Editing Captain Falcon (SSBU)

'''Captain Falcon''' ({{ja|キャプテン・ファルコン|Kyaputen Farukon}}, ''Captain Falcon'') is a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. He was confirmed on June 12th, 2018. As in the original ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', he is [[unlockable character|unlockable]], instead of being available from the [[starter character|start]]. Captain Falcon is classified as [[Fighter number|Fighter #11]].

As in ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]'', {{s|wikipedia|Ryō Horikawa}}'s portrayals of Captain Falcon from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'' and ''Brawl'' were repurposed for ''Ultimate''. However, Horikawa briefly returned to voice Captain Falcon in {{SSBU|Min Min}}'s reveal trailer, though only recording eating sounds for Captain Falcon rather than new voice lines.

 

 

 

Overall, Captain Falcon remains a high-risk, high-reward fighter with a solid [[Punishment|punish]] game overall. Falcon has seen respectable [[tournament]] results from players such as {{Sm|Jogibu}}, {{Sm|Karaage}} and prior to his retirement, {{Sm|Fatality}}.

*Clear {{SSBU|Classic Mode}} with {{SSBU|Fox}} or anyone in his unlock tree, being the 1st character unlocked.

Captain Falcon is a tall heavyweight character, yet he boasts some of the best overall mobility out of any character in spite of his weight class. Captain Falcon sports the 2nd fastest [[dash]]ing speed, the 7th fastest [[falling speed]], the 11th fastest [[air speed]], and the 14th highest [[gravity]]. His [[jump]]s and [[wall jump]]s are also very high. Strangely, though, his [[walk]]ing speed is rather slow, while his [[traction]] and [[air acceleration]] are around average. Additionally, while his running speed is very high, his initial dash speed is only slightly above average, and crucially he hits this lower limit during his initial dash a few frames before transitioning to his running animation, making his effective movement speed in short bursts lower than expected. Compounding this is his turnaround dash animation, which causes him to slide in the opposite direction for a few frames, before sliding back into his origin location. While his high run acceleration can mask this to an extent, this effectively results in him making no progress in the direction he is turning into for several frames, resulting in his retreat being counter-intuitively one of the least safe in the game, especially when combined with his legs extending a long distance behind him. Nonetheless, his high mobility overall, combined with his strong punish game and generally low landing lag on his aerials, benefits him with a trademark speed-and-power combo.

Despite lacking a projectile, Falcon has an overall effective neutral game, courtesy of his mobility. His primary combo starter is grounded [[Raptor Boost]]; its low knockback along with its vertical launching angle and low ending lag make it a fearsome combo starter if landed, allowing it to combo into a plentiful number of moves. Neutral aerial can chain into itself at low percents, and Falcon can combo it into his other aerials if he lands with the first hit. His up tilt consistently meteor smashes opponents even if they are grounded, making it not only a great combo tool, but a decent edgeguarding tool as well. One of his best combo tools is his up aerial; at a wide range of percents, it can create incredibly long chains, especially into itself due to its low base knockback and overall low lag. Alternatively, Falcon can chain his up aerial into some of his deadliest finishers, most notably into his forward aerial, the Knee Smash.

Captain Falcon, like most of his fellow medium-heavyweights also boasts excellent KO power. He also has a formidable edgeguarding ability. His up and down smashes are both excellent baiting options due to their low ending lag, making them safe on shield and potentially even on whiff. Even if they both have rather noticeable startup, they are also long enough to punish spot dodges reliably. His up smash in particular even functions as a situational combo starter at low percentages, which can allow Falcon to deal insane amounts of damage in just a few measly hits. While his forward smash is his least useful smash attack as a whole, even it has its uses, being a powerful KO option that can be angled. His forward, back, and down aerials all deal high knockback, with his forward aerial in particular being the strongest of its type in the entire game. His down tilt, while having noticeable startup, sends at a semi-spike angle with high knockback, and it has low ending lag, making it not only a good spacing and poking tool, but also a great edgeguarding and KO move, the lattermost quirk being extremely rare for a down tilt.

Falcon's special moveset also has its uses. [[Falcon Punch]], while being extremely situational in the long run, is one of the strongest neutral specials in the entire game, especially when reversed on the ground, and is perfect for punishing shield breaks. As mentioned earlier, Raptor Boost is an excellent combo starter on the ground. In the air, it has the potential to [[meteor smash]], and it also serves well as a KO move in such cases. [[Falcon Dive]] is one of the strongest command grabs in the game, and while it is linear, it does cover a decent amount of distance. It also works well as a combo finisher and out-of-shield option due to its high knockback and being a command grab. Finally, [[Falcon Kick]] is effective in terms of dealing with pressure due to its speed and long-lasting hitbox, and it also possesses decent KO power when hit early on. It is also an excellent tool for returning to the stage quickly when used in the air.

However, Captain Falcon does have his fair share of weaknesses. While he is a powerhouse, most of his KO moves are difficult to land, the most prominent examples being his forward smash and Falcon Punch. His forward aerial is faster than those moves, but even then it suffers from a rather small sweetspot that lasts for only one frame, making it hard to land without an air dodge read or setup off of an up aerial. As a result, he often has to rely on edgeguarding to score KOs. Though his neutral game is good overall, his lack of a projectile leaves him susceptible to camping. While his above average weight and fast falling speed give him excellent endurance, they also leave him vulnerable to combos, which is further exacerbated by the fact that he has little to no fast options with which to break them.

