Lucas (Super Smash Bros. Brawl)


 * ''This article is about Lucas' 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' Special Moves are very similar to Ness's moves from the previous two Smash games; 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.

Pros:

 * His up-B is a great edge guard if you can keep hitting them with the tip of the pk thunder, don't let the pkt go through them or you will help them recover.
 * Powerful, high-priority aerials including two spikes
 * Variety of useful projectiles
 * Most attacks are fast
 * Can Absorb Energy projectiles, restoring health, and can reflect any projectile
 * Strong smash attacks
 * Tether Recovery available
 * Tether is longer than it looks (slightly shorter than Ivysaur's Vine Whip)
 * Ranged grab
 * Pivot Grab cancels most lag on the grab if you miss with it
 * Side-B has long range and much knockback
 * Can perform Magnet Pull, an effective horizontal recovery technique
 * PSI Magnet can absorb from any direction, not just the front.
 * PSI Magnet causes damage upon release of the special move button/stick
 * 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 a lot of range (2nd most powerful in the game).
 * Down smash is a great edgeguard. Also, if the opponent is behind Lucas and is facing his back, the third hit connects.
 * Decent dash speed.

Cons:

 * Both of his two aerial spikes are two of the hardest spike attacks to hit with in the fact that you can only spike an enemy downwards with a certain "spot" of the attacks(During the middle of his B-Air with his foot and on the final kick of his D-Air with his foot as well).
 * Slow Up Smash and Down Smash.
 * PK Thunder recovery can still be interrupted by some attacks.
 * Grab is laggy if it misses.
 * Though not too light, he still suffers easy KOs due to his attacks leaving him wide open.
 * Easy to combo.
 * Can be grabbed a numerous amount of times, due to his lag from breaking free of one grab and being grabbed again.
 * Tether Recovery is one of the shortest in the game and the Rope Snake doesn't allow you to hang very long before you auto snap to the edge.
 * Down-smash has minimal protection from behind, thus leaving Lucas very vulnerable.
 * Dash attack has much start-up time and little comboing ability.

Combos

 * Shorthopped Down-Air, Up tilt, Up Air.
 * (At low damages) Down-Grab, Up Tilt.

Tactics

 * Lucas's PK Thunder can be very useful to edgeguard and interrupt any character's recovery
 * Can Jab Lock with DownTilt.
 * Master PK Thunder! The ball at the begining of PK Thunder has great knockback. When edgeguarding, after hitting your opponent with the ball, quickly turn upwards or downwards and then go back to hit again. If you follow through with PK Thunder, it won't knockback and can bring the opponent back on stage. This psuedo Wall of Pain can KO opponents with very little damage.
 * Using PK Freeze makes opponents vulnerable, making it a good strategy to rack up damage on opponents while he/she is frozen.
 * Neutral Aerial is great for racking up damage
 * When PK Fire and a double jump is executed at the same time, Lucas gains a huge vertical boost. Afterwards, a PSI Magnet may be used for horizontal recovery, followed by a PK Thunder recovery if necessary. This tactic (called a Magnet Pull) takes a while to master, but it is valuable for recovery
 * Don't use PK Freeze while the opponent is trying to get back on stage. If you hit them, it'll send the opponent upwards and can end up aiding their recovery, however if your opponent is not good at releasing from the block of ice it could kill them, Also if charged all the way, and your opponent's % is really high it could KO them if they go off the top boundary
 * PSI Magnet has a damaging hitbox inside of it when the move is released, which can be powerful enough to KO at mid to high percents.
 * Has the ability to Magnet Pull which greatly increases horizontal recovery. First, double jump to a Wavebounced PK Fire then immediately use PSI Magnet.
 * Using a shorthopped N-air proves to be extremely useful.
 * After receving horizontal knockback, usage of PSI Magnet will negate the recoil, making it easier to recover.

Ground Attacks
Normal
 * Neutral Attack - 3 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 quickly waves sideways with his hand and creates a shock of PSI.
 * Strong Up - Lucas does a flipkick charged with PSI.
 * Strong Down - Lucas crouches and spins with his leg out.

Smash Other
 * Side Smash - Lucas swings his stick. Similar to Ness's Forward Smash, but faster and with less range and power. 15-21% damage.
 * Up Smash - Lucas releases a burst of PSI that erupts above his head, but also attacks slightly to his sides. The energy remains there for a long duration, and it has very high knockback. 21-29% damage.
 * Down Smash - Lucas points at the ground in front of him, creating a barrage of PSI at his feet. Hits up to 3 times. Damage depends on when you hit the enemy: it gets weaker on the last hit.
 * Ledge Attack -
 * 100% Ledge Attack -
 * Floor Attack -

Aerial Attacks

 * Neutral Aerial - Spins in a circle diagonally with PSI energy around him, making it a multi-hit attack similar to Mewtwo's Neutral Aerial. The last hit knocks back. Up to 12% 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, and the end of it is a powerful spike. 10% damage.
 * Up Aerial - Seems to teleport upwards a little and do a headbutt, similar to Ness's but charged with PSI energy. 13% damage.
 * Down Air - Lucas thrusts his feet downwards and creates several quick-flashing PSI energy. Multiple-hit attack. The fourth hit can spike. Up to 20% damage.

Grabs and Throws

 * Grab - Pulls out his Rope Snake which extends and grabs the opponent.
 * Pummel - Headbutts them.
 * Forward Throw - Psychokinetically tosses opponent ahead.
 * Back Throw - Psycokinetically blasts opponent back.
 * Up Throw - Psychokinetically tosses opponent straight up.
 * Down Throw - Psychokinetically slams opponent down, and shoots him or her with PSI attacks.

Role In the Subspace Emissary
In the Subspace Emissary, Lucas is seen walking alone in an abandoned zoo, until several Primid show up. Then, suddenly, the gigantic King P. 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 King P. Statue with his PK Flash, which reveals Pokey 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 Primid 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 detach 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

Taunts
Up: Trips and falls backwards.

Side: Rope Snake pops out, taps him on the shoulder, and seems to talk to Lucas while he shrugs.

Down: Puts two fingers to his head, creates shocks of PSI from his fingers, and pulls them down in front of himself.

On-Screen Appearance
Rides in on Mr. Saturn's coffee table.

Victory Pose
Victory Theme: Mother/Earthbound Zero Eight Melodies Theme
 * He bends down on one knee and shoots shocks of PSI from his fingers in the air in front of him.
 * He pulls forcefully on one of the Seven Needles (from Mother 3) before the large needle flies off-screen with a trail of sparkles while Lucas looks towards the screen.
 * With his back towards the screen, crouching, Lucas examines a large stick before turning his head around towards the screen, saying "Huh?".

Wii Remote Choice
Says "Hee-yah!".

Credits Music

 * Mother 3 Love Theme

Trivia

 * Lucas was supposed to have replaced Ness in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but because Mother 3 was delayed for the Nintendo 64, Ness made a return.
 * One of Lucas' costumes resembles his twin brother, Claus, sans hairstyle.
 * Lucas relies on his PSI powers far more than Ness, using them for two smashes (up and down), all specials, all aerials, all throws, his dash attack, and forward and up tilts.
 * Lucas is one of the few characters who speaks in the Subspace Emissary, which is by saying "PK Thunder!" when trying to free Pokemon Trainer and himself by destroying Galleom's arm.
 * Lucas is one of only three characters that has only appeared in one game (Mother 3) besides the Smash Bros. series. The others are the Ice Climbers and Sheik.
 * Lucas is more on speed, while Ness is more on power.
 * Lucas' name is actually supposed to be pronounced "Loo-kah", similar to his Japanese name.