If you feel I missed anything, please add to this list.
- Has no damage cap on his Aura
This is completely false. Lucario's aura caps at 170%, at which point he is exactly 2.02x as strong as he was at 0% (damage-output wise). You can find the formula here.
- Range increases with Aura
Lucario's attacks all have exactly the same range at all % (aside from Aura Sphere's size). Lucario's Fsmash at 0% will not be any smaller than his Fsmash at 120%.
- Priority on "Aura Bursts" increases with Aura
Alright, here's something you non-Luc mains probably didn't know/notice before reading this topic. Lucario has two parts to every A-attack that he has (aside from Dash Attack, so just exclude that move for this section): the "Aura Burst" and the body-hitbox on his paws/body. Lucario's "aura bursts" on his attacks will never clank with anything. They have trandenscendal priority, just like Meta Knight's sword slashes. However, unlike Meta Knight's sword slashes, Lucario's aura-based attacks generally have considerably less range, and because of this, you probably never noticed this ability of Lucario's since most disjointed hitboxes that matter usually outrange Lucario's Aura anyways (other than Luc's Fsmash, Ftilt, and Usmash). Now, here's the cool part that makes Lucario's hitboxes completely different from anyone else: If something gets past the first hitbox (The aura burst), it will usually clank with the body hit/hurtbox! This is why Lucario can bat away projectiles with his attacks, while Meta Knight cannot. Since the body hitbox also increases damage output with the aura burst, its priority technically increases with damage, which means it clanks with more stuff as damage increases! However, don't be fooled. This small priority increase is NOT enough to protect you. Don't ever rely on this small boost to your "priority." Chances are, if you can't beat out a move at 0%, you still won't be able to beat it out at 170%.
- Lucario's recovery sucks and is extremely easy to gimp.
Here's a biggie. When people first look at Lucario's moveset, one of the first things they notice is that Lucario's Extremespeed does no damage. Immediately, they'll then assume that Lucario's recovery sucks and that he has one of the worst recoveries in the game. This is just plain untrue. Lucario's recovery is actually above average. His amazing floatiness allows him to simply drift back to the stage after most hard hits, and if need be, he can use Fair, Dair (as both a stall and/or an attack), Airdodge, Double Team if you're feeling lucky, or Aura Sphere to ward off would-be edgeguarders. If need be, he also has a very nice double jump to further take advantage of his floatiness. ExtremeSpeed itself isn't even all that bad of a recovery move when compared to others in terms of effectiveness. Since edgehogging ignores any attack frames that most recovery moves can dish out, it doesn't even matter as much against most characters as people think it should. ExtremeSpeed gives incredible vertical and horizontal distance, combined with Lucario's naturally amazingly large ledgesnap range. It can also be curved to avoid certain would-be edgeguarders, like Mario, and to allow incredible recoveries from awkward angles and under stages that other characters can only dream about achieving. Not only that, but Lucario can even Wall Cling directly out of Extremespeed to take full advantage of his immense wall jump (best one in the game by far. You can almost clear the rock cliff in Pokemon Stadium from a short hop wall jump to put it into perspective). Most legal stages have walls to take advantage from, and Lucario can even wall cling to many ledges themselves while they're being edgehogged if the Lucario has perfect aim! With all these options, gimping a Lucario is 10% skill and 90% the Lucario screwing up.
- Double Team is the best counter attack in the game.
Double Team is slow to come out for a counter, has very few activation frames, and people can actually shield the retaliatory strike, which is the main reason that good Lucarios rarely if ever use the move.
- Lucario's Roll is top tier and should be used constantly, especially as a faster way to get around.
Lucario's roll is by far the longest and possibly the quickest, and spamming it is actually faster than running if I recall right, however it should not be used often, and should almost NEVER be used as an approach unless you are absolutely sure you will not be punished. Rolling has a set distance, which makes it very punishable. You're also vulnerable before and after a roll. Rolling away from your opponent is a good idea at close quarters after a clank due to Lucario's jab being a bit slower than everyone else's, and rolling away can be good spacing in some circumstances. Rolling into your opponent is just plain punishable (most of the time) and can mean death at stupidly low % if predicted by a character with a power attack, like Ike, Snake, DK, or even Captain Falcon. In general though, if you still need to read these guides for help using Lucario, you should probably stay away from Luc's rolls.