Falcon's moveset in general is also full of issues. As mentioned earlier, most of his KO moves are slow and tough to land, which forces him to rely on edgeguarding to KO effectively. Falcon Kick is extremely unsafe offstage due to its lag and Falcon's fast falling speed, as it is not unlikely for him to self-destruct with it. While Raptor Boost can meteor smash in the air, it will leave him [[helpless]] if he misses, which could also result in a self-destruct. Other examples of unreliability within his moveset lie in his neutral aerial and up smash, both of which tend to have trouble connecting properly at high percentages. His overall range, while not necessarily lacking for a brawler, is also lackluster when compared to other characters with good physical reach, especially due to the fact that he lacks a projectile.

While Captain Falcon has a good ground game and an excellent air game, his grab game is rather mediocre. To begin with, his grab range is overall somewhat short despite his height, making it risky to throw out. His down throw remains a useful combo starter at low to medium percents, but has lost its utility as a semi-guarenteed setup into Knee Smash due to its knockback and angle adjustments. While Captain Falcon's back throw remains a useful KO move, his forward throw has lost its decent combo potential as an indirect consequence of his much higher traction, just like {{SSBU|Meta Knight}}'s forward throw. Although it remains a serviceable KO move, it is utterly outclassed by back throw in this regard. Captain Falcon's up throw suffers from similar issues to his forward throw: it has too much ending lag to combo properly, even in spite of his faster jumpsquat, and it is somewhat weak for a KO throw despite dealing more damage than in ''Smash 4''.

Captain Falcon's biggest flaw is his recovery: despite his impressive air speed, his two recovery options, Falcon Dive and Raptor Boost, are linear, easily intercepted, and have small edge sweetspots. Raptor Boost also doesn't have a hitbox above him, which can leave him open to meteor smashes, which he usually has trouble surviving due to his linear recovery and fast falling speed. To his merit, he can reuse Falcon Dive if it connects with an opponent, and even stage spike them, though this is easily teched. Furthermore, since all characters can wall jump out of a tech, opponents can punish Falcon as he leaps back, possibly putting him in a worse offstage situation. In addition, while Falcon Dive covers an alarmingly high amount of horizontal distance due to its high drift, its vertical travel distance is quite mild, and Raptor Boost also renders him helpless, making it situational when combined with its poor travel distance.  Although he has the second-best wall jump in the game, Falcon will be in danger offstage without his double jump.

Overall, Captain Falcon is the epitome of a hit & run character, yet also benefits from a bait and punish playstyle; when combining his excellent mobility and combo game, he can string very long combos for huge amounts of damage. Otherwise, if he can use his KO moves wisely, he does not have much trouble scoring KOs. However, his flaws are quite susceptible to be punished easily if the player is not careful due to Captain Falcon's susceptibility to combos and exploitable recovery. He also falls under the bait and punish archetype, requiring to have a very precise and patient gameplay style in order to take advantage of the opponent's mistakes to score KO's.

==Changes from ''[[Super Smash Bros. 4]]''==

Captain Falcon was previously considered a high tier character in ''SSB4'' (ranked 19th out of 54 characters) and a highly popular choice at lower levels of play due to his great advantage state and low learning curve. Most likely owing to this, Captain Falcon received a mix of buffs and nerfs in his transition to ''Ultimate''; although he has a noticeably higher learning curve as a result of his nerfs, the plethora of very useful buffs he received from subsequent game updates has essentially resulted in him being nerfed slightly overall.

Falcon's overall punish game has seen many buffs in one way or another. Several of Falcon's options at close range have been improved, some of which are more rewarding by virtue of their increased combo potential. His [[neutral attack|neutral infinite]] connects much more reliably and is therefore more effective for racking up damage; his [[forward tilt]]'s lower lag and higher base knockback make it safer for spacing; his [[up tilt]] consistently [[meteor smash]]ing both grounded and aerial opponents, allowing for combo extensions; and his [[up smash]]'s increased damage, added leg intangibility, and reduced ending lag have turned it into a high-risk, high-reward combo starter that can contest aerial approaches and transitions into a powerful KO move at higher percentages. A notable buff was to his [[neutral aerial]]'s first hit; while it is harder to connect into the second hit at high percents, it more notably launches opponents at a more vertical angle on landing, allowing Falcon to land combos and even KO confirms with his [[Knee Smash]], which deals far more damage if sweetspotted. Falcon's other options have improved KO ability, such as his [[dash attack]], his smash attacks (with [[forward smash]] gaining more power despite already being remarkably powerful in ''SSB4'', and [[down smash]] now [[semi-spike|semi-spiking]] and hitting low-profile opponents more effectively).

Furthermore, Falcon's entire special moveset has been buffed in miscellaneous ways: [[Falcon Punch]] has significantly increased knockback, making it deadlier as a [[hard read]] or [[shield break]] punish much like in previous games; [[Raptor Boost]], in lieu of his ''Melee'' appearance, is a much more effective combo starter on the ground thanks to its lower knockback, ending lag, and new damage-based armor on hit, and leaves Falcon less vulnerable if it connects in the air (no longer causing [[helpless]]ness in such a case); [[Falcon Dive]] has increased recovery distance, deals more knockback and has less ending lag, making it safer to hit opponents with and giving him a KO option that can counter shielding opponents; and [[Falcon Kick]] is faster, has increased power on the ground, and less landing lag. In addition to these direct changes, the universal changes in ''Ultimate'' benefit Falcon's rushdown-oriented playstyle, having increased mobility and reduced landing lag on aerial attacks that allow him to juggle and punish opponents more effectively, the ability to use any attack out of a dash cancel further improving his grounded game, and the removal of [[tech]]ing grounded meteor smashes giving his up tilt and [[down aerial]] increased combo potential.

