Captain Falcon (SSBM): Difference between revisions

|rankingPAL = 7

}}

'''Captain Falcon''' ({{ja|キャプテン・ファルコン|Kyaputen Farukon}}, ''Captain Falcon''), shortened as '''C. Falcon''' on the [[victory screen]] and [[character select screen]], is a [[starter character]] in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.

Captain Falcon's primary weakness, however, is his slow and predictable recovery. His main recovery move, [[Falcon Dive]], travels very slowly while providing almost no protection (only possessing a small grab hitbox in front of him), while also having high landing lag after touching the stage. This makes his recovery extremely easy to edgeguard or [[edgehog]], and if Falcon chooses to land on the stage, he can be freely punished upon landing, resulting in him repeatedly being knocked off the stage. As such, getting sent far off the level almost always results in a stock loss against skilled players. Falcon also has limited reach, as he lacks a [[projectile]], has a short grab range and very few [[disjoint]]ed hitboxes. His tilt and smash attacks, in general, are slow and unsafe on block, making him reliant on SHFFL'ed aerials to initiate openings. This makes Falcon's [[approach]] options rather predictable, and combined with his lack of reach, limits his effectiveness in the [[neutral game]], especially against characters like {{SSBM|Fox}}, who can overwhelm him with fast attacks. Falcon is also susceptible to [[chain grab]]s and combos due to his heavy weight and high falling speed, most notably against {{SSBM|Falco}}, his most difficult matchup, who can combo him extensively with [[shine]] and {{Mvsub|Falco|SSBM|down aerial}}. Overall, Captain Falcon has strong matchups against most of the cast, but struggles against many characters higher on the tier list.

*[[Dash attack]]:

**{{buff|Dash attack has a shorter total duration (FAF 41 → 38).}}

**{{nerf|Dash attack has a shorter duration (frames 7-10 (clean)/11-26 (late) → 7-9/10-16) and its total duration was not fully compensated giving it more ending lag.}}

**{{nerf|Dash attack deals less damage (12% (clean), 9% (late) → 10%/7%) and its clean hit's knockback was not fully compensated (0 (base), 100 (scaling) → 22/90).}}

***{{buff|However, this also significantly improves its combo potential at higher percents when combined with its decreased ending lag.}}

**{{nerf|Back aerial has more startup lag with a shorter duration (frames 7-18 → 10-18).}}

*[[Up aerial]]:

**{{buff|Up aerial has less ending lag (FAF 34 → 30).}}

|neutralcount=3

|neutralinf=y

|neutral1dmg=2%

|neutral2dmg=3%

|neutralinfdmg=1% (loop)

|neutraldesc=The first two hits are fast and somewhat short-ranged jabs, which are good for disrupting an enemy's approach. The third hit is the [[Gentleman]] knee. The jab combo finishes with a series of fast, weak punches.

|ftiltangles=3

|ftiltupdmg=12% (leg), 11% (body)

|ftiltdowndmg=10% (leg), 11% (body)

|ftiltdesc=Does a roundhouse kick that can be angled up or down. Fast with decent range. There is not a significant amount of combo options from this move because of its horizontal hit trajectory, low knockback (though it has good knockback for a forward tilt) and stun time, and wind-down lag. One can try to follow up with a u-air or a [[jump-canceled grab]], and even a dash-canceled d-tilt or [[Raptor Boost]], but they are not true combos and can be countered by every character. It may be a good idea to wavedash slightly forward to maintain pressure, and enter a defensive stance or used after a pivot as a surprise attack to keep enemies away. A forward tilt, angled upward, can stun enemies long enough from an u-throw/d-throw that it can lead to a [[Knee Smash]].

|utiltdmg=13%

|utiltdesc=Brings his leg up and brings it down in an axe-like fashion. It has incredible range, able to out range many of {{SSBM|Marth}}'s tilts. This move has good horizontal knockback and like his f-tilt, is difficult to combo from. Due to its low trajectory, one can often follow off the edge of a platform or stage with a falling n-air or non-sweetspotted fair edgeguard, but this is not a true combo. It may be a good idea to wavedash slightly forward to maintain pressure, and enter a defensive stance. Most players use this move as an edgeguard technique since the heel can extend below the platform.