- Lucario is a lightweight to vertical kills/Lucario is a heavyweight
The first is just plain a common misconception, and the latter was caused by the Prima guide. Lucario is ever-so-slightly above average when it comes to surviving vertical kills, and is slightly above average in horizontal resistance.
- Usmash's hitbox can be explained by logic
Completely and utterly false. There is no explanation to Lucario's Usmash's hitbox. It is one of the countless mysteries of the world.
- Azen/Lee is the only reason that Lucario's so high on the tier list.
Lucario is a good character. Get over it. As an extremely effective defensive (or offensive if you're good enough/Azen), Lucario deserves his tier placing. While Azen definitely brought attention to Lucario, stating that the only/a huge part of the reason that Lucario is so high on the tier list is due to his efforts alone an ignorant and narrow-minded assumption. Lucario's basic abilities are exceptional in their own right, and if Azen did not bring attention to the character, either someone else would've, or someone else would've simply taken a good look at Lucario and judged him accordingly on theory, another thing that Lucario performs quite fine in. Although there is no way to truly know whether Lucario would have his current placing on the tier list, or whether he would be under Olimar if Azen had not chosen him, there are still many irrefutable points on account of his basic statistics that should earn him a high-tier spot even without Azen as a flagship player. With great disjointed range on his attacks, his special aura/body hitbox priority system, absolutely superb destructive power at high %s, definitely one of the most versatile, overall best projectiles in the game, an overall effective recovery, heavenly aerials that provide true aerial superiority in all but a handful of battles, and Aura modifiers to make him an absolute monster of a survivalist, while at the same time granting true "second chances," taking even the most hopeless, desparate, seemingly irreversable battles and through the symbiotic unity of Player and Lucario, allowing the pair to outright defy reality itself and strike back with inconcievable force to wrest victory from the terrifying, insolent jaws of defeat!
- Sandbagging at low % is a good idea.
Do not sandbag at low % with Lucario. It is just a waste of time and will put you at a serious disadvantage later on in the match, as you could be racking on damage at this point. Play to win regardless of your standing in the match.
- Underestimating a Lucario until he reaches the 100% point
This is something I've seen in quite a few matchup threads. They think that they can play however they want with no problems until Lucario reaches that "magic number," which is when they believe they should start playing seriously. Lucario at low % racks damage FAST with incredible combos that can come out of nowhere. Chances are, you'll both be nearing kill % at relatively the same pace, even though the Lucaro probably won't be able to outright kill you yet, which is probably the reason for this misconception. Lucario at low % when on the same stock his opponent cannot kill very easily, but do not simply write him off like that. Lucario's power grows fast, and at around 30-50%, he should be able to kill you at a reasonable percent. Even earlier if he's behind a stock, as he gets a default boost to his damage output and kill power to help him along. However, he can still knock you offstage and then finish you off with an offstage kill with Bair, Dair, or Aura Sphere at a regular kill % when he's very low, or he could simply gimp due to his low knockback attacks. So remember that even if you take him out early, he's still in this.
- Underestimating a Lucario in any situation.
We've been saying this from the very release of Brawl: Lucario is the King of Comebacks. No matter how far behind you are in the match, the game is never over until the announcer screams "GAME!" This goes for any character, but Lucario is especially rewarded for this mentality. Lucario gets an aura boost for each stock he gets behind, as well as his normal aura boost. If you give Lucario half a chance, I don't care if you're up 2 stocks and he's at 127%, Lucario can and WILL smash your face in and take you down. Lucario lives in the clutch. His bed lays on the line between victory and defeat. He eats risk and reward for breakfast. He personifies "not giving up," and he will destroy you in battle if you ever forget these words.