However, Captain Falcon has received significant nerfs as well. His grab game is overall worse than before: [[forward throw]] and [[down throw]] are less reliable for combos at higher percents in combination with the latter's altered knockback, and for mixups at lower percents. Falcon's increased traction notably shortens and makes it harder to land his [[dash grab]], infamous in ''SSB4'' for being one of his best approach, punish and/or burst options due to its large ground coverage and high reward. Combined with all standard grabs having increased ending lag in ''Ultimate'', Falcon is easier to punish if his grab misses. While his [[up aerial]] has slightly less ending lag and knockback, it also has increased landing lag compared to almost all other aerials (which instead had it decreased), lower damage, and a shorter duration with increased startup, narrowing its KO setups. [[Raptor Boost]]'s restored combo potential comes at the cost of its KO power at realistic percents, especially with [[rage]]. Meanwhile, his new forward smash, while dealing more knockback, has significantly decreased range, to the point it can sometimes miss at point-blank range if the opponent is pushed by Falcon himself, due to the changes to [[jostle|jostling]].

While Falcon's playstyle benefits from some of the universal changes, other changes have negatively impacted its execution. Namely, the tumbling animation from a [[footstool jump]] now being [[tech]]able prevents Falcon from racking up large amounts of damage and setting up KOs by repeatedly footstooling and meteor smashing opponents back up with his down aerial. Ironically, the changes to [[dash-dancing]] have also adversely affected him compared to other characters; since his initial dash animation is quite slow, this causes his dash-dancing animation to be more awkward and slower-moving than other characters, and reduces its mindgame potential compared to his previous extended dash-dance in ''SSB4''. Lastly, of note is that Falcon retains notable weaknesses from previous appearances, notably his problematic recovery and high vulnerability to combos.

Overall, Captain Falcon's buffs have improved several of his options and punish game, as well as granted him new options to utilize his speed and power, but his nerfs to the previous options he had in ''SSB4'' mean he has to take higher risks at approaching and optimizing their use. As such, Falcon's playstyle is more bait-and-punish oriented than before in order to win the [[neutral game]], which now gives him a higher learning curve. Game updates have improved Falcon in various ways, improving his power, fixing some inconsistencies with his moveset and giving him a much less vulnerable recovery; the discovery of [[instant double jump]] (IDJ) and optimization of his playstyle has also improved Falcon's perception. Nevertheless, his higher learning curve, various improvements to numerous veterans and the introduction of strong DLC characters collectively result in Falcon performing slightly worse than in ''SSB4''.

{{SSB4 to SSBU changelist|char=Captain Falcon}}

==Update history==

Captain Falcon was buffed significantly by game updates. In update 3.1.0, back aerial's knockback was increased, which slightly improved its KO potential after it was initially nerfed in the transition from ''Smash 4''. [[Knee Smash]]'s sweetspot and [[Falcon Kick]]'s clean hit received hitbox adjustments that made them easier to land. Captain Falcon's close range options and combo game were also improved: forward tilt's base knockback was increased, up tilt's lag was decreased, and [[Raptor Boost]]'s uppercut gained a marginal decrease to its start-up lag alongside increases to its hitstun and the damage threshold of its armor.

Following update 7.0.0's minor buffs to Captain Falcon's shield and neutral attack, update 8.0.0 granted him a number of very useful buffs. Most notably, Raptor Boost was buffed again: the grounded version has longer horizontal range, regained its launching angle from ''Smash 4'', and its knockback was decreased. Altogether, these changes significantly improved its combo potential. Conversely, aerial Raptor Boost's meteor hitbox became much more consistent, thanks to its higher priority. Additionally, down tilt and up smash gained higher knockback, dash attack's ending lag was decreased, and Falcon Kick became quicker and gained a stronger clean hit, making it a better burst option.

Update 9.0.0 buffed up smash by adjusting the hitboxes and decreasing the knockback of its first hit, which improved its consistency into its second hit, especially under platforms. Most recently, update 11.0.0 significantly decreased the ending lag of [[Falcon Dive]]'s throw (a buff shared with [[Dark Dive]]), which almost completely alleviated its glaring susceptibility to [[Tech Check]]ing.<ref>[https://twitter.com/FatalityFalcon/status/1367670035066544134]</ref>

Overall, Captain Falcon fares much better than he did at ''Ultimate''{{'}}s launch.

{{UpdateList (SSBU)/3.1.0|char=Captain Falcon}}

|neutralname=Jab ({{ja|ジャブ|Jabu}}) / Straight ({{ja|ストレート|Sutorēto}}) / Kneebutt ({{ja|ニーバット|Nībatto}}) / Mach Punch ({{ja|マッハパンチ|Mahha Panchi}}) / Body Blow ({{ja|ボディブロー|Bodi Burō}})

|neutraldesc=A {{iw|wikipedia|one-two combo}} followed by [[Gentleman|a knee strike]] colloquially known as the Gentleman. Alternatively, the first two punches can be followed by a flurry of punches, culminating with a {{iw|wikipedia|short-straight punch}} that has very high base knockback. The knee strike has incredibly high knockback for a neutral attack, KOing {{SSBU|Mario}} at 140% the edge of Final Destination. The infinite and finisher have deceptively high range, being able to reach fighters slightly further out than his normal two-punch knee strike, and it also has good power, though it is outclassed by the Gentleman in that matter. The first two hits can also [[lock]], but it is hard to do so due to its higher hitbox.

|ftiltname=Round Kick ({{ja|ラウンドキック|Raundo Kikku}})

|ftiltdesc=A roundhouse kick. It can be [[angle]]d, has a sweetspot on Captain Falcon's foot, and a slightly weaker sourspot on his leg. It is one of his best neutral options; it's a bit slower than neutral attack, but has more range over it, and can start tech chase situations at mid percents. Angling the move increases its damage, and angling down allows it to hit short characters effectively, which Captain Falcon struggles with.

