ChatGPT Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)
Link is strongest at midrange disjoints backed by projectile support, while Lucas is strongest at midrange disjoints backed by projectile support.
The more this stays only about projectile trades, the more both sides get to set their preferred pace. The side that steps forward first after forcing hesitation usually takes control.
The table shows reliable shield punishes on Up Smash, Side B, Forward Smash, Up B (2), and Jab 3, with Up B, OOS Bair, Grab, and OOS Nair showing up most often as the clean ways to take the turn back.
Do not force shield punishes on the relatively safer choices like Forward Air, Back Air, and Up Air. It is usually better to read the landing or ledge route and punish the next action.
Full Move Frame Quick Reference
| Opponent Move | Startup | On Shield | Link OOS Candidate Moves | Barely Missed Moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab 1 | 2 | -13 |
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| Jab 2 | 3 | -13 |
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| Jab 3 | 6 | -19 |
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| Forward Tilt | 7 | -10/-8 |
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| Up Tilt | 4/7 | -18 |
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| Down Tilt | 3 | -6 |
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| Dash Attack | 13 | -15/-12 |
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| Forward Smash | 14 | -21 |
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| Up Smash | 28/30 | -54 |
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| Down Smash | 20/29/39 | -12 |
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| Neutral Air | 7…/26 | -10/-9 |
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| Forward Air | 9 | -3/-2 |
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| Back Air | 15 | -5/-4/-6 |
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| Up Air | 7 | -3 |
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| Down Air | 10/18/26/34 | -14/-13 |
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| Z Air | 9 | -2 |
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| Neutral B | 40-92 | -14 to -5 |
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| Side B | 21 | -24 |
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| Up B (1) | 20 | — | ||
| Up B (2) | 1/4/6/8/10/12/14/17/20/23/26/29 | -21 |
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| Down B | 19 (7 is start of absorb) | +0 |
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| Grab | 12 | — | ||
| Dash Grab | 14 | — | ||
| Pivot Grab | 15 | — |
Win Condition Checklist
- Do not settle for projectile trades alone; step forward and touch the body as soon as you make the opponent pause.
- After blocking Up Smash, Side B, Forward Smash, Up B (2), and Jab 3, answer immediately with Up B, OOS Bair, Grab, and OOS Nair so the opponent cannot keep the turn.
- Do not force immediate retaliation on Forward Air, Back Air, and Up Air; take the landing route, escape route, or ledge direction first.
- Use ledge control as the default kill plan, and only chase offstage when the recovery route is already visible.
Actions to Avoid
- Drifting back forever around projectile trades, then giving up the time needed to pressure the body.
- Swinging after every blocked Forward Air, Back Air, and Up Air and feeding the whiff punish or reset the opponent wants.
- Chasing too deep for the kill and exposing Link’s own recovery or defensive weakness.
- Panic-jumping or panic-rolling from the ledge and making the opponent’s ledge trap too simple.