protect center stage first and finish only when the recovery angle or air dodge becomes forced.
- During KO Punch, favor throw timing, late Bair landings, and other options that do not run headfirst into burst range.
Actions to Avoid
- Repeatedly contesting grounded pokes at point-blank range and letting Mac win before he ever has to leave the floor.
- Rushing offstage for a hit on recovery and giving him the reversal window on Up B or side special.
- Throwing out a Limit attack inside KO Punch threat range and donating the landing lag if it whiffs.
- Autopiloting the same Up B punish from shield every time until the spacing change or counterplay catches you.