|utiltname=Wheel Kick ({{ja|ホイールキック|Hoīru Kikku}})

|utiltdesc=An axe kick. It has good vertical range in front of him and the ability to [[meteor smash]] both grounded and aerial opponents. Useful for creating grounded combos or hitting opponents trying to recover high. However, it has high startup lag for a tilt.

|dtiltname=Sprawl Kick ({{ja|スプロールキック|Supurōru Kikku}})

|dtiltdesc=A legsweep. It is a [[semi-spike]], making it useful for edgeguarding because of this trajectory, as well as its high knockback and ability to hit ledge hangs. One of the strongest down tilts in the game, but it has above average startup lag, especially for a tilt.

|dashname=Turbo Shoulder ({{ja|ターボショルダー|Tābo Shorudā}})

|dashdesc=A [[wikipedia:Professional wrestling attacks#Shoulder block|shoulder block]]. Propels Captain Falcon quite far and is useful for punishing landings. Both its clean and especially late hits can potentially start combos at low percents due to its diagonal trajectory and speed, but it is punishable on shield like most dash attacks. It has increased knockback compared to the previous installment, making its clean hit decent for scoring KOs.

|fsmashname=Overheat Back Knuckle ({{ja|オーバーヒートバックナックル|Ōbāhīto Bakku Nakkuru}})

|fsmashdesc=Rears back and then throws a lunging backhanded punch, which has a [[flame]] effect. It has high startup and ending lag, but its range is decent enough, and since Captain Falcon rears back, other moves can completely whiff. It boasts excellent KO potential and can also can be angled, increasing its damage slightly.

|usmashname=Dual Edge ({{ja|デュアルエッジ|Duaru Ejji}})

|usmashdesc=A {{iw|wikipedia|540 kick}}. Despite its slow startup, it has low ending lag and deceptive horizontal range. Both hits deal more damage at the upper portion of Captain Falcon's leg. Though it has very good knockback, at low to mid percents, it can combo into an up aerial. Due to hitting twice and having leg intangibility, it also can contest aerial approaches. In addition, as of update 8.0.0, it is tied with {{SSBU|Lucas}}' up smash as the second strongest in the game thanks to its increased knockback growth, and it is also the most damaging up smash if both sweetspots connect (without other factors such as {{SSBU|Lucario}}'s [[aura]] or {{SSBU|Hero}} getting a critical hit). As of update 9.0.0, it is also much more consistent against opponents standing on platforms above him.

|dsmashname=Front & Back Kick ({{ja|フロント＆バックキック|Furonto ando Bakku Kikku}})

|dsmashdesc=A mid-level roundhouse kick followed by a back kick. The back kick is more powerful than the roundhouse kick, which makes the move useful for roll reads. Unlike most down smashes, it can't hit edge hangs, although it compensates by having decent horizontal range and somewhat low ending lag, on top of both hits having high knockback.

|nairname=Rotary Kick ({{ja|ロータリーキック|Rōtarī Kikku}})

|nairdesc=A hook kick followed by a roundhouse kick. It is a reliable follow-up out of his down throw at middling percents, and it transitions faster than the version in ''Smash 4''. The first hit has vertical knockback on grounded opponents, intended to reliably lead into the second hit, but if Captain Falcon connects only the first hit, it becomes a viable combo starter that can combo into his aerials, even his Knee Smash at mid-high percents. Also an effective edgeguard tool due to being a multi-hit and having decent KO potential offstage.

|fairname=[[Knee Smash]] ({{ja|ストライキングニー|Sutoraikingu Nī}}, ''Striking Knee'')

|fairdesc=A knee strike. Much like the [[Lightning Kick]], it is extremely polarized: it deals extremely high damage with an [[electric]] effect when sweetspotted (to the point of being the strongest forward aerial in the game by a tiny margin), but is incredibly weak when sourspotted or hit later on. It deals massive shield damage, making it an excellent shield-pressuring tool if aimed well. Also serves well as a combo finisher or hard read tool against airborne opponents, such as if they air dodge predictably.

|bairname=Back Knuckle ({{ja|バックナックル|Bakku Nakkuru}})

|bairdesc=A backfist. Its low landing lag makes it one of Captain Falcon's best approach options. The move deals high knockback as well when hit clean, and it can combo into a dash attack or grab on landing at low percents. Due to his high air speed, it can even perform a wall of pain at low-mid percents offstage.

|uairname=Overhead Kick ({{ja|オーバーヘッドキック|Ōbāheddo Kikku}})

|uairdesc=A bicycle kick. Has fast startup with a decently long duration, good all-around range (though it doesn't hit directly below him), low ending lag, minimal landing lag, low base knockback, and it auto-cancels in a short hop. All these factors make it a great combo starter, which can combo into itself, down aerial at low-mid percents, Knee Smash at higher percents, and Falcon Dive near the blast zone. The last frames of the move send at a more horizontal angle, which can combo into back aerial with proper timing.

|dairname=Stampede Bomb ({{ja|スタンピードボム|Sutanpīdo Bomu}})

|dairdesc=A double foot stomp. Meteor smashes when sweetspotted at his legs and sends opponents horizontally if sourspotted at his hips. It can lock opponents at low to mid percents, and when it starts bouncing opponents off the ground, can combo into Knee Smash. The move deals high knockback, which causes the sourspot to KO at around 110%. As a result, it is one of the strongest down aerials in the game.

|grabname=Grab ({{ja|つかみ|Tsukami}})

|grabdesc=Reaches out with his right hand. Captain Falcon's grab range is fairly short. While his dash grab is a lot shorter since he doesn’t slide as much, it can no longer whiff up close thanks to the changes to the jostle mechanics.