|dtiltdmg=12%

|dtiltdesc=Does a quick sweep kick. This move is a great vertical launcher. Compared to Falcon's other launchers, it has relatively high ending lag. However, it can combo at most percentages into a SHFFLed n-air, which can lead into other combos. Fox and Falco can often be regrabbed from a down tilt at medium percentages, and their side special moves can be intercepted by Falcon's down tilt if they try to sweetspot the ledge. This move can also combo into a Knee Smash and u-air, depending on [[knockback]] and [[Directional influence|DI]].

|dashdmg=10% (clean), 7% (late)

|dashdesc=Shoulder tackles forward. Strongest when it comes out, weaker afterward. Fairly fast, good for knocking the foe away from the ledge to follow with an aerial attack or edgeguard, with proper mindgaming/prediction.

|fsmashangles=3

|fsmashupdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|21}}

|fsmashdowndmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|19}}

|fsmashdesc=Reels his elbow back and thrusts it forward, dealing powerful [[flame]] damage. Excellent knockback even when uncharged with good horizontal and vertical launching power, making it hard to DI. Somewhat fast as well. Uncharged usually KOs around 100%+. This attack is the 3rd most powerful forward smash in the game. This move can be angled, dealing more damage when angled up.

|usmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|8}}/{{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|14}} (hit 1), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|13}}/{{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|12}} (hit 2)

|usmashdesc=Performs a spinning double kick. A fast and powerful move, though is short ranged. The second hit sometimes has difficulty connecting, as with {{SSBM|Ganondorf}}'s. This is Captain Falcon's most powerful move damage-wise (when fully charged).

|dsmashdmg={{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|18}} (front), {{ChargedSmashDmgSSBM|16}} (back)

|dsmashdesc=Quickly kicks forward then backward. Small noticeable startup, but good speed and knockback.

|nairdmg=5-6% (hit 1), 7% (hit 2)

|nairdesc=His f-air from ''SSB64'', kicks forward twice. A good two-hit combo starter, though the second hit is difficult to land.

|fairdmg=18% (clean), 6%/3% (late NTSC/PAL)

|fairdesc=Sticks out his knee. If it lands during the initial frames, the victim is zapped and is sent in a difficult-to-DI-out-of [[semi-spike]] trajectory (32 degrees to be exact). If it lands any other time, the move is very weak with little knockback, though it can be chained into another Knee Smash. An extremely powerful move when it lands a clean hit; it is often regarded as one of the most powerful and useful moves in the game, and undoubtedly the most powerful forward aerial of ''Melee'' (though, in terms of knockback, its the third most powerful forward aerial in the game, after {{SSBM|Zelda}} and {{SSBM|Dr. Mario}}). This move is the usual end to most of Falcon's aerial combos, or even to use against grounded foes in an aerial assault. Easily KOs at damage percentages as low as 60% off the edge.

|bairdmg=14% (clean), 8% (late)

|bairdesc=Does a quick backhand punch from behind. Good power and speed, often used as an [[edgeguarding]] move. Weak if the opponent is hit late in the attack.

|uairdmg=13%/12% (clean), 12%/10% (late)

|uairdesc=Does a midair bicycle kick and sticks his feet out. Knockback direction depends on what angle the move hits the foe, though strong nonetheless. Also good for [[juggling]], and edgeguarding if hit near the end of the attack.

|dairdmg=16%

|grabdesc=

|pummeldmg=3%

|pummeldesc=Knees opponent in the torso region.

|fthrowdmg=5% (hit 1), 4% (throw)

|fthrowdesc=Punches foe forward.

|bthrowdmg=5% (hit 1), 4% (throw)

|bthrowdesc=Kicks foe behind. Knockback is usually hard to follow-up or combo with unless over a ledge.

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

|uthrowdesc=Punches foe upward. Can lead into various moves or tech chases at low percentages, as the opponent usually falls straight down. At higher percentages, aerial followups are easier to land.

|dthrowdmg=7%

|dthrowdesc=Crushes foe to the floor. Depending on opponent percentage, fall speed, and DI, can lead into aerial combos or tech chase regrabs. Can [[Chain grab|chaingrab]] more floaty characters (such as {{SSBM|Ganondorf}}).

|ssname=Raptor Boost

|ssdmg=7%

|usname=Falcon Dive

|usdmg=5% (grab), 12% (release), 6% (breakout)

|dsname=Falcon Kick

|dsdmg=15%/13%/9% (ground), 15%/13%/11% (air), 9% (landing)

