Falco (SSBM): Difference between revisions

'''Falco''' ({{ja|ファルコ|Faruko}}, ''Falco'') is an [[unlockable character]] character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''. He is a clone of {{SSBM|Fox}}, with many of the same moves. However, some of his moves have different properties, making their playstyles somewhat different.

Falco is currently ranked 4th on the ''Melee'' tier list, being the highest ranked clone character as well as his best placement in the series marginally. Falco has the most versatile combo game in ''Melee,'' as he possesses many combo starters and the options to extend them, most notably a frame 1 launcher in his [[shine]] and a frame 5 [[down aerial]] that spikes powerfully. These tools allow him to easily chain together highly damaging strings that are hard to [[DI]] out of. He also possesses very effective edgeguarding options, such as his back air, forward and down smashes, and his aforementioned down air. Falco also has one of the best neutral game options among the entire cast with his {{b|Blaster|Falco}}, as it allows him to pressure from afar and approach noncommittally.

==How to unlock==

When being fought, Falco will appear on {{SSBM|Battlefield}}, with the music from [[Corneria]] playing.

===Attributes===

*{{buff|Falco [[jump]]s dramatically higher (31.28 → 51.5) than Fox, going from the 8th lowest out of 26 characters to the highest by far.}}

**{{change|Falco's [[shorthop]] is also higher (10.65 → 11.58) than Fox.}}

*[[Down tilt]]:

**{{buff|Falco's down tilt deals more damage (10% → 13%), making it much stronger than Fox's and a viable KO move at high percents.}}

*[[Forward smash]]:

**{{buff|Falco's forward smash deals more damage (15%/12% → 17%/14%) than Fox's, and overall has more knockback (10 base/105 scaling → 40/90), making it stronger.}}

|neutralinf=y

|neutralcount=2

|neutral1dmg=4%

|neutral2dmg=4%

|neutralinfdmg=1% (loop)

|neutraldesc=Two quick jabs, which can easily be [[jab cancel]]ed into each other or other moves. The second jab moves Falco slightly forward and is followed by a flurry of fast kicks.

|ftiltdmg=9%

|ftiltdesc=Sticks his foot out to the side. Fast, and has impressive range for a tilt. Can [[gimp]] opponents, though has limited use outside this. This move can be aimed up or down.

|utiltdmg=9%

|utiltdesc=Flips his leg behind him. Short range, but very fast, and has incredible combo ability, being a great move that can quickly knock opponents into the air and follow up with aerials or a Shine. Considered one of the best up tilts in the game, after Marth, due to said combo ability.

|dtiltdmg=13%

|dtiltdesc=Swipes his tail in front of him. Although it has somewhat short range (shorter behind him than in the front), it has unusually high damage and knockback for a tilt. It knocks opponents straight upwards. It can KO some characters at as low as 90% if fresh. The strongest down tilt in the game along with Mr. Game & Watch.

|dashdmg=9% (clean), 6% (late)

|dashdesc=Runs forward and sticks his leg out. Sends opponents upwards.

|fsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|17}} (clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|14}} (late)

|fsmashdesc=Flips his body in front and kicks in front of him. Similar to [[Fox (SSBM)|Fox]]'s forward smash, but much stronger, usually KOing at around 90-110%. A good option against an opponent who is trying to get on the ledge, especially if they are above 100% damage. Considered to be one of the best forward smashes in the game, after Marth.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|14}} (clean), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|12}} (late)

|usmashdesc=Does a bicycle kick. It is drastically weaker than Fox's up smash, but is a better juggler. However, there are usually better options available for knocking opponents into the air (like an up tilt or a Shine). It can also hit behind Falco, albeit with significantly lower knockback. Falco's head is intangible during the early part of the animation.

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|16}} (feet), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|13}} (legs)

|dsmashdesc=Does a quick split. High KO power, and with high knockback and [[semi-spike]] properties, it is an excellent edgeguarder, though it has rather short range. Both of Falco's legs are intangible whenever he starts up the move, even while he's charging, all the way until the hitboxes come out.

|nairdmg=12% (clean), 9% (late)

|nairdesc=A simple [[sex kick]]. Has high knockback when it first comes out, and it comes out quickly, good in a short hop. Not as good as Fox's due to the way shine works but still an amazing move.

|fairdmg=9% (hit 1), 8% (hit 2), 7% (hit 3), 5% (hit 4), 3% (hit 5)

|fairdesc=Kicks forward five times. The move has high duration due to the number of kicks, and it is very difficult to connect all the hits. It also gives Falco quite a short time to react with another jump or recovery. Does incredible damage if all hits connect, much more than Fox's.