|pummelname=Grab Kneebutt ({{ja|つかみニーバット|Tsukami Nībatto}})

|pummeldesc=A knee strike. Average power and speed.

|fthrowname=Short Body Blow ({{ja|ショートボディーブロー|Shōto Bodī Burō}})

|fthrowdesc=A short-straight punch. It can KO at higher percents around 159% from the edge of [[Final Destination]]. Unlike in ''Smash 4'', however, it lacks combo potential as a result of Captain Falcon's much higher traction.

|bthrowname=Striking Throw ({{ja|ストライキングスルー|Sutoraikingu Surū}})

|bthrowdesc=Lightly tosses the opponent behind himself and then side kicks them, knocking them backward diagonally. His best KO throw horizontally and one of the more powerful of its type, killing middleweights at around 147% at the edge of Final Destination with [[Directional influence|DI]].

|uthrowname=Rising Flat ({{ja|ライジングフラット|Raijingu Furatto}})

|uthrowdesc=Holds the opponent up above his head and uppercuts them with his left hand. Has decent enough KO potential, so it's useful for when Captain Falcon isn't in the position for forward or back throws to KO. It KOs middleweights at around 181% from the ground on Final Destination.

|dthrowname=Head Crush ({{ja|ヘッドクラッシュ|Heddo Kurasshu}})

|dthrowdesc=Swings the opponent overhead and then performs a one-handed body slam. Alongside Raptor Boost and the first hit of neutral aerial, this is one of Captain Falcon's main combo starters, being capable of starting combos into neutral aerial and back aerial at low percents, up aerial at a wide range of percents, and even forward aerial at specific percentages as a KO setup.

|floorfdesc=Kicks behind himself with one leg, then performs a {{iw|wikipedia|kip-up}} transitioned into a {{iw|wikipedia|scorpion kick}} with the same leg before standing up.

|floorbdesc=Performs a {{iw|wikipedia|headspin}} to kick on both sides of himself before standing up.

|floortdesc=Punches both sides of himself while getting up.

|edgedesc=Pulls himself up from the ledge and kicks with his right leg.

|nsdmg=25% (grounded), 28% (grounded reverse), 22% (aerial), 25% (aerial reverse)

|nsdesc=Winds up and throws his iconic flaming punch, yelling "Falcon... Punch!" while doing so. Turning around while using the move increases its power, but slightly increases its startup lag, while landing an aerial punch lowers its power. The grounded version can KO middleweights at around 50% from the center of Final Destination, a strong increase over its ''SSB4'' iteration. Inputting up or down on the control pad when Captain Falcon is performing an aerial Falcon Punch will result in a very small boost in that direction.

|ssdesc=Dashes forward and, upon detecting an opponent, throws a flaming uppercut on the ground or a flaming overhand in the air. The aerial version meteor smashes aerial opponents if they are directly below Captain Falcon. On the ground, Captain Falcon is granted 10% (12% in 1v1) damage-based [[armor]] right before the hit connects, on frames 1-5. The move will now deal the same damage regardless of whether it is performed on the ground or in the air. The aerial version will leave Captain Falcon [[helpless]] if the move does not connect against opponents. Unlike in ''SSB4'', grounded Raptor Boost is not a KO move due to its low knockback, but it is much better at comboing into his aerials (including Knee Smash at certain percents) and even up tilt at mid-percents at the ledge. It can even confirm into up aerial at high percents as of update 8.0.0. The overhand's high base knockback makes it among the stronger meteor smashes in the game, though it is risky to use since Captain Falcon becomes helpless if he misses.  

|usdesc=Leaps upward and grabs any opponent that comes in range, launching them away with an explosion. If successful, Captain Falcon will flip backward while shouting "Yes!", and he can use the move again instead of becoming helpless. This is Captain Falcon's main recovery move and works as an out-of-shield option despite its moderate startup due to being a [[command grab]] and dealing high knockback. It also serves as a risky yet fairly rewarding combo finisher offstage.

|dsdmg=15%/11%/7% (grounded), 15%/12%/9% (aerial), 9% (landing)

|dsdesc=Quickly propels himself forward to perform a flaming flying kick, shouting "Falcon Kick!" while he does so. If used on the ground, he will travel horizontally. If used in the air, he will plunge down at a diagonal angle. The move gets weaker as it continues, though the early hits have KO potential, especially on the ground.

|fsdesc=Calls in the {{iw|fzerowiki|Blue Falcon}}, which flies through the stage in front of him. If the Blue Falcon hits any opponents, a short cutscene plays where Captain Falcon is seen piloting the Blue Falcon, and he then runs over the caught opponents and sends them flying. Characters who are not hit during a successful attempt will stay in place (as they cannot be visible at this time) until the end of the move. Like certain other Final Smashes, if no one is hit when the Blue Falcon appears, the attack fails.

 

 

*Captain Falcon jumps out of the {{iw|fzerowiki|Blue Falcon}} after it flies into the stage, after which it speeds off. Like in previous games, Captain Falcon has the unique property where his jumping animation will differ based on facing direction: a simple vaulting jump if entering from the right, and a front flip if entering from the left.

*'''Up taunt''': Kneels while emitting a fiery aura with an angry expression.

*'''Side taunt''': Thrusts out his left arm and gestures for his opponent to come closer, shouting "Come on!"

*'''Down taunt''': Gives a salute to his right side while saying "Show me your moves!" When facing left, Captain Falcon extends his saluting arm behind him; he also salutes with two fingers instead of all five in such cases.

