Short hop laser
The short hop laser (also known as short hop blaster, abbreviated respectively to shl and shb.) is a technique usually performed by short hopping with Fox or Falco, using their blaster to shoot a laser, and fastfalling. The technique has two variants; the short hop double laser (shdl) and the short hop triple laser (shtl), for which two and three lasers respectively are shot during the short hop and no fastfall is performed. The shl techniques were first utilised in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and have since carried into Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
Kirby can also perform some of these techniques, by copying Fox and Falco's blaster abilities using Inhale.
In Super Smash Bros.
In the original SSB, Fox can preform a short hop laser and a short hop double lasers. Both techniques were very effective, as the blaster's hitstun damage can stop opponent approaches and can deal damage while camping. Its usually better for Fox to shoot his lasers while short hopping instead of shooting from the ground as he can shoot more faster and draws out his blaster faster. Due to his camping techniques such as short hop laser, Fox dominates Hyrule Castle in SSB Competitive Play.
In Super Smash Bros. Melee
In Melee, Fox can short hop laser and short hop double laser. Both techniques are used to camp and "tack on" small amounts of damage, but are much less effective at stopping approaches, due to the lack of hitstun that Fox's lasers deal. Fox's short hop laser and short hop double laser are considered more safe and flexible than shooting lasers from the ground, for a number of reasons. Short hops can be maneuvered toward or away from the opponent, and the lag caused by landing takes less time than that which occurs during a grounded blaster's ending lag.
As Falco, the short hop laser is used to camp and disrupt opponents' ground movement and approaches. Continuous strings of Falco’s short hop lasers are faster to execute than continuous grounded lasers.
Moving and weaving
Fox and Falco are able to cover horizontal distance while airborne during the short hop laser and, in Fox's case, the short hop double laser. By pushing the control stick left or right shortly after tapping B, Fox and Falco can move forward or backward after firing a laser. With Fox, B can be pressed a second time during the control stick movement, in order to fire a second laser and perform a moving short hop double laser. While this technique allows for horizontal aerial movement, it prevents players from fastfalling; slowing the speed at which they return to the ground. The moving short hop laser and short hop double laser can be used to approach and retreat while shooting lasers at an opponent, and is often more effective for this purpose than a still short hop laser and short hop double laser combined with ground movement. The technique can also be used to move swiftly in and out of an opponent's attack range while damaging them, a technique known as weaving.
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Brawl, Fox can short hop laser, short hop double laser, and short hop triple laser, the practical uses of which are very similar to those in Melee.
Falco can short hop laser and short hop double laser, the use of which to camp and combo out of is considered a staple of his competitive metagame.
Wolf can short hop laser, but since his blaster has a high amount of ending lag, he lands before it ends. B reversing short hop lasers is a common technique.
