Link vs Squirtle

Squirtle Matchup (Link)

Link vs Squirtle

Link vs Squirtle is most stable when you stop playing directly into Squirtle's Forward Tilt and Neutral Air, punish Jab 1 and Jab 2, and take the landing or ledge route first.

This page is not in your favorites.

ChatGPT Matchup Summary (Win Condition and Game Plan)

Link wants to stop Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 with Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f), then force Squirtle back outside Forward Tilt and Neutral Air to keep stage control.
In Link vs Squirtle, the stable plan is to avoid playing directly into Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air and take the landing or ledge route before Squirtle can reset.
The table shows that Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 can be answered by Link’s Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f), so those overcommitments should be cashed out immediately.
For Link, Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air are still hard to hit immediately out of shield, so reading the landing spot or ledge route matters more than forcing an early swing.

Full Move Frame Quick Reference

Opponent MoveStartupOn ShieldLink OOS Candidate MovesBarely Missed Moves
Jab 12-11
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (+3)
Jab 24-17
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (14f)
  • OOS Dair (17f)
  • OOS Fair (+2)
Jab 35-21
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (14f)
  • OOS Dair (17f)
  • OOS Fair (19f)
Forward Tilt5-6
  • None
  • Up B (+1)
  • OOS Bair (+3)
Up Tilt5-8
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (+1)
  • Grab (+2)
  • OOS Nair (+2)
  • Up Smash (+2)
Down Tilt8-12
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (+2)
Dash Attack8-16
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (14f)
  • OOS Dair (+1)
  • OOS Fair (+3)
Forward Smash20-19
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (14f)
  • OOS Dair (17f)
  • OOS Fair (19f)
Up Smash19/21-35
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (14f)
  • OOS Dair (17f)
  • OOS Fair (19f)
Down Smash18-13
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (+1)
Neutral Air4-4/-5
  • None
  • Up B (+3)
Forward Air5-3/-3
  • None
Back Air5…-15
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (14f)
  • OOS Dair (+2)
Up Air5-3
  • None
Down Air6…-14/-13
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (+1)
Neutral B26
Side B23-18
  • Up B (7f)
  • OOS Bair (9f)
  • Grab (10f)
  • OOS Nair (10f)
  • Up Smash (10f)
  • OOS Uair (14f)
  • OOS Dair (17f)
  • OOS Fair (+1)
Up B9…
Down B
Grab6
Dash Grab8
Pivot Grab9

Win Condition Checklist

  • Link should not play directly into Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air; wait for Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 and answer with Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f).
  • After Link blocks Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3, pick the reachable option from Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f) immediately.
  • Link should not mash after Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air; take the landing route, escape route, or ledge route first.
  • Link should finish stocks by breaking Squirtle’s landing and recovery routes so Forward Tilt and Neutral Air does not get more neutral reps.

Actions to Avoid

  • Letting Squirtle start the exchange on Forward Tilt and Neutral Air terms and giving Link’s stage control away for free.
  • Having Link block Squirtle’s Jab 1, Jab 2, and Jab 3 but never answer with Up B (7f), OOS Bair (9f), Grab (10f), and OOS Nair (10f).
  • Sending Link too deep after Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air and letting the reset punish the chase back.
  • Panicking at the ledge as Link and simplifying Squirtle’s Forward Tilt and Neutral Air-driven advantage sequence.

Reference Links

Related Pages