SSBUCaptainFalconIdle1.gif|Captain Falcon's first idle pose.

SSBUCaptainFalconIdle2.gif|Captain Falcon's second idle pose.

*'''Left''': Kneels while briefly emitting a flaming aura, similarly to his up taunt and one of his ''Smash 64'' poses.

*'''Up''': Performs a 540 kick and then assumes a crouching fighting stance.

*'''Right''': Performs a hook kick, then a roundhouse kick, and then another hook kick before striking a fist pumping pose similar to his character select animation in ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''

[[File:CptFalconTheme.ogg|thumb|An electric guitar-based cover of the short track that would play when a character finished a race in ''{{s|fzerowiki|F-Zero GX}}''.]]

==In [[competitive play]]==

===Most historically significant players===

<!--This character has a ten player limit for this section. Before adding and/or removing a player, read these guidelines: https://www.ssbwiki.com/SmashWiki:Notability#%22Most_historically_significant_players%22_guidelines -->

''See also: [[:Category:Captain Falcon players (SSBU)]]''

*{{Sm|AIR|Japan}} - The best Captain Falcon in Japan during the 2019 season. He held some of the best major results for Captain Falcon prior to Jogibu with 13th at both {{Trn|Umebura Japan Major 2019}} and 17th at {{Trn|Umebura SP 7}}, the former being the first time a Captain Falcon player made top 16 at a ''Ultimate'' supermajor. He was ranked 92nd on the [[Experimental Smash Player Rankings]] and has beaten top Japanese players such as {{Sm|Abadango}} and {{Sm|Shogun}}.

*{{Sm|Andrik|Mexico}} - The best Captain Falcon player in Mexico. Previously was more known as a prominent Wi-Fi Warrior, placing highly in online tournaments such as 9th at both {{Trn|Frame Perfect Series 3: ONLINE}}{{OnlineIcon}} and {{Trn|SWT: Mexico Ultimate Online Qualifier}}{{OnlineIcon}}. He attended more offline tournaments starting in 2022 and placed 3rd at {{Trn|Wavedash 2022}}, 13th at {{Trn|Smash Factor 9}}, and 17th at {{Trn|LVL UP EXPO 2023}} as some of his best results.

*{{Sm|Fatality|USA}} - The best Captain Falcon player throughout most of the game's lifespan prior to his retirement. He has some of the best performances of the character in North America with 4th at {{Trn|CEO 2021}} and 7th at {{Trn|Let's Make Big Moves 2022}} and has made notable bracket runs in Europe with 2nd at {{Trn|Ultimate WANTED 3}} and 9th at {{Trn|Syndicate 2019}}. He has been ranked on a multitude of different global rankings such as 48th on the [[Spring 2019 PGRU]] and 46th on the [[UltRank 2022]].

*{{Sm|Jogibu|Japan}} - The best Captain Falcon player in the world in 2023. He placed top 8 at multiple Japanese supermajors such as 5th at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 11}} and 7th at {{Trn|DELTA 5}}. He is the highest ranked Captain Falcon player in ''Ultimate''{{'}}s history, being 25th on the [[LumiRank Mid-Year 2023]], setting a record by being the only player to outrank Fatality with the character on a global ranking.

*{{Sm|Karaage|Japan}} - One of the best Captain Falcon players in the world during the post-pandemic era and the current best one, being ranked 44th in the world on the [[LumiRank 2024.1]]. He regularly competes at Sumabato events where he has garnered placements such as 3rd at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 35}} and 4th at {{Trn|Sumabato SP 37}} and wins over players such as {{Sm|Yaura}} and {{Sm|alice}}, as well as a very strong supermajor placement in 5th at {{Trn|Maesuma TOP 11}} and other majors such as 9th at {{Trn|UltCore}}.

*{{Sm|NickC|USA}} - One of the best Captain Falcon players in the world during the early metagame. During the latter half of 2019, he was contested with Fatality as the best Falcon in the world, notably placing 2nd at the invitational {{Trn|Player's Ball Ultimate}} and marking some of the best supermajor placements for Captain Falcon such as 13th at {{Trn|Shine 2019}} and 17th at {{Trn|Super Smash Con 2019}}. He has also defeated many - at the time - top 50 players such as {{Sm|ScAtt}} and {{Sm|Goblin}}. He has gone mainly inactive since the return of offline tournaments.

*{{Sm|Ogey|France}} - The best Captain Falcon player in Europe. While he first co-mained the character with {{SSBU|Wolf}}, he has been the highest placed Captain Falcon player on every European ranking and has solo mained him in recent times. Won a smaller tournament with {{Trn|Brussels Challenge Major Edition 2022}} and made major top 64 placements such as 17th at {{Trn|VCA 2021}} and 33rd at {{Trn|GENESIS 9}} with wins over {{Sm|Raflow}} and {{Sm|MoDzai}}.

*{{Sm|Sean|USA|p=Florida}} - The current best Captain Falcon player in the United States. He made a notable run of 7th at {{Trn|Pound 2022}}, beating {{Sm|ApolloKage}} and {{Sm|Cosmos}}. He has also beaten other players such as {{Sm|Marss}} and placed 13th at {{Trn|CEO 2022}} among other events located in Florida.

===Tier placement and history===

Many players have noted Captain Falcon's higher learning curve compared to ''Smash 4''. As a result, early Captain Falcon players struggled in the metagame as his once easy-to-use combos (which included his dash grab and footstool combos) became harder to use or were removed entirely as a result of the game's mechanics; the changes to his playstyle required players to be more cautious in the neutral game. Captain Falcon's playerbase was largely spearheaded by dedicated mains such as {{Sm|Fatality}}, {{Sm|NickC}}, and {{Sm|Ogey}}, players who were active during the ''Smash 4'' days. However, none of their performances were able to match what Captain Falcon had in ''Smash 4'', leading many to believe Captain Falcon was at best a mid-tier.

