Captain Falcon (Super Smash Bros.)

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This article is about Captain Falcon's appearance in Super Smash Bros. For other uses, see Captain Falcon.

Captain Falcon
Universe	F-Zero
Also appears in	SSB SSBM SSBB
Availability	Unlockable
Tier	High (5)

Captain Falcon (キャプテン・ファルコン, Kyaputen Farukon) (full name: Captain Douglas Jay Falcon) is currently ranked 5th overall in the tier list and is famous for his insane speed and combo ability.

Falcon's true balance is his versatility as an offensive/Counterattacking character. He has an amazing ability to break through Defensive strategies with a grab or a well-placed aerial attack, and a similarly effective counterattacking game, able to Jump-Cancel into a up smash or Shield Jump into a dair or fair and combo from there. His high speed makes him a threat anywhere, and he can use dash-dancing to simply dodge an attack and return with a grab, or aerial before the opponent can react. The effect of this can quickly accumulate, as almost all of Falcon's moves combo into an aerial or a grab, which can lead to additional moves which re-combo into aerials and grabs.

However, Captain Falcon's KO moves are very situational. If he misses his finisher, it will become very difficult to finish off the opponent due to their high percentage, and thus their non-combo-ability.

Description

A regular pilot in the great galactic race F-ZERO Grand Prix, Captain Falcon is skilled at collecting prize money. Much about his past remains hidden in shadow, but it's clear that many a villain hold a powerful grudge against him.

Works: F-ZERO (SNES), F-ZERO X (N64)

How to Unlock Captain Falcon

Beat Single Player mode before 20 minutes has gone by. The battle takes place in Planet Zebes.

Normal Moves

• A - Punch = 2-3%
• A A - Double Punch = Second hit also does 2-3%
• A A A - Double Punch, Kick = 2-4%
• Rapid A - Rapid Punch = 1% each

The Gentleman doesn't need to be timed--hitting A thrice is sufficient.

• Forward tilt - Side Kick = 5-15%

Like most forward tilts, this one can be angled.

• Down tilt - Low Kick = 5-11%

This attack sends the opponent at a low trajectory.

• Up tilt - Ax Kick = 4-9%, 6-14% (two hits, total 23%)

This attack can hit from behind Captain Falcon.

• Forward smash - Forward Kick = 7-19%

The attack can be angled.

• Down smash - Down Spin Kick = 6-16%

If the attack connects closer to the body, the opponent will be sent upwards. If it connects with the tip, the opponent will be sent in a more horizontal direction.

• Up smash - Up Punch = 7-17%

This is Captain Falcon's main combo starter. The attack sends the opponent straight up, but with low knockback and high hitstun.

• Neutral aerial - Sex Kick = 5-16% (at beginning)

Like most sex kicks, this attack loses power with time.

• Forward aerial - Double Kick = 4-22% for two hits

This attack is similar to Captain Falcon's Melee nair.

• Back aerial - Back Punch = 6-16%

Captain Falcon extends his fist behind him.

• Up aerial - Flip Kick = 6-16%

Many consider this attack to be Captain Falcon's most versatile attack. Depending on what part of the hitbox connects with the opponent, it can send the opponent up, forward, or backwards, or in certain cases keep the opponent, for all practical purposes, in place (the spot where the most knockback occurs is at Captain Falcon's heel when a person is hit from Captain Falcon's back). A common use for this attack is to simply just chain uairs together into one huge combo.

• Down aerial - Stomp = 6-14%

This attack is a spike. The hitbox exists on the legs and chest, and if the opponent connects with the chest, he/she will be sent down at a slight angle. If the opponent is already on the ground, it will, depending on the percent, keep the opponent in place or send him/her up at a very slight angle.

• Forward throw = 9-12%

Falcon slams the opponent down in front of him. Having very low knockback for a grab, this can be used to start aerial chains.

• Back throw = 12-16%

Falcon kicks the opponent back. This throw has much more knockback.