}}

===[[Announcer]] call===

===[[List of taunts (SSBM)|Taunts]]===

==In [[competitive play]]==

===Tier placement and history===

Captain Falcon was considered a low tier character on the first [[tier list]]; inexperienced panelists felt he was inferior to his ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' counterpart, and failed to overcome the high [[technical skill]] demands required to play him. Captain Falcon then moved up to the middle tier, but was not recognized as being a solid character until one year after ''Melee'' began being played competitively. Dedicated Falcon mains such as {{Sm|Isai}} showed how powerful his [[combo]]ing abilities were, and how well he could KO out of a combo with the deadly [[Knee Smash]]. Falcon mains began placing very high in tournaments, inching him up the list into the high tier as old high tier characters, such as {{SSBM|Mario}} and {{SSBM|Luigi}}, began falling. Despite being ranked as a top tier character, Captain Falcon has always been seen as less viable compared to the other top tiers, as no player has been able to consistenly win majors with the character. In addition, his tournament representation took a hit in 2014 when {{Sm|Hax}}, the best Captain Falcon player in the world at the time, switched to playing Fox, believing that the latter character was more competitively viable and would help him reach the highest level of play. As a result, Captain Falcon fell to 8th on the 2015 tier list, ranked below the Ice Climbers, considered to be merely a high tier.

Despite Captain Falcon's recent successes, his difficult matchups against the space animals (particularly Falco) has left him short of being able to consistently win majors: Wizzrobe's run at Smash 'N' Splash 5 was aided by avoiding Mango, who he has never taken a set off of in tournament. However, his viability is seen as far more improved than in years past, and as a result he rose to the A tier and is ranked 6th on the thirteenth and current tier list.

====PAL viability====

Captain Falcon only received two changes in the transition to PAL, the more welcome of the two being that the Gentleman can now be done with just three A button presses, without any extra inputs or timing alterations required. The other nerfed his soft Knee Smash, making it hit only half as hard as the NTSC soft Knee Smash. The Gentleman is now much easier to perform and Captain Falcon's jab combo is overall a much more viable damage racking option than it is in NTSC. The nerf to the soft Knee Smash, however, prevents a guaranteed followup into another Knee Smash, slightly weakening Falcon's edgeguarding and combo potential, though this can be worked around by using up aerial instead. With almost all of the characters who would years later be above him in the tier list receiving nerfs (particularly Fox and Sheik), he fares better in those respective matchups, but due to considerably less representation of Captain Falcon in Europe, he remains at 7th place.

==In 1-P Mode==

*'''[[Event 5: Spare Change]]''': The player controls {{SSB|Ness}} and fights Captain Falcon in a coin battle on [[Onett]]. The player must collect 200 coins within 80 seconds in order to clear the event.

*'''[[Event 12: Seconds, Anyone?]]''': The player chooses any character and must defeat Captain Falcon within 7 seconds in a one-stock match on {{SSBM|Mute City}}. Both players start with 100% damage.

*'''[[Event 20: All-Star Match 2]]''': Captain Falcon is the fourth opponent to be fought in this series of staged battles. The player battles him on {{SSBM|Mute City}}, which will transition to the next stage if Captain Falcon gets defeated. With a timer of four minutes, the player must defeat him along with Samus, {{SSBM|Link}}, {{SSBM|Zelda}}, and {{SSBM|Fox}}.

*'''[[Event 33: Lethal Marathon]]''': As Captain Falcon, the player must race to the finish of F-Zero Grand Prix similar to Adventure Mode. However, the gameplay is sped up and the F-Zero racers can deliver almost a [[one-hit KO]].

<center>

<gallery>

RoyAdventureMode.jpg|Posing with {{SSBM|Roy}} on [[Great Bay]].

SamusAllStarMode.jpg|Posing with {{SSBM|Samus}} on [[Yoshi's Story]].

</gallery>

</center>

**In the Japanese version of ''Melee'', the text instead reads "HELL HAWK".

*Captain Falcon is one of the two characters who was [[unlockable character|unlockable]] in ''Smash 64'' that became a [[starter character|starter]] in ''Melee'', the other being {{SSBM|Ness}}.

*{{SSBM|Mr. Game & Watch}}, Captain Falcon and {{SSBM|Young Link}} are the only characters in ''Melee'' that don't finish their defeat noises upon being KO'd horizontally or falling.

*Captain Falcon's down air attack is the only move in ''Melee'' that has both a spiked hitbox and a meteor smash hitbox.

==External links==

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpAESH_2YOw Captain Falcon combo video]

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxHaH2XlwrY "One Hundred Billion Knees"]