 

Captain Falcon received numerous buffs throughout the game's lifespan that gradually improved his perception over time. This was most apparent right at the start of the post-online metagame, which saw an explosion of Captain Falcon results thanks to the efforts of many Captain Falcon players including Ogey and {{Sm|Sean|p=Florida}}. Most notable among these players were Fatality, who was a top 50 player for all of 2021 and 2022, and {{Sm|Jogibu}}, who consistently placed highly at multiple major events. This allowed Captain Falcon's representation to skyrocket into the top 20 during this time, and many players began considering Captain Falcon as a high-tier.

 

Unfortunately, this honeymoon period would begin to end in the latter half of 2022, most notably due to Sean's decreased activity in mid-2022 and Fatality's worse results in 2023. Captain Falcon's representation managed to stay afloat due to Jogibu's consistent strong results as well as the rise of {{Sm|Karaage}}, however his representation was still noticeably smaller than it was before. Due to this, opinions on Captain Falcon had mellowed out a bit, which is reflected in his placement on the first tier list, where he was ranked 39th at the very top of the upper mid-tier, before experiencing another very slight drop to the 40th place in the second and current tier list, now being ranked in the B- tier.

[[File:SSBU Congratulations Captain Falcon.png|thumb|Captain Falcon's congratulations screen.]]

Captain Falcon's opponents are fighters who specialize in close-range combat. To fit with this theme, Captain Falcon fights [[Giga Bowser]] in the Final Round, due to him having the least amount of projectiles ([[Fire Breath|one]]) among ''Ultimate''{{'}}s [[boss]]es.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|1||{{CharHead|Donkey Kong|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Jungle Japes]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Donkey Kong|Battle for Storm Hill}}''||

|2||{{CharHead|Ganondorf|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Gerudo Valley]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|The Legend of Zelda|Gerudo Valley (Remix)}}''||

|3||{{CharHead|Ryu|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Suzaku Castle]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Street Fighter|Ryu Stage}}''||

|4||{{CharHead|Roy|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Arena Ferox]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Fire Emblem|Attack - Fire Emblem}}''||

|5||{{CharHead|Mii Brawler|SSBU|hsize=20px}} (x6)||[[Coliseum]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Fire Emblem|The Devoted}}''||Horde Battle (3 at a time).<br>Mii Brawler costume combinations:

*No headwear and Red Fighter Uniform

*[[Ribbon Girl]] Mask and Ribbon Girl Outfit

*[[Saki Amamiya]] Wig and Cyan Tracksuit

*[[Spring Man]] Mask and Spring Man Outfit

|6||{{CharHead|Little Mac|SSBU|hsize=20px}}||[[Boxing Ring]]||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Punch-Out!!|Jogging / Countdown}}''||

|Final||{{CharHead|Bowser|SSBU|hsize=20px}}, then [[Giga Bowser]]||{{SSBU|Final Destination}}||''{{SSBUMusicLink|Super Mario Bros.|King Bowser - Super Mario Bros. 3}}'' <small>(Bowser)</small><br>''{{SSBUMusicLink|Super Smash Bros.|Giga Bowser}}'' <small>(Giga Bowser)</small>||A [[Maxim Tomato]] appears after defeating Bowser in the final round.

During the opening cutscene, Captain Falcon was present on the cliffside when [[Galeem]] unleashed his beams of light. He attempted to escape in the [[Blue Falcon]], but Galeem vaporized him and his vehicle before he could do so. He was then imprisoned by Galeem along with the rest of the fighters (excluding {{SSBU|Kirby}}). A puppet fighter of him can be seen behind Mario in the group of puppet fighters under Galeem's control.

Captain Falcon can be found early in the mode if the player goes through {{SSBU|Villager}}'s path instead of those of {{SSBU|Marth}} and {{SSBU|Sheik}}. He is in the middle of a racetrack that can only be traversed with the assistance of [[List of spirits (F-Zero series)|Pico's spirit]].

{|class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"

!style="width:5%;"|No.

!style="width:5%;"|Image

!Name

!Type

!Power

!Stage

!Music

|11

|[[File:Captain Falcon SSBU.png|center|108x108px]]

|{{SpiritType|Attack}} <center>{{color|#dc1029|Attack}}</center>

|3,300

|[[Port Town Aero Dive]] ([[Ω form]])

|''{{SSBUMusicLink|F-Zero|F-ZERO Medley}}''

{{clr}}

==[[Spirit]]==

Captain Falcon's fighter spirit can be obtained by completing {{SSBU|Classic Mode}}. It is also available periodically for purchase in the shop for 300 Gold, but only after Captain Falcon has been unlocked. Unlocking Captain Falcon in World of Light allows the player to preview the spirit below in the Spirit List under the name "???". As a fighter spirit, it cannot be used in Spirit Battles and is purely aesthetic. His fighter spirit has an alternate version that replaces it with his artwork in ''Ultimate''.

