Falco (Super Smash Bros. Melee)

This article is about Falco's appearance in Super Smash Bros. Melee. For other uses, see Falco Lombardi. Also, for information about the fighter of whom Falco is a clone , see Fox (SSBM).

Falco
Universe	Star Fox
Also appears in	SSBM SSBB
Availability	Unlockable
Tier	Top (4)

Falco is a character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, unlocked by beating the 100-Man Melee mode with any character. He is also unlocked after playing 300 vs. matches. He is considered a clone of Fox. Top Falco players are notorious for their high levels of technical ability. He ranks 4th on the current Tier List.

Special Moves

• Neutral B: Blaster
• Smash B: Falco Phantasm
• Up B: Fire Bird
• Down B: Reflector

Taunt

Falco scoffs while spinning into a pose.

Smash Taunt: Falco can do a Star Fox conversation that can only be used on Corneria or Venom by quickly tapping Down on the Control pad. This taunt can only be used once per match.

Attributes

Falco's play style is said to be very similar to Fox's in Super Smash Bros.; indeed, Falco does appear to be a recreation of the "old" Fox. He is also known to have the second fastest normal falling speed and the fastest fast falling speed. This means he has resistance to juggleing, is hard to hit in the air, and he can perform SHFFLs well. On the downside, it also means his recovery is shortened, he is vulnerable to combos and chaingrabs that work on fast-fallers, and it hurts his air game. Falco's excellent short hops makes him very good at combos and short hop lasers. His short hop lasers prevent approach for most characters and enable high pressure play. Falco also has powerful attacks with killing potential and little overall lag. His reflecor not only reflects projectiles, but can also be used for many combo opportunities (See shine). Other assets of Falco include having the highest initial jump, the ability to wall jump, a very usable spike move.

Like Fox, Falco has light weight and very poor recovery. Not only does he have the aforementioned fast-falling problem, but he also has the slowest air speed (along with Fox). Falco's up special move (fire bird) is very easy to edge-guard, has a lot of start-up lag, and gives shorter distance than Fox's up special. His side special move (falco phantasm) can be easily punished and is difficult to shorten with exactness.

Techniques

SHL/B

SHL/B stands for "Short-Hop Laser/Blaster" and is very disruptive to your opponent. In order to do a SHL/B, like the name describes, you short-hop, fast-fall, and shoot a laser. This way, there is no lag and you are free to move about while shooting. You can send flurries of SHL/Bs while approaching your opponent. This can somewhat substitute Falco's average speed dash, as it is a very fast and effective way to move around due to his fast jump and fall. SHL/B is also considered to be the best approach tactic in the game as well as one of the most annoying moves in the game. SHL/B is imperative for Falco players to learn since it's Falco's main method of opening up their opponent's defense for an easy attack.

Pillaring

See pillaring

Waveshining

See Waveshine

Offense

Falco's ADA is one of the best Spikes in the game, and can usually kill at around 50%. His Up tilt can be used to start combos. His Down Tilt can usually kill at high percentages. His Fsmash is fast, comboable into from a laser and kills at pretty low percentages. His ABA is also considered a Sex Kick.

A basic combo of Falco's is grabbing the opponent, throwing them down, IMMEDIATELY shining them and chase them upward for a spike. All of this easily adds up to 30% damage, plus any SHL/Bs you use to open up your opponent's defense. You can do this several times to build up damage, forcing them near the edge, and spiking them a final time. This combo is a guaranteed kill around 100% or 110%. It works on nearly everybody except other space animals (although with C. Falcon it is imperative to SHL or SHFFL the down aerial), and obviously it doesn't work as well on floaters or lightweights. Alternatively, you can also use up throw and then chase your opponent for the spike, although using down throw is better.

Like Fox, if Falco is at the very edge of a stage which can't normally be passed through (e.g. Battlefield) while facing inward, if he uses down throw on an opponent, the lasers send the opponent down extremely quickly. It is almost impossible to meteor cancel it or recover from it at any percent, due to the speed.

Costume Gallery

Falco's changeable clothing in SSBM