Falcon Dive

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The Falcon Dive in Super Smash Bros.

Falcon Dive is Captain Falcon's Up Special Move. In it, contrary to the name, Falcon does a leap in the air, fist extended while glowing green. If Captain Falcon catches the foe while still ascending, he'll grab the foe and launch off with a cry of "Yes!". The attack cause an explosion and burns the opponent after Captain Falcon launches. If a hit is scored, the attack can be used again.

Falcon Dive may work as a Meteor Smash if used on an opponent near the bottom of a solid ledge, this is called a stage spike.

Appearances

Super Smash Bros.

In Super Smash Bros., this move was Falcon's main recovery move, other than the Falcon Punch angled upwards (The F.P. gave him a slight vertical and horizontal boost). However, it was extremely easy to edgehog due to the fact that it could not grab foes hanging onto a ledge, thus making recovering with Falcon in some cases near impossible.

When the move connected with foes, it will strongly launch them at a 45° angle horizontally and vertically, thus making it hard to DI the knockback. As with all of Falcon's special moves, it had 2-D rendered sprites as special effects. When contact is successful, it will restore a foe's midair jump and Falcon will be not be helpless, free to use the move again.

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Not much has changed since it's SSB incarnation aside from a better voice quality and better special effects. Falcon Dive seems somewhat weaker, but landing the move appears to be easier, as various combos can lead into this move, usually a Raptor Boost. As with SSB, contact will allow the foe to reuse a midair jump and give Captain Falcon the ability to use the move once more. However, a Falcon Kick will restore Cap. Falcon's midair jump, so it is advised to use it and the Dive to safely return to the stage.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl

The Falcon Dive in Brawl.

In Brawl, the move, as with most of Falcon's moves, is at it's weakest due to his severe nerf from Melee to Brawl. It does not have as much stun as before, and it's KO power was lowered (but still possible around above high percents). Timing and landing the move seems to be improved due to the floatiness and the slower falling speed of characters in Brawl.

A number of things were changed from it's SSBM function to SSBB's. Raptor Boost's base knockback no longer allows Falcon to combo into it as effectively as before, and a majority of Falcon's remaining combos into the Dive are much more predictable and DI-able. It no longer restores a foe's midair jump, though Falcon can still use the move afterwards. this move cannot break Smash Balls but it is capable of destroying targets in Target Smash!! when the body comes in contact with the target.

Perhaps the biggest change is the ability to finally grab and effectively Stage Spike foes that hang on the ledge much more efficiently; Falcon Dive will grab foes hanging onto the ledge and function as it normally would airborne, making Captain Falcon much harder to edgehog than ever before. It is excellent at punishing foes who camp on ledges. This is considered one of Capt. Falcon's few buffs form Melee to Brawl.

Differences with Dark Dive

The attack goes higher than Ganondorf's Dark Dive, but falls faster and is harder to sweetspot with. It can grab a ledge backwards at the peak height. In the downside, Falcon Dive's slow and predictable nature makes it fairly easy to edgeguard, and as with Ganondorf's moves when compared to Falcon's, it is weaker than the Dark Dive.

Trivia

• The way Captain Falcon yells "Yes!" during a successful connect has also become somewhat a internet meme, in similar way to his Falcon Punch. The amount of enthusiasm Falcon uses when he shouts it makes it sound like "YESH!", also memetic.