|bairdmg=15% (clean right leg), 9% (clean left leg, late)

|bairdesc=Does a quick no-look kick backwards while recovering in a turn, with sex kick properties. Good KO power, and great for [[edgeguarding]]. Has more range than Fox's but riskier to use offstage due to his faster falling speed and worse recovery, still one of the best back airs in the game.

|uairdmg=6% (hit 1), 10% (hit 2)

|uairdesc=Whips his tail up and kicks immediately after. Can deal up to 15% damage if both hits connect. Weaker than Fox's up air, but still a powerful KO move (especially on floaties) and will kill near the top blast zone under 100%.

|dairdmg=12% (clean), 9% (late)

|dairdesc=Spins around in place at a downwards angle while extending one foot. An extremely strong [[spike]] that can set up and follow out of Shine combos and KO characters quickly and efficiently. However, it is of extreme risk to use offstage, due to Falco's poor vertical recovery. Regardless, it is an excellent KO move and is among the most feared attacks in the game, with no [[sourspot]] and the hitbox lasting all of the move (however, in the PAL version of the game, the second half of the move produces weak horizontal knockback). Widely considered to be the best down air in the game due to its quick speed, spike properties, approaching ability, combo ability, amazing power, and good range.

|grabdesc=Ranked as tenth largest grab range in the game.

|pummeldmg=3%

|pummeldesc=Knees opponent.

|fthrowdmg=4% (hit 1), 3% (throw)

|fthrowdesc=Punches opponent. Can force opponents offstage for edgeguarding, but other than that, it doesn't have many comboing follow-ups. Can chaingrab floaty characters at low percentages.

|bthrowdmg=2% (throw), 2% (shots)

|bthrowdesc=Throws opponent backwards, then fires three shots from his Blaster. Can force opponents offstage for edgeguarding, but other than that, not too useful. It is possible to [[tech-chase]] an opponent with this move, depending on their DI.

|uthrowdmg=2% (throw), 2% (shots)

|uthrowdesc=Tosses opponent upwards, then fires three shots from his Blaster. Excellent for setting up an aerial combo (most particularly an up aerial, back aerial or neutral aerial), but can be DI'd out of at higher percentages.

|dthrowdmg=1% (shots), 1% (throw)

|dthrowdesc=Slams opponent onto the floor, then shoots them four times with his Blaster. If the player can predict the opponent's reaction, an up tilt is possible. This move can also set up a Shine combo. However, the move is relatively easy to tech out of. Like Fox's down throw, it [[meteor smash]]es over the ledge if Falco grabs the opponent at the very edge of the platform, however, it is much weaker. This throw, unlike Fox's, has the strange ability to chain throw extremely light characters, such as {{SSBM|Pichu}} and {{SSBM|Mr. Game & Watch}}.

|dsdmg=8% (startup), 1.5x damage for reflected projectiles

|dsdesc=Falco's Reflector (informally referred to as the Shine) works just like Fox's, reflecting any projectiles that hit it right back at the opponent who fired them for more damage and knockback. Unlike Fox's Shine, it doesn't send the opponent on a semi-spike trajectory; rather, it knocks them straight upwards. This makes the move very useful for knocking opponents into the air and starting aerial combos, on par with the up tilt. Can be jump cancelled, to avoid the ending lag, which can lead to double or multi-shines, as well as pillaring combos. This allows Falco to use it repeatedly to wear down shields, continue aerial combos or save a teammate in doubles. Considered to be one of the best moves in the game and the best down special along with Fox due to its great combo ability along with down air.

}}

===[[Taunt]]===

===[[Idle pose]]s===

|victory-desc=A rendition of a portion of the main theme of ''Star Fox 64''.

|desc-1=Does a bunch of kicks and says "Mission Complete!"

:*If the language is set to Japanese and Falco wins against {{SSBM|Fox}}, he may say "{{ja|お前の腕前ってのは、その程度か？|Omae no udemae tte no wa, sono teido ka?}}", which roughly translates to "Is that all you've got?"

|desc-3=Crossing his arms, he looks upward and says "Mission Complete!"; {{ja|俺の獲物に手を出すな！|Ore no emono ni te wo dasu na!}} which translates to "Get your hands off my prey!". This quote would later be translated into English for ''Brawl'' and ''SSB4''.

''See also: [[:Category:Falco players (SSBM)]]''

*{{Sm|Bombsoldier|Japan}} - One of the most influential Falcos of all time, known for his match against {{Sm|Ken}} at the [[Jack Garden Tournament]]. He changed the playstyle of top-level Falcos, pioneering the very beginnings of his punish game by discovering pillar combos.

===Tier placement and history===

==Trivia==

*Falco is the only character who isn't first on his respective tier list that has no disadvantageous matchups.

*''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' is the only game where Falco is not fought on one of his home stages when being unlocked; instead he is fought in {{SSBM|Battlefield}}.

==References==

{{reflist}}

{{SSBMCharacters}}