Falco (SSBM)

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This article is about Falco's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee. For other uses, see Falco Lombardi. Also, for information about the fighter of whom Falco is a clone , see Fox (SSBM).

Falco
Falco Lombardi
Universe	Star Fox
Appears in	SSBM SSBB
Availability	Unlockable
Tier	Top (4)

Falco is a character in Super Smash Bros. Melee who is unlocked by beating the 100-Man Melee mode with any character. He can also be unlocked by playing 300 vs. matches. He is considered a clone of Fox. Top Falco players are notorious for their high levels of technical ability. He ranks 4th on the current SSBM Tier List.

Special Moves

Falco's special moves

Neutral special	Blaster
Side special	Falco Phantasm
Up special	Fire Bird
Down special	Reflector
Final Smash	—	Landmaster		Team Star Fox

Taunt

Falco scoffs while spinning into a pose.

Smash Taunt: Falco can do a Star Fox conversation that can only be used on Corneria or Venom by quickly tapping Down on the Control pad. This taunt can only be used once per match.

Attributes

Falco's play style is said to be very similar to Fox's in Super Smash Bros. He is also known to have the second fastest normal falling speed and the fastest fast falling speed. This means he has resistance to juggling, is hard to hit in the air, and can perform SHFFLs well. On the downside, his recovery is shortened, and he is vulnerable to combos and chaingrabs that work on fast-fallers. Falco's excellent short hop makes him very good at combos and short hop lasers. His short hop lasers prevent most characters from approaching and can increase pressure on the opponent. His reflector not only reflects projectiles, but can also be used for combo opportunities (See shine). Falco also has the highest initial jump, the ability to wall jump, and a very effective spike.

Like Fox, Falco is light weight and has a very poor recovery. Not only does he have the aforementioned fast-falling problem, but also the slowest air speed (along with Fox). Falco's up special (Fire Bird) is very easy to edge-guard, has a lot of start-up lag, and does not go as far as Fox's up special. His side special move (Falco Phantasm) has a long recovery time and is difficult to shorten consistently.

Differences with Fox

• Falco has a stronger forward A than Fox but a weaker up A than Fox
• Falco's Down Tilt is stronger than Fox's Down Tilt
• Falco's blaster stuns people and is stronger than Fox's blaster but Falco's blaster is slower (Falco's blaster is the same as Fox's blaster in the original SSB game)
• Falco's dair does a spike, Fox's dair does about 10 little hits and doesn't spike
• Falco's back throw doesn't send people that far as well as Fox's back throw but Falco can chain throw easier
• Falco's forward B is quicker and can spike while Fox's forward B is slower and hits people upward
• Falco's up B is shorter than Fox's up B
• Falco's shine sends people up and can be easier to infinite shine while Fox's shine sends people left-down or right-down, can spike, and can do wall shine

Techniques

SHL/B

SHL/B stands for "Short-Hop Laser/Blaster" and is very disruptive to opponents. In order to do a SHL/B, one must short-hop, fast-fall, and shoot a laser. When fast-falling correctly, there is no lag and the player is free to move about while shooting. A player can send flurries of SHL/Bs while approaching an opponent. This can somewhat substitute Falco's average speed dash, as it is a very fast and effective way to move around due to his fast jump and fall. SHL/B is considered to be the best approach tactic in the game and one of the most annoying moves in the game. It is imperative that Falco players learn to SHL/B since it is Falco's main method of opening up opponents' defenses.

Pillaring

See pillaring

Waveshining

See Waveshine

Offense

Falco's ADA (also known as the Quailbird) is one of the best Spikes in the game, and can usually kill at around 50%. His Up Tilt can be used to start combos. His Down Tilt can usually kill at high percentages. His Fsmash is fast, comboable into from a laser and kills at pretty low percentages. His ABA is also considered a Sex Kick.

A basic combo of Falco's is grabbing the opponent, throwing them down, IMMEDIATELY shining them and chasing them upward for a spike. You can do this several times to build up damage, forcing them near the edge, and spiking them a final time. This combo is a guaranteed kill around 100% or 110%. It works on nearly every character except other space animals (although with C. Falcon it is imperative to SHL or SHFFL the down aerial), but does not work as well on floaters or lightweights.

Like Fox, Falco can down throw an opponent at the very edge of a stage which can't normally be passed through, and the lasers from the throw send the opponent down extremely quickly. It is almost impossible to meteor cancel it or recover from it at any percent, due to the speed. This tactic will only work if Falco is facing inward when he is on the edge.

Costume Gallery

File:Alt-falco.jpg

Falco's changeable clothing in SSBM