Part 31

Learn how to unlock Lucario and master his unique aura-based attacks, tilts, smashes, and aerials in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Discover his strengths and weaknesses.

Alright, let's talk about Lucario in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Unlocking him is pretty straightforward: just play 100 brawls, have him join your crew in The Subspace Emissary, or clear every single Target Smash level. He’s a character that can feel a bit tricky to get a handle on at first. He’s got these quick attacks, but sometimes it feels like he struggles to close the distance. His aura attacks look like they hit from a mile away, but then sometimes they just don't connect when you think they should. You might get some early KOs, or you might find yourself really struggling to land the finishing blow. Honestly, he plays a bit like a Regigigas – when he gets going, he's a powerhouse, but getting him started can be a challenge. He’s kind of like the spiritual successor to Mewtwo from Melee, inheriting that solid mobility and a slightly awkward feel, but unlike Mewtwo, Lucario can actually be pretty effective. He's probably around average overall, but he’s got enough cool stuff going on to make him really interesting.

Walkthrough: Lucario's Moveset Breakdown

1. Grounded Moves: Lucario has a solid set of ground attacks for both combos and getting those KOs. His up tilt is fantastic – it hits all around him super quickly and pops the opponent straight up, setting you up for follow-ups. Seriously, use this move a lot! If the opponent isn't too damaged, it can even combo into itself. His forward tilt is also pretty fast, but it’s more about racking up damage with its double hit rather than knockback. The down tilt sends opponents away quickly, but at an upward angle that’s not always the easiest to follow up on. For smashes, his forward smash is a powerful KO move that hits way out in front, but it’s a bit slow and has a really obvious animation, so watch out for that. The up smash has some KO potential but has terrible range, so it’s usually not worth it. His down smash is his safest power move, sweeping all around him – definitely rely on this one. Don't forget his dash attack, which launches opponents upward, and his jab combo has surprisingly good range.
2. Aerial Attacks: Lucario's aerial game shines with his unique and dangerous down aerial. It actually stalls him in the air while he hits all around his lower body. It racks up damage like crazy and can send opponents flying in different directions depending on how they're positioned relative to Lucario. Mastering this move is key! His up aerial is just a quick juggling move for when an opponent is airborne and you can't land a better hit. The neutral aerial is pretty laggy and should only be used as a last resort to push an opponent away. His forward and back aerials are both quick with decent range, making them great for chaining together with short hops while chasing someone across the stage. The back aerial is a bit quicker and has a sweet spot right under his arm, while the forward aerial covers a slightly wider area.
3. Grabs and Throws: Lucario's grab game really shines with his amazing up throw. It launches opponents right above him, making it super easy to follow up with an aerial attack. His forward and back throws are decent if you want to try and toss someone off the ledge, but they don't have as much KO power as you might hope.
4. Special Moves: Lucario’s main special move is the incredible Aura Sphere. This projectile gets way stronger the more damage Lucario has taken, which is awesome. You charge it by holding B, and release it by pressing B again. The sphere itself does damage while charging, and you can cancel the charge early by shielding, air dodging, or rolling – super handy! Generally, you'll want to be spamming Aura Spheres to keep the enemy tied down and restricted, especially if you're having trouble approaching. Force Palm is usually a pretty weak move; it's slow and easy to punish. It can be a decent grab attack if you're right on top of the opponent, but it's rarely worth the risk. Extremespeed does no damage and is basically a safer, longer-range version of Fox's Fire Fox, making it a mediocre recovery move. It does have a cool quirk where it lets him wall cling if he hits a wall, but you can't use it again right after leaping off the wall. Double Team is a pretty standard counter move. It has surprising range, but it's otherwise slow and easy to punish, so use it very sparingly just to keep your opponent guessing.
5. Movement and Abilities: Lucario can wall jump, wall cling, and crawl. He can crawl under Pit's arrows, but not Falco's lasers. He has one midair jump, a quick spot dodge, and a ridiculously fast roll with high invincibility – definitely abuse that roll!

Matchup Notes: Lucario's struggle to approach can make him vulnerable to characters like Marth and Mr. Game & Watch, who are good at keeping opponents at bay. He's also a dream opponent for Snake. However, because Lucario can be so devastating once he gets going, characters who need to get up close and personal, like Wario, Jigglypuff, or Sheik, might find him a tough fight.