Lucas (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)


 * ''This article is about Lucas's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. For other uses, see Lucas.

Lucas (, Ryuka) is a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The first EarthBound newcomer since the original Super Smash Bros., Lucas is the main character of Mother 3, the sequel to EarthBound released only in Japan. Lucas's Special Moves are very similar to Ness's moves; his physical attacks, however, are completely different.

Lucas uses Duster's Rope Snake from Mother 3 to perform a Tether Recovery. The Rope Snake is also a taunt, where Lucas looks at the snake and argues with it. Lucas also utilizes Duster's Rope Snake for his grabs, giving him a ranged grab, much like Link or Samus. Much like Ness, all of his Special Moves, as well as his Final Smash, derive from in-game attacks that are instead learned by another character, Kumatora, not Lucas himself. Lucas ranks in a middle position on the tier list due to his low priority, as well as poor matchups and tourney rankings. These are mainly due to him being the target of infinite chain-grabs from a Marth, Squirtle, and Charizard. However, he is higher up than his counterpart Ness, albeit by one place only. He should, however, actually be placed on top tier due to the fact that he is a strong character and is also a very advanced character. All of his attacks have power and somewhat decent speed. He can in fact, also escape chain grabs by using PK thunder.

Pros:

 * Powerful, high-priority aerials including two spikes.
 * Variety of useful projectiles.
 * Most attacks are fast.
 * Can Absorb Energy projectiles, restoring health.
 * Strong smash attacks.
 * Tether Recovery available.
 * Ranged grab.
 * Great knockback for a lightweight.
 * Can perform Magnet Pull, an effective horizontal recovery technique
 * PSI Magnet causes damage upon release of the special move button/stick, along with large knockback - it can kill at 120%
 * Can "Zap Jump".
 * Lucas's PK Thunder can go through multiple targets, making Lucas much harder to gimp while recovering than Ness.
 * Most potent use of "B-Sticking" with PK Fire and PSI Magnet, as well as added bonuses from easier reverse aerials.
 * Large second jump.
 * Powerful throws.
 * Capable of reflecting projectiles using Forward Smash.
 * Extremely powerful Up Smash with huge hitbox (second most powerful in the game).
 * Down smash is a great edgeguard.
 * Decent dash speed.
 * Has multiple mindgames and recovery options.
 * His PK moves (up, neutral, and side B attacks) have somewhat medium-long frames of Super Armor
 * Best overall recovery in the series, with Zap Jump, Magnet Pull, PK Thunder 2, Wave Zap and Tether Recovery.
 * Down special can absorb energy based projectiles even if he's facing the opposite direction.
 * Tether recovery is among the best in the game.
 * Down tilt can often trip opponents, leaving them open for a combo.
 * PK Thunder 2 goes much higher and is more damaging (in terms of damage), than Ness's.

Cons:

 * Both of his two aerial spikes are hard to hit with in the fact that you can only spike an enemy downwards with a certain "spot" of the attacks (Tip of his for the B-Air, 4th and final kick for his D-Air, which is easier to land but the weaker of the two).
 * Slow Up Smash and Down Smash.
 * PK Thunder recovery can still be interrupted by some attacks.
 * Grab is laggy if it misses.
 * Easy to combo.
 * Can be "Chain Grab Released" by Marth.
 * Tether does not do any damage when used in the air.
 * Down-smash has minimal protection from behind, thus leaving Lucas very vulnerable.

Normal

 * Neutral Attack - Three consecutive kicks. 10% damage if all hits connect.
 * Dash Attack - Lucas slides forward, shooting PSI energy out of his hands, similar to Ness's dash, except it moves solidly, so people can't get in the gaps. 12% damage.
 * Strong Side - Lucas does a back hand and creates a shock of PSI. Can be aimed up and down slightly.
 * Strong Up - Lucas does one-handed stand flipkick charged with PSI. Can chained into itself at lower percents.
 * Strong Down - Lucas crouches and spins with his leg out. Low hitstun, but it does trip often.

