Lucario (Smash Plus)

Lucario is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Pokemon universe, he is listed as Fighter #40 in Smash's modified numbering system and is classified as a Middleweight fighter. He is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in Versus Mode or by defeating Rayquaza in the Boss Rush Mode.
Lucario's gimmick is entirely based around his Aura mechanic. As Lucario's damage increases, he will deal more damage and more knockback with his attacks, as well as in some cases having larger hitboxes on his special attacks. However by design this means that Lucario is the most dangerous when he is also the most vulnerable. Knowing when to press your advantage and when to press your luck is the key to unlocking Lucario's considerable power, but it comes with further hindrance. Lucario boasts below average movement and is generally an overall floaty character who's movement patterns are hard to get used to. He can be a hard fighter to face in skilled CPU hands, but takes quite a bit to master yourself. Lucario has two normal jumps, and can also crawl, wall cling and wall jump.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- Lucario performs a three hit combo of a low sweeping punch, followed by a straight punch, followed by a forward straight kick to knock foes away.
*Side Tilt- A two-hit cross-style punch that, when infused with aura, becomes a viable KO option at higher percentages.
*Up Tilt- A high crescent kick that has a sweetspot right on the edge of Lucario's foot. A good option for juggling and combo starting.
*Down Tilt- A kneeling Hapkido style kick that comes out fast and is semi-spammable.
*Dash Attack- Lucario performs a simple flying kick that has great range for a dash attack, but is only a viable KO option at very high percentages.
*Grab & Pummel- Lucario grabs opponents by clinching them with both of his paws. He pummels with a quick surge of aura power, slightly increasing in power as his Aura increases as well.
*Forward Throw- Lucario simply pushes the foe away. At Max Aura, it becomes one of the most powerful forward throws in the game in terms of knockback.
*Back Throw- Lucario performs an overhead judo throw behind himself. Like the forward throw, is augmented greatly by Max Aura.
*Up Throw- Lucario uppercuts the opponent straight up into the air, ideal for combos and KO follow-ups.
*Down Throw- Lucario slams the opponent into the ground and then further damages them with a karate chop to bounce them back into the air. Another good combo starter, but not at higher aura multipliers.
*Neutral Air- Lucario spins around with his paws emitting Aura pulses from them. Hits twice, with the first hit comboing into the second one.
*Forward Air- Lucario performs a stretch kick, knocking the opponent up into the air at a high vertical angle, making it ideal as a combo move.
*Back Air- Lucario hits a backwards sweeping punch that, while it does impressive damage even at lower Aura percentages, is the slowest of all of Lucario's aerial attacks.
*Up Air- Lucario performs an overhead swipe with his paws, emitting an Aura trail behind it. It hits multiple times at lower percentages, and at higher ones is a reliable KO move if located near the top of the stage.
*Down Air- Lucario performs a double stomp attack, a pulse of aura emitting from each of his feet. Can spike grounded opponents if it connects just as the aura is launched, with a greater chance at higher Aura percentages.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Lucario hits a double palm thrust, firing a blast of Aura from the center of his paws as the move completes. At higher Aura magnification, the move does significant damage and knockback. However it also has significant startup lag, and endlag if it misses, making it high risk high reward.
*Up Smash- Lucario hits the uppercut from his Up Throw, this time adding a blast of Aura for an additional hit. Knockback is scaled to Aura magnification directly, as the blast of Aura is the launching hit, making this move only useful at higher percentages.
*Down Smash= Lucario crouches down and sweeps a paw on either side of himself, firing off a blast of aura in both directions. A good punish tool for roll dodgers, it comes out the quickest of Lucario's Smash Attacks and has the least amount of endlag.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Aura Sphere- Lucario will begin charging a powerful ball of Aura energy that damages foes if they get to close as it charges. Pressing the special button again will launch the sphere of energy. The maximum size of the sphere is determined by Aura Percentage, meaning that at Max Aura, it becomes one of the largest projectiles in the game (non-Final Smash wise) and has great quickness to it as well, making it hard to dodge. The kickback at maximum charge though can send Lucario off stage, so be careful when using it in the air or near ledges.
*Side Special: Force Palm- Lucario fires a concentrated burst of Aura Energy from his palms a short distance in front of himself. The distance and size of the blast is dictated by the Aura's power, with a fully powered Force Palm launching for major knockback. If used up close to an opponent, it will act as a Command Grab, with Lucario holding the opponent and then delivering the Palm Blast at Point Blank range. This slightly increases the Damage and Knockback.
*Up Special: Extreme Speed- Lucario will focus briefly before launching himself in a stream of aura in a chosen direction. The move does have a hitbox in the landing frames, as well as during the initial dash, but the damage is negligible. The move has extreme endlag if Lucario lands on the stage, so players are urged to aim for edges to mitigate this.
*Down Special: Double Team- Lucario will perform a kata, briefly flashing while doing so. During this time, he will counter any attack with a pause and then a powerful flying kick, with the reflected damage being increased by his Aura multiplier. On occasion, this move will leave behind a Pokemon Decoy that can be used as a projectile by any player. Has extreme endlag if the timing of the counter is off.
*Final Smash: Aura Storm- Lucario will transform into Mega Lucario, fly to the top center of the stage, and then fire a directed beam of aura energy that can be targeted with the control stick. The size of the beam, as well as its damage (and its duration, slightly) depend on Lucario's Aura percentage at the time the Final Smash is launched.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- Lucario teleports onto the stage, gathering aura into his hands as he lands.
*Idle Animation 1- Lucario moves his arms in a circular kata motion before resuming normal stance.
*Idle Animation 2- Lucario assumes a Shaolin fighting pose briefly as a stretch before resuming his normal posture.
*Side Taunt- Lucario sticks out one hand, causing a small burst of aura to explode from the end of it.
*Up Taunt- Lucario floats in mid-air and lets out a low growl, causing an exploding burst of aura around his entire body.
*Down Taunt- Lucario poses in a Shaolin Crane style fighting stance briefly.
*Victory Animation 1- Lucario performs a Kata, ending on a pose while saying "Behold the Power of Aura!"
*Victory Animation 2- Lucario fires two palm blasts of aura before finishing with his arms crossed, growling in a low tone of voice.
*Victory Animation 3- Lucario flies onto the screen with Extreme Speed, striking a pose and saying "The Aura is With Me!"
==How to Unlock==
Lucario can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Playing Versus Matches until he randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat him to unlock him.
*Defeat the boss Rayquaza in Boss Rush mode. This must be done in Boss Rush mode.
*Unlock him in the Finale of World of Light by defeating him.
*Pay 1,000 gold in a shop, where he can randomly show up (though rarely.)
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters