As Jake the Dog dashes and stretches his way across the MultiVersus arena, most opponents underestimate his strengths. While Jake lacks the overt power of other bruisers like Iron Giant or Taz, his flexibility enables combos and misdirection even expert players fail to anticipate. This guide will unpack advanced techniques to transform novice Jake players into elite combo specialists.
Who is Jake the Dog?
Hailing from the whimsical Land of Ooo, Jake the Dog thrives on adventure alongside his best friend Finn. With stretchy magic powers enabling outrageous shape-shifting, Jake can morph into almost anything his imagination conjures up. Giant monsters, buildings, vehicles – Jake‘s malleable form lets him tackle obstacles in unconventional ways.
This gives Jake unique advantages in MultiVersus combat compared to traditional fighters. His attacks boast extra range and width, catching opponents off-guard. Transformations like skateboards and helicopters add quirky multi-hit capabilities as well. While Jake doesn‘t hit as hard as the likes of Iron Giant or Superman, his flexibility more than compensates in the hands of a player with combo mastery.
Anatomy of Jake‘s Moveset
To grasp Jake‘s combo potential, understanding the properties of his diverse moveset is vital:
Normals
Strong Attacks
- Up Strong – Quick 11 damage overhead swing with Jake‘s signature golden axe or spiked mace. Medium vertical knockback.
- Side Strong – A basic stretchy punch covering impressive horizontal range. 8 damage with low base knockback. Excellent combo starter.
- Down Strong – Jake transforms into a skateboard or breakdances with overhead kicks. Fast startup with two multi-hit attacks.
Aerials
- Neutral Air – Jake becomes a spinning helicopter with limbs outstretched. The best combo extender in his arsenal, with massive hit stun and low knockback growth across a wide radius.
- Forward Air – Another horizontal stretch punch with superior speed to Side Strong. Key combo linker dealing 6 damage.
- Back Air – Jake backflips and kicks behind himself. High knockback and landing lag limit combo potential.
- Up Air – An aerial variant of Jake‘s axe/mace overhead swing with a sweetspot on his fists. Can spike airborne opponents downwards at high damages.
- Down Air – Transforming into a diving skateboard, Jake pounds airborne enemies downwards with meteor smash properties. High risk, but opens devastating spike combo routes.
Specials
- Neutral Special – Belly Bump – Jake inflates his stomach and launches forwards like a battering ram. Decent horizontal range and priority.
- Side Special – Giddy Up! – Jake rides a stretchy horse into opponents like a motorcycle. Good mobility and combo starter.
- Up Special – Stretchin‘ Out – Jake‘s limbs expand vertically with attached fists. Launches aerial foes upwards for juggle setups.
- Down Special – That‘s Heavy, Dude! – After briefly morphing into an anvil, Jake smashes down with both fists. Highest power of his specials with meteor properties.
Now that we‘ve broken down Jake‘s moveset foundation, we can explore his most potent combo routes.
Jake‘s Most Damaging Combos
While Jake has simple strings like Nair > Dair to rack up damage, truly mastering his combo game requires deep matchup knowledge and quick reactions. Here are some of his most devastating sequences when executed with precision:
Neutral Air Chains
- As Jake‘s best combo extender, neutral air can be chained into itself repeatedly depending on the opponent‘s damage and directional momentum. The most damaging variants involve alternating rising and falling neutral airs to juggle the victim vertically or edgeguard horizontally.
{{< figure src="images/jake-nair-combo.gif" caption="Jake PCI chaining multiple neutral airs" >}}
- If executed perfectly, Jake can land up to seven neutral airs in sequence depending on weight and fall speed. This requires manipulating momentum with platforms and careful spacing.
Down Air Spike Setups
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Down Air requires very precise timing, but opens devastating combo branches across Jake‘s whole kit. Sweetspotting with the skateboard‘s wheels spikes aerial foes downwards with high force and extended hit stun.
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Optimally timed Down Airs can chain into additional attacks like Up Tilt, Forward Air, Neutral Air, and more depending on fall speed.
{{< figure src="images/jake-dair-combo.gif" caption="Down Air opening a spike combo on Velma">}}
- These routes can deal over 30% damage if the initial Down Air spike is landed cleanly. Timing this meteor smash takes considerable practice, however.
Maximum Damage Route
- By chaining together his most powerful attacks, Jake can unleash his highest damage sequence:
Side Special > Down Air > Neutral Air > Up Air > Up Special > Forward Air
{{< figure src="images/jake-max-damage.gif" caption="Jake‘s most damaging theoretical combo route">}}
- If executed perfectly, this demanding sequence totals over 50% damage – deadly off a single opening!
This route sees Jake vaulting opponents vertically with the mounted Side Special, spiking them downwards into an aerial juggle, and finally extending his limbs with Up Special to launch them off the top for a lethal blast zone finish.
Advanced Strategies for Combo Mastery
While combo routes form Jake‘s foundation, truly mastering his aerial movement unlocks his full potential. Consider the following tips:
Direct Aerial Drift – Using platforms to steer air momentum mid-combo opens new linkage opportunities. Falling through soft platforms while chaining attacks lets Jake pursue opposing vectoring creatively.
Fast Fall Chaining – By inputting a fast fall immediately after certain attacks, Jake can manipulate his launch trajectory to land previously impossible sequential hits. This does require strict timing, as missing the cancel window causes helplessness.
DI Reads – Reading vector influence and reacting accordingly with tilted combo branches separates average Jakes from experts. Don‘t overcommit to simple flowcharts. React organically to the opponent‘s survival DI with positioned follow-ups.
Perk Support – Boosting Jake‘s advantage state with perks like Collateral Damage, Make it Rain Dog!, and ‘That‘s Flammable Doc! enhances combo lethality significantly. Perk choice should adapt to current opponent matchups.
With this advanced insight into Jake‘s toolbox, any player can transform into a top tier threat. What makes Jake truly special is his flexibility – master his malleable moveset, and no opponent is safe from your combos!