Smash

 * Side Smash - Lucas swings his stick. Similar to Ness's Forward Smash, but faster and with less range and power. 15-21% damage. It also acts as a reflector, when timed right.
 * Up Smash - Lucas releases a burst of PSI that erupts above his head, but also hits to the sides and damages any breakable floors Lucas may be standing on. The energy remains there for a long duration, and it has very high knockback. 21-29% damage. Similar to one of his victory taunts.
 * Down Smash - Lucas points at the ground in front of him, creating a barrage of PSI at his feet. Hits up to three times. Damage depends on when you hit the enemy: it gets weaker on the last hit.

Other

 * Ledge Attack -
 * 100% Ledge Attack -
 * Floor Attack -

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral Aerial - Spins in a gyro pattern with PSI energy around him, making it a multi-hit attack similar to Mewtwo's Neutral Aerial, but harder to hit with. The last hit has great knockback. Up to 17% damage.
 * Forward Aerial - Lucas kicks his foot forward with PSI. Has a sweet Spot like Ness's back Air, but not quite as strong. 12% damage.
 * Back Aerial - Lucas thrusts his feet behind him and hooks them downwards with a stream of small PSI. Knocks backwards, if you hit with the tip of his foot during the attack's animation, it spikes. 10% damage.
 * Up Aerial - Moves upwards a little and does a headbutt, similar to Ness's. 13% damage.
 * Down Air - Lucas thrusts his feet downwards and creates several quick-flashing PSI energy. Multiple-hit attack. The fourth hit can weakly spike. Up to 20% damage.

Grabs and Throws

 * Grab - Pulls out his Rope Snake which extends and grabs the opponent.
 * Pummel - Headbutts the foe. Debatable whether its headbutt or PSI. -- 3% each
 * Forward Throw - Psychokinetically tosses opponent ahead. 10% damage.
 * Back Throw - Psycokinetically blasts opponent back. 10% damage.
 * Up Throw - Psychokinetically tosses opponent straight up. 10% damage.
 * Down Throw - Psychokinetically slams opponent down, and shoots him or her with PSI attacks. 7% damage.

Role in Subspace Emissary
Lucas is seen walking alone in an abandoned zoo, until several Primids show up. Then, suddenly, the gigantic Porky Statue appears and chases after Lucas. Lucas runs from it, until he gets caught in a snag and is about to be crushed when Ness comes to his rescue by attacking the statue with a PK Thunder. Ness blows up the Porky Statue with his PK Flash, which reveals Porky Minch himself (based on his Mother 3 appearance). Ness and Lucas defeat him, but no sooner do they do so when Wario shows up and attemps to shoot Ness with his Trophy Gun. Ness dodges each time, so Wario eventually aims at Lucas and shoots. Ness pushes Lucas out of the way and gets turned into a trophy himself. Terrified, Lucas runs away as Wario cackles in the rain.

Later on, Lucas runs into the Pokémon Trainer as more Primids show up. After they are defeated, the Pokémon Trainer leaves, but Lucas decides to join him after remembering what happened to Ness. Lucas and the Trainer encounter and defeat Wario in the desert wastelands outside of an abandoned temple. Along the way, the Pokémon Trainer catches Ivysaur and Charizard. After Charizard is caught, Galleom falls into the ruins, having been knocked down there by Marth, Meta Knight, and Ike. A battle ensues between Lucas, the Pokémon Trainer, and Galleom.

After the battle, Galleom grabs Lucas and the Pokémon Trainer, jumping high into the sky and out of the ruins. Galleom then attempts to detonate a Subspace Bomb as a last-ditch effort. Lucas, finally gaining his courage, uses PK Thunder to sever Galleom's arm, causing the two to plummet to the ground. Just before they hit the bottom, Meta Knight grabs the two and takes them to Marth and Ike. When there, Lucas shakes hands with the Trainer as a sign of their friendship. Then Lucas and the other heroes journey into subspace to battle Tabuu.

Trivia

 * Lucas relies on his PSI powers far more than Ness, using them for two smashes (up and down), all specials, four aerials(Forward, Back, Neutral, and Down), all throws and grapple pummel, his dash attack, and forward and up tilts.
 * Even though Lucas is considered a fast character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, he is the slowest member of the party in Mother 3.
 * Ironically, while Lucas's game (Mother 3) was released only in Japan, his in-game voice in Brawl speaks with a North American accent. Whereas Ness, whose game (EarthBound) was released in North America, speaks using a Japanese accent.