Special Moves

• Neutral B: Falcon Punch 9-25%
• Up B: Falcon Dive 15-20%
• Down B: Falcon Kick 5-15%

Pros & Cons

File:Falcon ssb.PNG

Captain Falcon

Pros

• Great combo ability
• Fastest dash in the game
• Best dash dance in the game
• Low lag aerial attack
• Can spike
• Great throws
• Heavy, thus harder to KO
• Good short hop
• Deceptive Up B
• Great reach with most kick attacks (especially forward smash and u-air)
• taunt cancel is great for mind games
• Up B can take out an edgeguarder and can use Up B again to grab an edge.

Cons

• Large target
• No projectile
• Few ground options other than jabs, grabs, and up smashes
• Lack of a quick KO move
• Easily comboed

Combos, Tactics, and Tricks

Spike Combo

"Most of the things I used from Melee came from 64. This includes the Ken combo, which came from Captain Falcon in the 64 version."

~ Ken

Sometimes known as the "Ken Combo" of SSB, this combo consists of an up aerial followed by a jump and then a dair spike. The up aerial must connect at the right spot so that there is minimal knockback.

Falcon Punch Recovery

Using a Falcon Punch while in the air gives Captain Falcon slight horizontal movement. Also, the attack can be "angled" by hitting up or down right after hitting B, which can be used to boost his vertical recovery slightly as well.

Steak Strike

Coined by Steakmancer, a veteran of the SSB Rom Online community, a Steak Strike is essentially a backwards Spike Combo, with the Uair coming before the Dair. Used primarily on grounded opponents on fall-through platforms, the Captain Falcon comes up through the platform, delivers a Dair (oftentimes used before hitting, using the Dair's properties of a Sex Kick), in order to launch the person into the ground and gives the target a small amount of vertical knockback. The Captain Falcon then finishes the short combo with a minimal-knockback Uair, giving the target a little more vertical knockback, during which the Captain Falcon L-cancels after the strike, leaving him free to continue the combo. A sweetspotted Uair that gives maximum knockback can be used instead of the short knockback one for defensive purposes.

Dash Pivot

A really easy and effective mindgame technique. It's basically a frontwards roll, without the roll. You do an initial dash and quickly tap the stick the opposite direction. If you hold it the opposite direction, or even press it, then you will dash dance instead. What makes this move very effective is that Falcon has a long initial dash, and so you can use this to tech chase your opponent depending on his position. You can also use the dash pivot to change your position in battle, necessary for spacing. An example can be how a person who wants to land the first hit, would approach you with the fair because he's facing you. Since he doesn't know how to dash pivot, it would be hard to land the first hit when approaching because the fair is not so great in terms of priority and hitbox. Also, it's pretty predictable that he would only use a fair when spacing. An experienced player can change the momentum of the battle and quickly approach you with a dash pivot and short hop to bair, since the bair has better range and priority than the fair. Another useful thing about dash pivot is that you can use it to fall of a ledge the opposite direction. In SSBM, you can easily wavedash backwards to grab the ledge. Fortunately, you can dash pivot off the stage and grab the ledge. Though, it is harder to do because you have to correctly space yourself from the edge of the stage so that when you pivot from the dash, you fall off the stage. From there, you can either grab the ledge, jump backwards and do a backwards uair or dair, etc.

Dair-Dair Spike

When performed on a grounded foe the Dair will send them upwards on a small angle. You can use this when your close to an edge to perform a second Dair which will (after about 50% with most chars) send them to the bottom of the stage. In order to do this you will need to Short hop both attacks and Z-Cancel the first one as well.

Grab Chain

Starts with Falcon's throw and then instantly followed up with a Falcon Dive. A simple combo that's effective and easy to use. The chain can easily KO opponents but is harder to perform as the opponent takes more damage and flies farther after the initial throw.

Captain Falcon and tier placement

Falcon is overall one of the better characters but is overwhelmed by fast projectiles (aka fox) or overpowered by incredibly high priority moves. The main problem for Falcon is his abysmal recovery. Falcon is countered by Pikachu and moderately by Fox and Kirby due to problems with killing and the above named problems. Falcon is one of the worst characters overall against lighter characters which is one of the reasons that Falcon is in 5th spot in spite of his huge combos.

Costume Gallery

Captain Falcon's changeable clothing in SSB

Trivia

• Captain Falcon is the only playable character that doesn't use his own face for his stock life icon. (Instead he uses a Falcon.)
• He, along with Ness, are the only characters to not have a stage originating from their franchise.