SSBU spirit Captain Falcon.png|591. '''''Captain Falcon'''''

==In Spirit Battles==

|{{SpiritTableName|Bullet Bill|link=y|size=64}}

|''Super Mario'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} Team {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}×4

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|•Item Tidal Wave<br>•Item: Bullet Bill

|{{SpiritTableName|Funky Kong|size=64}}

|''Donkey Kong'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Neutral}}

|•Item: [[Bullet Bill]]

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Donkey Kong|Funky's Fugue}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Machamp|size=64}}

|''Pokémon'' Series

|•Giant {{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Cyan}}×2

|{{SpiritType|Grab}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Hitmonlee|link=y|size=64}}

|''Pokémon'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Yellow}}×2

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Blaziken|size=64}}

|''Pokémon'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Baba|iw=fzerowiki|size=64}}

|''F-Zero'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Red}} (120 HP)

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Blood Falcon|iw=fzerowiki|size=64}}

|''F-Zero'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Red}}×2

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Zero (Metal Gear Solid 3)|size=64}}

|''Metal Gear Solid'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Grab}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Duo|size=64}}

|''Mega Man'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Cyan}}×2 (80 HP)

|{{SpiritType|Shield}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Guile|link=y|size=64}}

|''Street Fighter'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Green}} (180 HP)

|{{SpiritType|Shield}}

|•Assist Trophy Enemies (Guile)<br>•Jump Power ↓

|{{SpiritTableName|Nash|size=64}}

|''Street Fighter'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Yellow}} (140 HP)

|{{SpiritType|Grab}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Fighting Alloy Team|link=y|size=64}}

|''Super Smash Bros.'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} Team {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Red}}×4<br>•{{SSBU|Zelda}} Team {{Head|Zelda|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Blue}}×4<br>•{{SSBU|Mario}} Team {{Head|Mario|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Yellow}}×4<br>•{{SSBU|Kirby}} Team {{Head|Kirby|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Green}}×4

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Mach Rider|size=64}}

|''Mach Rider'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Shield}}

|[[Port Town Aero Dive]]

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Other|Mach Rider}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Eagle|size=64}}

|''Advance Wars'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Other|Garage}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Drake Redcrest|size=64}}

|''Chibi-Robo!'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Neutral}}

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Other|ST01: Roll Out, Wonderful 100!}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Nick|size=64}}

|{{SpiritType|Neutral}}

|•Assist Trophy Enemies ([[Takamaru]])<br>•Item: [[Super Star]]

|{{SpiritTableName|Henry Fleming|size=64}}

|''Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.''

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SSBUMusicLink|Other|Trouble Brewing II}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Ryuji Sakamoto|link=y|size=64}}

|''Persona'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}<br>•Giant {{SSBU|Mii Gunner}} {{Head|Mii Gunner|g=SSBU|s=20px}} (Moveset [[Charge Blast|1]][[Stealth Burst|2]][[Lunar Launch|1]][[Echo Reflector|1]], Pirate Hat, Steampunk Getup, Black Outfit Color, No Voice)

|{{SpiritType|Shield}}

|N/A

|{{SpiritTableName|Kyo Kusanagi|size=64}}

|''THE KING OF FIGHTERS'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|•Jump Power ↓

|{{SpiritTableName|Alfonzo & Engineer Link|size=64}}

|''The Legend of Zelda'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Attack}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Jody Summer|iw=fzerowiki|size=64}}

|''F-Zero'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Shield}}

|{{s|fzerowiki|Captain Falcon}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Black Shadow|iw=fzerowiki|size=64}}

|''F-Zero'' Series

|{{SpiritType|Shield}}

|{{SpiritTableName|Phantom Thieves of Hearts|size=64}}

|''Persona'' Series

|•{{SSBU|Joker}} {{Head|Joker|g=SSBU|s=20px}}<br>•{{SSBU|Pikachu}} {{Head|Pikachu|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Libre}}<br>•{{SSBU|Captain Falcon}} {{Head|Captain Falcon|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}<br>•{{SSBU|Zero Suit Samus}} {{Head|Zero Suit Samus|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Red}}<br>•{{SSBU|Chrom}} {{Head|Chrom|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}<br>•{{SSBU|Sheik}} {{Head|Sheik|g=SSBU|s=20px|cl=Black}}

|{{SpiritType|Grab}}

|[[Mementos]] (Haru Okumura background, hazards off)

|[https://megamitensei.fandom.com/wiki/Ryuji_Sakamoto Ryuji Sakamoto / Skull]

Captain Falcon unlock notice SSBU.jpg|Captain Falcon's unlock notice.

SSBUWebsiteCaptainFalcon6.jpg|Wearing the Blood Falcon costume on {{SSBU|Battlefield}} in the Japanese release of the game.

SSBUWebsiteFalco5.jpg|Struck by {{SSBU|Falco}}'s [[Falco Phantasm]] on [[Lylat Cruise]].

===Fighter Showcase Video===

*A pre-release screenshot for the game shows Captain Falcon in his {{iw|fzerowiki|Blood Falcon}} costume, with the logo on the back reading "Hell Hawk"; in the final game, this is only true for the Japanese release of the game, as other languages translate it to "Blood Hawk".

*Captain Falcon's fighter number, #11, is coincidentally his Vs. Mode unlock number. He is the only character in ''Ultimate'' with this distinction.

*Oddly, no sound effect plays whenever a character gets hit by the lower hitbox of the first hit of Captain Falcon's up smash. This is due to the hitbox having no sound assigned in his moveset files.

*On the [[character selection screen]], the icon in the Japanese version shows Captain Falcon's name within only one row, while in the English version it is shown with two rows. He shares this trait with {{SSBU|Mr. Game & Watch}}, {{SSBU|Zero Suit Samus}}, {{SSBU|Pokémon Trainer}}, {{SSBU|Wii Fit Trainer}}, {{SSBU|Rosalina & Luma}}, the {{SSBU|Mii Fighter}}s, {{SSBU|Piranha Plant}} and {{SSBU|Banjo & Kazooie}}.

*Interestingly, both of Captain Falcon's falling animations use the incorrect animation when moving forward and backward in midair. He uses his secondary falling animation when moving during his first falling animation and vice versa.