SSBM/Luigi/Introduction

Introduction

Luigi ranks at 12th on the 2021 Melee tier list, right at the top of B- tier, placing him in the dead center. Luigi is notable for having a very long wavedash due to his low traction. Luigi also has some very good approach options; Luigi's wavedash alone is the longest in the game, which can take him roughly half across Final Destination and traversing the area in a speed only slightly slower than Captain Falcon's dash. Luigi also has access to strong KO moves, including a powerful forward smash and a very fast, powerful sex kick for his neutral air. Luigi's traction, however, acts as a double-edged sword; while it gives him an excellent wavedash, it also limits some of his approaches on the ground if he's not wavedashing. Additionally, Luigi's recovery is slow and predictable, with very few mix-ups available to him.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Wavedash: Luigi has the longest wavedash in the game and is able to cover a lot of ground quickly Combos: Overall strong combo game on most of the cast, including floaties Strong aerials: Has one of the best set of aerials, that are good for combos and KOs alike Combo breaker: Using his quick nAir can help you break out of combos if opponents over-extend and start your own combo instead Out of shield reversals: Luigi has access to a few quick options out of shield in the form of nAir and Up B, which can either combo or kill reckless opponents respectively

Disadvantage: In spite of solid aerials, Luigi is particularly susceptible to extended juggles due to his poor aerial drift and slow falling speed Recovery: Slow and predictable recovery that's easy to edgeguard. Sometimes has to rely on misfires to make it back Low traction: While his low traction allows for an excellent wavedash, it also makes his slide further when hit, which makes punishing things out of shield or crouch cancel harder than for other characters Limited approaches: Due to relying on wavedashes to approach, it can be hard for Luigi to get in on characters that are able to safely put out hitboxes within his wavedash range to snuff him out Projectile spam: Luigi is very susceptible to projectile spam like Falco's lasers and Sheik's needles. While a few of his moves have decent range, he lacks a good projectile of his own Vertical speed: On the ground Luigi has access to very fast movement and while he has a high full hop, it is hard for him to catch characters who can quickly traverse platforms and get from side to side above him