Falco (SSB4): Difference between revisions

Falco has received a mix of buffs and nerfs in the transition from ''Brawl'' to ''SSB4''. Even though the former are technically of greater quantity than the latter, he is considered to be significantly nerfed overall, due to his neutral game being drastically weakened and the nerfs he received are far more severe than the buffs he received.

Falco's power has been improved significantly, removing his main weakness from ''Brawl''. His down tilt has regained its lost power from ''Melee'' and his smash attacks are stronger. His forward aerial is stronger and unaffected by [[SDI]], his up aerial has consistent power and more vertical knockback, and his back aerial while having a shorter duration and less range around him has much more power, to the point of being the eighth strongest overall in the game while also being the fastest in the game. In addition, his grab game has seen some improvements, with up throw having comboing abilities, and back throw now having KO power. His recovery has also been noticeably buffed. While Falco Phantasm can no longer be shortened and its hitbox was noticed nerfed, it no longer puts Falco in [[helpless]] state, allowing Fire Bird to be used immediately after, with the latter also granting more distance than before. Due to being slow, both moves also benefit a lot from the removal of [[edge-hogging]].

However, the nerfs Falco received created new weaknesses that were harsh enough to cripple his neutral game. The removal of DACUS (and subsequently the Gatling Combo) prevents his newly buffed up smash from being used as an approach option or a combo finisher. The removal of chain grabbing is a double-edged sword for Falco. While he is no longer adversely affected by it, his ability to easily rack up large amounts of damage with his down throw is no longer present. His down throw was also directly nerfed as it deals less damage and has higher knockback hindering its combo potential. Down aerial, a staple in ''Melee'' and ''Brawl'', has been drastically slowed down having immensely increased startup lag and no longer [[auto-canceling]] in a short hop. These changes hinder down aerial so much to the point where it is now useless outside of [[edgeguarding]] and even then, down aerial has reduced knockback. Falco Phantasm has increased startup lag, travels more slowly and its hitbox no longer lasts for its entire duration moving forwards greatly hindering its use on stage and it can no longer be shortened hindering its mixup potential. Finally, his Blaster, formerly one of the most reliable tools for approaching and pressuring, is slower and incapable of autocancelling. These changes make Falco much less of a threat in the neutral game, as it is considerably harder for him to put his high power to good use.  

Overall, most of Falco's buffs are not highly beneficial while the nerfs he received practically removed some of his previous best tools. The general changes to the mechanics also did not help him as much as some other characters while taking away a few of his key traits. Due to these nerfs, Falco is considered to be one of the characters to get nerfed the most severely in the initial transition from ''Brawl'' to ''Smash 4'', alongside {{SSB4|Meta Knight}}, {{SSB4|Marth}}, {{SSB4|King Dedede}}, {{SSB4|Jigglypuff}} and {{SSB4|Olimar}}. His changes overall has resulted in many players having fairly poor opinions about him and he has seen far less success in tournamnets.

*{{buff|Falco's additional [[air acceleration]] is faster (0.07 → 0.09).}}

*{{change|Falco's [[gravity]] is higher (0.112 → 0.13). This improves his aerial mobility, but hinders his horizontal endurance and air time and makes him more susceptible to combos.}}

*{{nerf|[[Item throw]] is weaker (1 → 0.94). Additionally, the removal of [[glide toss]]ing greatly hinders his approach with items.}}

*{{change|The removal of [[chain grab]]bing significantly improves Falco's endurance however, it also removes the chain grabs he used to possess.}}

*{{nerf|[[Spotdodge]] has a shorter duration (frames 2-20 → 2-16) and more ending lag (frame 23 → 26) no longer being one of the fastest spotdodges in the game.}}

*{{nerf|Dash attack has more startup with a shorter duration (frames 4-17 → 8-18), and more ending lag (frame 36 → 40). Additionally if it connects, it can no longer be cancelled into an up smash via the [[Gatling Combo]]).}}

*{{buff|Falco has a new [[up smash]], a sideways-flipping kick that hits with both legs with the following-legged hit re-positioning him forward. It hits twice instead of once, dealing more total damage (14% → 16%) and having no late hit behind Falco. It also has less startup with a longer duration (frames 8-17 → 7-12/13-20), hits crouching opponents more easily, and grants [[intangibility]] on Falco's legs while the hitboxes are active. These changes greatly improve its ability to challenge opponent's defence.}}

*{{nerf|Up smash has more ending lag (frame 44 → 50). The removal of [[DACUS]] also immensely hinders its approach potential making it a more difficult to use as a KO option.}}

*{{buff|Forward aerial's looping hits have set knockback (0 (base)/40 (scaling) → 60 (set)/100 (scaling)), a faster rehit rate (8 → 4), and use a different autolink angle (365° → 366°), which alongside the weakening of SDI allows them to connect much more effectively, despite their SDI multiplier being increased (0.8× → 1×). The final hit also deals more damage (3% → 4%) and knockback (80 (base)/60 (scaling) → 55/145), and launches at a lower angle (50° → [[Sakurai angle|361°]]), making it a reliable edgeguarding option. Furthermore, the move has less ending lag (frame 58 → 50), landing lag (33 frames → 25), [[auto-cancel]]s earlier (frame 49 → 46), and possesses a new landing hitbox with high hitlag, making it harder to punish. These changes drastically improve its utility, and it is no longer one of the worst forward aerials.}}

*{{buff|[[Back aerial]] has a new animation, with Falco kicking more horizontally while leaning further away (akin to his dash attack), which narrows his hurtbox somewhat. The clean hit has much higher knockback scaling (103 → 130), improving its KO potential to the point of becoming one of the strongest back aerials in the game. It also auto-cancels earlier (frame 23 → 15), and benefits from the increased [[shieldstun]], now being safe on shield if its autocancel is timed properly.}}

*{{nerf|Down aerial has an altered animation, resulting in over three times the startup lag (frame 5 → 16), more ending lag (frame 50 → 52), almost twice the landing lag (12 frames → 23) and a slower auto-cancel (frame 27 → 38). This drastically worsens its utility and prevent it from autocanceling in a short hop. It also has less reach (5.5u → 4.2u (clean hit)/5.3u (late hit)), and lower knockback scaling on its clean hit (100 → 80).}}

*{{change|The clean hit of down aerial has a different launch angle on grounded opponents (280° → 80°) and aerial opponents (280° → 285°). In the former case, this improves its KO potential, but removes its follow-ups at high percentages and removes its ability to [[trip]] opponents at lower percents.}}

*{{nerf|Standing and pivot [[grab]]s have slower startup (standing: frame 6 → 8, pivot: frame 9 → 11) and ending lag (standing: frame 30 → 32, pivot: frame 36 → 38).}}

*{{change|The changes to hitstun canceling allows [[down throw]] to maintain its combo potential at low to mid percents despite its higher knockback now putting opponents into [[tumble]] at 0%).}}

*{{nerf|Down throw deals less total damage (9% → 5%) due to firing one laser instead of four, despite the throw's higher damage output (1% → 3%). Combined with the removal of chain grabbing, this hinders its damage racking potential. The throw also deals more knockback (45 (base)/130 (scaling) → 60/110), hindering its followup potential especially with the removal of DACUS.}}

*{{buff|[[Falco Phantasm]] no longer dashes over edges when used on the ground, and has less landing lag when used in the air. It also no longer leaves Falco [[helpless]] when used in midair, and gives Falco some forward momentum after the move ends. Lastly, the introduction of [[ledge trump]]ing allows it to be used for gimping opponents after trumping the edge and the removal of meteor canceling improves its reliability.}}