ChatGPT Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Simon is strongest when Cross, Holy Water, and Axe keep you still long enough for Forward Air, Back Air, or the ledge trap to take over. If Isabelle treats the matchup as nothing but projectile cleanup, Simon keeps swinging from the whip tip forever.
The stable plan is to erase free projectile value with Pocket when possible, plant Lloyd, and keep standing inside the whip. Once you are there, Forward Air, Back Air, and Fishing Rod can punish the landing, while the linear Up B recovery is usually better trapped from the ledge than chased too deep offstage.
The table shows reliable shield punishes on Down Tilt (2), Rapid Jab Finisher, Down Smash, Down Tilt (1), and Forward Smash, with OOS Nair, OOS Uair, Up Smash, and Grab available whenever Simon panics with a large grounded swing.
Forward Air, Back Air, and Up Air are still not the places to mash. It is safer to take the landing route or ledge route first and make the next whip swing happen on your timing.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Isabelle OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 5 | -21 |
| |
| Jab 2 | 3 | -23 |
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| Rapid Jab | 9/12/15… | — | ||
| Rapid Jab Finisher | 3 | -37 |
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| Forward Tilt | 12 | -8/-7 |
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| Up Tilt | 10 | -17 |
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| Down Tilt (1) | 7 | -31 |
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| Down Tilt (2) | 8 | -42/-28 |
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| Dash Attack | 10/13/16/19/22/24 | -26 |
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| Forward Smash | 24 | -28/-26 |
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| Up Smash | 16 | -27/-26 |
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| Down Smash | 14/20 | -33/-30/-27/-24 |
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| Neutral Air | 8… | -12/-11 |
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| Forward Air | 14 | -6/-5/-8 |
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| Back Air | 14 | -6/-5/-8 |
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| Up Air | 14 | -6/-5/-8 |
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| Down Air | 13 | -21/-23 |
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| Neutral B | 30 | -6 |
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| Side B | 19 | -15 |
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| Up B | 6/9/… | ** | ||
| Down B | 18 | ** | ||
| Grab | 10 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 13 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 14 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Do not stop at avoiding Cross and Holy Water; use Pocket and Lloyd to keep time inside the whip.
- After blocking Down Tilt (2), Rapid Jab Finisher, Down Smash, Down Tilt (1), and Forward Smash, answer immediately with OOS Nair, OOS Uair, Up Smash, or Grab.
- Do not mash after Forward Air, Back Air, or Up Air; take the landing spot, escape route, or ledge route first.
- Finish stocks by trapping the linear Up B recovery and the ledge options instead of spending the whole stock on projectile cleanup in center stage.
Actions to Avoid
- Spending the whole exchange only on Axe, Cross, and Holy Water cleanup and never reclaiming the inside-whip space.
- Mashing after every blocked Forward Air, Back Air, and Up Air and feeding Simon the tipper reset.
- Chasing Up B too deep offstage and giving away the stronger ledge hold.
- Planting Lloyd too far away and abandoning the exact inner lane you need to own.